The Science Chick Report: Evidence You Can Use for Real-World Women's Health

What if breastfeeding doesn’t work out, but the mother still deeply wanted it to? What if “at least the baby is fed” skips over the grief she may carry for years? And what if the most helpful support is showing her that the bigger parenting goal is still within reach? In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett closes her three-part series on social support by focusin...

We all know social support matters, but what does it actually look like? And why do well-meaning friends, partners, and even healthcare providers sometimes make things worse? In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett digs into the science of social support, what it actually means, how it's measured, and why good intentions aren't enough. Drawing on research...

Did you know that some of the hardest parts of early motherhood may have nothing to do with breastfeeding itself? In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett explores what she calls the “Five I’s of New Motherhood”: idleness, isolation, incompetence, identity, and intensity. These are the hidden emotional and psychological barriers that can quietly derail new mothers,...

Why do pregnant and breastfeeding women use cannabis? The answer isn't what most clinicians think. In this episode, Dr. Kathleen Kendall Tackett shares data from over 3,400 perinatal cannabis users. The number one reason isn't "getting high" or even enjoyment. It is perceived safety. Nearly 98% of mothers believe cannabis is safer and more natural than prescription medications fo...

What does it mean to feel safe while giving birth? For many Jewish women and families in the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond, that question has taken on an urgency that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett sits down with Dr. B.J. Woodstein, author of the groundbreaking new book Be Fruitful: The Jew...

Is racial trauma “real” trauma, or are we asking the wrong question? Black women in the U.S. experience nearly double the rate of preterm birth compared to white women, and emerging research suggests this disparity may not be genetic but driven by chronic exposure to racial discrimination, activating the same inflammatory pathways seen in traditional trauma. In this episode of The Science Chick Re...

What if something as simple as a group walk could be just as effective as antidepressant medication for some mothers? In this episode of The Science Chick Report , Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett continues her series on practical, non-medical ways to support mothers experiencing depression, this time focusing on something simple but powerful: exercise. For many providers, it can feel frustrating when...

Emerging research suggests that nutrient deficiencies may contribute to postpartum depression and addressing them may support recovery. In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett continues her series on practical, non-medical approaches that can support mothers experiencing postpartum depression. Many providers want to help but may not have access to specialized ment...

Did you know that some of the most effective ways to support mothers experiencing postpartum depression may not involve medication at all? In this episode of The Science Chick Report , Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett explores practical, non-medical strategies that healthcare providers and community practitioners can use to support mothers experiencing postpartum depression. Many professionals want to...

Choosing the right screening tool for postpartum depression is more than just a clinical decision — it’s a key step that impacts what happens next for new mothers. In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett walks through two of the most commonly used tools for identifying postpartum depression: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Patient Health Qu...

What if improving perinatal mental health outcomes started not with treatment, but with asking the right questions — consistently and with a plan? And what if the real problem isn’t lack of evidence, but hesitation, fear, and vague guidelines? In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett focuses on one of the most essential yet neglected aspects of perinatal care: scre...

Do you know that simply serving in the military places women at significantly higher risk for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and adverse birth outcomes, even before combat exposure is considered? And do you know that one of the most powerful drivers of this risk is still rarely discussed in perinatal care? In this episode of The Science Chick Report , Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett shines a light on an...

Birth can be life changing in beautiful ways, but it can also leave women carrying fear, confusion, or unresolved emotional pain, especially when the experience felt rushed, dismissive, or frightening. In this episode of The Science Chick Report, Dr. Kathleen Kendall Tackett sits down with trauma specialist Dr. George Rhoades to explore how Trauma First Aid, a method used around the world in disas...

Forget everything you think you know about infant sleep. What if the secret to better rest for the whole family isn't about training your baby, but about tuning into their needs? And what if science shows that breastfeeding, often blamed for maternal exhaustion, is actually a key to more sleep and lower depression risk? In this groundbreaking follow-up episode of The Science Chick Report , Dr....

What if everything you’ve been told about infant sleep is rooted in a century-old theory that dismissed love as unscientific? Are “cry-it-out” techniques really helping families, or just fueling a billion-dollar parenting industry built on exhaustion and guilt? In this eye-opening episode of The Science Chick Report, the first of a special two-part series, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett takes a clea...

What happens when the healers become the wounded? When doctors and nurses are forced to make choices that violate their deepest ethical vows?  In this compelling episode of The Science Chick Repor t, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett explores the concept of moral injury, a term once reserved for military contexts but now emerging as a crucial framework for understanding the psychological and ethical to...

What are the real barriers to VBAC, and are they evidence-based or built on fear and bias? In Part 2 of this powerful two-part series, Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett continues her conversation with Australian midwife, researcher, and author Dr. Hazel Keedle. They dive deeper into the systemic, emotional, and clinical roadblocks that women face when planning a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). Fro...

Ever wondered what drives women to choose vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)? In this powerful first part of a two-part series of The Science Chick Report , Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett sits down with Australian midwife, researcher, and author Dr. Hazel Keedle for an honest, eye-opening conversation about the challenges surrounding birth after cesarean, also known as VBAC. Drawing from her own ex...

Did you know that during the peak of COVID-19 in New York City, 67% of frontline healthcare workers reported moderate to high levels of moral injury-related guilt? In this debut  episode of The Science Chick Report , Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett takes a closer look at something we haven’t talked enough about: how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the emotional well-being of healthcare providers. Spec...

Hosted by Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, The Science Chick Report brings women’s health research you can trust to the people holding it all together: birth workers, lactation consultants, doulas, midwives, mental health providers, and nurses. Every episode turns the latest science into practical tools, helping you advocate, recover, and stay grounded in the work you love, even when it feels like yo...