Pregnancy Pearls

So a lot of us gained some weight during the pandemic, and this year, ya'll have been trying to drop the pounds. And some of you will start to try to do so again for your new year's resolution. Right now for weight loss, everyone is raving about Ozempic, aka semiglutide, aka Wegovy. And for some of you, you get pregnant while still being on it. Check out this episode to learn more about this drug,...

Planning for a pregnancy is definitely important for countless reasons. But sometimes, it doesn’t happen that way. Unintended or unplanned pregnancies make up about 45% of pregnancies worldwide. So if you’re having an #oopsbaby, you are not alone. Check out this episode to find out how you can adjust to having an oops baby and learn what steps you can take to get on track to have a healthy pregnan...

Fibroids are extremely common, especially in Black and Brown women. Over half of women will develop fibroids during their childbearing years. During pregnancy, oftentimes, fibroids don't cause any symptoms at all. But sometimes during pregnancy, fibroids can increase in size so fast that they outgrow their own blood supply. This is when fibroid degeneration happens, which can lead to severe pain....

For a lot of us, life is hectic right now. And for some, pregnancy planning combined with life events can be overwhelming. During pregnancy, you have to juggle appointments, sometimes with multiple types of providers. You have to figure out if your living space still fits your growing family. You have to think about bills, maternity leave, and how to continue to keep up with bills if you decide to...

Heartburn, aka acid reflux, aka indigestion, is super common in pregnancy. Surprisingly, we haven't discussed it much during any of our previous episodes. So, this week, a whole episode is dedicated to doing just that! Check out this episode to learn more about heartburn, why it's so common during pregnancy, and how it's treated. Listening to this episode in itself won't relieve your heart burn, b...

As we wrap up the month of October which is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, I wanted to take the time to acknowledge all those who have carried and lost a life. Check out this episode to learn not only about coping with pregnancy and infant loss but how to prepare for your next pregnancy after a loss. This is a topic we don’t talk about enough. Know that you don’t have to suffer in sile...

During the last episode, we discussed how having too little amniotic fluid can affect your pregnancy. Well this week, we’re going to discuss what happens if you actually have TOO MUCH amniotic fluid. Polyhydramnios, or having too much amniotic fluid, can be caused by issues with your baby’s digestive tract, uncontrolled medical conditions, or could be something just incidentally found. Check out t...

During pregnancy, amniotic fluid, aka the fluid surrounding your unborn baby, plays an important role. But what does it mean when your baby doesn’t have enough of it? Check out this episode where we discuss the purpose of amniotic fluid, learn about the causes of low amniotic fluid, and talk about how pregnancies with low fluid are managed. You’ll also learn more about how low amniotic fluid can m...

Cold and flu season is upon us, and it’s projected to be a pretty rough season. For protection, the CDC recommends a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot. Additionally, a new RSV vaccination is also recommended DURING pregnancy for the first time. Check out the latest podcast episode to learn more about this vaccine, how it can affect your unborn baby and another RSV vaccination option if you are unsur...

New Podcast Episode Alert: Postpartum Planning Hey, friends! Our latest podcast episode is out, and this time we tackle the topic of postpartum planning. While pregnancy can be tough, it is only the beginning. The postpartum period can be a challenging time as you adjust to your new body and take care of your newborn. Additionally, lingering conditions from pregnancy can arise in the weeks that fo...

This summer, we saw record weather temperatures across the country. Just when you thought we were done with the summer, this September, we're still experiencing heat waves! But did you know that extremely hot temperatures do more than just make people feel uncomfortable?! Yep, for pregnant women, ongoing hot weather means increased risks of bad things in pregnancy, like preterm labor and even heat...

In light of recent viral social media coverage, this week Dr. Plenty kicked off the Season 4 premier discussing the importance of self-advocacy. The recent headline about decapitation during the birthing process is, unfortunately, not a unique story. And it doesn't matter whether you deliver at home, in a birthing center, or in a major hospital system, complications can happen. To reduce your risk...

So many people are having kids later in life now for various reasons, such as waiting until your career is established, waiting for #MrRight, or just because you want to.  Because of this, you might look up and find yourself beyond the of age 40 years old.  But that’s ok.  Tune in to this episode to learn how pregnancies during your post 30 years can be different than having kids younger.  If you’...

June promotes awareness of several different diseases and health causes, and Myasthenia Gravis is one of them.  Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a condition that causes your body's immune cells to break down the substances that cause your muscles to function. Because of this, people with disease have generalized weakness, drooping eyelids, issues with chewing and swallowing, and sometimes pain and troubl...

On this week’s podcast episode, Dr. Plenty discusses “back labor”.  Back labor is severe labor pain caused by the position of the baby’s head.  Check out this episode to learn more about the typical position of your baby’s head as it moves through the birth canal and also head positions that cause more pain in labor.  You’ll also hear cases and questions related to how back labor is managed and if...

Dr. Plenty responds to some emails from listeners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Description: During the pandemic, many routine things that were previously done were halted to save resources. Well, many standard practices are back... including drug testing.  For some practices and/or hospital systems, all patients are drug tested at the beginning and end of the pregnancy. For others, only patients who have a ""high suspicion"" for drug use are tested. Don't shoot the messenger...

Conditions dealing with thyroid function are pretty common in pregnancy. So on this week's podcast episode, we discuss low thyroid function aka hypothyroidism. Check out this episode to learn how hypothyroidism is diagnosed and how the condition is impacted by pregnancy. You'll also learn about the treatment and the complications to unborn babies when hypothyroidism is uncontrolled. Download and l...

Keeping in line with preeclampsia awareness month, this week we discuss one of the complications that can happen with preeclampsia and that's a seizure.  But some people have a known seizure disorder... so how would your doctor know if the seizure is caused by complications of preeclampsia (eclampsia) or a seizure from a seizure disorder. During this episode, we discuss different types of seizures...

When most people, or at least providers, think about a headache in pregnancy, preeclampsia is usually the first diagnosis that comes to mind.  However, not all headaches are caused by preeclampsia. Pseudotumor cerebri, also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, is a common disorder in those of childbearing age that causes increased pressure in the brain and headaches.  Check out this epis...

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but… sometimes you have to give up some things you love.  Fortunately, you don’t have to give up your beloved coffee altogether, but you do need to limit caffeine intake in pregnancy.  Too much caffeine can cause some issues during pregnancy, like growth issues with the baby and even prematurity.  Find out how much is too much by checking out this episode of the podc...

It's preeclampsia awareness month, so of course I had to talk about it on this week's podcast episode.  One of the complications of preeclampsia is HELLP Syndrome, which stands for ""Hemolysis Elevated Liver enzymes Low Platelet"" syndrome. HELLP syndrome can be very dangerous in pregnancy because it is associated with bleeding complications, stroke, and even death! Check out this episode to learn...

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease that, despite being very treatable, is still on the rise worldwide. With the increase in cases of syphilis, naturally, the number of babies born with congenital syphilis has also profoundly increased.  Check out this episode to learn about the stages of syphilis, how it's transmitted to unborn babies, and how it affects babies during pregnancy and beyond....

Did you know that some people have a heart-shaped  uterus or even two uteri?  Yeah, it’s a thing! The shape of your uterus can have an impact on if you get pregnant and the outcome of that pregnancy.  Check out this episode to learn about abnormalities of the uterine shape and how it can impact your pregnancy and even other organ systems.  Download and listen now… and don’t forget to share with yo...

During pregnancy, one reason that an anatomy ultrasound is done is to evaluate for signs of chromosomal abnormalities. Some chromosomal abnormalities are associated with major birth defects, and some are not. One common chromosomal abnormality that can be associated with abnormal ultrasound findings is Turner syndrome.  With this syndrome, the baby is missing one of the X-chromosomes. Listen to th...