Intense pregnancy itching might be a sign of a serious condition called cholestasis of pregnancy—a liver disorder that affects pregnancy and can increase the risk of stillbirth. In honor of ICP Awareness Month this June, I’m joined by Donna Benavides, founder of the nonprofit ICP Care, to talk about her personal journey after tragically losing her first son due to cholestasis of pregnancy.

Donna is here to share what everyone should know about this rare but potentially dangerous pregnancy complication. She’s sharing her critical insights about symptoms to watch for, the importance of self-advocacy, and how to get the right care. If you’re pregnant or planning to be, this is must-know information to help you protect your baby and your peace of mind.

• What the signs and symptoms of cholestasis of pregnancy are
• Who is most likely to experience cholestasis of pregnancy
• What testing and treatment involve
• How long test results can take—and why timing matters
• Whether cholestasis of pregnancy can be prevented
• How to advocate for yourself
• Which kinds of support can make a difference in your care
• How ICP can affect future pregnancies

_________

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode300

Feel calm and confident before birth with the $37 Mindset Bundle! Grab it at drnicolerankins.com/calm.

Episiotomy is not routine anymore, but it hasn't gone away. If it's done without your consent or because your doctor's in a hurry, that’s a problem. So let's talk about it! Because when you understand what an episiotomy really is, when it's actually needed, and how to protect yourself from one that isn't needed, that's when you step into your power.

I first covered this topic back in 2020 but I want to circle back to it because I’d like to come out harder with my thoughts on consent, power, how doctors' habits can shape your birth, and things you can do to protect yourself. So whether this is brand new for you or something you've heard horror stories about, stay with me because I'm giving you the real deal on what to watch out for in labor so nothing is done to you without your consent.

• What the biggest predictor of whether you will get an episiotomy is
• Why it’s important to discuss your doctor’s approach ahead of time
• How rates have changed over time
• What the two types are and how they differ
• When it may actually be necessary — and how rare that is
• What language during labor can signal an episiotomy is about to happen
• What the healing process is like and when to seek pelvic floor support

--

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode299

Feel calm and confident before birth with the $37 Mindset Bundle — grab it at drnicolerankins.com/calm.

In the last birth story episode, episode 295, I shared a story of a home birth that went beautifully. Today, we’re exploring the other side of that experience—because while out-of-hospital births can be wonderful, they can also come with real risks. My guest, Megan, joins me to share her second birth story, which started at a standalone birth center and turned into a life-threatening emergency involving a cord prolapse and an urgent hospital transfer.

This is an emotional and important conversation about the realities of rare birth complications, the gaps that can exist between birth centers and hospitals, and why it’s so important to ask questions—no matter where you’re giving birth. And yes, even if you're planning a hospital birth, there are key lessons here around communication, continuity of care, and preparing for the unexpected. Megan’s story is one of strength, resilience, and ultimately, healing—and I’m honored to share it with you.

• Why Megan chose a hospital for her first baby and a birthing center for her second
• What a cord prolapse is and why it’s a true obstetric emergency
• How her low-risk birth escalated to a life-threatening situation
• Why relationships between birthing centers and hospitals are so important
• What happens when the nearest hospital isn’t fully equipped for labor and delivery
• Why her cord prolapse required immediate delivery through emergency C-section
• How Megan is healing from birth trauma and preparing for a future VBAC

--

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode298

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

Struggling to sleep during pregnancy or postpartum? You are definitely not alone. And it’s not just about being tired - it’s a chronic condition that deserves attention. Up to 80% of women experience insomnia by the third trimester, and many continue to struggle even two years postpartum. So if you’re having trouble, seek help.

In this episode, I’m joined by clinical psychologist and sleep specialist Dr. Daniella Marchetti to break down why sleep can feel so elusive in motherhood and what you can do about it. We’re talking real strategies, the truth about melatonin and Benadryl, and why “sleep when the baby sleeps” just doesn’t cut it. Tune in—this episode might just change your nights.

• What really causes insomnia during pregnancy & how it’s different than just having a tough night
• How long it takes most people to seek help for sleep issues
• How common insomnia is in pregnancy and postpartum
• How sleep slips through the cracks during pregnancy care
• Which sleep disorders are most common during pregnancy
• Why quality rest matters so much
• What CBT-I is (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) — and why it works
• When to seek help for insomnia
• What sleep hygiene means
• Whether or not sleep trackers are actually useful

--

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode297

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

I never intended to talk much about home birth—mainly because I’ve never attended one myself. But here we are. Why? Because if we’re serious about making hospital birth safer, more respectful, and more empowering, we have to take a close look at what home birth gets right.

This episode is not about debating home versus hospital birth. It’s about asking a better question: what actually works? I walk you through the reasons some women choose home birth, what the research says about its safety, and—most importantly—what lessons the hospital system needs to learn from the home birth model.

• Why some people choose home birth
• Who attends a safe birth at home and why training matters
• How many U.S. births actually happen at home
• What the data says about safety
• Why fewer medical interventions happen at home
• How often planned home births transfer to hospitals
• Who out-of-hospital birth is for—and who it’s not for
• How the U.S. falls short on midwife-hospital teamwork
• Why emotional safety is just as important as clinical safety

--

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode296

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

With Mother’s Day around the corner, I want to share something really personal—what it’s actually like to be a mom (or mommy as my girls call me :)). In this episode, I’m getting real about the 10 best and worst things about motherhood. Whether you're already a mom or you're pregnant and wondering what lies ahead, this one’s for you. It’s honest, raw, and from the heart—because motherhood deserves to be seen in all its messy, beautiful truth.

This episode is a first for the podcast: I’m sharing a home birth story. While I primarily focus on hospital births, I wanted to learn more and see what we might take away from this experience to make hospital births better.

Lauren joins me to share her beautiful, deeply thoughtful journey into birthing from home after having her first baby in a hospital. This wasn’t a choice she made lightly - she did her research, worked with a trained provider, and had a backup plan in place. What she found was a level of trust, respect, and personalized care that’s worth talking about. Even if home birth isn’t on your radar, this story offers powerful lessons that anyone preparing for birth can take to heart.

• Why Lauren chose home birth for her second delivery
• How she weighed the risks and benefits of hospital vs home birth
• Who made up her support team
• How she prepared for the possibility of a hospital transfer
• What changed when Lauren labored in a space that was hers
• Which position she gave birth in
• What it was like to rest in her own bed right after birth
• How the birth certificate and paperwork were handled

--

Full website notes: drnicolerankins.com/episode295

Check out The Birth Preparation Course

Register for the class How to Make a Birth Plan the Right Way

Did you know your blood type can impact not just your current pregnancy, but future ones too? In this Thursday short episode, I’m breaking down what it means to be RH negative, how RhoGAM works, and why this small shot can prevent serious complications. Every woman and birthing person deserves to understand how something so simple can make such a big difference!