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Birth With Power: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Dr. Nicole C. Rankins
Birth With Power is the go-to podcast for expecting mothers who want to take charge of their birth experience. Hosted by Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, a practicing, board-certified OB/GYN with over 20 years of experience and thousands of births attended, this podcast delivers accurate, expert advice, real birth stories, and honest conversations to get you informed and empowered. Through solo episodes, guest interviews, and inspiring birth stories, you’ll get the tools to navigate pregnancy, labor, and postpartum with calm and confidence. Whether you’re planning your first birth or your fourth, Birth With Power will help you approach the journey feeling strong, prepared, and empowered.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- Dec 30, 202555 min
[POSTPARTUM POWER REPLAY] Recognizing When You Need Mental Health Support
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 partnersRisk factors and why even those without them can still develop PMADsHow to recognize the difference between baby blues and clinical depressionWhat 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 supportHow psychiatrists approach medication decisions before, during, and after pregnancyThe truth about breastfeeding, medication safety, and making choices that protect both you and your babyA breakdown of the first FDA-approved medication specifically for postpartum depression — and what you need to knowResources Mentioned:Postpartum Support International: www.postpartum.netImprove Life - Dr. Waggle’s practiceMommyMeds appFree Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet 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 hospitalHow to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You: Ask the right questions and spot red flags earlyLabor Pain Management Playbook: Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patientsNote: 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 Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/DRNICOLEAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- Dec 23, 202544 min
[POSTPARTUM POWER REPLAY] Thriving After the NICU Journey
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 plannedKey questions every NICU parent should feel empowered to askWhy advocacy and communication with the care team matterHow to prepare for postpartum while you’re still pregnantPractical tips for building support systems that actually make life easierResources Mentioned:Mom & Me MD (concierge NICU + 4th trimester care)Dr. Jess on Instagram: @momandme_mdFree Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet 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 hospitalHow to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You: Ask the right questions and spot red flags earlyLabor Pain Management Playbook: Learn the tools and strategies I teach my own patientsNote: 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 Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/DRNICOLEAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- Dec 16, 202554 min
[POSTPARTUM POWER REPLAY] Healing After A Traumatic Birth
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 mattersThe signs and symptoms of birth trauma in the early postpartum periodHow treatment works, including what EMDR and other trauma-focused therapies actually doWhen (and how) to seek support if you’re struggling after birthThe role communication and care team dynamics play in shaping your birth experienceResources Mentioned:Kaylee’s Instagram + TikTok: @thebirthtrauma_mamaThe Birth Trauma Mama PodcastPostpartum Support International provider directoryTouchstone Institute provider directoryFree Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet 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 hospitalHow to Tell If Your OB Is Right for You: Ask the right questions and spot red flags earlyLabor 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 Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/DRNICOLEAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- Dec 11, 202514 min
Holiday Boundaries, Big Milestones & What I’m Carrying Into 2026
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: @drnicolerankinsFree Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet 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 patientsFree Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet 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 patientsOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/DRNICOLEAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- Dec 9, 20251h 0m
Ep 312: Why This OB-GYN Walked Away From the System with Dr. Nathan Riley
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 nowHow hospital training limits women’s birth choicesWhat really happens during an emergency C-sectionThe untold truth about vaginal breech birthWhat autonomy actually looks like in labor (and how to prepare for it)Resources mentioned:Dr. Nathan Riley on InstagramBorn Free MethodBeloved HolisticsFree Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet 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 patientsOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/DRNICOLEAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- Dec 2, 202556 min
Ep 311: 11-Pound Baby, 3-Hour Labor: Leah’s Powerful Home Birth Story
Today’s episode is a little different. I’m sharing a home birth story! Home birth can be safe, supported, and deeply empowering when planned well.In this birth story, I’m joined by Leah, a writer, mom of two, and aspiring childbirth educator who planned a home birth after a positive but impersonal hospital birth with her first child. Despite navigating insurance barriers, and anticipating a large baby, Leah created the low-intervention experience she wanted, and welcomed her 11-pound daughter after just a three-and-a-half-hour labor. Her story is full of advocacy, intuition, humor (yes, she was poked in the eye mid-contraction), and practical insights you’ll walk away with.In this episode, you’ll learn:What made Leah choose a planned home birth after a hospital birthHow she advocated for weight-inclusive prenatal careThe realities of insurance challenges for home birth familiesHow she prepared mentally and physically for a fast, intense laborWhy her postpartum experience at home was dramatically different — and betterWhat she wants every pregnant person to know about big babies and birth optionsResources Mentioned:Bradley Method book: Natural Childbirth the Bradley WayFree Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet 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 patientsOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/DRNICOLEAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- Nov 25, 202517 min
Ep 310: What I'm Thankful For After 20+ Years as an OB-GYN
This Thanksgiving, I’m inviting you into my heart.After more than two decades in obstetrics, raising a family, and building this platform — I’m pausing to name what I’m deeply grateful for. It’s more than a holiday checklist. This is about honoring the anchors that carry me through birth work and life.Whether you’re cooking, commuting, or just catching your breath, I hope this episode reminds you to reconnect with what’s holding you up this season.In this special episode, I share:How my body is still showing up strong at 51 (yoga poses included!)What I’ve learned from 20 years of marriage and motherhoodWhy my OB-GYN skills go beyond technique — and why that mattersThe power of a team that truly supports womenHow you — yes, you — keep this platform alive and impactfulResources Mentioned:Serial Season 1 (my first podcast love!)Free Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet 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 patientsOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/DRNICOLEAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
- Nov 18, 202535 min
Ep 309: The Oral Health–Fertility Link No One’s Talking About
What if the key to your fertility isn’t just in your hormones—but in your mouth?In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. Katie Lee, dentist, entrepreneur, and author of Saved by the Mouth, to uncover the powerful connection between oral health and reproductive outcomes. We break down how bacteria in your mouth can influence conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and even stillbirth—and what you can do to protect your fertility, pregnancy, and long-term health.You’ll Learn:How oral bacteria affect fertility and pregnancy outcomesWhy inflammation in your gums triggers inflammation throughout your bodyThe truth about dental care during pregnancy (and why skipping the dentist could backfire)How salivary testing works—and what it can reveal about your reproductive healthEveryday oral care habits that protect your fertilityResources Mentioned:Dr. Katie Lee: collectivehealthsociety.comSaved by the Mouth by Dr. Katie LeeFollow Dr. Lee on InstagramFree Resources to Help You Birth With PowerGet 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 patientsOur Sponsors:* Check out Avocado Green Mattress: https://avocadogreenmattress.com/DRNICOLEAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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About Birth With Power
Birth With Power is the go-to podcast for expecting mothers who want to take charge of their birth experience. Hosted by Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, a practicing, board-certified OB/GYN with over 20 years of experience and thousands of births attended, this podcast delivers accurate, expert advice, real birth stories, and honest conversations to get you informed and empowered. Through solo episodes, guest interviews, and inspiring birth stories, you’ll get the tools to navigate pregnancy, labor, and postpartum with calm and confidence. Whether you’re planning your first birth or your fourth, Birth With Power will help you approach the journey feeling strong, prepared, and empowered.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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