Podcasts · Kids & Family

Pregnancy Podcast

Vanessa Merten

100 episodes

A resource to support expecting moms (and partners, too!) with evidence-based information to navigate the awesome adventure of pregnancy, birth, and being a new parent. Vanessa Merten provides evidence based info that goes way beyond the typical "pregnancy instruction manual". Every episode is designed to give you all of the evidence, research, pros, cons, risks, and benefits – all so you decide what the best option is for YOU and feel confident about your decisions during your pregnancy and beyond. The show covers everything from pregnancy to caring for a newborn. Topics include prenatal care, labor, natural birth, hospital birth, cesarean birth, preparing for your baby, breastfeeding, postpartum, and caring for a new baby. This is your evidence-based resource to help you make informed decisions about your pregnancy and your baby.

Episodes page 1 of 2

  1. First Trimester Guide: Symptoms, Baby Growth, and Your First Appointments

    · 36 min · S12 E40

    You are pregnant, and your body already feels different, even though no one else can tell yet. The first trimester brings some of the biggest changes of pregnancy, often before you share the news. In this episode, you…

  2. Just Found Out You're Pregnant? Pregnancy Basics for a Healthy Start

    · 40 min · S12 E39

    You just saw a positive pregnancy test, and suddenly everyone has advice. Cut out coffee. Never eat sushi. Stay out of hot tubs. Some of that advice is backed by solid research, and some of it is far more cautious than…

  3. Heartburn During Pregnancy and How to Treat It Safely

    · 45 min · S12 E38

    It is late, you are finally lying down, and the burning starts again. Heartburn during pregnancy affects roughly 4 in 10 expecting mothers, and the advice is all over the place. Some of it is folklore. Some of it…

  4. Flu Vaccine During Pregnancy and What the Research Shows About Safety (2026-27 Flu Season)

    · 39 min · S12 E37

    Your provider offers you a flu shot, and you are not sure what to do. You have heard it protects your baby. You have also heard it barely worked last year and that the guidance keeps changing. Both have some truth to…

  5. Evidence-Based Solutions for Pregnancy Insomnia and Sleep Issues

    · 52 min · S12 E36

    If you are lying awake at night, you are in good company. Pregnancy insomnia and other sleep problems affect the majority of expecting mothers, from heartburn and leg cramps to a racing mind at 3 a.m. Then your baby…

  6. Evidence-Based Tips on How to Sleep Better During Pregnancy

    · 39 min · S12 E35

    Sleep during pregnancy is one of the most powerful tools you have for your health and your baby's health, yet it is often one of the first things to slip. Your body is working harder than ever, and a long list of…

  7. How Your Birth Environment Affects Labor

    · 34 min · S12 E34

    The room where you give birth has more influence over your labor than you might expect. Oxytocin is the key hormone driving labor, and stress hormones can interfere with it. So a birth environment that feels calm,…

  8. Is Pregnancy Brain Real? What the Research Says About Memory and Brain Fog

    · 33 min · S12 E33

    You walk into a room and cannot remember why. A word you use every day disappears mid-sentence. You read the same paragraph three times, and none of it sticks. Pregnancy brain is one of the most talked-about symptoms…

  9. Your Guide to Weaning and How to Stop Breastfeeding Without Stress

    · 44 min · S12 E32

    Most breastfeeding resources are full of information on why you should keep going, and very short on practical help for when you are ready to stop. If you have gone looking for guidance on weaning, you have probably…

  10. Top 5 Reasons Moms Stop Breastfeeding Early

    · 27 min · S12 E31

    New mothers go into breastfeeding with the best intentions. Unfortunately, many run into issues that make breastfeeding feel difficult or even impossible. By six months, fewer than one in three babies is still…

  11. How to Increase Your Milk Supply and Keep It Up

    · 36 min · S12 E30

    Milk supply is the number one reason mothers stop breastfeeding early or reach for formula. The good news is that most of what protects and builds your milk supply comes down to a few simple things you can control.…

  12. How Your Breasts Change During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

    · 34 min · S12 E29

    During the nine months of pregnancy, your body changes more than at any other time in your life, and there are many changes to your breasts. From the first tender, swollen weeks through the months you spend…

  13. Why Swelling Happens During Pregnancy and How to Find Relief

    · 31 min · S12 E28

    The medical term for swelling during pregnancy is edema, and it affects the vast majority of expecting moms. Swelling in your legs, feet, and ankles is usually normal and nothing to worry about. However, it can…

  14. How to Prevent and Relieve Back Pain During Pregnancy

    · 52 min · S12 E27

    Many of the physical changes that come with pregnancy can put stress on your back and lead to pain or discomfort. Back pain during pregnancy is almost always lower back pain, and it falls into one of three categories:…

  15. How Much Pregnancy Weight Gain Is Healthy and What Actually Matters

    · 40 min · S12 E26

    Your doctor or midwife will track your weight throughout pregnancy. For many expecting moms, stepping on the scale is a source of anxiety. This episode breaks down healthy pregnancy weight gain, including where the…

  16. Sun Safety During Pregnancy (Sunscreen, Tanning, and Protecting Your Skin)

    · 39 min · S12 E25

    Sunlight comes with both benefits and risks, and pregnancy adds a few extra considerations to both. Some of the upside is real. Your body makes vitamin D from sunlight. There is evidence that the sun lifts your mood.…

  17. Your Partner's Role in Supporting You in Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum

    · 29 min · S12 E23

    Most of the mental and physical work of having a baby falls on mom. One of the most common things I hear from partners is that they do not know what to do. They feel useless, or like there is nothing for them to help…

  18. The Truth About Vitamin D in Pregnancy (Most Moms Don't Get Enough)

    · 48 min · S12 E23

    Vitamin D in pregnancy is one of those topics that sounds simple, but the details really matter. You use this essential vitamin in nearly every part of your body, and your baby depends entirely on you to supply it. The…

  19. Home Birth: The Evidence on Safety

    · 50 min · S12 E22

    A home birth means welcoming your baby in your own space with the freedom to labor however feels right to you. It is also the birth setting that raises the most questions and concerns because safety is the central…

  20. Birth Center: Exploring Your Options

    · 51 min · S12 E21

    A birth center sits in the middle ground between a home birth and a hospital. You get a home-like setting and midwife-led care built around a low-intervention birth. A birth center is not the right fit for every…

  21. Hospital Birth: What to Expect

    · 52 min · S12 E20

    The vast majority of births in the United States occur in a hospital. A hospital birth offers around-the-clock staffing, a wide range of pain management options, and surgical capacity. Plus, a hospital has an on-site…

  22. 10 Tips to Mentally Prepare for Motherhood

    · 43 min · S12 E19

    There is so much focus during pregnancy on the physical side and on getting ready for your baby's arrival. Your body is changing, you are preparing for birth, and there is a long list of things to learn about feeding,…

  23. Prenatal Testing in the Second Half of Pregnancy

    · 35 min · S12 E18

    Prenatal testing in the second half of pregnancy is a different conversation than the testing offered earlier. Many of these tests produce results in real time, and many can directly affect your birth plan. As a…

  24. Prenatal Testing in the First Half of Pregnancy

    · 1 h 05 min · S12 E17

    Prenatal testing starts the moment you find out you are pregnant and continues throughout your entire pregnancy. Some tests screen for conditions you may have. Others look at your baby's development and genetics. These…

  25. How to Relieve Constipation During and After Pregnancy

    · 42 min · S12 E16

    About one in three pregnant women experiences constipation, and it becomes even more common after birth. It can be uncomfortable, sometimes painful, and a source of real frustration when you are already dealing with so…

  26. Gentle Cesarean and Evidence-Based Options for a Family-Centered Birth

    · 41 min · S12 E15

    A gentle cesarean, also called a family-centered cesarean, involves adjustments that shift a cesarean from a standard surgical procedure to a more personal, connected birth experience. As cesarean births have become…

  27. What to Expect in a Cesarean Birth

    · 54 min · S12 E14

    A cesarean birth is among the most common surgeries in the US, with about one in three babies delivered this way. Whether you are planning a cesarean or aiming for a vaginal birth, understanding this procedure helps…

  28. Understanding Ultrasound During Pregnancy: Safety, Accuracy, and Your Options

    · 49 min · S12 E13

    Ultrasound during pregnancy is one of the most common tools your care provider uses to monitor your baby's health and development. Whether it is your first scan in the early weeks or the anatomy scan in your second…

  29. Navigating Morning Sickness During Pregnancy

    · 51 min · S12 E12

    Morning sickness is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy, affecting up to 80% of expectant mothers. Despite the name, it can occur at any time of day and range from mild nausea to severe vomiting. Explore the…

  30. Vaginal Tears During Birth: Prevention, Healing, and What to Expect

    · 50 min · S12 E11

    Vaginal tears are one of the most common parts of birth that expecting mothers are not prepared for. More than half of women experience some degree of tearing during a vaginal birth, and rates are even higher for…

  31. Body Image During Pregnancy and After Birth

    · 39 min · S12 E10

    Your body goes through a greater physical transformation during pregnancy than at any other time in your life. While growing a baby is an incredible feat, not everyone feels positive about the changes that come with…

  32. The Science Behind Eating Dates to Prepare for Labor

    · 21 min · S12 E9

    Can eating a specific fruit in your final weeks of pregnancy actually change how your labor goes? Multiple studies have examined whether eating dates in the final weeks of pregnancy affects cervical dilation, labor…

  33. What Every New Mom Should Know About Postpartum Mood Changes

    · 33 min · S12 E8

    Many expecting mothers skip past information about postpartum mood changes, assuming it won't apply to them. Especially when they're anticipating one of life's happiest moments and have no history of depression. But…

  34. Lifting Weights and Strength Training During Pregnancy

    · 37 min · S12 E7

    Strength training offers significant benefits for physical and mental health, but many expecting parents wonder whether lifting weights is safe during pregnancy. While there is extensive research on exercise during…

  35. Prenatal Yoga: Benefits, Safety Research, and Pose Modifications

    · 37 min · S12 E6

    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…

  36. Cardio Exercise During Pregnancy (Running, Walking, Swimming, and more)

    · 37 min · S12 E5

    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…

  37. What the Evidence Says About Exercise During Pregnancy

    · 44 min · S12 E4

    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…

  38. Making Sense of Food Cravings and Aversions During Pregnancy

    · 30 min · S12 E3

    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…

  39. What You Need to Know About Recent Vaccine Schedule Changes

    · 22 min · S12 E2

    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…

  40. How Accurate is Your Due Date?

    · 24 min · S12 E1

    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…

  41. A Practical Guide to Creating Your Birth Plan

    · 37 min · S11 E90

    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…

  42. Going into Birth with Confidence

    · 27 min · S11 E89

    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…

  43. Q&A: Worried About Pooping During Labor?

    · 16 min · S11 E88

    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.…

  44. Getting Sick During Pregnancy and Finding Safe Relief

    · 53 min · S11 E87

    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…

  45. The Science of Gratitude in Pregnancy

    · 13 min · S11 E86

    Gratitude 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,…

  46. Supporting and Boosting Your Immune System During Pregnancy

    · 56 min · S11 E85

    How the immune system works, how it shifts during pregnancy, and what those changes mean for staying healthy. Learn why the most effective way to support your immune system begins with the core foundations of your…

  47. Hypertension and the Hidden Risk Beyond Your Blood Pressure Checks

    · 33 min · S11 E84

    Some fluctuations in blood pressure during preganncy are expected, but hypertensive disorders are one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal mortality worldwide. This includes chronic or gestational…

  48. Q&A: Common Questions About Prenatal Vitamins

    · 19 min · S11 E83

    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…

  49. The Research on Stress During Pregnancy and How to Manage It

    · 41 min · S11 E82

    We all experience some level of stress in daily life. Pregnancy can be a period of additional stress as you are experiencing many physical changes and symptoms, and are mentally preparing for birth and a new baby. In a…

  50. Q&A: Why Do Birthmarks Happen?

    · 19 min · S11 E81

    Birthmarks are one of those little mysteries that many babies are born with. Some are tiny and faint, while others are more noticeable and change over time. In this episode, we explore why birthmarks happen, the…

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