Best Dr. Nicole C. Rankins Podcasts (2024)

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Ep 279: Nausea and Vomiting In Pregnancy - What To Do To Help 36:12

1h ago36:12

36:12

Dealing with nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is no fun. You’ve probably heard of “morning sickness” but that’s a misnomer - queasiness can happen at any time of day (and during any stage of pregnancy too). The good news is, for most people, it’s nothing to worry about. Even though it’s uncomfortable (and sometimes downright miserable), it’s ge…

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Ep 278: Jenna’s Birth Story - Expecting More Than Just “A Healthy Baby” 53:40

1d ago53:40

53:40

How did a birth described as “a series of traumatic events” end up being the best experience of Jenna’s life? Despite all of the unexpected challenges, getting through the 65 hour labor and birth helped her find peace and confidence in her intuition. Jenna’s story reminds us that it’s okay to feel both grateful to a medical team and to feel upset a…

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Ep 277: Repurposing the Pain of Infant Loss with Founder & CEO of Chasing the Rainbows, Bernice Quesenberry 41:59

8d ago41:59

41:59

In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month this October, in this episode we have secondary infertility and baby loss survivor Bernice Quesenberry (and quick note I inadvertently mispronounced her last name in the episode, my apologies!). She has repurposed her pain into something positive by starting a national nonprofit called Chasing t…

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Ep 276: 50th Birthday Reflections & Special Tribute 28:06

15d ago28:06

28:06

I just turned 50 - yes, 50! I know people - and women especially - can feel some kind of way about sharing their age. But I have no problem with sharing my age because every day is truly a gift. To mark this milestone, I wanted to take a few moments to reflect, express my gratitude, share some thoughts on what helped me get here, and what’s next. T…

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Ep 275: What EVERYONE Who’s Pregnant Needs To Know About The NICU with Mary Farrelly, RN 55:47

22d ago55:47

55:47

This episode may be about the NICU but it’s for any and every person who’s having a baby. The reason I say that is because it’s actually way more common than you think that a baby needs to receive intensive care. Nearly 40% of babies who go to the NICU are full-term. As a mom of two NICU babies, let me tell you: it’s the NICU nurses who are at your…

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Ep 274: Martha’s Birth Story - Low Intervention Hopes, High Intervention Reality, and Joy Despite It All 1:05:39

1M ago1:05:39

1:05:39

Martha hoped and prepared for a low intervention birth and ended up getting just about every intervention! She tried everything to get labor to start on its own but she ultimately was induced at 41 weeks. After 40 hours of labor with no pain medication other than nitrous oxide, she opted for an epidural. Soon after she was advised to get a non-emer…

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Ep 273: Bringing Miscarriage Out Of The Shadows 37:03

1M ago37:03

37:03

This episode was inspired by a message from long-time listener Sierra. She has experienced multiple miscarriages and, though she appreciated the episodes I have done discussing pregnancy loss, there are some issues specific to recurrent miscarriage that I haven’t gotten into yet. Sierra says “You've had some women who gave birth stories that had el…

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Eating and Drinking In Labor - It’s fine! 15:32

2M ago15:32

15:32

Medical recommendations surrounding eating and drinking in labor are evolving, but not quite where they should be. In this episode learn the rationale for restricting eating and drinking in labor, why it's outdated, what our current guidelines are, and my evidence based recommendations for eating and drinking in labor. Join my next FREE LIVE birth …

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Ep 272: Nicole’s Birth Story - An Empowering VBAC Followed By a Five-Week NICU Stay 49:20

2M ago49:20

49:20

Nicole (yes, another Nicole!) is here to share her empowering story of a successful VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) followed by a challenging postpartum. Because she was intentional about her care team, she set herself up for success in the ways that she was able to control. However, nobody could control the liver issues her daughter would expe…

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Listener Q&A - how many contractions are too many and what is terbutaline?? 15:59

2M ago15:59

15:59

In this short episode I'm answering this listener question from Cat! "Hi Dr. Nicole! Long time listener & love your podcast!!. Question for you - a friend of mine recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl but unfortunately her birth didn't go as planned. She got to the hospital at 7.5cm, got an epidural, and then they told her she was "having to…

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Ep 271: The Pain of a C-Section Without Anesthesia with Author Rachel Somerstein 55:21

2M ago55:21

55:21

In this episode I’m chatting with Rachel Somerstein about her traumatic experience having a C-section without adequate anesthesia. Already a professional journalist, this experience led Rachel to write her first book, Invisible Labor: The Untold Story of the Cesarean Section. In Invisible Labor Rachel weaves her personal narrative and investigative…

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Listener Q&A - Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and pregnancy 11:55

2M ago11:55

11:55

Lauren DMed me on Instagram and asked me to talk about CMV and pregnancy so here it is! In this short episode you'll learn What is CMV How it’s transmitted How it can impact pregnancy How it’s diagnosed How it can be prevented or treated If you have a question you want me to answer in an upcoming episode, shoot me a DM on Instagram @drnicolerankins…

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Ep 270: Ginny’s Birth Story - A Joyous Labor Induction 42:12

2M ago42:12

42:12

Ginny had an elective labor induction that went so smoothly she calls it a “dream.” But that doesn’t mean that everything about her pregnancy experience was easy. Multiple people in her personal life experienced birth-related complications while Ginny was pregnant including stillbirth. This caused Ginny a lot of anxiety. Also, she struggled with de…

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What you need to know about epidurals for pain relief in labor 18:33

2M ago18:33

18:33

Epidurals provide excellent pain relief during labor but there are risks and side effects. Learn how epidurals work and things you need to know before you get one. And no need to take notes, you can grab my comprehensive guide to managing pain in labor here! Our Sponsors: * Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com and use my code DRNICOLE to get $40…

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Ep 269: Vaccines & Pregnancy: Which ones, how they work, and why they’re important 38:14

3M ago38:14

38:14

In today's episode, you’re going to learn about vaccines and pregnancy. Vaccines -also called immunizations- are important in order to help prevent moms and babies from getting certain potentially serious infections. I know there’s a lot of concern about vaccines. But let me assure you, although vaccines are not risk free, they are very safe. There…

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Using Nitrous Oxide and IV Medication For Labor Pain 15:15

3M ago15:15

15:15

In this short episode you'll learn about medications to manage pain in labor that are not an epidural, specifically opioid medications and nitrous oxide. You'll learn how they work, the side effects, risks, pros and cons of each. Grab the free guide to managing pain in labor - drnicolerankins.com/pain Our Sponsors: * Check out Mochi Health at joinm…

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Ep 268: From the “Dude Zone” to the “Dad Zone” with Dr. David Arrell 51:18

3M ago51:18

51:18

David Arrell is a coach, consultant, and returning guest! About three years ago David joined us for a conversation about the WTF moments of fatherhood. Since then, his empire of dad advice has grown and he’s back with more helpful tips. Welcome to Fatherhood (or WTF as it’s appropriately called at times) is his fatherhood brand. What began with a b…

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How To Manage Labor Pain Without Medication 17:01

3M ago17:01

17:01

In this short episode you'll learn why it's really important to think about labor pain differently, tips to approach a medication free birth, and techniques to manage pain. Grab my free labor pain management guide here! Join The Birth Preparation Course here (use code DRNICOLE for an additional 10% off!). Our Sponsors: * Check out Mochi Health at j…

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Ep 267: Katie’s Birth Story - An “Amazing!” Birth Center Birth 1:06:45

3M ago1:06:45

1:06:45

Katie calls her second birth an amazing experience - night and day from her first. The standard hospital birth she had for her first baby was fine, but this time she wanted a more holistic prenatal experience. This led her to a private birth center with a group of amazing midwives. I don't usually share birth center birth stories because I’m not fa…

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Listener Q&A - Something was up with my placenta 11:44

3M ago11:44

11:44

In this shorty episode I answer this question from Keri. "Hi Dr. Nicole! I love the podcast and have a question for the Q&A. I have a 2 year old daughter. Easy pregnancy and delivery at 40w6d and healthy baby! At the hospital, it is routine to send the placenta to pathology. The report stated that I had “patchy chorangiosis” with a note that it is …

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[HOT TOPIC] Newborn Male Circumcision - Yes or No? 32:42

3M ago32:42

32:42

This episode is one I originally did back in 2020. Since it comes up from time to time and can be a contentious topic, I decided to rebroadcast it today. In this episode, I’ll walk you through what circumcision is, its benefits and risks, and why some families choose to have this elective procedure. There are also some ethical questions you may wan…

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Ep 266: A Balanced Approach to Healthcare with Integrative Pediatrician Dr. Joel Warsh 56:14

3M ago56:14

56:14

If you like the way I approach pregnancy and birth then you’re going to love this conversation with pediatrician Dr. Joel Warsh. He has a really balanced, common-sense approach to pediatrics that blends modern medicine with non-Western elements. In addition to pregnancy and parenting advice, he recommends small changes you can make today that will …

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Ep 265: Lillie’s Birth Story - A True Emergency Cesarean 1:10:40

4M ago1:10:40

1:10:40

In this birth story episode, you’re going to hear what a true emergency cesarean is like. Lillie was induced due to gestational diabetes and preeclampsia at 37 weeks. After 36 hours in labor, just as she was transitioning to push, her baby went into distress and she was rushed to the operating room for an emergency cesarean birth. Now Lillie felt l…

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[JULY SPOTLIGHT] What Happens When You Have Uterine Fibroids During Pregnancy? 43:48

4M ago43:48

43:48

July is Fibroid Awareness Month, so today I’m re-airing an episode on what happens when you have fibroids during pregnancy. I’ve actually gotten quite a few questions about this, more than I expected, and the questions indicate that there’s a lot of uncertainty and misunderstandings about this topic. In this rebroadcast episode, you’ll learn what f…

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Ep 264: Postpartum Rage with Dr. Ashurina Ream of Psyched Mommy 44:42

4M ago44:42

44:42

Dr. Ream describes first-time parenthood as an experience that rocked her world. When she found herself crying and screaming because her baby wouldn’t fall asleep, she knew she needed to seek help. Of course, she had heard of postpartum anxiety and depression but postpartum rage was something she hadn’t been prepared for. When she went looking for …

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Ep 263: Erica’s Birth Story - Loving Every Moment of Birth 43:22

4M ago43:22

43:22

Erica experienced two miscarriages prior to the birth story we're going to hear today. After over a year and a half of heartbreaking loss, this pregnancy was completely normal - no nausea, no sickness, no pain. Now at 38 weeks, some symptoms developed that caused her doctor to recommend induction. Erica wanted an unmedicated birth and you’re going …

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[A Dr. Nicole Favorite] What Is a Physiologic Birth and How Do You Have One in the Hospital? 53:57

5M ago53:57

53:57

Real talk: things have been a little crazy for me these past couple weeks and I didn’t have an opportunity to record a new episode. So, I decided to pick one of my favorites to replay: physiologic birth. The reason I chose this is because it’s a term that gets mentioned a lot on social media but doesn’t get defined. It’s also a term that -quite hon…

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Ep 262: Birth Trauma With Licensed Clinical Social Work and Birth Trauma Survivor Kayleigh Summers 54:39

5M ago54:39

54:39

It’s a miracle that today’s guest, Kayleigh Summers, is even alive. She is an amniotic fluid embolism survivor and went into cardiac arrest twice during labor. When you hear her story, you’re going to be blown away. This lived-experience led her to center her career around perinatal trauma. As a licensed clinical social worker, she is supporting fa…

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Ep 261: Nicole’s Birth Story - The Line Between Pain and Suffering 57:35

5M ago57:35

57:35

Sometimes a “beautiful” birth doesn’t mean getting what you wanted - it means making the right decisions for yourself along the way. After being stuck at 5 cm for TWELVE HOURS, Nicole decided that it was time to change course. I’ll give away that she did have a vaginal birth, but it was nothing like she planned or anticipated. In this Episode, You’…

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Ep 260: Pregnancy & GBS (Group B Strep) - Updated! 36:35

5M ago36:35

36:35

Group B strep, or GBS, is a relatively common bacterial infection found in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Most people can be carriers and not have any symptoms. However, GBS can present problems for newborns and during pregnancy. I’m doing this episode because some changes have been made since I first covered this topic back in 2019…

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Ep 259: Understanding the Link Between Feeding & Sleep with Hillary Sadler of Baby Settler 48:42

6M ago48:42

48:42

So many parents feel like they have to choose between sleep and breastfeeding and today’s guest, Hillary Sadler, says that's not the case - and she knows what she’s talking about! A registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and mom of four, Hilary is a true expert in the art of balancing feeding and sleep. Getting enough…

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Ep 258: Jodi’s Birth Story - Forceps With No Pain Medication 55:22

6M ago55:22

55:22

For many parents, selecting where they’re going to give birth is an important part of the planning process. However, Jodi lives on a small island with only one hospital and didn’t have a choice in the matter. Though she and her baby are healthy, the birth was intensely challenging. Jodi’s pain went under-treated and many procedures were done withou…

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Listener Q&A: 2 vessel umbilical cord 10:10

6M ago10:10

10:10

Normally the umbilical cord has 3 vessels - 2 arteries and one vein. What does it mean when your baby's umbilical cord has 2 vessels instead of 3? How do you know if this is a concern for your baby? I answer this listener question from Jessica in this episode! If you have a question you'd like me to answer, shoot me a DM on Instagram @drnicoleranki…

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Ep 257: Everything You Need To Know About The Prenatal Tests You’ll Get During Pregnancy 31:10

6M ago31:10

31:10

In this episode, you'll learn all the tests that are recommended during pregnancy. I’ll break things down by trimester and talk about why the tests are done and what the results of the tests mean. You can use this information to prepare for upcoming tests or go back and ask questions about ones that were done in the past. The bulk of testing is don…

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You've been told you're "high risk". What exactly does that mean? 10:06

6M ago10:06

10:06

The term high risks gets used a lot and can mean very different things depending on your unique circumstances. Learn what "high risk" actually means as well as questions you need to ask if you've been told you're "high risk". Join me in my free LIVE class Make A Birth Plan The Right Way! Grab your seat at drnicolerankins.com/birthplan Our Sponsors:…

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Ep 256: Fed is Best with The Formula Mom, Mallory Whitmore 43:50

6M ago43:50

43:50

Mallory Whitmore knows her stuff about formula! She’s a certified infant feeding tech, leader of education at Bobbie–the only mom-founded and mom-run U.S. formula brand–and she’s the face behind The Formula Mom, an online platform for infant feeding info and support. To be clear, she’s not against breastfeeding, quite the opposite in fact! Her miss…

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Making a birth plan? Be sure to ask your doctor these 4 questions 8:05

6M ago8:05

8:05

Making a birth plan is a really important part of helping you have the birth you want. A birth plan helps you think through the things that you want for your birth and communicate your wishes with your birth team. To make the most of your birth plan, be sure to ask your doctor the 4 key questions you'll learn in this short episode! And to learn 4 m…

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Ep 255: Amy’s Birth Story - Bonding After a Critical Care Birth 47:09

7M ago47:09

47:09

Amy had what she calls an "easy pregnancy". The birth was the difficult part. Her labor came on quickly and then stalled. While hospital staff nudged her along by breaking her water and administering Pitocin, it became clear that something was wrong. Amy was sick - she was showing symptoms of infection. As she faded in and out of consciousness, her…

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Intense negative emotions with breastfeeding? It might be D-MER 12:31

7M ago12:31

12:31

Dysmorphic milk ejection reflex, also known as D-MER, is a condition experienced by lactating women and individuals where you feel a sudden, brief, and very intense negative emotional response just before milk letdown or release. Learn about this important and underrecognized condition in this short episode. Join me LIVE on April 30th for my FREE c…

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Ep 254: Maternal Disparities, How You Can Stay Safe, and How You Can Help 36:51

7M ago36:51

36:51

This episode is being released during Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17). Black Maternal Health Week was created by The Black Mamas Matter Alliance, a national coalition created to ensure all Black Mamas have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy. In this episode you’re going to learn about pregnancy…

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Fast Facts About Black Maternal Health 9:56

7M ago9:56

9:56

Black Maternal Health week is April 11-17th! In this short episode I'm sharing some facts about Black Maternal Health. As I've done before, during Black Maternal Health week I'm collecting donations to giveaway spots in my online childbirth education class, The Birth Preparation Course. I'd love for my community to come together and donate enough t…

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Ep 253: The Fourth Trimester with Pediatrician Dr. Jess Daigle 44:39

7M ago44:39

44:39

I love connecting you with other physicians who have a real heart and passion for caring for people and that’s exactly what you’re going to get in this episode with Dr. Jess. Since she was 10 years old, Dr. Jess Daigle (@momandme_md) knew she wanted to be a pediatrician and neonatologist. Now a board-certified pediatrician and CEO of Mom & Me MD, a…

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Listener Q&A - Partial Molar Pregnancy 12:24

7M ago12:24

12:24

In this short episode I answer this question from Bailey: I was wondering if you could speak on partial-molar pregnancy in your podcast? My husband and I recently lost our baby due to this and I had to go through with a d&c, and this was something I hadn’t heard of until it happened to us. Thank you. If you have a question you want me to answer in …

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Ep 252: Andrea’s Birth Story - Joy and Grief After a Traumatic Birth 58:14

7M ago58:14

58:14

Andrea planned an induction at 39 weeks, but things didn't go as anticipated. She thought that her water broke just after 38 weeks and went to the hospital. It turned out that it didn't, but her blood pressure was high and her baby had turned to a transverse position - which is basically going across the uterus - and no matter how hard we try, a ba…

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Stop fighting and listen to your body! 11:04

7M ago11:04

11:04

Stop fighting and listen to your body! This doesn't mean what you think..... Make A Birth Plan The RIGHT Way - Free Class! Check out The Birth Preparation Course and get calm, confident, and empowered for your birth. If you like this podcast please support it at drnicolerankins.com/support. Our Sponsors: * Check out Mochi Health at joinmochi.com an…

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Ep 251: Low Amniotic Fluid? High Amniotic Fluid? What Do Amniotic Fluid Levels Mean for Your Baby? 28:52

7M ago28:52

28:52

Amniotic fluid (AF) is the liquid that surrounds your baby after the first few weeks of pregnancy. An adequate amount of amniotic fluid is absolutely, positively critical for fetal health. If it’s too low, there can be a risk of severe fetal deformations, umbilical cord compression, and in extreme cases, fetal death. On the other side, if it’s too …

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All the things you DON'T have to do just because you're having a baby 10:16

8M ago10:16

10:16

Social media will have you believing you have to do SO MUCH when you are having a baby. I'm here to tell you that you don't! Learn exactly that things you don't have to do just because you're having a baby. Make A Birth Plan The Right Way - FREE Class! Click here to support All About Pregnancy & Birth! Our Sponsors: * Check out Mochi Health at join…

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Ep 250: Breastfeeding Advice From Board Certified Breastfeeding Medicine Specialist Dr. Andrea Wadley 48:04

8M ago48:04

48:04

This week’s guest is Dr. Andrea Wadley. She is board certified in both pediatrics AND breastfeeding medicine. In fact she’s one of only 100 physicians in the country who is board certified in breastfeeding medicine. With all of the unreliable information out there, it’s so important to seek out authorities like her. It would be great if your doctor…

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How to deal with those seasonal allergies while pregnant 10:38

8M ago10:38

10:38

I have a terrible time with seasonal allergies! And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you have a hard time too, they might get worse in pregnancy. Get info on medication-free techniques (where I recommend you start) and medications to help with those turrrrible seasonal allergies! Also, please do me a big favor and leave a review of the p…

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Ep 249: Erin’s Birth Story - A Beautiful and Joyful Hospital Birth! 41:07

8M ago41:07

41:07

I think this might be the first time I’ve had a guest describe their birth as “beautiful,” “joyful,” and even “relaxing”! Erin wasn’t expecting to be somebody who loved her birth story but she absolutely does. Today, she’s here to share her perspective that a hospital birth can be beautiful. I didn’t realize until we started talking, but Erin actua…

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Dr. Nicole C. Rankins Podcasts

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