How Your Birth Environment Affects Labor

More from Pregnancy Podcast

1. 

   S12 · E37 · 4 Oct 2026 · 39 min

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

   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/ Thank you to the brands that power this podcast: The VTech…

2. 

   S12 · E36 · 27 Sep 2026 · 52 min

   Evidence-Based Solutions for Pregnancy Insomnia and Sleep Issues

   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…

3. 

   S12 · E35 · 20 Sep 2026 · 39 min

   Evidence-Based Tips on How to Sleep Better During Pregnancy

   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…

4. 

   S12 · E33 · 6 Sep 2026 · 33 min

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

   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 of pregnancy and one of the least understood. This episode covers what researchers actually find when they test memory and thinking during pregnancy. Learn why this feels more dramatic than what researchers can actually measure, and how long it lasts. Importantly, find out why pregnancy brain looks less like a decline and more like an upgrade. Plus, practical strategies that…

5. 

   S12 · E32 · 23 Aug 2026 · 44 min

   Your Guide to Weaning and How to Stop Breastfeeding Without Stress

   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 found long lists of reasons not to quit and anxiety-inducing articles about everything that can go wrong. Breastfeeding is amazing, but every mom will reach a point when she is ready to stop. When you reach that point, you should have access to evidence-based, judgment-free support. This episode is here to take the anxiety out of stopping breastfeeding. We cover when to wean, how…

6. 

   S12 · E31 · 16 Aug 2026 · 27 min

   Top 5 Reasons Moms Stop Breastfeeding Early

   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 exclusively breastfed. Researchers across many countries have examined why mothers supplement with formula or wean before their baby's first birthday, and the same themes come up again and again. This episode walks through the top five reasons moms stop breastfeeding early and, more importantly, what you can do to avoid these issues so you can reach your own breastfeeding goals. Full…

7. 

   S12 · E38 · 11 Oct 2026 · 45 minNew

   Heartburn During Pregnancy and How to Treat It Safely

   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 points to medications that were pulled from shelves years ago. In this episode, you will learn why pregnancy makes heartburn so much worse, which simple changes actually have research behind them, how the medication options compare on safety, and the one type of pain that is not heartburn at all. Full article and resources for this episode: https://pregnancypodcast.com/heartburn/…

8. 

   S12 · E30 · 9 Aug 2026 · 36 min

   How to Increase Your Milk Supply and Keep It Up

   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. This episode breaks down how milk production actually works, how to gauge your supply accurately, and why so many mothers worry they are not making enough when they truly are. You will learn practical ways to establish breastfeeding in the first days and weeks, and find out how to increase your supply if you need to. We also dig into the evidence on galactagogues, the foods,…

9. 

   S12 · E29 · 2 Aug 2026 · 34 min

   How Your Breasts Change During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

   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 breastfeeding, your breasts go through a major transformation. Some of these breast changes during pregnancy are visible, like growth, darker areolas, and more prominent veins. Others are internal as your body builds the machinery to feed your baby. Learn exactly what to expect, why each change happens, and how to manage symptoms like sensitivity, leaking, and stretch marks. The more you…

10. 

    S12 · E28 · 26 Jul 2026 · 31 min

    Why Swelling Happens During Pregnancy and How to Find Relief

    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 occasionally signal something more serious, like preeclampsia or a blood clot. This episode explains why swelling during pregnancy happens, what you can do to prevent and treat it, and the warning signs that mean you should call your doctor or midwife. We also cover related issues like carpal tunnel and varicose veins, why swelling can actually get worse right after birth, how to…

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