1 in 100,000 people are affected by listeria. But did you know that pregnant persons are 10x more likely to contract the food-borne illness?

In this first episode of this month’s Maternal Health Month series, I speak with Dr. Caledonia Buckheit about her very personal experience contracting listeria at 27 weeks pregnant.

In a candid conversation about listeria and birth trauma, Dr. Buckheit walks us through what those days in the hospital felt like for her, her traumatic birth via C-section at 27 weeks, her daughter's subsequent stay in the NICU, and her return to residency.

Dr. Buckheit shares her advice on how to approach conversations regarding birth trauma, and we talk about the value of "potato time" during a mom's sacred hour after bedtime.

Dr. Caledonia Buckheit is a board-certified OB/GYN and Fellow of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is a full-time generalist and partner physician at Kamm McKenzie OB/GYN, the busiest private OB/GYN practice in Raleigh, North Carolina. Originally from Maine, she earned her medical degree from Dartmouth and completed her residency at Duke University, where she received the award for excellence in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery—twice.

Dr. Buckheit is passionate about supporting women through all stages of life. She is especially committed to promoting safe, healthy birth and takes pride in maintaining a low cesarean section rate. Her clinical interests also include menopause care, pain management for in-office procedures, and minimally invasive surgery.

Outside of work, she enjoys life in Raleigh with her husband and two daughters, along with a lively backyard full of chickens and garden beds.

Follow Dr. Caledonia Buckheit on Instagram and TikTok at @calibmd

Music by Dana Music from Pixabay

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