Q&A: The Golden Hour and Maximizing Time with Your Baby After Birth
Pregnancy Podcast
The first hour after your baby is born is a critical time for bonding and transitioning to life outside the womb. This episode answers a question about how important this time really is and provides practical tips on how to prepare for it. Learn about the evidence on skin-to-skin contact, delayed umbilical cord clamping, and how to navigate newborn procedures while prioritizing bonding. We also explore what to expect during the first hour, including considerations for cesarean births and how your partner can play an active role. Thank you to our sponsor Try AG1 and get...
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Navigate the Administrative Side of Parenting Like a Pro
Pregnancy Podcast
This episode is your guide to all of the administrative tasks you are responsible for after having a baby. From submitting maternity or paternity leave paperwork to applying for critical identification documents like a birth certificate, social security number, and passport. Learn how to ensure your baby is added to your health insurance and how to stay on top of pediatrician appointments. Plus, key considerations to update your estate planning and financial accounts. Procrastinating and putting off these responsibilities will take more work or cost you more money or frustration in the future....
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Q&A: Are Plastic Baby Bottles Safe? Are There Better Alternatives?
Pregnancy Podcast
Plastic has been the go-to material for baby bottles for decades, but recent concerns have raised questions about its safety. Although BPA was banned in baby bottles over a decade ago, similar chemicals like BPF and BPS are still used as replacements, and research on their long-term effects is ongoing. Additionally, the issue of microplastics in plastic bottles has become a growing concern, with studies suggesting that babies may be exposed to tiny plastic particles that could impact their development. In this episode, you'll learn practical tips to minimize risks associated with plastic baby...
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Reducing Birth Costs with Health Insurance and Tax-Advantaged Accounts
Pregnancy Podcast
In the United States, the average cost of vaginal birth is nearly $10,000, and the average price for a cesarean section is close to $14,000. There are tools and strategies you can use to save money on your medical bills. Insurance can help cover the cost of prenatal care and birth. Tax-advantaged accounts like flexible spending or health savings accounts can save you money on the expenses you have to pay. Whether you already have insurance or are shopping for a new plan, learn how your insurance works and how to minimize costs. Plus, get an overview of tax-advantaged accounts you can...
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Q&A: Are 3D Ultrasounds Safe and Worth It?
Pregnancy Podcast
Ultrasounds have revolutionized prenatal care, and it is incredible that we have technology that allows us to see a baby inside the womb. Ultrasound technology began with 2D black-and-white pictures and has advanced to include 3D, 4D, and even 5D images and video. While prenatal care providers sometimes use 3D ultrasounds, most are elective ultrasounds for parents to see their baby and get keepsake images and videos. While this has become popular, the medical community has raised concerns about elective ultrasounds. Learn about 3D ultrasounds, the evidence on safety, potential risks, and tips...
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Building a Bond and Connecting with Your Baby During Pregnancy
Pregnancy Podcast
Some expecting mothers feel an instant connection with their baby as soon as they see a positive pregnancy test. For other mothers, feeling a bond doesn’t come naturally. Every parent experiences pregnancy differently, and no matter where you are on the spectrum, how you feel about your baby right now is okay and normal. It is widely accepted that a parent’s emotional involvement with their baby influences their parenting. Can you bond with your baby during pregnancy and get a head start on building that connection early? Learn what research tells us about bonding with your baby during...
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Q&A: Common Questions About Prenatal Vitamins
Pregnancy Podcast
You probably know that taking a prenatal vitamin during pregnancy is important, but there’s more to it than just that simple advice. I’ve received a lot of questions recently, including: When should you start taking a prenatal vitamin? Is a prenatal really that different from a multivitamin? What can you do if you have trouble swallowing pills or experience nausea? And how long should you continue taking one after having your baby? Tune in to this episode to get answers to these essential questions and more, and ensure you and your baby are getting the right nutrients at the right time....
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COVID-19 Vaccine in Pregnancy: Risks, Benefits, and Research
Pregnancy Podcast
The COVID-19 pandemic was the most significant global health crisis since the 1918 Spanish Flu. Fortunately, the severity and lethality of COVID-19 have greatly diminished. The overall risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 is now low, including for pregnant women. However, there is evidence that contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, cesarean delivery, preeclampsia or eclampsia, and blood clots. To reduce these risks and provide passive immunity to the baby, healthcare professionals recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for...
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Q&A: Navigating the Emotional and Physical Challenges of Morning Sickness
Pregnancy Podcast
This episode responds to a listener facing constant morning sickness and the conflicting emotions of wanting to be excited about pregnancy while struggling with uncomfortable symptoms. Morning sickness affects 60-80% of expecting mothers, and while the good news is that it typically subsides over time, there’s no one-size-fits-all cure. Finding relief can be a trial-and-error process. In this episode, we explore a variety of evidence-based remedies that may help alleviate nausea, including dietary changes, supplements, essential oils, and physical interventions. Thank you to...
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Protecting Your Baby From RSV, Maternal Vaccine vs. Infant Monoclonal Antibodies
Pregnancy Podcast
RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus, a common respiratory virus that usually causes upper respiratory illness with mild, cold-like symptoms. For some groups, like infants, RSV can be a severe lower respiratory tract illness. With no licensed vaccine available for babies, there are two options for protection against RSV. One option is a maternal RSV vaccine during pregnancy between 32 and 37 weeks from September through January. The other option is monoclonal antibodies administered to newborns within a week after birth. The vaccine and antibodies for RSV are both relatively newly...
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