The POPPED Podcast with Dr. Emily Muery

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery dives into the power of visualization in preparing for labor and birth. Instead of a rigid checklist, she explores how visual birth plans can help expecting mothers connect with their bodies, their babies, and their desired birth experiences on a deeper level. The conversation highlights: The science of visualization and why mental rehearsal m...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery breaks down the truth about pregnancy cravings — what they are, where they come from, and why they’re not as random as they might seem. Cravings during pregnancy are often chalked up to hormones or quirky stereotypes, but there’s more happening behind the scenes. Dr. Muery explores how biology, hormonal shifts, gut changes, and emotional impri...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery unpacks the experience of sensory overload during pregnancy (and postpartum) — when smells, sounds, lights, textures, and even food can suddenly feel like too much. She breaks down the biological and nervous system shifts behind these changes and explains why your body becomes more reactive to everyday input. From the pregnant nose to visual c...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery shares the most overlooked (and totally free) tool for supporting your baby’s development: floor time . From reflex integration to sensory exploration, she explains why giving babies space to move on their own terms is essential for brain-body development — and how modern parenting culture often complicates what should be simple. You’ll learn...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery explores what recovery can look like after common birth interventions like epidurals, Pitocin, C-sections, antibiotics, magnesium sulfate, and more. While these tools can be necessary and even life-saving, they also impact how your body heals after birth—and that part is rarely talked about. If you’ve been asking yourself: How do I recover fro...

 this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery unpacks one of early parenthood’s most stressful (and misunderstood) challenges: the carseat meltdown. From the lens of nervous system development and primal instincts, you'll learn why many infants struggle with containment and separation during car rides—and why it has nothing to do with being a “bad sleeper” or “fussy baby.” Dr. Emily exp...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery gives a peek inside her doula bag and walks you through the go-to tools she brings to every birth so you can build your birth bag, hospital bag, or something in between! From hands-on comfort measures to energy-shifting items like affirmation cards and battery candles, Emily shares the what and—more importantly—the why behind each item. You’ll...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast Dr. Emily Muery breaks down a common — but often dismissed — source of pain in pregnancy: Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) . She kicks things off with a Popped Quiz to help listeners recognize what’s normal versus what’s just common (and not okay to ignore). Then, she dives deep into what SPD actually is, why it happens, and how to tell the difference between...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery dives into the powerful, invisible world of the infant microbiome—and how it lays the foundation for lifelong health. From birth method to breastfeeding, she unpacks how a baby’s gut is colonized, why it matters, and what parents can do to support it. You’ll learn the difference between gut issues and normal newborn behavior, the role of skin-...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery unpacks one of the most misunderstood phases of birth: prodromal labor . Often labeled “false labor” and brushed off as insignificant, this early phase is anything but false . It’s real work — quiet, essential, and deeply physiological. Dr. Emily explores: The difference between pre-labor , prodromal labor , and early labor What’s really happe...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery explores the quiet powerhouse of preconception: progesterone . Often overlooked and rarely explained, progesterone plays a vital role in ovulation, implantation, early pregnancy, and emotional balance. Rooted in real-life conversations from her chiropractic practice, this episode dives into how progesterone works, what disrupts it, and how to...

In this episode of The Popped Podcast , Dr. Emily Muery dives into one of the most overlooked but essential systems in a newborn’s body — the cranial nerves. These tiny-but-mighty nerves control everything from latching and swallowing to bonding, calming, and early movement. The episode opens with a fun “POP Quiz” to test what’s innate and what’s learned in early baby development — and uses those...

In this episode of The Popped Podcast , Dr. Emily Muery dives into the powerful—and often overlooked—golden hour after birth. This sacred window, the first hour after delivery, is more than just a sweet moment—it's a biological necessity for both baby and parent. Dr. Emily breaks down the physiological magic of uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact, from stabilizing baby’s vitals to initiating br...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast , Dr. Emily Muery unpacks the due date myth — where it came from, why it’s misleading, and what actually determines when labor begins. You’ll learn how the traditional 40-week countdown is based on outdated math, why only 5% of babies arrive “on time,” and how labor is triggered not by a calendar, but by a signal from your baby’s lungs — a protein that kicks o...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery explores the fourth trimester—through the eyes of your baby. We talk about what it’s really like to be born into a brand new world, why your presence matters more than your perfection, and how your nervous system helps regulate theirs. You’ll learn how co-regulation works, why some babies are more sensitive than others, and what’s really happe...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast t , Dr. Emily Muery flips the script on labor by spotlighting someone who rarely gets credit — the baby. We explore the powerful, instinctive ways babies actively participate in the birth process, from cardinal movements and head molding to reflexes, descent, and positioning. You'll learn how your baby twists, tucks, and rotates through the birth canal, ho...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery shines a light on the placenta — the often-forgotten organ that makes pregnancy possible. She unpacks how the placenta forms, what it actually does, and the common complications that can arise, like previa, accreta, abruption, and calcification. You’ll also learn why calcification is more tied to how long you’re pregnant than how old you are....

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast , Dr. Emily Muery explores the powerful practice of babywearing—why it matters, how it works, and what it really means for both baby and parent. You'll hear how carrying your baby isn’t just sweet—it’s biologically hardwired . Dr. Emily unpacks the science behind babywearing, including its impact on bonding, brain development, digestion, and emotional regu...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast , Dr. Emily Muery dives into the profound journey of motherhood, highlighting the incredible innate strengths and intelligence that women possess throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Through a blend of storytelling and evidence-based insights, she reveals how the female body is naturally designed to nurture, protect, and heal – even in the nuanced...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery dives into the ultimate natural labor toolkit, sharing essential tools and techniques to help manage labor pain and enhance the birthing experience. From hands-on methods like the comb and TENS unit to mind-body practices like guided meditation and affirmations, Dr. Emily covers it all. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the causes...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast , Dr. Emily Muery dives into the deeply misunderstood reality of postpartum recovery. While most women are told they’re “cleared” at six weeks, the truth is: healing takes much longer — and it runs much deeper. She unpacks the full-body recalibration that happens after birth, from hormonal crashes and nervous system shifts to core instability, pelvic floor dys...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery explores the Fetal Ejection Reflex (FER), a natural and involuntary response during childbirth that can occur under optimal conditions. She discusses the mechanics of FER, common misconceptions, the importance of the birthing environment, and how to optimize conditions for this reflex to occur. The episode emphasizes the significance of unders...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery discusses the realities of water breaking during labor, contrasting the dramatized portrayals in media with the actual experiences of women. She explains the anatomy and function of the amniotic sac, the different types of membrane ruptures, and the implications of each on labor. The episode also addresses common misconceptions, the signs of w...

In this episode of The POPPED Podcast, Dr. Emily Muery discusses the Webster technique, a chiropractic approach to addressing breech presentations during pregnancy. She explains the causes of breech presentation, the importance of pelvic alignment, and how chiropractic care can help facilitate optimal fetal positioning. The episode also covers preventative care, when to start chiropractic care, an...