Prenatal Yoga: Benefits, Safety Research, and Pose Modifications
Pregnancy Podcast
Many studies demonstrate the benefits of yoga during pregnancy, including shorter labor and improved newborn outcomes. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that modified yoga is one of the safest exercises for pregnant women. But what exactly does modified yoga mean? ACOG cautions against specific poses and hot yoga. As with any activity, there is nuance in determining which activities are safe. This episode will examine the research on specific poses and on practicing yoga in a heated environment. Plus, the physical changes that can affect your practice, precautions,...
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Cardio Exercise During Pregnancy (Running, Walking, Swimming, and more)
Pregnancy Podcast
This episode takes a deep dive into cardio exercise during pregnancy, including walking, running, swimming, cycling, and more. Cardio is a broad category that includes any activity that raises your heart rate. During pregnancy, normal changes to your cardiovascular system mean your heart is working differently, which often raises questions about safety for you and your baby. Find out how pregnancy-related changes can affect cardio workouts. Learn how current guidelines define safe exercise, and why intensity matters more than the specific activity you choose. This episode also covers practical...
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What the Evidence Says About Exercise During Pregnancy
Pregnancy Podcast
Recommendations for exercise during pregnancy can feel confusing, especially when advice sounds restrictive, outdated, or inconsistent. Rather than feeling afraid to work out, this episode examines the evidence to clarify what actually matters when exercising during pregnancy. You will learn how pregnancy-related changes can affect your workouts and how to adapt your activity safely and confidently. We cover warning signs to watch for, activities that require caution, and how current guidelines compare with the research. This episode lays the foundation for understanding the role exercise can...
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Making Sense of Food Cravings and Aversions During Pregnancy
Pregnancy Podcast
Pregnancy cravings and aversions are common symptoms during pregnancy. While it may be fun to make jokes about pickles and ice cream, for some expecting moms, this can be a source of stress. You may find yourself craving junk food or completely turned off by healthy foods, even though they were once a normal part of your diet. This episode explains why cravings and aversions occur and how they can affect your diet. Learn what the research really tells us, and just as importantly, what it does not. If you have ever felt curious about your cravings, frustrated by aversions, or stressed out about...
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What You Need to Know About Recent Vaccine Schedule Changes
Pregnancy Podcast
The CDC recently made significant changes to the childhood vaccination schedule, prompting widespread coverage and discussion. Vaccines are a complex and often polarizing topic. For expecting parents, clickbait headlines can feel overwhelming or confusing. This episode breaks down how these recommendations are developed and what actually changed in the vaccine schedule. Learn how the revised recommendations influence pediatric care, insurance coverage, and state requirements, and what this means in practical terms as you navigate vaccine decisions for your baby. Full article and resources for...
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How Accurate is Your Due Date?
Pregnancy Podcast
One of the first things you do when you find out you are pregnant is to determine your due date. This date rules everything about your pregnancy, from your prenatal care to the timing of your baby shower. This is also the most common question from friends, family, and strangers. As you get close to your due date, there can be a lot of anxiety, especially if your due date comes and goes, and you are still pregnant. This date estimates when your baby will arrive; it is not exact. It is certainly not a deadline. The calculation we use today is hundreds of years old, and the evidence doesn’t...
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A Practical Guide to Creating Your Birth Plan
Pregnancy Podcast
A birth plan is a document that outlines your preferences for labor and what happens immediately after your baby’s birth. A birth plan is much more than a piece of paper you hand to your care provider. It is the process you go through to prepare for your desired birth experience. This process will lay the foundation for preparing you for scenarios where everything goes exactly as planned and for what should happen if it does not. The value of a birth plan has more to do with the process of creating it than with the finished product. This simple process will help you navigate your labor and...
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Going into Birth with Confidence
Pregnancy Podcast
It is completely normal to feel nervous about giving birth, especially with so many unknowns about how labor will unfold. Research shows that fear of birth can affect your experience, but you are not powerless against it. In this episode, you will learn how to identify what is driving your anxiety, filter out unhelpful influences, and use simple, effective tools to feel more grounded and prepared. We will cover ways to reframe your mindset, build confidence through education and planning, and talk through common fears so you can approach birth with greater calm and confidence. Full article and...
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Q&A: Worried About Pooping During Labor?
Pregnancy Podcast
There are many things that can happen during pregnancy and birth that might feel embarrassing in other settings, but are normal parts of having a baby. The possibility of pooping during labor is one of these topics. This episode addresses a listener’s questions about how common this really is and why it occurs. You will learn whether there’s anything you can do to prevent it and what the pros and cons are of methods often suggested to avoid it. We also discuss potential benefits and how exposure to fecal matter during birth may influence your baby’s gut microbiome. Full article and...
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Getting Sick During Pregnancy and Finding Safe Relief
Pregnancy Podcast
Getting sick can feel especially tough when you're pregnant. Unfortunately, during pregnancy, you're more vulnerable to illnesses like colds, the flu, and COVID-19. This episode helps you understand what kind of illness you might have, how to treat your symptoms safely, and when to reach out to your doctor or midwife. Learn how these viruses spread, what symptoms to watch for, and how to distinguish between common cold, pregnancy rhinitis, or strep throat. Find out about evidence-based, non-medical strategies to ease symptoms. Hear about research on homeopathic remedies like Umcka and herbal...
info_outlineGratitude is something most of us feel instinctively, but does science actually back up the benefits? This episode explores the research on gratitude, including how it affects emotional well-being, relationships, stress, and even physical health. Hear about studies focused specifically on practicing gratitude during pregnancy and simple, evidence-based ways to build gratitude into your daily routine. Whether pregnancy has been smooth or challenging, gratitude can be a powerful tool to help you feel more grounded and supported.
Full article and resources for this episode: https://pregnancypodcast.com/gratitude/
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