Birth With Power

This is a special rebroadcast of one of my most essential postpartum episodes — a clear, compassionate conversation about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) and how to recognize when you need support. This episode will help you clearly know what’s “normal,” what’s not, or when to consider treatment.
I’m joined by Dr. Stephanie Waggle — psychiatrist, perinatal mental health–certified physician, cancer survivor, marathon runner, and passionate advocate for improving maternal mental health care. With over 17 years of experience, she brings a rare mix of clinical expertise, research knowledge, and deep empathy for the mental health challenges people face during pregnancy and postpartum.
Together, we break down what PMADs truly look like, why they’re much more than “postpartum depression,” and how to make informed decisions about medication and therapy — including what to do if you were taking medication before pregnancy or are considering restarting postpartum.
This conversation is especially powerful if you’ve ever had intrusive thoughts, felt overwhelmed by anxiety, or been unsure whether what you’re experiencing is simply “new mom adjustment” or something more.
What you’ll learn:
What PMADs include (it’s far more than postpartum depression)
How common these conditions really are — in both birthing parents and partners
Risk factors and why even those without them can still develop PMADs
How to recognize the difference between baby blues and clinical depression
What intrusive thoughts are — and why having them does not mean you’re unsafe or “crazy”
When to seek help and where to turn for reliable support
How psychiatrists approach medication decisions before, during, and after pregnancy
The truth about breastfeeding, medication safety, and making choices that protect both you and your baby
A breakdown of the first FDA-approved medication specifically for postpartum depression — and what you need to know

Resources Mentioned:
Postpartum Support International: www.postpartum.net
Improve Life - Dr. Waggle’s practice
MommyMeds app

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power
Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:
Hospital Tour Scorecard: Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital
How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You: Ask the right questions and spot red flags early
Labor Pain Management Playbook: Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Note: This episode is a rebroadcast as part of our Postpartum Power Replay series — spotlighting vital postpartum conversations to support your mental health, your confidence, and your well-being during a season when you deserve exceptional care.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Bobbie: https://www.hibobbie.com
* Check out Ritual at get 40% off your first month for a limited time: https://ritual.com/DRNICOLE

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This is a special rebroadcast of one of our most-loved postpartum episodes, a powerful and practical conversation for any parent navigating life after the NICU. Whether you’re currently in the thick of it or simply want to feel more prepared, this replay will leave you feeling supported, grounded, and seen.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jessica Daigle — pediatrician, NICU hospitalist, and founder of Mom & Me MD — whose passion for caring for NICU families shines through in everything she does. With warmth and clarity, Dr. Jess breaks down what truly affects families after a NICU stay, how to ease the transition home, and how parents can let go of unnecessary guilt and step into confidence.
Her insights come from both her professional expertise and her deeply personal journey: miscarriage, extreme preterm delivery, and raising two NICU graduates. This episode is a gift for any parent who needs reassurance, practical tools, or simply a reminder that they’re not alone.
What you’ll learn:
The five areas of life most impacted when you bring home a new baby (especially after the NICU)
How to release guilt and self-blame when birth or postpartum don’t go as planned
Key questions every NICU parent should feel empowered to ask
Why advocacy and communication with the care team matter
How to prepare for postpartum while you’re still pregnant
Practical tips for building support systems that actually make life easier

Resources Mentioned:
Mom & Me MD (concierge NICU + 4th trimester care)
Dr. Jess on Instagram: @momandme_md

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power
Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:
Hospital Tour Scorecard: Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital
How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You: Ask the right questions and spot red flags early
Labor Pain Management Playbook: Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Note: This episode is a rebroadcast as part of our Postpartum Power Replay series — sharing conversations that make postpartum feel more supported, less overwhelming, and filled with the kind of guidance every new parent deserves.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Bobbie: https://www.hibobbie.com
* Check out Ritual at get 40% off your first month for a limited time: https://ritual.com/DRNICOLE

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This is a special rebroadcast of one of our most downloaded postpartum episodes, and for good reason. This conversation is for you if your birth didn’t go the way you hoped.
In this replay, I sit down with Kaylee Summers — the Birth Trauma Mama — to unpack what birth trauma actually is, why it’s so common, and how you can begin to heal. Kaylee brings both clinical expertise and lived experience as an amniotic fluid embolism survivor, and her honesty, clarity, and compassion make this episode a must listen if you had a traumatic birth experience.

What you’ll learn:
What “birth trauma” really means (and why it’s more common than most people think)
Why trauma is subjective — and why your experience matters
The signs and symptoms of birth trauma in the early postpartum period
How treatment works, including what EMDR and other trauma-focused therapies actually do
When (and how) to seek support if you’re struggling after birth
The role communication and care team dynamics play in shaping your birth experience

Resources Mentioned:
Kaylee’s Instagram + TikTok: @thebirthtrauma_mama
The Birth Trauma Mama Podcast
Postpartum Support International provider directory
Touchstone Institute provider directory

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power
Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:
Hospital Tour Scorecard: Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital
How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You: Ask the right questions and spot red flags early
Labor Pain Management Playbook: Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Note: This episode is a rebroadcast as part of my December “Postpartum Power Replay” series — revisiting some of the most powerful episodes to support you during a season when postpartum needs often go unseen.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Bobbie: https://www.hibobbie.com
* Check out Ritual at get 40% off your first month for a limited time: https://ritual.com/DRNICOLE

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is your invitation for a softer season, a clearer mind, or just a moment to breathe before the year ends. It will feel like a nice warm exhale.
In this reflective end-of-year episode, I’m sharing the milestones, challenges, and growth that shaped my 2025 — from sending my NICU graduate to college, to navigating perimenopause, to choosing rest over hustle. I’m also walking you through the non-negotiable holiday boundaries that matter most during pregnancy and postpartum, and how to give yourself permission to honor what you need this season.
You’ll learn:
– Why rest is a necessary part of preparing for birth, postpartum, and motherhood
– How I’m protecting my peace during the holidays — and how you can too
– Simple, clear scripts for setting boundaries with family and visitors
– What my family milestones taught me about growth, identity, and motherhood
– Why I’m stepping back for the remainder of December (and how you can build your own pause)

Resources Mentioned:
Instagram: @drnicolerankins
Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power
Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:
• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital
• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early
• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power
Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:
• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital
• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early
• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Our Sponsors:
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Bobbie: https://www.hibobbie.com
* Check out Ritual at get 40% off your first month for a limited time: https://ritual.com/DRNICOLE

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hospital birth may not be the right path for every OB/GYN.
This week, I’m in conversation with Dr. Nathan Riley, an OB-GYN and palliative care physician who left conventional medicine to support home birth and midwifery-led care. We talk about what the system gets wrong, what it does right, and how honoring true autonomy can transform the birth experience.
You’ll hear two OBs with very different paths, get real about training gaps, liability fears, and what actually supports healthy birth. Whether you’re planning a home birth, a hospital birth, or you’re just curious about your options, this is an episode that challenges assumptions and opens possibilities.
You’ll learn:
Why Dr. Riley left the hospital system — and what he does now
How hospital training limits women’s birth choices
What really happens during an emergency C-section
The untold truth about vaginal breech birth
What autonomy actually looks like in labor (and how to prepare for it)

Resources mentioned:
Dr. Nathan Riley on Instagram
Born Free Method
Beloved Holistics

Free Resources to Help You Birth With Power
Get the support, clarity, and confidence you deserve. Download any of my free tools designed to help you prepare for a calmer, confident, and more empowered hospital birth:
• Hospital Tour Scorecard — Know exactly what to look for so you can choose the right hospital
• How to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You — Ask the right questions and spot red flags early
• Labor Pain Management Playbook — Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patients

Our Sponsors:
* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com
* Check out Bobbie: https://www.hibobbie.com
* Check out Ritual at get 40% off your first month for a limited time: https://ritual.com/DRNICOLE

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/birth-with-power/donations

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy