Becoming a parent is beautiful journey, but one that can also be full of uncertainty and stress. Add to that navigating a pandemic through pregnancy, birth and your little one’s first years, and the anxiety can be overwhelming. After all, it’s not just your health you have to be concerned about anymore. That’s why Dr. Veronica Pimentel – a practicing OB-GYN, pandemic mom, and fierce vaccine proponent – is here to discuss the facts about COVID, vaccines, and motherhood. In Labor of Love, Dr. Pimentel works to alleviate the concerns of new parents who have questions about how COVID and the vaccines may impact pregnancy. In each episode, she’ll talk with real moms who share their stories about experiencing motherhood in the time of COVID, and follow up with maternal health experts who share accurate information so listeners are equipped to make the best choices for themselves and their families. This podcast (“Resourceâ€) is designed for patients and is for informational purposes only; it does not provide medical advice and it is not intended to replace the advice or counsel of a physician or health care professional. While ACOG makes every effort to present accurate and reliable information, this Resource is provided “as is†without any warranty of accuracy, reliability, or otherwise, either express or implied. ACOG does not guarantee, warrant, or endorse the products or services of any firm, organization, or person. Neither ACOG nor its officers, directors, members, employees, or agents will be liable for any loss, damage, or claim with respect to any liabilities, including direct, special, indirect, or consequential damages, incurred in connection with this Resource or reliance on the information presented. Please visit acog.org/laboroflove for more information, including the full disclaimer. This Resource was supported by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as a part of a financial assistance award totaling $300,000 with 100 percent funded by ACOG and CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The new maternal RSV vaccine serves as a major step toward preventing RSV in infants after birth. However, the vaccine's rollout has come with challenges, including cost and access issues. Brenna Hughes, MD, MSc, FACOG, from Duke University, and Naima Joseph, MD, MPH, FACOG, from Boston Medical Center, join Labor of Love host Veronica Pimentel, MD, MS, FACOG, to discuss the latest recommendations for RSV maternal vaccination and share advice on how clinicians can counsel patients on making the best choice for themselves and their families.
The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the obstetric care workforce to its limit, creating unprecedented pressures on health care professionals' mental health. Rachael F. Morris, MD, MS, FACOG, associate professor of maternal–fetal medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and Richard H. Beigi, MD, MS, FACOG, president of UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, join Labor of Love host Veronica Pimentel, MD, MS, FACOG, to discuss how the pandemic continues to affect the obstetric care workforce and what workplace initiatives have been effective to expand capacity and build better working conditions in obstetric care.
The COVID-19 pandemic drew attention to the ongoing crisis of health inequity, which continues today, especially among pregnant people in the Black community. Naima Joseph, MD, MPH, FACOG, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and Christina Marea, MA, MSN, CNM, PhD, assistant professor at Georgetown University School of Nursing and midwife at Community of Hope, join Labor of Love host Veronica Pimentel, MD, MS, FACOG, to discuss how health inequity has affected systematically disadvantaged communities throughout the United States and how these disparities can be addressed head-on by obstetric care professionals and the healthcare industry.
Rising misinformation and vaccine skepticism triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic have created unique challenges for obstetric care professionals to gain patient trust. In this episode, Labor of Love host Veronica Pimentel, MD, MS, FACOG, discusses strategies to build connection and trust with patients and deliver better pregnancy care with guests Camille Clare, MD, MPH, CPE, FACOG, chair and tenured professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Downstate Health Sciences University, and Kristin Lyerly, MD, MPH, FACOG, a board-certified obstetrician–gynecologist at CCM Health.
As COVID-19 continues to circulate, encouraging pregnant patients to get vaccinated remains important. Labor of Love guests Peg Boyd, DNP, CNM, who practices at OB/GYN Associates of Erie, and Ashanda Saint Jean, MD, FACOG, obstetrics and gynecology department chair at HealthAlliance Hospital, join host Veronica Pimentel, MD, MS, FACOG, to share how they answer patients' questions about vaccines and effectively build vaccine confidence. They also delve into the challenges that obstetric care professionals face when working with patients who are reluctant to get vaccinated and offer practical advice about how to handle these discussions with sensitivity and compassion.
Obstetric care professionals take on tremendous responsibility when working with pregnant patients, and that work can weigh heavily on their own mental health, especially during a pandemic. ACOG President Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, FACOG, and Pooja Lakshmin, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist, author, and founder and CEO of Gemma, join Labor of Love host Veronica Pimentel, MD, MS, FACOG, to discuss multifaceted answers to mental health challenges for obstetric care professionals, such as burnout and work-life balance. The conversation provides valuable insights and helpful recommendations for how to promote personal mental health.
In its upcoming second season, Stories from the Heart of Obstetric Care, the podcast will shift from focusing on the pandemic experience of new mothers to the pandemic experience of obstetric care professionals. This time, Dr. Pimentel will sit down with obstetrics colleagues to share stories and perspectives gained from working with patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This season's episodes will provide a space for obstetric care professionals to peel back the layers of their work and share their challenges and triumphs in promoting public health during a pandemic.
Our last episode features an important conversation with Katie Pederson about her experience surviving COVID-19 while pregnant and the effect it has had on her mental health. We will then be joined by Dr. Pooja Lakshmin, a board-certified psychiatrist and author specializing in women's mental health and founder and CEO of Gemma. We'll discuss evidence-based information about the future of COVID-19, key public health recommendations and available data related to the future of COVID-19 and vaccinations. Dr. Lakshmin will also provide tips and resources for women to support their mental health throughout this ongoing pandemic. Follow Dr. Lakshmin on Instagram and Twitter for more resources. For more information visit ACOG.org/laboroflovePlease find other COVID-19 resources here from ACOG and the CDC:ACOG | COVID-19 ACOG | Women's Health COVID-19CDC | Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People
Ankita Rao was initially hesitant to get vaccinated while pregnant early in the pandemic. Ankita is the Editor at the Guardian US and discusses her experience of gathering credible information and guidance surrounding vaccination while pregnant. Ankita also shares misinformation she hears as a reporter within online communities around vaccination. We will then hear from Dr. Diana Ramos, Adjunct Associate Professor for Obstetrics and Gynecology at Keck USC School of Medicine, about debunking common myths regarding maternal health and COVID-19. For more information visit ACOG.org/laboroflovePlease find other COVID-19 resources here from ACOG and the CDC:ACOG | COVID-19 ACOG | Women's Health COVID-19CDC | Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People
Paige Dempsey is a single mother who got pregnant by undergoing IVF. During her pregnancy, Paige contracted COVID-19. This week, Paige shares her motherhood journey with COVID-19 and how she decided to receive a COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant. We'll also speak with Dr. Jen Villavicencio, Lead for Equity Transformation at ACOG. Dr. Villavicencio will share relevant information about fertility and complex family planning, while addressing misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine's effect on fertility. She will also share other pertinent information for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive.For more information visit ACOG.org/laboroflovePlease find other COVID-19 resources here from ACOG and the CDC:ACOG | COVID-19 ACOG | Women's Health COVID-19CDC | Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People
Kntrice Anadumaka has a powerful story of surviving COVID-19 while pregnant when she was not vaccinated early in the pandemic. In this episode, Kntrice shares about her experience with COVID-19 and vaccinations, as well as her fears and concerns of navigating the health system as a woman of color. We'll then be joined by Dr. Laura Riley, Obstetrician-in-Chief at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Given Professor and Chair for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine. Together, she and Dr. Pimentel will discuss COVID-19 and the health of the pregnant person and baby, including the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women, especially women of color, as well as concerns around health disparities, breastfeeding, and vaccine safety.For more information visit ACOG.org/laboroflovePlease find other COVID-19 resources here from ACOG and the CDC:ACOG | COVID-19 ACOG | Women's Health COVID-19CDC | Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People
Jennifer Gaines became pregnant with her second child early in the pandemic when vaccines were first becoming available. Jennifer is a Certified Nurse Midwife and shares how she made the decision to get vaccinated against COVID-19. We are then joined by Dr. J. Martin Tucker, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) President, and Dr. Dana Meaney-Delman, lead for maternal COVID-19 immunization efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as we discuss COVID-19 vaccine safety. They'll share more about the science and safety of currently available COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, especially for pregnant women, and considerations people should make when getting vaccinated.For more information visit ACOG.org/laboroflovePlease find other COVID-19 resources here from ACOG and the CDC:ACOG | COVID-19 ACOG | Women's Health COVID-19CDC | Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People
Welcome to Labor of Love, a podcast that will feature women and mothers sharing their personal stories of challenges and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Labor of Love will also feature health experts to highlight key public health recommendations regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, vaccine hesitancy, debunking misinformation, and stigma related to COVID-19 and the science behind vaccination. Labor of Love is hosted by Dr. Veronica Pimentel, a practicing OB-GYN, ACOG member, pandemic mom, and fierce vaccine proponent.For more information visit ACOG.org/laboroflove Please find other COVID-19 resources here from ACOG and the CDC:ACOG | COVID-19 ACOG | Women's Health COVID-19CDC | Pregnant and Recently Pregnant People
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