Healthful Woman Podcast

Dr. Melka and Dr. Fox discuss whether it’s safe for pregnant women to fast, particularly with regards to Jewish fast days. On fast days, observers do not eat or drink for up to 25 hours, depending on the holiday. Dr. Fox and Dr. Melka explain when it is and isn’t safe for pregnant women to fast and how they advise their Jewish patients.

In the final episode of the mini series, Dr. Stephanie Martin explains critical care for pregnant women or newly postpartum mothers. Critical care is necessary for situations or conditions that put the patient’s life at risk, and Dr. Martin is an expert and lecturer on this topic. She explains how hospitals and doctors should plan for critical care in labor and delivery and what common situations...

Dr. Fox speaks with Simi Hersko and Yehudis Grunwald from A Time, a nonprofit organization that helps women and families dealing with infertility as well as pregnancy loss, stillbirth, adoption, or IVF. A Time began as an emotional support and advice resource for families dealing with infertility, particularly within the Jewish community. Since then, the organization has expanded and is dedicated...

In the second episode of the mini series, Dr. Tara Shirazian joins Dr. Fox to talk about "Saving Mothers," a nonprofit which she founded to improve maternal health worldwide. In this episode, Dr. Shirazian explains her background and education and why she is passionate about global health. She discusses her experience as an OBGYN and why she “always cared a lot about the access [to healthcare] of...

Host Dr. Fox welcomes Dr. Shira Billet, who since experiencing pregnancy loss herself counsels women and families through this trauma. Dr. Billet holds a PhD in philosophy and religion, and outside of her professional career has carved a niche for herself in helping others deal with the grief of losing a child. She and Dr. Fox also discuss the stigma regarding pregnancy loss and how the grief comp...

In the fourth and final episode of the prenatal genetics mini series, Dr. Fox is joined by Dr. Rebarber to discuss two types of invasive prenatal genetic testing: CVS and amniocentesis tests. Through the episode, they explain why a mother would decide to undergo these tests, what they can detect, how they are performed, and why it’s just not that common for maternal fetal medicine specialists to o...

In the third episode of the Prenatal Genetics series, Dr. Goldwaser and Dr. Fox discuss carrier screening. Carrier screening involves checking two potential parents’ DNA to see whether they have a genetic condition that could be passed on to a fetus, and is usually performed before a pregnancy. Dr. Goldwaser explains that most people are carriers for something, and why in most cases, this isn’t a...

Dr. Tamar Goldwaser returns to Healthful Woman for episode two of the Prenatal Genetics miniseries. She discusses aneuploidy screening, a test to check for the number of chromosomes present and whether a person has more or fewer than the expected 46 chromosomes. This can indicate a number of genetic conditions, and Dr. Goldwaser discusses the pre-test counseling that she performs with patients to...

For the first episode of the Prenatal Genetics Mini Series, Dr. Tamar Goldwaser goes over the basics. She explains the difference between genetic counselors and medical geneticists and the ways they often work together, plus situations in which patients may seek genetic counseling or care from a medical geneticist.

Meet Dr. Jen Lam-Rachlin! Dr. Lam-Rachlin explains her background and how she got into medicine, including her initial interest as an undergrad studying organic chemistry, a research-heavy maternal fetal medicine fellowship, and how she decided to pursue Obstetrics and Gynecology after finding she liked every clinical rotation in med school.

Dr. Simi Gupta joins Dr. Fox to discuss fetal growth restriction, which refers to babies who are under the 10th percentile in size. Dr. Gupta has researched this condition and explains that while most of the time there are no health concerns, doctors can watch out for other signs that may mean the baby is at risk.

In this episode, Dr. Melka and Dr. Fox talk about delivering twins. It has become somewhat unusual in the U.S. for twins to be delivered vaginally. Dr. Melka and Dr. Fox talk about training obstetricians for this scenario, whether planned C-Sections are always best, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Gylynthia Trotman discusses Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, including her path to being educated in the subspecialty and what an average appointment with her patients is like. Dr. Fox also interviews her about her background, including growing up spending summers in the Caribbean and how that influenced her career. Dr. Trotman is an assistant professor of Obstetrics, Gyne...

Dr. Sara Kostant is an OBGYN at Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates in New York City who has been with the practice for a year and a half. She and Dr. Fox discuss her experiences working for numerous hospitals across the country, including her residency in Omaha, Nebraska and time spent as an OB Hospitalist at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Dr. Caroline Friedman joins host Dr. Fox to discuss Long Acting Reversible Contraception, or LARC. This includes several forms of birth control, primarily intrauterine devices (IUDs) and subdermal implants. Dr. Friedman and Dr. Fox discuss the reasons women choose these forms of birth control and what patients should know about them.

Meet Dr. Caroline Friedman! In this episode, Dr. Friedman and Dr. Fox discuss her experience moving from Cornell Medical Center to Mount Sinai and what she has learned along the way. They also discuss performing obstetrics vs. gynecological care and Dr. Friedman’s fitness interests.

Dr. Lisabeth Shlansky joins host Dr. Nathan Fox to discuss cesarean sections after a woman has been laboring. While this can be a stressful and uncertain situation for patients, Dr. Shlansky discusses what doctors can do to help them feel more informed as well as common signs that a cesarean delivery may be necessary.

Meet Dr. Lis Shlansky, an OBGYN with Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates in New York City. In this episode, Dr. Shlansky and host Dr. Fox discuss her path to becoming an obstetrician, their shared experience of pursuing medicine after being raised in families with doctors, and why Dr. Shlansky believes that wealth can be defined by choice.

Dr. Jeffrey Zahn, an anesthesiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and author of Choose Happiness: The Perspectivist’s Handbook, joins Dr. Fox to discuss mindfulness, especially as it applies to healthcare and Mount Sinai. He explains what mindfulness is and how to practice it as well as positive psychology and cognitive reframing as well as his own personal background.

Dr. Shari Gelber, an OBGYN with Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates in New York City, discusses the microbiome and concerns that new parents may have regarding this topic. The microbiome, or the bacteria that exist all over and inside the body, play a large role in our health. Dr. Gelber shares her knowledge on the microbiome and her professional opinion on “seeding,” a practice thought to improve...

Host Dr. Fox introduces Dr. Shari Gelber, who explains how her research background and earning both an MD and PhD help her to think differently about maternal fetal medicine. They also discuss ongoing training and education, translational medicine, and healthy cooking strategies.

Dr. Fox interviews Lauren Abrams, a certified Nurse Midwife who has been practicing midwifery since 1993. In this episode, they discuss the path to becoming a midwife, how midwives and obstetricians can work together, and the different experiences a patient might have depending on where and how they choose to give birth.

Emily Oster, an economist and author of two bestselling books on pregnancy and parenting, joins host Dr. Fox to discuss ending quarantine and stay-at-home orders. Oster explains how she has interpreted data and research on Covid-19, and what that means for safely reopening. They also discuss explaincovid.org, a website where Oster delivers reliable information about the virus in a way that is easy...

Dr. Aksel Sarp discusses his recent work with Last Mile, a grassroots organization with a mission to distribute PPE to healthcare workers in need during the coronavirus crisis. He and Dr. Fox explain the PPE supply-chain, which health care systems are most effective, and how people can help.

Meet Dr. Sarp Aksel, an OBGYN with Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates in New York City. In this episode, Dr. Aksel and Dr. Fox talk about advocacy, what men should know about working in obstetrics and gynecology, and how Dr. Aksel “got into medicine for the socks.”