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- 25. Okt.letzte Folge
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.
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First Trimester Guide: Symptoms, Baby Growth, and Your First Appointments
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 will learn how your ba
Just Found Out You're Pregnant? Pregnancy Basics for a Healthy Start
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
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
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 choi
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
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 i
How Your Birth Environment Affects Labor
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, safe, and private can help
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
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 reas
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. Researc
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 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 th
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
How to Prevent and Relieve Back Pain During Pregnancy
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: lumbar spine pain, pos
How Much Pregnancy Weight Gain Is Healthy and What Actually Matters
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 guidelines come from, how
Sun Safety During Pregnancy (Sunscreen, Tanning, and Protecting Your Skin)
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. Getting exposure to sun
Your Partner's Role in Supporting You in Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum
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 with. That could not be
The Truth About Vitamin D in Pregnancy (Most Moms Don't Get Enough)
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 problem is that most
Home Birth: The Evidence on Safety
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 issue. This episode takes
Birth Center: Exploring Your Options
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 pregnancy, and it is not the
Hospital Birth: What to Expect
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 NICU if your baby needs
10 Tips to Mentally Prepare for Motherhood
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, sleep, and caring for
Prenatal Testing in the Second Half of Pregnancy
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 result, decisions at this st
Prenatal Testing in the First Half of Pregnancy
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 to
How to Relieve Constipation During and After Pregnancy
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 much else. The good n
Gentle Cesarean and Evidence-Based Options for a Family-Centered Birth
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 more common, the options
What to Expect in a Cesarean Birth
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 you feel more confident
Understanding Ultrasound During Pregnancy: Safety, Accuracy, and Your Options
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 trimester, ultrasounds pr
Navigating Morning Sickness During Pregnancy
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 science behind its caus
Vaginal Tears During Birth: Prevention, Healing, and What to Expect
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 first-time moms. The good n
