Pregnancy Pearls

Do you have painful menstrual cycles, issues getting pregnant, or pain with sexual intercourse?  If you do, you could possibly have endometriosis.  A growing number of women have endometriosis. Some women have it, and don’t even know it.  Well, in this episode, you’ll learn all about endometriosis, how it’s diagnosed, and how it’s treated. Dr. Plenty also tells you how endometriosis can affect you...

Some of you might be trying to get pregnant and getting frustrated because you think it might be taking longer than you anticipated.  Well, getting pregnant takes time, and the time it should take to get pregnant depends on several factors, such as your age, medical problems, and pregnancy history.  In this week's episode, Dr. Plenty breaks down how long it should take to have a baby before needin...

Welcome back to Season 2 of Pregnancy Pearls Podcast!! This week, Dr. Plenty talks about what you need to do to ""get ready"" for your next pregnancy. By listening to this episode, you'll get detailed information about ways to reduce your risk of miscarriage, preeclampsia, and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. You'll also gain insight about what common medications and cosmetics to avoid and which...

Swelling of the legs and feet after delivery is very normal. But is there ever a time when swelling can be too much or a bad sign? Well, check out this episode of Pregnancy Pearls Podcast to hear Dr. Plenty explain why swelling occurs, how long to anticipate it following delivery, and when swelling needs further attention. If you’re pregnant or recently delivered, make sure to download and listen...

One of the strongest indications that there might be something going on with your baby is whether the skin behind the neck is thick. In the first trimester, your provider looks at what’s called the nuchal translucency, which is a space behind the neck and back.  Half of babies with an increased measurement of this space have a chromosomal abnormality.  Once you make it to 16 weeks, your provider l...

Every pregnant woman should get an ultrasound to look at their baby’s structures at approximately 18-20 weeks.  During that ultrasound, not only are your baby’s organs closely evaluated but the placenta (or afterbirth) and the umbilical cord are also evaluated.  Did you know that the umbilical cord can tell your provider if your baby has an increased risk of having genetic abnormalities? Yep! The...

Some babies with chromosomal abnormalities can look completely normal on ultrasound. So, as a high risk pregnancy physician, I look for what’s called soft markers (or subtle hints that something’s going on). One of these hints is dilation of your baby’s kidneys during pregnancy.  Kidneys filter blood and rid waste of blood through urine. If urine is blocked inside of the kidney, they look enlarged...

Neonatal Jaundice, also known as hyperbilirubinemia, is a yellow discoloration of the white parts of the eyes and skin found in newborn babies due to high levels of bilirubin. This can be found in both full term and preterm babies.  High levels of bilirubin can be caused by a number of factors including breastmilk, enzyme deficiencies, and medication, to name a few. To help discuss this important...

In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Plenty discusses bleeding after birth and miscarriages.  Dr. Plenty breaks down the definition of lochia and its types as well as how to recognize when you're having too much bleeding. If you have had a baby recently or, unfortunately, suffered a recent pregnancy loss, please listen to this episode to know what's normal bleeding and when you should seek help. Se...

Every mother and their newborn will go through adjustments as they transition from pregnancy to the postpartum period. During this time, both mom and baby must get acclimated to new sleep schedules and breastfeeding, and mom will have to deal with body changes and sometimes, wound healing. Oftentimes, this time can be met with emotional woes as well. This all happens during the ""4th trimester"" o...

On this week's episode of the podcast, we discuss postpartum blues, depression, psychosis, and other mood disorders affecting pregnancy and the postpartum period. More than half of women experience postpartum blues in the immediate postpartum period, and approximately 20{}re diagnosed with postpartum depression.  To help me discuss this important topic,expert guest Mrs. Whitni Toson, a Licensed Pr...

Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS is a condition that affects a woman's hormone levels leading to prolonged or infrequent periods and excess male hormone  levels. PCOS can cause issues with fertility and is also associated with other health issues. Listen as Dr. Plenty discusses the types of PCOS and how it affects childbearing. Want to know what can be done about PCOS? Subscribe and download th...

In this week’s podcast episode, Dr. Plenty responds to questions about challenges of being non-binary and wanting children. She addresses assumptions made by providers about non-binary patients and gives examples of more sensitive approaching to managing non-binary pregnancies.  We can all learn from this episode.  Go ahead and subscribe and listen now! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Ever wonder if the pains you’re feeling during your pregnancy are normal? Pregnancy is not necessarily a painless experience.  Listen as Dr. Plenty discusses normal aches and pains of pregnancy and when you should seek further evaluation for pain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Due to your feedback, on this week's podcast episode, Dr. Plenty talks all about delayed cord clamping.  During the episode, she defines what's considered delayed cord clamping and its benefits.  She also gives insight into unique situations when delayed cord clamping isn't or can't be done. Listen to learn more!  Like what you hear? Make sure to share with a friend, rate and comment! See omnystud...

Ever wonder what can be done to reduce the risk of some preterm deliveries? Well, this week, Dr. Plenty discusses one of the causes of preterm deliveries called cervical insufficiency.  Listen as Dr. Plenty defines this condition and indications for treatment with a cerclage, or a stitch to keep the cervix closed, in an attempt to reduce preterm deliveries. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Listen as Dr. Plenty breaks down common and not-so-common reasons one might need to be delivered early. Some women might hesitate to be delivered for fear of their babies going to the NICU. However, oftentimes, the decision for an early delivery can save the life of mom and/or an unborn baby. Check out the episode to learn more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes, you had a baby, and your body has changed. You might have had a baby 2 weeks ago or even 2 years ago, but your body is still going through changes because of your pregnancy. Social media will make you think everyone, except you, bounced back to their pre-pregnancy bodies by the time they left the hospital. This is absolutely wrong! In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Plenty discusses short-te...

In this week’s episode, Dr. Plenty discussed sexually transmitted infections (aka STIs) and how they can impact pregnancy. She even breaks down which ones cause birth defects and which ones don’t. If you need a reason to have healthy and safe sex practices, make sure to listen to this episode! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wonder if you should have a doula for your pregnancy?  A doula is a professional that provides continuous emotional and physical support, comfort, and encouragement throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum course. To really understand the role of the doula, Dr. Plenty is joined by expert guest, Mrs. Nikia Lawson, certified birth doula, doula trainer and director of The Natural Way Proj...

Listen as Dr. Plenty explains the timing of implantation spotting and other causes of vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all want our pregnancies to be perfect.  But, what do you do when you're told that your baby has an abnormality?  How should you handle it?  Our expert guest this week, Dr. Lauren Cozad, knows just that.  She's an associate professor of Special Education at Penn State University and has a daughter who was diagnosed prenatally with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH). She shared her personal...

If you're 35yo or older and want to have your first or an additional child, I know you've heard these terms before:  ""elderly gravida"", ""geriatric pregnancy"", ""midlife momma"", etc. I cringed when I heard these terms. It makes women who choose to wait a little longer to start a family seem archaic, which is not the case. Now the proper terminology is ""advanced maternal age"" aka AMA... which...

For many of us, pregnancy is a time for increased hours of sleep. This makes sense because it takes a ton of energy to grow a tiny human. On the contrary, some women actually experience bouts of insomnia, or difficulty falling asleep during pregnancy. On this week's podcast episode, Dr. Plenty talks about various reasons for insomnia in pregnancy and answers related questions.  Make sure to listen...

On this week's podcast episode, Dr. Plenty is joined by the renowned Dr. DiAnne Davis, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in Dallas, TX at North Dallas Dermatology Associates.  The two discuss common and not-so-common skin changes in pregnancy.  Dr. Davis also gives daily skin care recommendations for pregnant and non-pregnant women. She even gives Dr. Plenty some suggestions to improve her da...