From Nicotine to Ibogaine: How Substances Shape Pregnancy Outcomes: Episode #187
Release Date: 08/25/2025
When to Seek Out a Second Opinion in Pregnancy: Episode #188
True Birth
Pregnancy and childbirth are filled with important decisions, and sometimes the advice you receive from your OB/GYN or midwife can feel overwhelming—or incomplete. In this episode of True Birth, we take an honest look at when and why you might consider seeking a second opinion during pregnancy or for birth planning. A second opinion is not about questioning your provider’s expertise—it’s about ensuring you have the full picture before making decisions that impact your health and your baby’s well-being. We discuss situations where a second opinion can be especially valuable: when...
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From Nicotine to Ibogaine: How Substances Shape Pregnancy Outcomes: Episode #187
True Birth
In this episode of True Birth, we take on one of the most fraught subjects in pregnancy care: substance use. Their conversation goes beyond the obvious admonition that “drugs are bad in pregnancy” to explore the nuance — what counts as a teratogen, which substances alter fetal development directly, and which compromise pregnancy through vascular, placental, or behavioral pathways. The discussion begins with tobacco, a substance that does not cause specific birth defects but exerts powerful vascular effects that restrict blood flow to the placenta, increasing the risks of low birth...
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Two Days, Two Docs: Stories from the Delivery Room: Episode #186
True Birth
Two Days, Two Docs: Stories from the Delivery Room takes you inside an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at 48 hours in Labor & Delivery through the eyes of two physicians: Dr. Yaakov Abdelhak and Dr. Apig Mosses from Maternal Resources. From the adrenaline of middle-of-the-night emergencies to the quiet, awe-filled moments of new life, these stories capture the highs, lows, and everything in between. Whether you’re a fellow clinician, an expectant parent, or simply curious about what really happens beyond those hospital doors, you’ll hear the human side of medicine—raw, real, and...
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New ACOG Guidance - "Transformation" to U.S. Prenatal Care Delivery: Episode #185
True Birth
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released new clinical guidance on April 17, 2025 that recommends, as they see it, reimagining prenatal care in the U.S. Instead of the traditional 12–14 in‑person visits, ACOG now advocates for individualized prenatal care schedules—especially for average‑ and low‑risk patients—tailored based on medical, social, and structural determinants of health as well as patient preferences The guidance encourages early needs assessments (ideally before 10 weeks), shared decision‑making, coordination of social support...
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Introducing Dr. Apig Mosses
True Birth
Dr. Mosses comes to Maternal Resources after serving as the Medical Director of the OB/GYN department at Ezra Medical Center in Brooklyn, where he built a thriving obstetric practice from the ground up, now averaging over 50–60 deliveries per month. Prior to that, he was a senior attending physician at NYU Langone in Midwood, Brooklyn, where he maintained a cesarean section rate of under 10%—a testament to his skill in supporting vaginal births, including twin deliveries and VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean). His approach combines clinical rigor with a strong belief in giving patients...
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Sometimes You Don't Know: Birth Stories
True Birth
In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we explore birth stories. Through candid, firsthand birth stories, we highlight how listening to your body, trusting your instincts, and building the right care team can make all the difference. Whether you're planning a hospital birth, birth center experience, or home delivery, this episode reminds us that not all providers are created equal—and sometimes, your OB just doesn’t know when it comes to birth. Who This Episode is For: Pregnant people, birth workers, doulas, midwives, and anyone curious about the realities of modern maternity care....
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Re-Release: Epidurals in Labor & Delivery: Episode #78
True Birth
Epidural anesthesia is a type of local anesthetic that is injected into the epidural space. This procedure numbs the spinal nerve roots and provides a block to the lower abdomin, pelvic and lower extremity portion of the body. It is the safest and most effecive method of pharmacologic pain management in labor available. When it comes to managing labor pain, epidurals are one of the most commonly requested and effective options. But despite their widespread use, many expecting parents still have questions or concerns. Here’s what you need to know. An epidural is a type of regional...
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Fetal Head Size in Pregnancy: Episode #182
True Birth
In this episdoe, we explore how biometry is used to measure key metrics like Biparietal Diameter (BPD) and Head Circumference (HC), shedding light on what these measurements reveal about your baby’s growth and development. We talk about their role in predicting potential challenges during labor, and how they help ensure a safe and healthy birth. From understanding head size’s impact on delivery to offering expectant parents valuable insights, this episode unpacks the critical connection between fetal head measurements and the labor process. YouTube: Dive deeper into pregnancy tips...
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Unicornuate Uterus: Episode #181
True Birth
Understanding Unicornuate Uterus: What It Is, Prevalence, Risks, and a Positive Outlook A unicornuate uterus is a rare congenital condition where the uterus develops with only one half, or "horn," instead of the typical two-horned shape of a normal uterus. This happens during fetal development when one of the Müllerian ducts, which form the uterus, fails to develop fully. As a result, the uterus is smaller, has only one functioning fallopian tube, and may or may not have a rudimentary horn (a small, underdeveloped second horn). This condition falls under the category of Müllerian duct...
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Re-Release: C-Section Delivery Done Right: Dr. Abdelhak's Cesarean Birth Guide. Episode #50
True Birth
When a c-section birth is done with care and precision it can make all the difference in the healing and recovery for the mother. Operating the right way will also enable a woman to continue to have more pregnancies in a safe and secure way. In this episode, Dr. Yaakov Abdelhak, a high risk perinatologist MFM specialist, lays out his method for operating in a c-section and includes what can be discussed ahead of time from a woman to her provider. What an opportunity as he reveals his unique method for conducting C sections step by step in this episode of The True Birth...
info_outlineIn this episode of True Birth, we take on one of the most fraught subjects in pregnancy care: substance use. Their conversation goes beyond the obvious admonition that “drugs are bad in pregnancy” to explore the nuance — what counts as a teratogen, which substances alter fetal development directly, and which compromise pregnancy through vascular, placental, or behavioral pathways.
The discussion begins with tobacco, a substance that does not cause specific birth defects but exerts powerful vascular effects that restrict blood flow to the placenta, increasing the risks of low birth weight, preterm birth, and ectopic pregnancy. From there, they move to alcohol, one of the few true teratogens, responsible for fetal alcohol syndrome and its enduring neurodevelopmental and behavioral consequences. The conversation then widens to heroin and opioids, which do not deform fetal anatomy but devastate pregnancy outcomes through miscarriage, placental abruption, and neonatal withdrawal syndromes.
Cocaine emerges as a particularly dangerous agent, not for teratogenicity but for its capacity to cause catastrophic circulatory collapse in both mother and fetus — strokes, abruptions, and even loss of fetal limbs due to infarcted placental tissue. The hosts also explore the gray areas: hallucinogens like LSD, stimulants such as ecstasy, and prescription amphetamines. They note the complexity of studying these substances, given the socioeconomic, dietary, and mental health confounders that often accompany their use.
What makes this episode compelling is not just the catalog of risks but the larger question of how to think about exposure. Mallon and Abdelhak acknowledge the historical shifts — from a time when physicians condoned “a few cigarettes a day” to today’s zero-tolerance policies — and they highlight emerging treatments for addiction, such as Ibogaine, which may offer new hope for patients but remain medically and legally unsettled.
The episode’s takeaway is clear: in pregnancy, no recreational substance is benign. Some, like alcohol, directly alter embryologic development; others, like nicotine and cocaine, impair the very systems that sustain pregnancy. The evidence is complex, but the principle is simple — abstaining is the only truly safe choice.
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