Pregnancy Pearls

Tens of thousands of families lose pregnancies or babies every year. In fact, a fourth of women have suffered a loss during or shortly after pregnancy.  To shed light on the commonality of this situation, for this week's podcast, we talked through this subject. Check out this episode to find out common reasons for pregnancy and infant loss and ways you and your provider can prepare for your next p...

Breathing is essential to sustain life, so it's definitely needed for a healthy pregnancy.  Asthma can be a major hindrance to breathing.  Asthma is an obstructive lung disease that causes swelling and inflammation, making air movement in and out of the lung extremely difficult. Tune in to this episode to learn about asthma in pregnancy, how it's treated, and how it can affect the pregnancy. Make...

Description: During your anatomy scan, one of the areas examined is your baby's face.  One of the most common and FIXABLE defects that can be diagnosed in the face is a cleft lip. On this week's episode, you'll learn all about the cleft lip, association with cleft palate, and ways to reduce your risk of your baby having this defect. Knowledge is power. Make sure to download and listen now, and don...

We all have antibodies circulating in our blood that help us fight off infections. But, if you're pregnant, some of those antibodies can cross the placenta and affect your unborn baby. This could lead to anemia of an unborn baby. Check out this episode to find out how we determine whether an antibody is significant or harmless. You'll also learn about how we determine if unborn babies are anemic,...

  Oftentimes, sex does not have to stop when you get pregnant. It actually has benefits!  But, for many women, the thought of sex during pregnancy provokes fear and anxiety because we think it will cause harm to the pregnancy. Bleeding after sexual intercourse can even worsen these feelings.  So, in this episode, Dr. Plenty talks about what to do if you experience vaginal bleeding after intercours...

Season 3 is finally here, and we have a lot of important topics to discuss.  Because it's National Suicide Prevention Week, in this episode, Dr. Plenty shared her personal experiences with the loss of family members due to suicide and educated listeners on warning signs of depression and suicidal behaviors. With suicide attempts being more common in women, particularly those suffering from postpar...

Dr. Plenty is on a brief break for some fun, relaxation, and moving!  But, here’s a mid summer break episode with all of your favorite pearls and guests from season 2.  So, listen and let the episode jog your memory.  Make sure to rate, comment, and share with ALL your friends.  We’ll be back with new topics and new guests in season 3 in a few short weeks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

With the ongoing attack on reproductive rights, several people want to know how to be safe in planning for their families and not have any ""slip ups"". Dr. Plenty is in the baby making business, but wants you to be SAFE while doing so. If you've had a baby recently, one part of being safe is giving your body time to recover. If you have health issues, being safe also means making sure your condit...

On this episode of the podcast, we go beyond the pregnancy and talk about what it means to be prepared for motherhood.  To provide some post-delivery expertise, this week, Dr. Plenty is joined by Dr. Emeka Obidi, board-certified Pediatrician, owner of Partners in Pediatrics & Family Health in Hagerstown, Maryland, and founder of Newborn Prep Academy. Ever wonder what you could do to prepare for yo...

During pregnancy, some dads can feel absolutely helpless and detached while others actually experience pregnancy symptoms themselves.  Everyone is different, but what really is the role of the dad during pregnancy?  How can dad be helpful while tolerating symptoms and, sometimes, moodiness experienced by his/her significant other carrying the baby? Well, this week, Dr. Plenty is joined by the othe...

So you've had the unfortunate experience of having a miscarriage... what happens now?  Well, in this show, Dr. Plenty shares her own personal experience with pregnancy loss and walks you through why some miscarriages happen, how they're managed, and how to prepare mentally and physically for life going forward. Make sure to download and listen to this episode for an intimate and real conversation...

Are you pregnant and wondering why your spouse keeps complaining about your mood?  You might think you're being nice or at least your usual self, but your significant other is likely going through it.  Yep! It's not in your head, it's a real thing, but for good reason.  Your body is going through major hormonal changes that definitely affect your mood. And let's not forget, the physical changes pr...

The placenta, or what you've probably heard called ""afterbirth"", is the most important part of how your baby grows and matures... but you probably don't hear much about what it does.  Well, that's because the placenta is extremely complex, so it's difficult to discuss all that it does.  In this week's episode, we do just that.  During the episode, Dr. Plenty really breaks down all the roles of t...

So you've done the hard part.  You've made it safely through the pregnancy, courageously had a baby, and are through the immediate postpartum period.  For some of you, that means that soon you'll be transitioning back to the work environment. Most of us really dread this moment of going back to juggling work life. You're probably envying your friends who are able to stay home full time. For many o...

Lupus is a disease that causes the body's immune system to attack its own tissues and organs (which is what's called an autoimmune disease).  This particular disease can affect every part of the body and is often diagnosed during childbearing years.  Being pregnant with lupus can complicate things, especially if your disease is not yet under control. Even if lupus is well-treated, some with lupus...

It's National Women's Health Week, so what better topic to discuss than what to expect at your well woman annual exam?  If you haven't scheduled your yearly exam yet, make an effort to do so.  Check out this episode prior to your visit as a reminder of what to expect.  During the episode, Dr. Plenty walks you through what will be done at your annual well woman exam. She also reviews different scre...

Although the number of teenage pregnancies in the U.S. have continued to decrease, teen pregnancy is still a thing… especially amongst Black and Latina young ladies.  Some teens lack the support they need to be successful as teen moms and with their long term aspirations.  This week, Dr. Plenty is joined by Dretona Maddox, founder and owner of Purposely Chosen, a nonprofit organization committed t...

The postpartum recovery process can be extremely complicated.  You've just had a new baby and need to constantly wash clothes. You're trying to get the hang of breastfeeding.  You want to lose weight and get your pre-pregnancy body back. And you're mentally trying to adjust to your new mom-life all while operating on limited sleep.  Yep! It's definitely an adjustment but worthwhile.  To shed some...

We're all sick and tired of hearing about COVID-19. But, now is not the time to slip up and get COVID-19, Recently, several of Dr. Plenty's members were diagnosed with COVID-19, including her 2 year-old son, Harrison.  If you've been listening to the show for a while, you know that Harrison has had issues with his immune system. So, you can image the terror she had while taking care of him during...

As the weather starts to get nice, many of us are ready to break out the sundresses and short shorts.  But, for some, especially if you’re pregnant, you probably notice more varicose veins and spider veins than usual.  This week, Dr. Plenty discussed the reasons for these more visible veins in pregnancy and how they are treated. She also let’s you know when your varicosity aren’t just varicose vei...

Are you postpartum and need advice to snap back to your pre-pregnancy weight? Have you recently had a baby and are confused about dieting and breastfeeding? Or do you have a child over 2yo and still haven't dropped those pounds?  If so, this episode is for you! In this episode, Dr. Plenty is joined by health and wellness coach and personal trainer, Stacy Kador, to discuss ways to drop the weight....

The decision to have genetic screening to evaluate for genetic problems with your baby is a big decision. The most common type of genetic screen is what’s called a noninvasive prenatal screen (NIPS), which is a blood test that screens cells that enter your (mom) blood circulation from the placenta.  NIPS is a pretty good test!  It has a high detection rate for Down syndrome and a few other common...

A lot of you, especially my first time moms, have been asking several questions about what you've been told about labor and delivery and wonder if it's normal. So, on this week's episode, Dr. Plenty answers all your questions and breaks down what your physician or provider really means when it comes to labor and delivery. For starters, she goes over some key medical terms relevant to the labor pro...

Not all pregnancies are planned.  Sometimes, you might have just been having a good time, and oops, now there’s a baby on the way. This happens actually in more than half of pregnancies.  So, this is a complete judgement-free zone.  Make sure to listen to this episode to find out what you should do if you’re having an unplanned pregnancy so that you can be as safe as possible moving forward.  You’...

Many women start new relationships as they've approached their late 40s or early 50s. Some have decided to get married later in life. Others have gone through divorces and find themselves with a new-found love life. Some of us still have that sexual spark from longterm relationships or marriages.  All this is being said to say that women in the perimenopausal age range are still having sex!!  Well...