Show Notes
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 tests are valuable tools, however they can also be a source of real anxiety and confusion. There are a lot of different tests, a lot of different names, and a lot of information to navigate. As a result, this episode is a comprehensive, evidence-based guide to every test offered in the first half of pregnancy. We walk through every test you may be offered through your anatomy ultrasound, what each one can tell you, how accurate it is, and how to make informed decisions. By the end, you will have a clear understanding of your options. In addition, you will feel confident having these conversations with your doctor or midwife. A companion episode covers prenatal testing in the second half of pregnancy. Full article and resources for this episode: https://pregnancypodcast.com/prenataltesting/
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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 the evidence supports. In this episode, you will learn when your prenatal care starts, what to truly avoid, and where the rules have more nuance. You will also learn the healthy habits worth building now, from prenatal vitamins to sleep, exercise, and support. Full article and resources for this episode: https://pregnancypodcast.com/pregnancybasics
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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 them, and you have choices beyond just opting in or opting out. In this episode, you will learn what the research shows about the flu shot during pregnancy, how safe it is, how well it works, when to get it, and which shot to ask for. Full article and resources for this episode: https://pregnancypodcast.com/fluvaccine/
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 arrives, and sleep gets disrupted in a whole new way. In this episode, you will learn what drives the most common pregnancy sleep problems, what the research says helps, and which remedies and medications have evidence behind them. You will also learn what to expect from sleep with a newborn, a common feeding myth, and one safety step every exhausted parent should know. Full article and resources for this episode: https://pregnancypodcast.com/sleepissues/
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 pregnancy changes can get in the way of a good night's rest. The good news is that you have more control over your sleep than you might think. In this episode, you will find out how sleep actually works and what the research says about poor sleep in pregnancy. You will also walk away with simple, evidence-based tools to help you sleep better tonight, and habits that will serve you well on your adventure into parenthood. Full article and resources for this episode: https://pregnancypodcast.com/sleep/