Pregnancy for Professionals Podcast

Today we bring in another patient voice. Jen is a labour and delivery nurse sharing her own patient experience via her two birth stories, the first a planned Cesarean section and the second, a very empowering Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). Though Jen is a maternity care provider, going through childbirth herself has given her a multitude of valuable insights on both the process and the systems in place that support birthing people. Despite being intimately familiar with labour and delivery, she was surprised about what worked and what didn't for her, and we're so grateful she is sharing that empowering insight with us today. “If there's one family that listens and takes away something that maybe resonates with them, or even one maternity care provider that listens and thinks, ‘I never thought about it that way that,' I'll feel it was worth it.” - Jen Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Today's topic might be something that many of us haven't spent a lot of time thinking about - what kind of changes can occur within eyes during pregnancy? If a patient has a pre-existing condition, either physiological or specifically ocular, are the eyes particularly susceptible to damage during pregnancy and should specific precautions be taken? Could eyesight worsen during pregnancy? Or can it improve? What effects does breastfeeding have? And when should patients be guided to seek specialized help? Ophthalmologist Dr. Amaka Eneh joins Dr. Alicia Power to answer the above questions and much more on today's episode. As with many health issues, the earlier they are detected the easier they are to treat. To encourage patients to optimize their preconception health, consider downloading this clear, easy to read Preparing for Pregnancy guide to begin cultivating good physical and mental health as they begin their journey into pregnancy and parenthood. Resources: Preparing for Pregnancy Guide Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

We need to have a serious conversation about postpartum care models in Canada. Statistics suggest that maternal morbidity and mortality rates are on the rise. Digging deeper into the numbers calls into question all sorts of gaps within our currently care models, how we can better address patient needs through interdisciplinary, collaborative care, the benefit of looking at other models internationally - and how the data collection itself may be leading to misrepresentative statistics. Dr. Stephanie Ferguson, obstetrician/gynecologist based out of Guelph, Ontario, joins Dr. Alicia Power on today's episode to wade through this complex yet crucial topic on which her current research and fellowship focus on, and where she has already published articles on the topic, linked below. Resources: New moms navigate postpartum care maze | October 19, 2023 | Canadian Affairs | By Dr. Stephanie Ferguson P4P Podcast Episode: Hypertension in Pregnancy Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

On today's concise episode, Drs. Alicia Power and Sarah Lea discuss why newborns are given Vitamin K right after birth, what Vitamin K does in the body, the types of Vitamin K, the causes, effects and treatment of Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB), and how to address parent's potential concerns around administering Vitamin K at birth. Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Drs. Sarah and Alicia come together to share some more insights from their work with Revive Physicians, a community raising up and empowering female physicians to become long-term change makers and leaders. They share their top seven strategies for managing chaos at home and at work, to avoid living in a state of constant hyper arousal, and practicing these strategies so they can be more easily enacted in moments of unavoidable chaos. Resources: Free downloadable resource with Time Management Tips The Well Calibrated Clinician: helping to regain control of your personal and professional life, this course is designed specifically for clinicians, who would like to make a positive change Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Kristen Yarker, Registered Dietician and founder of The Kristen Yarker Nutrition Agency, talks about the way menopause and perimenopause affect the body and how common symptoms can be managed or even lessened through nutrition. She shares the evidence around the significant hormonal changes that can lead to changes in fat distribution and muscle loss during this time, the consumption of alcohol and its effects, and last but not least the connection between mental health, societal pressures, sleep, nutrition and how they can all impact each other during the perimenopausal time of change. Resources: HealthLinkBC: provides non-emergency health information to the residents of British Columbia Menaupause.org: promoting women's health at midlife and beyond MenopauseandU.ca: the facts on menopause from Canada's experts Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Pregnancy for Professionals was created for providers, by providers. With the rates of physician and allied health team burn-out higher than ever, to be able to provide good care we must first ensure to take care of our own mental and physical health. With that mission in mind, Drs. Power & Lea created Revive Physicians, a community for raising up and empowering female physicians to lead a more balanced life, aligned with their values. On today's episode they share three key tips for improved time management, applicable for both clinical and personal development. Resources: Free downloadable resource with Time Management Tips The Well Calibrated Clinician: helping to regain control of your personal and professional life, this course is designed specifically for clinicians, who would like to make a positive change Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Our guest on today's episode, Nita Sharda, is a Registered Dietitian and one half of Happy Health Eaters, an online community aiming to help parents feel confident about feeding their baby solids, providing the necessary nutrition, and dispelling common myths and misconceptions. Nita and Dr. Power discuss frequent concerns such as how to advise parents to begin solids, nutritional intake, and how to approach allergens. Resources: Clinician Starting Solids Tear Pad Order Form Blog Post: 11 Things We Wish We Knew About Breastfeeding Before Giving Birth Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

As care providers, most of us are doing our best to exercise kindness and inclusivity in our practice and personal lives. But it can be difficult at times to know how to best live within these values, in an ever evolving world. On today's episode we speak to Trystan Reese, trans educator with a focus on reproductive justice, fertility, and family-building, about his pregnancy, the data on testosterone and fertility, and small steps providers can take to create a more inclusive space for all people, especially those who identify as gender diverse. One small step is listening to this podcast as well as attending our upcoming, free Interdisciplinary Perinatal Health Summit: Collaborative Care for Pregnancy, Birth, and Postpartum where Trystan will also be speaking more in-depth about Breaking Barriers with Language: Empowering Pregnant Individuals through Inclusive Care Practices. Resources: Register for the upcoming Perinatal Health Summit Listen to Sarah's Surrogacy Story for another story about inclusive care practices Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Today's episode is all about home birth! What is involved, who is a good candidate, how best to prepare for a home birth, and what happens postpartum. Thank you to registered midwife Heidi Machnee for joining us and sharing her research and expertise. Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Tongue ties are such a vast, controversial, and often misunderstood topic that we brought in pediatric otolaryngologist (ENT) surgeon Dr. Elise Graham to help us wade through the topic. She is also a mom to two boys with a complex breastfeeding journey of her own, which has brought her to shine a postpartum lens onto her field which she admits can gain from providing more support to patients, especially as information about tongue ties can vary greatly and specialized support can be hard to find. In addition to being a pediatric surgeon, Dr. Graham is also a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) and earning a fellowship through the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, which is why we're very excited to have her guide us through the evidence-based truth about tongue ties. Resources: Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocols: https://www.bfmed.org/protocols JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery: What Is a Tongue Tie? IG: Dr. Elise Graham @elisegmd Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Today we are doing something a little different - bringing in a patient voice. Dr. Alicia Power interviews Sarah who shares her story of becoming a surrogate. Well - surrogate-ish. Her unique path to becoming a surrogate, and her pregnancy and postpartum journeys, spark great conversations around the healthcare system and how providers can hugely impact the patient decision making process in pregnancy and labour. Resources: Water Birth and Immersion during Labour Homebirth!! Who, Where and How! Patient Resource: The She Found Motherhood Free Birth Preferences Mini-Course & Template Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Today's episode is a must listen, as Dr. Sarah Lea interviews dentists Dr. Brin MacMillan and Dr. Sabrina Ma, co-owners of South Island Dental, on the do's and don'ts of dental work in pregnancy. They discuss if and when to get dental care in pregnancy, which procedures patients might want to avoid, how the changes brought on by pregnancy may affect dental health, and share some facts about radiation, nutrition, and how hormonal changes affect both the pregnant person and newborn, from an oral health and development perspective. Resources: MI Paste Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Bad things happen in medicine. Sometimes it can't be avoided, but what we can do is try to prepare ourselves the best we can. On today's episode, Dr. Alicia Power & Dr. Maryna Mammoliti discuss what we can do in such events, the concept of radical acceptance, and how we can plan both as individuals and organizations to support each other during such times. In conjunction, we have created an Adverse Events Plan Template to help you build a tailored framework for moving forward. Resources: Adverse Events Plan Template Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Dr. Vanja Petrovic and Dr. Alicia Power as they discuss Hypertension in Pregnancy, the leading cause of maternal death due to long-term complications, such as cardiovascular disease. They can also impact the health and safety of the developing fetus. But new evidence suggests that early screening and follow-ups can make a difference in the long-term health of the birthing person. Tune in to learn more about how adverse pregnancy outcomes offer a unique window into a woman's future cardiovascular health. Resources: A hand-out for patients or office poster on Hypertension in Pregnancy: A stress test for your heart. Informative patient focused podcasts from She Found Motherhood: Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Pregnancy as a Stress Test Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Dr. Alicia Power and Heidi Machnee, Registered Midwife, review the evidence, risks, and benefits of immersion in water during labour, and water birth to both the delivering parent and the newborn, including reasons it may not be appropriate to consider a water birth and what safety factors care providers need to think about to ensure a good experience for the birthing person and baby. Resources BC Women's Hospital Guide to Water Birth Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Dr. Michelle Morais, high risk obstetrician, and Dr. Alicia Power discuss all things preterm birth, including defining preterm birth, who is at risk and what are risk factors, what role the cervix plays and potential effects of other conditions, and last but not least, how and if it might be avoided. Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Join Dr. Katharine Smart, a pediatrician in Whitehorse, Yukon and former President for the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and Dr. Alicia as they discuss the growing intersection of medicine and social media, and how healthcare providers can use social media to help educate and empower patients to have better outcomes within the healthcare system. Resources: Follow Dr. Katherine Smart on Twitter or Instagram Dr. Katherine Smart's Podcast, SPARK: Conversations by Children's Healthcare Canada Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Kate Borsato, perinatal mental health therapist and educator, and Melissa Dessaulles, BScPT, BScKin, Pelvic Health, discuss the individualized, unique experiences of birth trauma, its links to PTSD and the best ways for people to seek out help. Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Dr. Sarah Lea is joined by Registered Dietician Noelle Martin to discuss the latest evidence around prenatal nutrition basics, how to approach a discussion about nutrition with your prenatal patients, and how to give tailored recommendations that go beyond the generic multi-vitamin. Resources: Links to recommended and verified vitamin brands: Kids Star Nutrients Needed Garden of Life New Chapter MegaFood Canada NF8 Pink Stork DHA Specific Recommendations: OmegAvail Nordic Naturals Vegan Recommendation: Mary Ruth's Nourished Beginnings: online platform built by a team of dieticians and moms providing real, reasonable, balanced nutrition advice for families and children Motherhood and Meals: online platform with kid friendly, nutritious recipes created by dietician Noelle Martin Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Pelvic physiotherapist Melissa Dessaulles hosts this webinar featuring Dr. Roxana Geoffrion, urogynecologist and Dr Sinéad Dufour physiotherapist and PhD, focused on the pelvic floor during vaginal birth and common symptom sequelae. The focus is on practice guidelines that direct care for incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in the perinatal populations. Resources The Pelvic Floor Project Podcast: Pessary use for prolapse with gynecologist Dr. Paula Espino Be Pelvic Health Aware: Your guide to pelvic floor wellbeing She Found Motherhood: an online community built by moms and maternity physicians, filled with relevant, evidence-based health information and resources to empower patients in their journey from pregnancy to parenthood This project was funded by Shared Care BC. Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Intrusive thoughts are unwanted or unconscious thoughts that pop into our conscious mind. During the postpartum period, they are often related to accidental harm or intentional harm to baby, and can feel very disruptive, frightening, and isolating for new parents to experience. Dr. Sarah Lea and Psychologist, Bsc, MACP, RPsych and Co-Founder of Mama Psychologists Chelsea Bodie discuss this phenomenon and how to best support patients that may be struggling with it. Resources: She Found Motherhood Podcast episode: The Mama Psychologists Birth Stories. A good resource for patients containing stories around birth trauma, the stress of giving birth during marital separation, preterm birth, and working through it all. Mama Psychologists website and Instagram Page Not Your Mother's Postpartum Book: Normalizing Post-Baby Mental Health Struggles, Navigating #Momlife, and Finding Strength Amid the Chaos by Chelsea Bodie and Caitlin Slavens Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers by Karen Kleiman Pacific Postpartum Support Society Postpartum Support International (PSI) Psychology Today Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Melissa Dessaulles, BScPT, BScKin, Pelvic Health and Gráinne Donnelly, Advanced Physiotherapist in Pelvic Health and clinical researcher, discuss the 2019 returning to running postnatal guidelines for health, medical and fitness professionals managing this population. Resources: Download the Returning to Running Postnatal Guidelines for health, medical and fitness professionals Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Dr. Ellen Forbes, Board Certified Urologic Surgeon and Expert in Male Fertility, provides the latest evidence around newborn infant circumcision including medical reasons for considering the procedure, any contraindications, and how to best support your patients in making an informed decision. Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Melissa Dessaulles, pelvic physiotherapist, shares with us her insider view into why we define birth as a musculoskeletal injury and what role physiotherapy can play in recovery. Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Dr. Alicia Power and Dr. Michelle Morais, Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at McMaster University Medical Centre, discuss aspirin in pregnancy - how it affects the placenta, who we should be considering recommending it to, how to estimate risk and have conversations with patients around it, specific ways of taking aspirin, and any concerns around delivery for the delivering person or baby who may be still on aspirin. Resources: The Fetal Medicine Foundation Assessment of Risk for Preeclampsia (PE): This application uses Bayes theorem to combine the prior risk from maternal factors and medical history with the results of various biophysical and biochemical measurements to estimate the posterior risk for PE. Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Orthopaedic and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist Brittany Klingmann and Melissa Dessaulles, Mommy Berries Founder BScPT, BScKin, Pelvic Health, discuss the latest evidence around exercise during pregnancy, including what do the guidelines say, the benefits of exercise during pregnancy, what type of exercise is recommended, and reasons why it may not be recommended in certain situations. Resources: For further listening, check out Getting Physically Active and Exercising During Pregnancy with Dr Margie Davenport on the At Your Cervix Podcast For more information on Melissa Dessaulles courses, check out From the Inside Out:Postpartum Recovery Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

This episode is derived from our first Pregnancy for Professionals Live Webinar Event on January 27, 2023. Join our panel of experts as they discuss the clinical criteria around identifying birth trauma, as well as common patterns, behaviours and words from working with survivors and patient observation. Teela Tomassetti, Registered Provisional Psychologist and Doctoral Candidate, Dr. Pip Houghton, B.Sc. Kinesiology, MBBS, CCFP, and Perinatal Mental Health Certified family physician, and Dr. Alicia Power also answer questions from the audience, provide guidance for how to counsel patients that may have experienced birth trauma, as well as offer support for providers dealing with the often difficult circumstances surrounding birth trauma. Resources: City Birth Trauma Scale from the City University of London She Found Motherhood Birth Preferences Worksheet PDF download Animated video Explaining EMDR: How Does It Work? Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Dr. Alicia Power and Dr. Pip Houghton discuss sleep challenges in pregnancy and postpartum, how to screen for what might be causing difficulties, medicinal and non-medicinal options for helping patients improve their sleep, and creating a sleep plan with a support person to set the new parent up for success. They also discuss the importance of sleep for mental health, and how to create the safest space for co-sleeping with baby - to optimize rest for everyone. Resources: To learn more about Dr. Pip and her work, check-out her website at www.makingmamawell.com or IG: makingmamawell Recommended sleep app: InfantRisk HCP The Safe Sleep 7 PDF Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Urogynecoloist Dr. Roxana Geoffrion and Melissa Dessaulles, BScPT, BScKin, Pelvic Health discuss OASIS (obstetrical anal sphincter injuries), risk factors and statistics around perineal tearing, management techniques and more. Resources: bepelvichealthaware.ca Instagram: BePelvicHealthAware Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Dr. Unjali Malhotra, CCFP Women's Health NCMP Dip IPHC, is a Family Physician with extensive training and expertise in Women's Health. She graduated from Family Medicine in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and went on to create and complete the Women's Health fellowship program at the University of Manitoba, focusing on contraception, gynaecologic oncology, and general gynaecology. Dr. Malhotra and Dr. Alicia discuss the definitions of informed consent, establishing relationship, and creating safe spaces especially when it comes to Indigenous maternal health. Resources: Aboriginal Pregnancy Passport: A book supporting the pregnant person in having a healthy pregnancy, and preparing for a traditional way of welcoming baby into the world Informed Consent for Contraception: A Shared Decision-Making Guide and Form Standing up Against Coerced Sterilization in the Health Care System Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Melissa Dessaulles, BScPT, BScKin, Pelvic Health and Kimberley Johnson M.S. and PhD candidate focusing on perinatal and pelvic health to discuss birth related pelvic floor trauma and the association with higher rates of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and how a lack of pelvic floor focused education may be associated with greater distress following pelvic floor trauma and its sequelae. Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Physiotherapists Sam Bright, BSc Hons PT and Megan Tennant BSc, MPT discuss the proper techniques and numerous benefits of babywearing. Resources: Download various Hip Dysplasia Brochures from the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, which includes the proper "M-Shape" for baby in a carrier Also from the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, check-out their list of Hip Healthy Products Download the T.I.C.K.S. hand-out, a handy guide for patients Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!

Board certified pediatrician Dr. Rebekah Diamond, MD shares with us her insights and strategies for an empathy forward approach to speaking with vaccine hesitant parents. Resources: Patient focused She Found Motherhood Podcast episode and blog post featuring Dr. Rebekah Diamond: Top 5 Questions Parents Have about Vaccinating their Children! Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's (CHOP) Vaccine Education Center: providing complete, up-to-date and reliable information about vaccines to parents and healthcare professionals. Dr. Rebekah Diamond's Instagram Page @parentlikeapediatrician Feedback: Please take a moment to fill out this very short anonymous survey (>1 minute). We want to optimize Pregnancy for Professionals to suit your needs, so any feedback is very valuable and much appreciated!