Podcasts about expecting better

This week on From the Front Porch, Annie recaps the books she read and loved in April. You get 10% off your books when you order your April Reading Recap. Each month, we offer a Reading Recap bundle, which features Annie's favorite books she read that month. To purchase the books mentioned in this episode, stop by The Bookshelf in Thomasville, visit our website (search episode 527), or download and shop on The Bookshelf's official app: A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (releases 7/8) Flashlight by Susan Choi (releases 6/3) Heartwood by Amity Gaige Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li (releases 5/20) Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry April Reading Recap Pairing - $50 Heartwood by Amity Gaige Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry From the Front Porch is a weekly podcast production of The Bookshelf, an independent bookstore in South Georgia. You can follow The Bookshelf's daily happenings on Instagram, Tiktok, and Facebook, and all the books from today's episode can be purchased online through our store website, www.bookshelfthomasville.com.  A full transcript of today's episode can be found here. Special thanks to Dylan and his team at Studio D Podcast Production for sound and editing and for our theme music, which sets the perfect warm and friendly tone for our Thursday conversations.  This week, Annie is reading Expecting Better by Emily Oster. If you liked what you heard in today's episode, tell us by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts. You can also support us on Patreon, where you can access bonus content, monthly live Porch Visits with Annie, our monthly live Patreon Book Club with Bookshelf staffers, Conquer a Classic episodes with Hunter, and more. Just go to patreon.com/fromthefrontporch. We're so grateful for you, and we look forward to meeting back here next week. Our Executive Producers are...Beth, Stephanie Dean, Linda Lee Drozt, Ashley Ferrell, Wendi Jenkins, Martha, Nicole Marsee, Gene Queens, Cammy Tidwell, Jammie Treadwell, and Amanda Whigham.

Yascha Mounk and Emily Oster also talk about what public health authorities fell short during the pandemic. In addition to being a Professor of Economics at Brown University, Emily Oster  is the founder and CEO of ParentData, a data-driven guide to pregnancy, parenting, and beyond. Emily is also a New York Times best-selling author, whose books include Expecting Better, Cribsheet, The Family Firm and The Unexpected.  In this week's conversation, Yascha Mounk and Emily Oster explore how parents can make data-driven decisions, if screen time for kids should be avoided completely, and school closures during COVID. Please do listen and spread the word about The Good Fight. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: goodfightpod@gmail.com Podcast production by Jack Shields and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google X: @Yascha_Mounk & @JoinPersuasion YouTube: Yascha Mounk, Persuasion LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Emily Oster is THE REAL DEAL. She is the CEO of ParentData, a mom of two, a best-selling author, a PhD graduate in economics from Harvard, and a professor of economics at Brown University. You may know her from her book Expecting Better. We discuss getting your relationship ready for a baby, what kind of mom she was, the myths of what you can and can't do when you're pregnant, what messes up your kids the most, and so much more. Sponsors:Go to helixsleep.com/ACME for 20% off sitewide during the Spring Savings Event.Produced by Dear Media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Before Emily Oster became a go-to parenting expert, she was an econ professor waiting on a tenure decision at the University of Chicago. While waiting, she published Expecting Better, a book that moms-to-be consider to be a parenting Bible. She got rejected for tenure, then spent over a decade believing the book was a “professional mistake”. Parents everywhere beg to differ. Listen as Emily shares how she moved past the disappointment  – and why it actually turned out to be the best thing for her career.  In this episode of 9 to 5ish, Emily shares:  Her weekly mileage as a marathoner (our legs are shaking) Why she refers to herself as a “vagina economist”  How her kids react when she tells them she's a “parenting expert”  Why she doesn't shy away from disagreements around her research  Who'll benefit most from ParentData's newest vertical  Follow Emily on Instagram: @parentdata Follow Carly and Danielle on Instagram: @carlyanddanielle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we are back with another installment of “Mom Friend,” a judgment-free zone to explore the often-overwhelming work of parenting. Emily Oster is back. She is an economist, bestselling author of “Expecting Better” and “Cribsheet,” and is the CEO of ParentData. We unpack what the data says about all the parenting concerns that arise from birth through the preschool years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 04, 2024 Discussion on the book "Expecting Better," How Polarization is Making Us Dumber by Dr. Farid Holakouee

“Inhale peace, exhale tension.”Did you know that the cascade of interventions can not only contribute to a Cesarean but may cause one? Melanie believes that was the case with her first birth. Her difficult recovery included going to EMDR therapy to help with her PTSD. Her OB/GYN did mention that she would be a great VBAC candidate. Not knowing VBAC was a thing, Melanie's research began. Cue The VBAC Link!Melanie vigorously dove into VBAC prep before she was pregnant again. Her journey is one that shows just how powerful intuition and manifestation can be. Melanie went from having PROM with her first to arriving at the birth center at 7 centimeters and even being able to reach down to feel her bulging bag of waters as her baby began to emerge en caul!Other talking points in this episode include:Achieving a VBAC without a doulaHusband support Birth affirmationsRecommended podcasts and booksSpecific ways to avoid PROMHypnobirthing by Siobhan MillerThe VBAC Link Blog: 9 VBAC Books We RecommendThe Birth HourDown to BirthNeeded WebsiteHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Meagan: Hello, everybody. Happy VBAC Link Podcast day, whatever day it is that you are listening. We are so happy that you are here. We have our friend, Melanie, from Texas. Texas, is that where you are? That's where my mind is thinking. Melanie: Yep. Yep. Wiley, Texas just outside Dallas. Meagan: Perfect and did you have your VBAC in Texas?Melanie: Yes. In Dallas. Meagan: In Dallas, okay. We have her sharing her stories with us today you guys. At the end, we're going to be talking about PROM. Right before we got recording, I was talking about how important I think talking about PROM is which if you haven't heard lately what PROM means, there are all of these acronyms all over the place when it comes to VBAC birth, but it's premature rupture of membranes. We are both PROM moms here and so we are very passionate about the topic. If you have had your water break before labor really started and got going in the past, definitely hang on in the end because we are going to be talking more about that and maybe some ways that could or maybe not, we are hoping these are the ways that helped us avoid premature rupture of membranes. We are going to be talking about that and of course, her beautiful VBAC story. I do have a Review of the Week and this is by milka. It says, “VBAC Podcast Review.” It says, “Hi. I love listening to your podcast. I had an unplanned C-section with my first birth and am preparing for my second birth now. I didn't know what to do to make sure I didn't end up with the same situation. Hearing so many women's stories and experiences validated mine but most importantly, I learned so many tips and ideas to help my VBAC. I had a successful VBAC and now recommend this podcast to all expecting moms. Just such a great no-pressure and enjoyable way to learn.” I love that she talked about no pressure because that is what this podcast is about. This is a place where people share their stories, where they share information both on VBAC and CBAC, and all topics when it comes to birth. We want you to just be here, be in this space, and have it connect with you how it connects with you and take these women's stories and these providers who are coming on and the information given and apply it however, it looks for your journey. Melanie and I were just talking a little bit before the episode about how it just feels so full circle. So many of these Women of Strength who have come on before Melanie here and have shared their experiences and people listening, it really is so impactful. Right, Melanie? You were saying that I was in your ear. We were in your ear and these people's stories were in your ear doing what? Empowering you. Melanie: Mhmm. Oh yeah, it's incredible. It feels very full circle to be here. Meagan: Yes. We are very excited that you are and you guys, we are going to jump right into her story in just a second. Okay. The table is yours. Melanie: Okay, so happy to be here. Meagan, like you said, you guys have been in my ear for over a year so it just feels incredible to be here. As I was listening to these stories, I was always hoping to find that birth story that was like mine just to find out what went wrong with mine and also on the flip side, what did people do? What were people seeing in things that went right and how they were able to get a successful VBAC? I was very motivated and inspired by the podcast. I listened to every episode so hopefully, my two stories out there can hit home with anyone. But yeah. I'll start with, of course, the C-section just briefly. I got pregnant in March 2021 so everybody remembers it was COVID times still. Meagan: Wild times. Melanie: Wild times. Actually, at the beginning of my pregnancy, my husband wasn't able to come to the appointments. But thankfully, it being 2021, by halfway he was able to come. That pregnancy, I was really healthy. I ran. I'm a big runner so I ran every day. I had no morning sickness. I was very active. I never even until the very end– I ran the day my water broke and I never had that feeling like I didn't want to be pregnant.Not the case the second time as we'll hear, but the first time—Meagan: And you do that competitively, right? Did you compete during pregnancy at all? Melanie: I've ran my whole life so I ran cross country and track division one in college. Now, I do more marathons. Yeah. I ran both pregnancies. Not anything too crazy. During the second pregnancy, I did run a half marathon. I was 16 weeks but then it went downhill after that. But yeah. I run pretty competitively. I take it really seriously and it's a passion of mine. Yeah, the only thing I got the first time and the second, but I did. I've heard it before on the podcast is SPD, symphysis pubic dysfunction. The first pregnancy, so the one I'm talking about, a prenatal chiropractor literally cured it. I had to go back a couple of times because it would get out of alignment again, but for anyone who is suffering from SPD like I was both times, it's amazing. I would just call them witches because they would literally cure it and it would get me back to running. It was amazing. So my birth education the first time around, I thought I was educated like so many women here. I read the typical What to Expect When You're Expecting. I did a podcast but it was more so of what size is your baby? What's going on in utero? I didn't listen to many birth stories and I became so obsessed with that the second time. And truly, I feel like you get the best birth education through birth stories because you just get the whole shebang. We did take a hospital birth class and now I know that a hospital birth class is really just the hospital policies. I remember there was a section that they had mentioned very quickly in passing, “If you're going to have a C-section, you should take this class. Okay, the next thing.” I thought like so many women, That's not going to be me. I'm not going to have a C-section. I'm healthy. I feel great. Most C-sections are not planned so I feel like it really did a disservice to not even mention anything about a C-section in that class, but anyway, I just assumed that you have a baby in the hospital. You get an epidural. You take a nap and then you wake up and you push out a baby. I was not against hospitals or anything. I was not against the epidural or anything like that. I mentioned that I ran the day my water broke. This was past 40 weeks. 40 weeks came and went. A couple of cervical checks I got I was not dilated at all. They had scheduled a 41-week induction date. When I was checking out at the front desk at the time, I just remember it feeling really, really wrong scheduling that date. Meagan: Your intuition was speaking right there. Melanie: 100%, yeah. Of course, I didn't realize it at the time. It was my first baby and everything but when I look back, that just felt so wrong. 41 weeks came and I was supposed to go in at 9:00 PM that night but the interesting thing is that my water broke actually 4 hours before I was supposed to go in. It was 5:00 PM and I was supposed to go in at 9:00. Like you mentioned Meagan, it was PROM so it was a trickle. I was like, Wait. Am I peeing? What is happening here? No contractions at all. And with the little education I did, I knew that just because your water breaks, it doesn't mean that you have to go in and you should labor at home as long as possible. However, because I was set to go in and I guess because I was 41 weeks, I called them and I just remember they were like, “No. You're in labor. Come in.”I was like, “Okay.” Meagan: This is labor? Melanie: Yeah, I was like, “Oh, okay.” So I got to the hospital literally not dilated at all. I was maybe half a centimeter and they inserted the Cervadil at 9:00 PM which hurt really bad because it turns out if you are not dilated, it really hurts to get Cervadil inserted. Meagan: And if your cervix is posterior, it's hard for them to get it into your cervix so that can also cause a lot of discomfort. Melanie: That's exactly what it was too because I think they had a hard time. I didn't even think about that. It was probably posterior. Man. Yeah, see? My body just wasn't ready for that. But contractions did come eventually. I don't know if Cervadil can cause it or if it was just time. I was going into labor but that was around 1:00 AM. The contractions started to get uncomfortable. I had not practiced coping with contractions at all because I was planning to get an epidural. I never had any inkling of going unmedicated or anything so this is where I think everything went south.This is where I just think it was the cascade of interventions. First I had fentanyl which I don't know why because I think I was trying to delay the epidural for whatever reason. I don't know why. I had fentanyl first. It was awful. It felt like I was so drunk. The room spun and it was terrible. Then an epidural, which has fentanyl in the epidural. That was fine. After the epidural, of course, you feel amazing, but you are stuck on your back forever. I just think this cascade of interventions, being stuck on my back, not moving, I never ever take medicine as it is. I think my body and my baby just hated all of this. So then eventually, terbutaline was given around 6:00 AM. Meagan: To stop the contractions. Melanie: Yep. I think that's when some decels started happening then they did pull the Cervadil to stop the contractions. There were some decels then yeah, eventually it's all a little bit fuzzy but at 6:45 AM the decision was made for a C-section. At 8:01, he was born. They called it an emergency C-section and now I look back and I'm like, yes. I do believe that it was needed. However, I'll never really know but I really think it was caused and also, if it's an emergency, I understand that they don't wait hours like they did for me and they usually put you under. I think it was more unplanned and I look back and I really think it was caused. Meagan: That is the hard thing to know. A lot of these Cesareans, I would agree with you that they are caused by the cascade of interventions and things like that and then a lot of providers will say “emergent” so there are emergent Cesareans where we need to get this baby out quick and then there is a crash where they do put people under with crash Cesareans. But if they are waiting for hours, it's almost like they gave the emergency title to make themselves feel better or make it look valid to justify that Cesarean. Melanie: Yeah, I definitely agree with that. That experience was really awful for me. I think for some women, I think it's awful for a lot of women and then I think for some, it's not that awful. For me, no skin-to-skin. I know that's not very common at all. It felt like it was forever for them to bring him to me. No one was talking to you in this moment and I just don't think these doctors realize in the moment that you're being robbed of something that you envisioned and a really important experience. It just felt like forever for them to give him to me. It was 30 minutes or so. He was fine. He came out completely fine with great APGARS. I was fine. It just ended up in the way I didn't want it to. I did have PTSD from that experience because I was having a lot of flashbacks to it. I went through some EMDR therapy. I had a great therapist and of course, I talked to her about it. She was there for my VBAC as well. But yes. That postpartum was just– the healing sucked. I just felt really awful and I think mentally, it took a really big toll on me. Breastfeeding was really hard. A lot of that I attributed to my C-section. It was not desired. It was just not great. So that was the first birth. I never knew VBAC was a thing or a big deal at all. I don't even think I knew the term VBAC. I went to the 6-week post-doctor's visit and I remember she was like, “Yeah, you'd be a great candidate for a VBAC. However, you have to go into spontaneous labor by 39 weeks.” I'm sitting here like, okay. He was just a 41-week baby. My mom has a history of going late. I don't think that's very likely that I'll go into spontaneous labor by 39 weeks so I already made up my mind that I wasn't going to go with her. I learned later that that is a very common thing that hospitals and OB/GYNs will say to you. Yeah, that was the first one. So then cue The VBAC Link. I started listening to The VBAC Link Podcast before I was pregnant. Maybe my son was a year old and I binged every episode. You and Julie were in my ear a ton. The thing that I heard from The VBAC Link was that the likelihood of a successful VBAC for many of these women did happen out of the hospital and like you yourself, Meagan. That's not to say that of course, you can be in the hospital. You can have an epidural and get induced and have a successful VBAC, but when I just heard the overwhelming thing was how much of a better chance you have. I should also mention that my husband works in medicine too. He's a physician assistant. I will talk about that. He had a little bit of a hard time just with the safety aspect of it. But once I let my mind go toward the possibility of an out-of-hospital birth– because I wanted a VBAC so badly. I was so motivated. Then I realized that it was something that I actually really desired, a physiologic birth and unmedicated. When I look back, I think that's why I had such a hard time mentally with my first birth because I think I didn't know that I cared how my babies come into the world and I wanted to experience that. I don't know and in some weird way too, it felt like doing an unmedicated out-of-hospital birth made me almost feel connected to my ancestors. It seems really weird, but I was like, this is what they did. I just think it's something really cool that our bodies do. I wanted to experience that. But I do. I recognize that it was a trauma response for me for sure to become obsessed with research. I binged all of the episodes. I would look for anything related to VBAC. I read so many books and I actually toured. I had a neighbor and a friend who was pregnant at the time and she was going with the birth center that I ended up going with. We would go on walks and she would talk about her experience and how amazing and wonderful it was. I was just like, man. I want that, especially knowing that we were planning to most likely have just one more child. I hated to have that thinking of, this is my last chance, but I did. Meagan: I understand that so much because my husband told me that too and I was like, “I really want this VBAC. I really want this VBAC.” Melanie: Yeah and that's okay. We're okay. It's okay if we have these desires and these wishes. You only get one life. It's okay to want what we want. I'll never forget. I toured the same birth center that my friend was at and again, I was not pregnant yet. It was an education class. I was like, let me just see what these midwives are all about and what birth centers are like. It just immediately– again, it's that intuition. It immediately felt so right. I remember I walked in and just before even finishing the class, before we even really heard them out, I just knew that this was where I wanted to give birth in my next pregnancy. It felt so right. And also, I'll never forget. I had asked questions about VBAC because unfortunately, not all birth centers support VBACs which I don't understand, but I had asked a lot of my questions related to VBACs and I remember the midwife saying, “Well, unfortunately and fortunately, we do a lot of VBACs.” I'm thinking, why would I not want to be with a provider who does the most VBACs? Hospitals don't do a lot of VBACs comparatively. A lot of people are like me. They go to a birth center because they really want a VBAC. That just was really calming to me. I felt like I was with experienced hands. I was safe and there also was not really anything different about a VBAC. I'm with people who understand and trust birth. I brought this up to my husband and I mentioned that he had his reservations because he's a physician assistant and he works in orthopedic trauma but he was in PA school, he had to do OB/GYN rotations. He unfortunately saw some bad birth outcomes so to him, the hospital was a safety net but I was so, so grateful that he was supportive of my desire to go out-of-hospital even though it seemed kind of crazy to him. He came to– we had one meeting with the midwife so he could ask questions and everything. She was so great and answered all of his questions and I actually was unknowingly pregnant at the time. I didn't know it.Meagan: No way. Melanie: It's really weird. I toured the birth center first by myself and it's almost like my body needed that to be like, boom. You found the place where you are going to give birth and then I got pregnant. It was really weird. We were trying but also, it takes my body after coming off birth control some time so it still was a shock. I was like, oh wow. So anyway, the second pregnancy was much harder as I mentioned. I was not able to be nearly as active. I ran that half marathon like I mentioned and then– it was the Dallas half– then my body just went downhill. It was much, much harder. My sleep was horrible. I have an Aura ring and it tracks your sleep and everything then at the end of the year, it will give you a summary of every month's sleep. I will never forget because I got pregnant in September and it's like, January, February, March, April everything is fine and you look at the bar graph time series and it plummets in September. It stayed that way. It was my deep sleep. My deep sleep really, really decreased a ton. Maybe that's normal and I just didn't know that the first time, but I did not tell many people I was going with a birth center. I lied about my due date which I learned from this podcast which is very smart to do. I highly recommend it just because I didn't want to let in any of that negative energy or anything. The couple people I did tell, I did get a couple of people who would be like, “Oh, they're going to let you do that,” like the “let you” language. Meagan: We both did the same thing at the same time with the air quotes. The “let you”. Melanie: Yeah, exactly. I don't blame them. I just think that a lot of people don't have that birth education. And in hospitals, it's very normal to do a repeat C-section even though we all know it's not evidence-based. So very briefly, I want to talk about the prep that I did in this pregnancy that made such a huge difference for me. Number one, all of the podcasts like I mentioned. This one, of course. The VBAC Link, I binged it. I found the Down to Birth podcast at the end and that's a really, really good one. I know everybody does The Birth Hour as well which is good but that one has everything. I loved the more VBAC-specific ones. Then also, they haven't produced any episodes in a while but the Home Birth After Cesarean Podcast was really good too because they were all unmedicated. I was hoping to do that and they were all VBACs. Then books– I read a lot but these were my favorites. Of course, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. Emily Oscar's Expecting Better is really good. Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way is a little outdated but that one I really loved. It really taught me what productive contractions looked like because I didn't really experience labor the first time. I never made it past a 3 the first time. I didn't know what that meant. I didn't have coping mechanisms. They really focused on breathing. The best book I read and I hadn't heard this one on it. Maybe you know of it but I had never heard about it but it was Hypnobirthing by Siobhan Miller. There are a lot of books on Hypnobirthing but Hypnobirthing by Siobhan Miller. I was just thinking of Hypnobirthing as a possible way to cope. That book was the best book because I really like the science, the physiology, and what is actually happening in your body when you're getting contractions and how do you work with your body. It just had such a great way of explaining all of that.That was the last book I found. I was 3 weeks away from my guess date. That one was great. She also creates the Freya app if you've heard of that. The Freya app times contractions and it helps you with breathing. They give you a lot of mantras. Yeah. That book was amazing. I did get the Freya app too. I did not know I was going to rely on it so much in labor. Also, in that book, it was really big on affirmation cards. I would make affirmation cards then I would read them in the bath and sometimes practice my breathing through the app. I did some pelvic PT and then, of course, the prenatal chiropractor like I mentioned, I continued to do that. Like I mentioned, the care with the midwives was great. Very positive language. I noticed what was really important to me was not, “I hope I can do this,” because of course, I hope that. But my midwives were amazing because every time, they would just speak it. They would say, “You are going to have a beautiful, redemptive VBAC.” They would just say that. Of course, I know I am 50% of the birth story. The baby is the other 50%. Of course, I know that but it was so important for me to have that positive language. I really worked on my mindset this time around. I only followed accounts that served me. I unfollowed news accounts. I had to be very careful about what I watched and things like that. I don't think women realize how important our mental state is. I get very sensitive. Meagan: Yes. So talking about that, protecting your space, our bubble, or whatever it may be. Protecting our space is so important because mentally, like you were saying, I don't know if people really understand how precious our mental space is but mentally, if we are thrown off, it is sometimes really difficult to get back onto that rail. I had a situation on Facebook in a VBAC-supportive group. I've talked about it in the past. I was so excited to announce that I was going to birth outside of the hospital. I also wasn't telling people that I was birthing out of the hospital. I didn't really tell people my plan I thought I could in that group and I wasn't supported. I had to leave that. Sometimes it means leaving groups. Sometimes it means staying off social media. Sometimes it means muting people who may be sharing their opinions or telling people flat-out, “I appreciate you so much but unfortunately, I can't have you in my space,” because mentally, they are not serving you well. Melanie: 100%, yeah. I hate that that happened to you and I know that happens to so many women. It's just so unfortunate and I hate that there is such a stigma with VBAC because if you do the research which people who have really “easy” births don't have a reason to really do the research but if you are like us where we are all very motivated to have a VBAC because we already have this stigma going against us, it's all unwarranted. It's not evidence-based to not be supportive of a VBAC and if you really research and do the stats, you realize that it's not a big deal. The craziest thing that I heard on the Down to Birth Podcast was, “You have a chance of uterine rupture even as a first-time mom.” Meagan: Yes, you do. Melanie: It's not that much higher as a VBAC and first-time moms go their entire pregnancy never once hearing about uterine rupture but yet if you are a VBAC mom, that's all you hear about. So it's so crazy to me. Meagan: Yeah. Yeah. So mentally, you were unfollowing. You protected your space there. Is there anything else that you would give tip-wise to protect your mental space?Melanie: I think just believing in your body and believing that we are made to give birth. I think that's a really big one. Of course, like you said, unfollowing and maybe not talking about it with people, unfollowing accounts that do not serve you. I think the most important thing, I know we've heard it a million times on this podcast, but where you give birth and who you give birth with is the single most important thing because you want to be with a provider who believes that you can do it, whoever that is. Yeah, believing in yourself. I think that's going to look different for everybody of what they need. For me, I am a data person so I needed the stats. I needed to read the books and also listen to lots of women who have done it before me. Meagan: Mhmm, love that. Melanie: So okay, here we are. I was 40+5 so again, not 39 weeks with spontaneous labor but 40+5. I woke up at 5:00 AM to what I thought was contractions. I had some Braxton Hicks at the very end which I never experienced before. I didn't know if maybe it was prodromal labor but it didn't feel like Braxton Hicks because it was waking me up. I just tried to move through them a little bit. They were coming very, very sporadically. I would get a short contraction one time an hour and this went on for most of the day and they were not long at all, like 30 seconds. In my mind, I'm thinking, I'm a hopeful first-time vaginal birther. So I'm like, okay. This could be 24 hours. It could be 48 hours. Who knows? But I did not want to waste any energy timing the contractions so I was just guessing the whole day. It was a Sunday. I stayed home with my toddler. Yeah, I should mention that he is 2.5 so I waited about 2.5 years between the two births. So yeah. I just labored at home with my toddler and my husband. We are big track fans so it worked out perfectly. There was a Diamond League track meet on so I did the Miles Circuit while I was watching that. I texted my midwives and kept everybody updated but I think again, we all thought I still had a ton of time. Then I would say around 4:00 PM that day, I started to notice them a little bit more. They were still pretty inconsistent. I would say maybe 8-10 minutes apart and still only 30-45 seconds long. That was something I learned from again, that Bradley Method book I read is that productive contractions for most women– I will say not for me. We will get into that. But for most women, they are a minute plus. Those are the most productive contractions. I texted my midwife then that I felt like it would likely be that night. I felt pretty confident that they were coming but I was like, it could be the middle of the night. It could be tomorrow morning. Who knows. She texted back and she advised that I take some magnesium, take an Epsom salt bath and then go to bed and try to reserve my energy for when they are 4-1-1. We had a birth photographer this time so I texted the birth photographer. I texted our friends who I'm so grateful for. We had a neighbor and a friend who was going to come to our house and be with my toddler. So, so sweet. Yeah. I took the magnesium and then my husband, Brandon, drew me a bath and then disappeared with our toddler. I sat in the bath and I was reading my affirmation cards. This makes me so emotional but I discovered that my husband had snuck in his own affirmation cards into my pile and that's when I found them. Oh, it was so sweet. Meagan: That's adorable. Melanie: I know. It still makes me cry when I think about it because it just meant so much. It makes me so emotional. It was super sweet and one of the best things he's ever done for me. I found those and was reading through them in the bath and just trying to relax and really work with the contractions. I know from my research that you need to relax. To get them to be productive contractions, you have to relax. You have to get your body out of the way and it will go faster that way. They really started to ramp up when my husband was putting our toddler to bed around 7:30. I got in the bed and I put the pregnancy pillow in between my legs. I lay there and was trying to establish a pattern. Yeah. I know manifestation sounds pretty woo-woo but I want to say and this is where I'll start sprinkling these in because there were 10 things that I had manifested or really, really prayed would happen and I was very intentional that I really, really hoped that this happened. This was the first one. I don't know why I had envisioned laboring with my dog. You have a dog. You understand. My dog is my firstborn. She is my baby. I love her. You know, birth is so primal so I was just like, She's going to know. She's going to know when I'm in labor and she's going to know what to do. She did. She followed me. I didn't even realize it at the time. She followed me in my bed and I took a picture with her at 8:19. She was lying next to me on the bed as I was going through these contractions and it's a very, very special memory for me. I was already starting to get the labor shakes at this point. It's 7:30 and laying down in bed did really help to establish more of a pattern but they still were not a minute long. They were 40-50 seconds long. Then I moved to the toilet as many women do at this point, backward on the toilet. I lost more of my mucus plug because I had lost it sometime earlier in the day then at some point, I looked down and realized that I was having my bloody show. Again, none of this I had ever experienced before with my first. My husband was an absolute rockstar in this moment. He was so cute. He was running back and forth between the toilet and then packing up the car because I think he realized it was starting to get pretty serious. He brought me water and he put on the back of the toilet, cleaned it, gummy worms and things. That was not what I wanted at that moment but it was super cute. Oh, and I should mention that I did not have a doula so he was kind of like my doula. I was trying to prepare him as best as I could beforehand but he didn't need it. He did really well. I know the hip squeezes are great and I learned that from this show of course. As they were coming, I would scream at him, “Hip squeezes! Hip squeezes!” He would come over and do it and he did awesome. He was saying that I left my body in this moment and I was possessed because when I was having a contraction, again, I was trying to do the deep moans and really trying to relax but it's just funny. He was telling me about it after and he was like, “Yeah, it was like if you were looking at it from the outside, it's like you were possessed then you would scream at me and just moan.”Then by 9:24, they were coming. I mentioned they were not a minute long, but they were coming on top of each other. So every 2.5-3.5 minutes apart, but still not quite a minute long so my husband was calling the midwives and she still was like, “Well, they're not quite a minute. Just have her keep laboring at home until they are a minute.” Eventually, he called her back and I think he put it on speaker so she could hear me and that's what did it. Meagan: Uh-huh. She's like, “Load her up.” Melanie: Yes. Because we live outside of Dallas. The birth center was in downtown Dallas so it's pretty far. It's usually a 45-minute drive for us so I think my husband was just like, “I don't want to have a car baby.” Meagan: Sure. Melanie: Yeah. It was ramping up. So yeah. She called back. I mentioned the Freya app. I really relied heavily on the Freya app because when you are timing the contractions, it helps you with the breathing, in for 4, out for 8, and then one of the mantras I learned from that Hypnobirthing book that I did not know I was going to rely on so much– and I think you never really know when you're going into it and when you're in labor. You never know what's going to stick. My mantra that I must have repeated to myself 500 times was, Inhale peace, exhale tension. Every single contraction, I just repeated that over and over and over. I was trying to make it until 10:30 PM when we called them again, but that's when we got in the car and started heading there. He made it to the birth center in 33 minutes. The car ride was not fun like many women talk about. I think I hardly opened my eyes and I was just timing them, repeating my mantra, Inhale peace, exhale tension. I arrived at the birth center at 11:00 PM. I had a contraction on the step right there as I was trying to get out of the car and trying to make it. I eventually made it inside and I had my first cervical check of the whole pregnancy. I again, something I had manifested was that my two favorite midwives would be there and they were. One of them, she wasn't even on call but she came anyway. So many sweet things happened. I got on my back. She asked if she could check me and I was like, “Yes. I really want to know.” One thing again, I manifested that I really wanted to be at least a 6 when I showed up. The first thing she said was, “You are much farther along than you ever were with Rhett.” You are a 7 and you are very stretchy. I can feel your bulgy back of waters and the baby's head is right behind it. That's the other thing. We mentioned PROM. Here I am and my water still had not burst and it was amazing. Being on my back felt awful by the way. That's why I just don't understand. Being unmedicated in a hospital must be so, so hard because I know a lot of the times they want you to be on your back and I just can't imagine because that was the worst position ever. She started filling up the tub right away. Like many women, I was like, “I have to poop.” I get on the toilet and I was like, “I swear I do.” But no, I don't. Nothing was happening but it feels like I do. I got in the tub right away. I did a couple of contractions. They were still coming on top of each other. I was sitting down and eventually, I moved to hands and knees. Very shortly after, that was very fast. That was only about 5 minutes after getting checked. Very shortly after, my body was starting to push and I was like, “This can't.” I mentioned something. I don't really remember this but I mentioned something to my midwife about how it seemed to soon to push. I was like, “You just checked me and I was a 7-8. Why is my body pushing right now?” I was really wary of a cervical lip or a swollen lip which I learned from this podcast. I can't remember exactly but she said something to the nature of, “If your body is ready to push, let it push. This is your body getting ready to birth your baby,” which is again, something else I had really, really envisioned. I would have loved my body to do the pushing and it did which was amazing. My water had not broken still at this point and the really cool moment was that the baby was en caul for a while. I remember her saying something on the phone about baby being en caul. I was birthing the sac before I birthed the baby. It felt like a water balloon. She kept telling me, “Feel down. Feel the sac.” It felt like a water balloon coming out of you. It was so weird. Yeah, my midwife stayed behind me so quietly the whole time. I never knew she was there. My husband set up my birth playlist and music and he just was such a rockstar in this moment. He was getting a cold rag and putting it over my shoulders which felt amazing, getting water and electrolytes and continuing to help me with that. Yeah. My body pushed for about 30 minutes and I don't want to scare anybody, but truly, that was the worst part. I remember– I guess maybe it's the ring of fire, but I just remember feeling like my body was ripping in half. But then it goes away. Meagan: Yeah. It's intense. It's intense. Melanie: It's so intense. I don't think anything can really prepare you for that. I follow that account, Pain-Free Birth. I don't understand and I would watch videos of women who were smiling and they look great. I'm like, oh my gosh. That part was so, so painful. Handling and dealing with the contractions is one thing and I felt like I was really strong. I felt like I did a good job with that, but that pushing part is something else. His head was out. It was a boy. His head was out for a little while but nobody panicked and my husband was ready to catch him. His hand was right there. At some point, I remember my midwife was like, because again, my body was doing all of the pushing. I didn't do any of it. I guess after the head was out of a little bit, she was like, “You can try to push.” My husband told me because his hand was right there that my pushes were nothing. They were baby, tiny little pushes compared to the ones my body was doing. Then at some point, my midwife asked if she could help or something and I was like, “Yes, please.” I don't know what she did. My baby was kind of big which I'll say in a second, but I think maybe his shoulder was stuck or something. She did something that was pretty painful but then within a second–Meagan: A sweep. Melanie: Yeah, like a maneuver because I definitely felt more stretching then a second later, he shot out. He did have the cord wrapped around his neck one time but nobody freaked out and they just literally took it off then he pinked up right away, cried, and he ended up being 9 pounds, 5 ounces. My first was 6 pounds and 14 ounces. I'm like, “No wonder running felt awful. He was pretty big.” I look back and I just feel very proud. I was never once scared for myself. I never once thought about uterine rupture and I never was scared for my baby. I do have some memories of– they did the intermittent checking and I have this memory of the decels. That is why I ended up having the C-section so I was always very curious to see how he was doing during the check. He was always fine and I was never scared. Yeah. We got out of the tub quickly. They waited for me to deliver the placenta on the bed. It was about 30 minutes and yeah. My baby latched right away which was such a relief because I mentioned we had some struggles the first time. The crazy thing was– we sat there. We ate. We chatted for a little bit then once they did all of the newborn tests right there, we were home by 3:45 AM. My toddler went to bed as an only child and then he woke up to a little brother. And that's his story. The postpartum has been so different and it's been so much better. I can't help but think that a lot of that is because of such a smoother birth and the recovery has been so much better than a C-section. Different, but still so much better. Meagan: Yeah. Melanie: Yeah. I just thank this community so much. I also was on the Facebook page and I just got so much strength from all of the women before me. Meagan: Yes. Oh my gosh. Such an incredible story. I love– okay, a couple of things. One, we talk about it on the podcast. I love when people go and look for providers before they are pregnant. I absolutely love it. I think it's very powerful. But two, you were actually pregnant and you didn't know it. Melanie: I know. Meagan: That's so cool that you were doing that and it felt so right and not only was your intuition before pregnancy kicking in but you were actually pregnant and it felt right. You were like, this is the place. This is the place. Then you showed. You went past that 39-week date. You never had gone past 3 centimeters before. So much strength and power happened through all of this and then you pushed out a 9-pound baby. All of these things that a lot of the world doubts. Did you look at your op report? Melanie: I did and everything was normal. Then the main thing was the decels and that's why they said was the reason. Meagan: Decels. I just wondered if they said anything like CPD or failure to progress. Melanie: Yeah, no they didn't. I was looking for that specifically. I just barely made it. I was 2-3 centimeters before the decels started happening and then they called it. Meagan: Yeah. A lot of the time we are told and the world doubts us in so many ways so if you told a lot of people who are uneducated about VBAC the things that happened with the first and then the stats of your second, I bet people are like, “You did that?” But you guys, this is normal. This is beautiful. This is what you deserve. You deserve these experiences and these joyous moments. I'm just so proud of you. I'm proud of you. I'm proud of your husband. He sounds absolutely adorable. Shoutout to him. Melanie: He's so sweet. Meagan: Your midwives and everybody. You did it. Melanie: Aw, thank you. Meagan: I'm so happy for you. Melanie: Thank you. Thank you so much. I'm glad I didn't know how big he was before but also with my midwives, there was no pressure at all to even see how big he was. Meagan: Mhmm, yeah. Melanie: The second baby, I always say that he healed me because he really did. My first birth was really traumatic for me but then my friends all laugh because they say, “You're the only person who would say a 9-pound baby would heal you.”Meagan: Seriously, though. But how amazing. It's so amazing. Our bodies are incredible. Okay, we talked about PROM. This time, total opposite. Encaul for a little bit. I did some things. You did some things. Let's talk about if you've had PROM, premature rupture of membranes, there are things you could do to try to encourage no PROM next time. I am PROM, PROM, then with my third, I was contracting. My water did break way earlier than pushing but it still waited a little longer. I still feel like my efforts in a lot of ways helped. So anyway, tell us what you did. Melanie: Yes. So mainly two things. Again, being with providers who are more holistic, they are more likely to mention nutrition. We talked about nutrition a ton during the whole pregnancy. I think two main things. The first thing was collagen. They got me on collagen from the get-go. I know research shows that upping your collagen helps a strong sac. Then the second thing was Vitamin C. I didn't take any Vitamin C supplements or anything, but again, your body is amazing. I was craving oranges in my pregnancy so I think that's part of it. My body was craving oranges. I ate a lot of oranges so I think the combination of collagen and oranges really made my sac strong. And it was. It literally did not break until he came out. It was so different. Meagan: So incredible. I would echo that. Vitamin C and you can supplement with Vitamin C 100mg a day starting anywhere between 18-20 weeks. Some providers even say to do it from the very beginning as the placenta is forming and things like that. Collagen absolutely and protein. Protein and collagen. I know you guys have heard about Needed but I absolutely love their protein collagen. As pregnant women, we don't get enough collagen and we don't get enough protein in our daily eating habits so supplementing with that and getting more collagen really, really can create a healthier, thicker sac. Something that was interesting that I found out after my second– so back story. I had kidney stones. I don't know if you had any infections or anything like that with your first that made you be on antibiotics but antibiotics is what an OB told me can also weaken membrane sacs. I got UTIs and kidney stones and was put on antibiotics. The OB described to me that my OB was fighting in other areas so the nutrients that my body was getting was going to fighting and healing versus creating a stronger sac which is interesting. I've never seen any research about it but he was pretty adamant about avoiding antibiotics during pregnancy with my next one and I did. I didn't have what I had before. Melanie: That's interesting. I never heard that. Meagan: I know. I know. This is a doctor who doesn't even practice anymore. This was years ago but I was like, it kind of makes sense. It kind of makes sense. I haven't researched it. Melanie: Yeah. I can see that. Meagan: Antibiotics wipe our gut flora and things like that anyway so I can understand that but protein, collagen, Vitamin C, and possibly avoiding antibiotics. Nutrition is so huge with our bag of water. Then big babies. You guys, big babies come out of vaginas. I just have to say that. It happens. 9 pounds is a healthy, beautiful baby. Melanie: Yeah. When he came out, everybody was very shocked even before weighing him. He's thinned out now but he was swollen. Everybody was taking bets on how big he actually was. Meagan: I love it. I love it. I've seen so many babies when they come out and their cheeks are so squishy and you're like, that's a big baby. You can tell just by their face. Melanie: Yes. That's exactly it. Meagan: Oh my gosh. Well, thank you again so much for completing the circle, for helping other Women of Strength out there. I too believe that women listen to these podcasts and they want to find stories that are similar with theirs in so many ways. You didn't dilate past 3. An induction that didn't turn out to be a vaginal birth so an “unsuccessful” induction that turned VBAC. A lot of people, I think, do doubt their body in that way. They are like, “Well, I was induced. Not even medicine could get me there,” but there is a lot that goes into that. Sometimes our body is just not ready or our babies aren't ready or something is going on. It doesn't mean that's your fate for all future births. Melanie: 100%. Yeah. So well said. Meagan: Awesome. Well, thank you again so much and huge congrats. Melanie: Thank you so much, Meagan, and thank you to everybody. Everybody who has told their story, the community, and everything was so helpful for me. ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Today we're launching a new recurring segment called “Mom Friend,” a judgment-free zone to explore the often-overwhelming work of parenting. Helping guide us on this journey is Emily Oster — economist, founder and CEO of ParentData, and bestselling author of some of the most-talked-about parenting books of the last decade, including “Expecting Better,” "Cribsheet," "The Family Firm," and "The Unexpected." Emily brings research-backed data to the conversation, so you can make the best, most informed decisions for your family. Can you drink during pregnancy? What about while breastfeeding? How worried should we be about screen time? And when is the best time to freeze your eggs? Listen and find out.   Have a parenting question? Send an email or voice memo to hello@thebrightsidepodcast.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily Oster is an economist whose analytical eye is often focused on how to make better sense of the data behind raising children. As professor of economics at Brown University her analysis of the facts and figures involved in parenting have made her one of the most influential thinkers in how to create healthier families in recent years. Her books include Cribsheet, Expecting Better and The Family Firm, and she's the founder of Parentdata.org, a data-driven guide through pregnancy, parenthood and beyond. Her latest book is The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications. Joining her in conversation for this episode is another sharp mind with facts and figures, Tim Harford, senior columnist at The Financial Times, host of the Cautionary Tales podcast and author of his first children's book: The Truth Detective. We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/IS for £100 sponsored credit. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all of our longer form interviews and Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events - Our member-only newsletter The Monthly Read, sent straight to your inbox ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series ... Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. ... Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

#183: Economist Emily Oster uses data to challenge and debunk common parenting beliefs and shares data-driven strategies for parents to make more informed and confident decisions. We also cover data on polarizing topics like sleep training, breastfeeding, private vs. public school education, and more. Emily Oster is a professor of economics at Brown University and a NYT best-selling author of four books—Expecting Better, Cribsheet, The Family Firm, and The Unexpected. She's also a the founder of ParentData, a data-driven guide to pregnancy, parenting and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://allthehacks.com/debunking-parenting-myths Partner Deals Indochino: 10% off my favorite bespoke suits and shirts (with code ALLTHEHACKS) Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off AG1: Free 1 year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals Resources Mentioned Emily Oster: ParentData | Instagram Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications Is There a Best Method for Sleep Training? 5 Pregnancy Myths A Different Way to Look at Screen Time Cochrane Reviews 1-2-3 Magic by Thomas W. Phelan The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Full Show Notes (00:00) Introduction (01:44) The Shocking Amount of Misleading Data Around Parenting (04:17) Ways to Incorporate Data in Decision Making (10:05) Why There's So Much Pressure to Be “Perfect” Parents (11:57) The Good Enough Approach vs. The Perfect Approach (14:57) How Important Is It for Parents to Prioritize Themselves? (19:47) The Most Shocking Myths and Misconceptions (22:52) The Reason for an Abundance of Caution Around Pregnancies (26:12) The Polarizing Data Around Sleep Training (30:17) How to Approach Data and Reliable Sources (32:08) The Role of Cultural Norms and Traditions in Parenting Advice (36:33) How to Navigate Pushback on Advice (37:29) Making Complicated or Difficult Decisions (40:50) The Impact of Primary Education: Private vs. Public (44:19) Why It's Important to Build Resilience in Older Kids (46:32) Managing Screen Time and Technology (49:48) One Key Takeaway for Anyone Who Wants to Be a Parent (51:25) Where to Find Emily Connect with All the Hacks All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email Chris Hutchins: X | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn Editor's Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

In this episode, Halle Tecco talks to Emily Oster— health communicator, health economist, and bestselling author. Emily shares her journey from academia to becoming an influential health communicator, advocating for data-driven decision making and empowering individuals to make informed choices about their health.We cover:Her non-didactic approach to helping people make their own best decisionsHer least favorite types of panic headlines, and how no one would thrive on Doritos® dustPros and cons of the Open Access movementCombating publication biasSpeaking up on controversial topicsAdvice for building trust, combating misinformation, and improving health communicationEmily is on a mission to empower parents by providing the data and tools they need to make confident decisions. After getting a PhD in economics from Harvard, she went on to pursue research in health economics and is now a professor of economics at Brown University. As a mom of two, Emily was inspired by her own pregnancy and the lack of clear information to guide her decisions. She decided to use her expertise in reviewing and analyzing data to help other parents navigate these topics. She is a New York Times best-selling author, whose books include Expecting Better, Cribsheet, The Family Firm and The Unexpected.Follow Emily Oster on Instagram and X.Subscribe to the Heart of Healthcare and leave us a review! Got an idea for a show? Visit heartofhealthcarepodcast.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do you manage a complex pregnancy while continuing to manage your career? Pregnancy can be complicated, and people who experienced prior reproductive challenges often anxiously wonder just how similar their next experience will be. When these stressors are piled on top of our day-to-day work challenges and the possibility of an unsupportive workplace, things get even more daunting.I'm thrilled to share that I am currently in my second trimester (!!) after past fertility challenges, so this is a topic close to my heart. This was the perfect time to talk with Dr. Nathan Fox about the premise of his new book, and how to manage pregnancy expectations and assertively communicate with both physicians and superiors in the workplace during this time.Dive into this discussion by learning more about:Embracing a joint decision-making approach to medicine that honors both doctor and patient expertise;Identifying the best OB/GYN for your unique health situation;Understanding the risk of recurrence of pregnancy complications;And advocating for your rights as a pregnant person in the workplace.Related Links:Episode 438, The Impact of Stress Reduction on Infertility - https://bossedup.org/podcast/episode438Episode 414, New Rights for Pregnant Workers  - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode414Episode 346, How to Advocate for a Better Work-Life Balance as a Working Parent - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode346Episode 311, How To Talk About Marital Status, Parental Status, And Pregnancy In The Interview - https://www.bossedup.org/podcast/episode311Discover more about Nathan's Podcast - https://healthfulwoman.comLearn more about Nathan's practice - https://www.mfmnyc.com/team/nathan-fox/Buy “The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications by Emily Oster and Dr. Nathan Fox - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717163/the-unexpected-by-emily-oster-and-nathan-fox-md/Expecting Better by Emily Oster - https://bookshop.org/p/books/expecting-better-why-the-conventional-pregnancy-wisdom-is-wrong-and-what-you-really-need-to-know-emily-oster/15735353?ean=9780143125709Bossed Up Courage Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/927776673968737/Bossed Up LinkedIn Group - https://www.linkedin.com/groups/7071888/

Hello good human; and welcome to our first Q&A in a while: it's all about being pregnant (!!), expecting a baby and all that comes with that. From what we've done differently this time, to the ‘must haves' that I swear by so far, plus a very special announcement at the end of this episode; I hope you love it all and find it very helpful. RECOMMENDATIONS: Grief Part One (for womb cleanse info) Expecting Better, by Emily Oster My fav Bath Bombs Kin Fertility Vitamins Join The Sunshine Project Facebook community HERE Follow Chloe on TIKTOK and INSTAGRAM Produced by DM PodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new abortion law goes into effect in Florida on Wednesday. It will sharply restrict the procedure after six weeks. Florida's new law includes exceptions for rape, incest, fetal abnormalities and the life of the mother.New York City Mayor Eric Adams talks about the protests at Columbia University after pro-Palestinian demonstrators were removed by police from an academic building on campus.The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is recommending women get a mammogram every other year, starting at age 40. Dr. Celine Gounder, a CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, explains.New Yorkers got a front-row seat to a one-of-a-kind show by one of racing's biggest stars yesterday. Seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton sped down Fifth Avenue, even stopping to do donuts right outside the iconic Empire State Building. The stunt was planned to promote a partnership with WhatsApp and Hamilton's Mercedes F1 team, and their growth here in the U.S. Gayle King sat down exclusively with the global superstar right after the stunt.Author Emily Oster, known for her influential book "Expecting Better," introduces her fourth book, "The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications."First on CBS Mornings, Dame Judi Dench shares memories from her 70-year-career playing Shakespearean roles as she discusses her new book, "Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent" with CBS News' Anthony Mason.In our "Changing the Game" series, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by spotlighting Lulu Cheng and Lacey Benard. After identifying a gap in Chinese learning resources for children, they founded Bitty Bao in 2020. Their company has since produced 15 bilingual board books and innovative educational toys like a Hot Pot kit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy publication day to The Unexpected by Emily Oster and Nathan Fox! Listen to editor Ginny Smith Younce share backstory on the book, and stay tuned for a reading from the audiobook.About the book: From the New York Times bestselling author of Expecting Better, a guide to navigating a second pregnancy when the first did not go as planned—with Dr. Nathan Fox, maternal fetal medicine specialist. Read more: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717163/the-unexpected-by-emily-oster-and-nathan-fox-md/Follow us online—Website: https://www.penguin.com/penguin-press-overview/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/penguinpress/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/penguinpress TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepenguinpress Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PenguinPress/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/10489701/admin/feed/posts/

On this episode, Kayleigh is joined by Emily Oster, Brown University economics professor and Best-Selling Author to discuss her new book, The Unexpected. This book will be a go-to for those in the birth trauma community who  have experienced complications and are able/interested in having more children. Join us as we discuss the importance data plays in conversations with providers, especially after birth trauma. Guest Bio:Emily is on a mission to empower parents by providing the data and tools they need to make confident decisions. After getting a PhD in economics from Harvard, she went on to pursue research in health economics and is now a professor of economics at Brown University. As a mom of two, Emily was inspired by her own pregnancy and the lack of clear information to guide her decisions. She decided to use her expertise in reviewing and analyzing data to help other parents navigate these topics. She is a New York Times best-selling author, whose books include Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. Her next book, The Unexpected, hits shelves in April 2024.For more birth trauma content and a community full of love and support, head to my Instagram at @birthtrauma_mama.Learn more about the support and services I offer through The Birth Trauma Mama Therapy & Support Services.

"Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong and What You Really Need to Know"

Dr. Emily Oster, author of “Expecting Better” and “Cribsheet,” explains what she has learned in her research and writing about pregnancy. She and Dr. Fox discuss common advice and misconceptions regarding pregnancy and data shows what pregnant women should do.

My guest today is none other than Lauren Fleshman, a former elite distance runner turned dedicated coach and author. Lauren's latest book, "Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man's World," has been making waves since its release in paperback, shedding light on the unique struggles faced by female athletes and advocating for change in how we support and train them. In this episode, we'll dive deep into Lauren's journey as a runner, her experiences as a major figure in women's running for Nike, and her insights on female physiology and disordered eating and her inspiring vision for a more inclusive and empowering future in sports. So, whether you're a parent, a coach, or simply passionate about creating a better world for young female athletes, Lauren's perspective is as insightful as it is inspiring.  Connect with Lauren Web: https://www.laurenfleshman.com  Instagram: LaurenFleshman Get the Book: Good For a Gir: A Woman Running in a Man's World  Connect with Liz Instagram @motherhoodunstressed Youtube Motherhood Unstressed https://www.motherhoodunstressed.com  Resources Mentioned: NEDA - https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org Stanford Female Athlete Science and Translation Research Program IG @stanfordfastr   Web: https://fastr.stanford.edu Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S) "Take Back the Game" by Linda Flanagan About the Book “Good for a Girl is simultaneously a moving memoir and a call to action in how we think about—and train—girls and women in elite sports. It's a must-read—for anyone who loves running, for anyone who has a daughter, and for anyone who cares about creating a better future for young women.”  —Emily Oster, author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm

Our guest today was one of Time Magazine's most influential people in 2022- so maybe you've heard of her? Or perhaps, the name sounds familiar because you were recommended her first book “Expecting Better” over and over again when you were pregnant?We're excited to bring Emily Oster to No Silly Questions today. Applying her training in economics to issues of parenting- her signature style- Emily joins us to share what the data has to say about the early school years.More on Emily:Emily Oster is a Professor of Economics at Brown University and the author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet and The Family Firm. She holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard. Prior to being at Brown she was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.Resources:nosillyquestionspodcast.comhttps://www.instagram.com/nosillyquestionspodcast/

In this week's episode, host Margaret Walls talks with Lala Ma, an associate professor of economics at the University of Kentucky and a new university fellow at Resources for the Future, about the effect on housing prices in California of informing homebuyers about the risk of wildfire. Ma discusses how California classifies and discloses the risk of wildfire throughout the state, the difference in housing prices between areas in which wildfire risk is disclosed and areas where that disclosure isn't mandated, and factors that may influence the willingness of an individual to pay more to avoid wildfire risk. References and recommendations: “Risk Disclosure and Home Prices: Evidence from California Wildfire Hazard Zones” by Lala Ma, Margaret A. Walls, Matthew Wibbenmeyer, and Connor Lennon; https://www.rff.org/publications/working-papers/risk-disclosure-and-home-prices-evidence-from-california-wildfire-hazard-zones Books by Emily Oster, including “Expecting Better” and “Cribsheet”; https://emilyoster.net/writing/ “The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind” by Melissa S. Kearney; https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/T/bo205550079.html

Grab a hold of your dreams and never let them go. When ever they try to escape from you remember rope and chains are cheap. Tie them up in your back yard or closet with minimal water and food.

Jamie and Emily return for a new podcasting year, sharing updates on their lives, including Jamie's dental challenges with her daughter. The episode features Lo Mansfield, the "The Labor Mama" on Instagram, who offers insights as a former labor and delivery nurse, while living abroad in the Netherlands. The conversation explores healthcare differences between the United States and the Netherlands, prenatal care experiences, and various aspects of pregnancy and birth. Lo's experiences in the Netherlands sheds light on parenting, healthcare, and maternity care, providing a unique perspective on the cultural and system differences. Lo's journey unfolds, emphasizing the mission of Labor Mama for realistic, high-quality parental education. From transitioning from bedside nursing to virtual nursing, she discusses personal experiences and the loss of her mother, leading to creating Labor Mama during the COVID pandemic. Gaps in prenatal education recognition and empowering parents with comprehensive knowledge are highlighted. The conversation touches on Lo's decision to move to the Netherlands with her family, as well as insights into family dynamics, decision-making, and the unique circumstances leading to relocation are shared. The podcast delves into Lo's experiences with parenting and healthcare in the Netherlands, covering government-supported childcare, parental leave policies, and the Dutch culture's work-life balance emphasis. The decentralized nature of healthcare, challenges in coordinating services, and unique aspects of Dutch parenting, like early swimming and relaxed safety measures, are discussed.  Lo shares her maternity journey navigating the decentralized healthcare system in the Netherlands, highlighting challenges with coordination, language barriers, and cultural differences. The international parenting experience is explored, drawing parallels with similar stories from parents in Germany. Lo emphasizes developing familiarity with medical terminology for empowerment. The episode concludes with gratitude and hopes for a future reunion as Lo's family transitions back to the United States. In the "Live Ask a NAPS Nurse" segment, Jamie and Emily critique pregnancy rules, challenging healthcare's default tendency to discourage activities without thorough evaluation. Common misconceptions about coffee, sushi, deli meats, alcohol, and exercise during pregnancy are addressed, emphasizing moderation and individual decision-making based on updated evidence. Recommended resources for expectant parents include Pre-Baby Bootcamp, the Nurture by Naps membership, and Emily Oster's book "Expecting Better." This podcast is proudly brought to you by our fabulous sponsors: Feast & Fettle: Use code NAPS for $30 off your first order Kibou: Use code NAPS for 15% off your purchase of $89+ Little Spoon SilverPost: Use code NAPSFAMILY for $5 off any plan  

Will daycare give your kid attachment issues? Are you breastfeeding wrong? Is sleep training the worst thing you can do as a parent?Being a mom often feels like you've failed at something at least once a day, sometimes more. Women are judged and shamed for so many of our choices. How we deal with that judgement and shame is often up to us. I have turned to experts like today's guest Emily Oster so many times during my parenting journey to dispel my own guilt, shame and the misinformation surrounding parenting.Emily is a professor of economics at Brown University. She's also the author of three incredible books that you should definitely get for any new parent in your life. Expecting Better, Crib Sheet, and The Family Firm. Her website and podcast, both called Parent Data, are guides for parents that give you numbers and decision-making tools to feel more empowered about the decisions you make as a parent.  All of which are hard. Listen to Parent Data Here.Order all of Emily's books here.

"Whenever we do something that we really invest in and that's hard — and that we're not sure we can do — it's a reminder of the ‘we can do hard things' aspect. And I'll always get to say that I did this." Emily Oster is an economist, a professor at Brown University, and a best-selling author of books including Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. And she just made her marathon debut at the California International Marathon (CIM), where she finished in 3 hours 17 minutes and 39 seconds. In this conversation, Emily talks about her decision to run 26.2 miles (which she twice swore she would never do, during her first and second appearances on the Ali on the Run Show), about working with coach Kaitlin Goodman and sports dietitian Meghann Featherstun, and about her race-day experience. FOLLOW EMILY: @ProfEmilyOster SPONSORS: UCAN: Click here to get a FREE UCAN energy bar sample pack (you'll just pay the cost of shipping), and use code ALIUCAN for 20% off your next UCAN order. Tracksmith: New customers, use code ALINEW for $15 off your first Tracksmith order over $75. Returning customers, use code ALIGIVE for free shipping, plus a portion of the proceeds from your order will be donated to Moms Demand Action. The Eugene Marathon: Register for the Eugene Marathon (April 28, 2024) and save $10 with code ONTHERUN. What you'll get on this episode: Emily's evolution as a runner, and why she made the decision to run a marathon this year (2:00) Why Emily decided to start working with coach Kaitlin Goodman, and why they chose the California International Marathon (4:40) On choosing a “fast” race course (18:00) What Emily learned from working with sports dietitian Meghann Featherstun (21:10) What Emily's CIM training was like (25:40) On pre-race nervous, training stressors, and race goals (37:30) The road to the start line (45:00) Emily's highs and lows from CIM 2023 (48:45) What it was like becoming a marathoner for the first time (1:01:05) Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Subscribe to the newsletter SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

In this episode we talk to Emily Oster, fresh off her run at CIM! If you have a kid or are expecting, you know of Emily. Emily is an Economist, Professor, Writer, Podcaster, Parent, and now, a MARATHONER! Emily is the founder of the podcast and newsletter, Parent Data. Parent Data, along with her books Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm, takes a data-driven approach to questions around pregnancy and parenting. She blends economics, statistics, and common sense to make the journey of parenting just a little easier. Emily is also an avid runner and a huge fan of the sport. If you follow her on Instagram you get to see Emily at the end of her runs most mornings, dishing out the parenting advice we so crave.  Some highlights from our conversation:

Vagina economist Emily Oster is a world-famous data scientist who researches topics related to women's health, pregnancy, and parenting. Emily translates confusing scientific data and jargon into digestible knowledge that helps parents make better and more relaxed decisions.  Emily is a professor of economics at Brown University and the author of 4 books: Expecting Better, Cribsheet, The Family Firm, and The Unexpected. She also hosts the Parent Data podcast and writes a popular newsletter by the same name. Emily recently appeared on The Daily Show and was included in TIME's 2022 100 Most Influential People in the world!  In this episode, Caitlin gets to know the many sides of Emily: the mom, the runner, the Insta-famous economist. They chat about why her work resonates with so many moms and how to use data to make decisions. They talk about panic headlines, chaffing, pregnancy, parenting styles, extracurricular activities, discipline, daycare, and more.  We're honored to welcome Emily Oster to the podcast. If you like the show, please subscribe!  Follow Emily @profemilyoster and at www.parentdata.org Follow Caitlin Murray @bigtimeadulting The Big Time Adulting podcast is brought to you in part by a few of Caitlin's favorite brands & affiliate partners: Knockaround Sunglasses (use code BIGTIMEADULTING for 15% OFF)  Perfect Bar  The best store in the world  The second best store   

In this weeks episode we went through Shaina's peaceful birth story. First time mama, choosing homebirth and all the intentions, prep and surrender that went with it. We hope this episode can shed some light, bring joy to your day and encourage the mama who thinks she can't do it, because you can!!  Now let's grab snack and get to it!  Weekly Favorite: Perfect Supplements is having a 25% off sale through 11/16. Use this Link to shop-  https://www.perfectsupplements.com/?Click=645e732da54af Resources:  Affirmations: Built to birth: https://www.builttobirth.com/meditate Mama natural: https://shop.mamanatural.com/products/pregnancy-affirmation-cards Books mentioned:  Expecting Better, Emily Oster: https://www.amazon.com/Expecting-Better-Conventional-Pregnancy-Wrong/dp/0143125702/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KEHS4YHJT2CG&keywords=expecting+better+emily+oster&qid=1679031974&sprefix=expecting+better%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1 Mama Natural, Genevieve Howland https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Week-Week-Pregnancy-Childbirth/dp/150114667X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?creativeASIN=150114667X&imprToken=I06TqM20XZjjZgecIvovaA&slotNum=11&ie=UTF8&qid=1485208140&sr=8-2&keywords=mama+natural+book&linkCode=w61&tag=mamanatural-20&linkId=cbbd1c7aaa034c73736ff05f6dc873ce 3. Nine golden months, Heng Ou: https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Golden-Months-Mother-Be/dp/1419751484/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MCMDL2ZAD7F2&keywords=9+golden+months&qid=1679032078&sprefix=9+golden+months%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1 4. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth,  Ina May Gaskin: https://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FVP1AWTEEFFA&keywords=ina+may+guide+to+childbirth&qid=1679032252&sprefix=ina+ma%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-1 Podcasts we encourage:  - Pregnancy & Birth made easy: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pregnancy-birth-made-easy/id1471731529 - Happy homebirth: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-homebirth/id1446934537 -Evidence based birth: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evidence-based-birth/id1334808138 -Down to birth: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/down-to-birth/id1493130920

When's the last time you went down a research rabbit hole?   If you're anything like me, it can be easy to get caught up in researching the best parenting strategies, tools, and products for our kids.     But holy moly is there a lot of information out there!  And it can be challenging to parse out the reliable data and not get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available to us as parents.   In today's episode, Emily Oster, professor of economics at Brown University and NYT Best-Selling author of books like Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm, discusses her work in economics and statistical methods to help parents understand and make research-backed choices in pregnancy and parenting.   Join Emily and I as we break down the data (or lack thereof) behind popular parenting advice and what it really means to be a “good mom.”   3 things you'll learn in this episode: Why data literacy is so important for parents How data helps us make decisions and gives us perspective The surprising data behind popular parenting advice   To connect with Emily, head to: Instagram ​​@profemilyoster Website https://www.parentdata.org/ ParentData Newsletter   “I think we often put too much pressure on ourselves, treating too many choices as if they're super important. The truth is, a lot of stuff is pretty minor. When people write to me about certain things, I often say, 'Don't stress it. Go with the easy option.' But then there are those big decisions, and that's where it gets tricky. It's all about figuring out when to dig into the data and really think about what's best for your family.” - Prof. Emily Oster BOOK A FREE 30-MINUTE CALL WITH MICHELLE   TAKE THE PERSONALITY PATTERN QUIZ!   ASK MICHELLE A QUESTION!   REGULATION RESOURCES   FB COMMUNITY: The Calm Mom Collective   JOIN ME ON INSTAGRAM: @michellegrosser.coach   “I love The Calm Mom Podcast!” ← if that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing our show!  This helps us support more women, just like you, on their motherhood journey.  Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.”  Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

In this podcast episode, Emily Oster, a professor of economics at Brown University and author of books like Expecting Better, Crib Sheet, and The Family Firm, discusses her work and upcoming book, "The Unexpected." As the creator of the Parent Data newsletter and corresponding parentdata.org website, she focuses on bringing evidence-based decision-making to parents and pregnant individuals. Jamie and Emily pop the champagne for Emily Oster, who just hit 200,000 subscribers for Parent Data. The trio dives into "The Unexpected," which addresses pregnancy-related concerns and questions, particularly those related to the likelihood of recurring conditions from a previous pregnancy. Oster shares insights into her decision-making process, emphasizing the role of data in providing numerical perspectives on risks and benefits. The conversation takes a hilarious detour into the world of judgment—because who doesn't love unsolicited opinions on parenting, right? Oster advocates for creating a list of trusted advisors or "your people" to turn to for sound parenting advice. They also dissect the four-step decision-making process from Emily's book, "The Family Firm”: frame the question, fact-find, land on a final decision, and follow up. Plan for the sequel folks, Jamie and Emily also coined a fifth step.  The episode concludes with an impromptu live round of Ask a NAPS nurse Q&A. Oster steals the show as she delivers expert insights on how to approach the decision-making process for parents. This podcast is proudly brought to you by our fabulous sponsors: Feast & Fettle: Use code NAPS for $30 off your first order The Turning Points podcast is back with a new season: Navigating Mental Health (Boston Globe Media in partnership with Point32Health SilverPost: Use code NAPSFAMILY for $5 off any plan Mission MightyMe: Use code UNSWADDLED20 for 20% off all first-time orders

In this special Startup Dad (and Mom) episode I interviewed husband and wife team Trae Stephens and Dr. Michelle Stephens. Trae is a partner at Founders Fund, and is also co-founder and Executive Chairman of Anduril Industries, a defense technology company focused on autonomous systems and a co-founder of Sol, a wearable e-reader. Prior to that he was an early employee at Palantir and was an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University.Dr. Michelle Stephens is the co-founder and Chief Nursing Officer of Oath Care which aims to provide instant answers to all your parenting questions. She has practiced nursing with a focus on pediatrics in Philadelphia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. She has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and received her PhD at UCSF. In this episode we discuss:* Their professional background and a shared hobby* What childhood was like (spoiler: very different for each of them)* Their decision to start a family* Navigating miscarriages* Faith and religion in their childhood and family life now* Helpful parenting frameworks* How to take care of yourself and your relationship* How they make it all work with busy careers and busy kidsListen, watch and subscribe: Apple, Spotify, YouTube, Overcast and Google.—Where to find Trae Stephens- Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/traestephens- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trae-stephens-485a811/Where to find Dr. Michelle Stephens- Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/mddstephens- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-stephens-oath-care/Where to find Adam Fishman- Newsletter: https://www.fishmanafnewsletter.com- Newsletter: http://startupdadpod.substack.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/- Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/fishmanaf- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/—In this episode, we cover:[1:53] Welcome to the show![2:30] Professional backgrounds[8:34] Shared hobby[9:19] Childhood and growing up[13:25] How they met[17:40] All about their kids[18:56] Decision to start a family[21:47] Navigating miscarriages and support[23:29] Faith/religion[27:54] Having 2 kids vs. big family[30:57] Trae's earliest memory of being a dad[33:28] Most surprising thing about being a dad[38:05] Company as “kids” / non-traditional roles[42:15] Parenting frameworks[45:44] Where they don't agree[47:30] Taking care of yourself/your relationship[51:28] Pet peeves[54:30] What a great sleep day looks like[57:14] Thoughts on hustle culture[59:30] Awe & wonder with your kids[1:00:58] How to reach them[1:01:33] Rapid fire—Show references:Trae Stephens Twitter - https://twitter.com/traestephensOath Care- https://www.oathcare.com/Enneagram Type Eight - https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-8Enneagram Type Three - https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-3SNOO - https://www.happiestbaby.com/products/snoo-smart-bassinetThe Intentional Father by Jon Tyson - https://www.amazon.com/Intentional-Father-Practical-Courage-Character/dp/0801018684Emily Oster - “Crib Sheet” and “Expecting Better” - https://emilyoster.net/Magic: The Gathering - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_GatheringBluey - https://www.bluey.tv/Angel's Landing - Zion National Park - https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htmHook - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102057/Palantir - https://www.palantir.com/Anduril - https://www.anduril.com/Founders Fund - https://foundersfund.com/Philadelphia Eagles - https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University - https://sfs.georgetown.edu/Georgetown University - https://www.georgetown.edu/UCSF - https://www.ucsf.edu/Wedding Crashers - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396269/Peter Thiel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_ThielSpaceX - https://www.spacex.com/PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/us/homeTaekwondo - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TaekwondoMonty Python and the Holy Grail - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python_and_the_Holy_Grail—Bonus!If you can figure out Trae's AIM screen name you can DM him for some Founders Fund Swag! —Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/Episode art designed by Matt Sutherland at https://www.mspnw.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit startupdadpod.substack.com

In this special Startup Dad (and Mom) episode I interviewed husband and wife team Trae Stephens and Dr. Michelle Stephens. Trae is a partner at Founders Fund, and is also co-founder and Executive Chairman of Anduril Industries, a defense technology company focused on autonomous systems and a co-founder of Sol, a wearable e-reader. Prior to that he was an early employee at Palantir and was an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University. Dr. Michelle Stephens is the co-founder and Chief Nursing Officer of Oath Care which aims to provide instant answers to all your parenting questions. She has practiced nursing with a focus on pediatrics in Philadelphia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. She has been an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and received her PhD at UCSF.  In this episode we discuss: Their professional background and a shared hobby What childhood was like (spoiler: very different for each of them) Their decision to start a family Navigating miscarriages Faith and religion in their childhood and family life now Helpful parenting frameworks How to take care of yourself and your relationship How they make it all work with busy careers and busy kids — Where to find Trae Stephens - Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/traestephens - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trae-stephens-485a811/   Where to find Dr. Michelle Stephens - Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/mddstephens - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-stephens-oath-care/   Where to find Adam Fishman - Newsletter: https://www.fishmanafnewsletter.com - Newsletter: http://startupdadpod.substack.com - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/ - Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/fishmanaf - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/ — In this episode, we cover: [1:53] Welcome to the show! [2:30] Professional backgrounds [8:34] Shared hobby [9:19] Childhood and growing up [13:25] How they met [17:40] All about their kids [18:56] Decision to start a family [21:47] Navigating miscarriages and support [23:29] Faith/religion [27:54] Having 2 kids vs. big family [30:57] Trae's earliest memory of being a dad [33:28] Most surprising thing about being a dad [38:05] Company as “kids” / non-traditional roles [42:15] Parenting frameworks [45:44] Where they don't agree [47:30] Taking care of yourself/your relationship [51:28] Pet peeves [54:30] What a great sleep day looks like [57:14] Thoughts on hustle culture [59:30] Awe & wonder with your kids [1:00:58] How to reach them [1:01:33] Rapid fire — Show references: Trae Stephens Twitter - https://twitter.com/traestephens Oath Care- https://www.oathcare.com/ Enneagram Type Eight - https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-8 Enneagram Type Three - https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-3 SNOO - https://www.happiestbaby.com/products/snoo-smart-bassinet The Intentional Father by Jon Tyson - https://www.amazon.com/Intentional-Father-Practical-Courage-Character/dp/0801018684 Emily Oster - “Crib Sheet” and “Expecting Better” - https://emilyoster.net/ Magic: The Gathering - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic:_The_Gathering Bluey - https://www.bluey.tv/ Angel's Landing - Zion National Park - https://www.nps.gov/zion/planyourvisit/angels-landing-hiking-permits.htm Hook - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102057/ Palantir - https://www.palantir.com/ Anduril - https://www.anduril.com/ Founders Fund - https://foundersfund.com/ Philadelphia Eagles - https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/ Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University - https://sfs.georgetown.edu/ Georgetown University - https://www.georgetown.edu/ UCSF - https://www.ucsf.edu/ Wedding Crashers - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396269/ Peter Thiel - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Thiel SpaceX - https://www.spacex.com/ PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/us/home Taekwondo - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taekwondo Monty Python and the Holy Grail - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python_and_the_Holy_Grail — Bonus! If you can figure out Trae's AIM screen name you can DM him for some Founders Fund Swag!  — Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/ Episode art designed by Matt Sutherland at https://www.mspnw.com/  

We are thrilled to be re-airing our episode with Emily Oster on making parenting decisions through data. Emily is a Professor of Economics at Brown University and the author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm. She holds a PhD in Economics from Harvard. Prior to being at Brown she was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Emily's books analyze the data behind choices on parenting and pregnancy. She is also founder and CEO of Parent Data, which provides information for parents, people who want to be parents, or anyone who likes to do their research before making a decision. In this episode, Emilly discussed with us her most recent book, The Family Firm, which takes a data driven approach to help parents think more deliberately about key issues in the elementary school years including sleep, school, health, extra curricular activities and more. Emily presented to us how you can immediately apply frameworks and concepts to utilize the date in your life for making best decisions for your children.   You can find more information on Emily Oster, her books and research, and join her bi-weekly mailing list at emilyoster.net or parentdata.org. You can also connect with Emily via Twitter and Instagram @ProfEmilyOster. To hear Emily and my recent conversation on data driven decision making please visit this link Emily Oster Video. In this video, we discuss how data can (and can't) help us make parenting decisions, and take audience questions.   

If you or a partner is expecting or planning for children, you won't want to miss this one! This week, I'm welcoming back Professor Emily Oster, the NYT Best-Selling author of Expecting Better. I LOVE her work. There's now a new edition of Expecting Better with updated and revised information which you can find here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/310896/expecting-better-by-emily-oster/Sponsored byZocDoc: You need ZocDoc! Download the FREE app at zocdoc.com/humansEveryplate: Get $1.49 per meal by going to EveryPlate .com/podcast and entering code 49humans.KiwiCo: Get 50% off your first month plus FREE shipping on ANY crate line at kiwico.com/RGHSeed: Visit seed.com/RAISING and use code RAISING to redeem 25% off your first month of Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic.Produced by Dear MediaThis episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct, or indirect financial interest in products, or services referred to in this episode.

A little bit of answering questions, a little bit of chicken talk, a smidge of running, and a dash of Kara and I catching up. Its a whirlwind!Women who inspire us: Dr. Emily Oster if you're a parent you definitely know her books, Cribsheet and Expecting Better. While Emily is not a professional runner, she runs recreationally, while also teaching economics at Brown University and is a writer of books on pregnancy and parenting. She does it all and is a true inspiration. Thank you for focusing on womens issues Emily! Give her a follow on instagram!

We all have those moments where we feel like we've got parenting all wrong, and we're constantly bombarded with messages about what's “best.” Well, here's a not-so-secret secret: There's no best way to parent. And today's episode has the stories and data to back it up. First up, Grammy-winning artist Meghan Trainor talks about how her desperation for a raw, real guide to the messiness of motherhood—stretch marks, bloody nipples, and all—led to her first book, Dear Future Mama. Then, economist and author Emily Oster (you may know her from her books “Expecting Better,” “Cribsheet” and “The Family Firm”) follows up to explain how crunching the numbers on parenting approaches helps us redefine what “best” really means.  P.S. If you or someone you know is Bobbie-curious, head to hibobbie.com/dearfuturemama and use the code DEARFUTUREMAMA for 15% off your first organic formula order. Follow Bobbie on IG for all Milk Drunk Podcast updates: @ BobbieLearn more about Bobbie organic baby formula: https://www.hibobbie.comAnd for more real talk about parenthood (and babyhood!), head to Milk Drunk: https://milk-drunk.com 

Professor Emily Oster, known for her Parent Data newsletter, has helped countless parents become more confident in their parenting choices thanks to her deep dives into data and research. Emily takes an academic look at things like pregnancy restrictions, sleep training, and holding your child back for kindergarten. Her books, Expecting Better, Crib Sheet, and The Family Firm, take you through the different stages of family life and what the data says works best. Emily talks with Chatbooks co-founder Vanessa Quigley about the ups and downs of parenting and how using data can help make difficult decisions easier. Emily's newsletter and books help to take some of the fear out of parenting because a lot of that fear is rooted in uncertainty. Listen in and you will be inspired on your own parenting journey!  Follow @profemilyoster  Follow @vanessaquigley  Download the Chatbooks app and use promo code: POD20 at checkout  Free photo organization course 

What are some of the most important things to do in pregnancy as you prepare for baby? Well, in this episode we discuss our top 3 focuses within birth preparation and what we really like to emphasize with our mama's - fuel, movement and breath work. We talk about some of our favorite resources and ways to implement these practices today! We hope this episode is full of helpful information that you can apply whether you are in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd trimester. So grab a snack and let's get to it! Books mentioned: Expecting Better, Emily Oster: https://www.amazon.com/Expecting-Better-Conventional-Pregnancy-Wrong/dp/0143125702/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KEHS4YHJT2CG&keywords=expecting+better+emily+oster&qid=1679031974&sprefix=expecting+better%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1 Mama Natural, Genevieve Howland https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Week-Week-Pregnancy-Childbirth/dp/150114667X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?creativeASIN=150114667X&imprToken=I06TqM20XZjjZgecIvovaA&slotNum=11&ie=UTF8&qid=1485208140&sr=8-2&keywords=mama+natural+book&linkCode=w61&tag=mamanatural-20&linkId=cbbd1c7aaa034c73736ff05f6dc873ce Nine golden months, Heng Ou: https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Golden-Months-Mother-Be/dp/1419751484/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MCMDL2ZAD7F2&keywords=9+golden+months&qid=1679032078&sprefix=9+golden+months%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1 Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin: https://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3FVP1AWTEEFFA&keywords=ina+may+guide+to+childbirth&qid=1679032252&sprefix=ina+ma%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-1 Instagram Accounts: Painfreebirth: https://www.instagram.com/painfreebirth/ Built to birth: https://www.instagram.com/builttobirth/ Love of a little one: https://www.instagram.com/loveofalittleone/ lalactation: https://www.instagram.com/lalactation/ Wholistic Postpartum : https://www.instagram.com/wholisticpostpartum/ Affirmations: Built to birth: https://www.builttobirth.com/meditate Mama natural: https://shop.mamanatural.com/products/pregnancy-affirmation-cards

When Emily Oster wrote an article for The Atlantic to suggest an amnesty in the pandemic wars, she received a shockingly sharp rebuke from those who weren't ready to forgive. On the left, there were people who felt that the unvaccinated jeopardized untold lives; on the right, there were people still furious about the way they were treated for not going along with the lockdowns. But by that time, social media cancellations were a familiar ritual for Emily, who had already upset some souls with articles about school closures (she was against them) and the Covid risks faced by children (minor) relative to older people (less minor). Even though she was developing a thicker skin, the force of the response to the amnesty piece threw her a little. The worst part? She couldn't tell from the angry emails who was who. “The thing that was in some ways incredibly sad about that reaction was I would get then so many emails, and they were all very mean, most of them. And sometimes I would start reading and I would just think, ‘I don't even know which side you're on.' ”When the pandemic struck, Emily was already well known as the author of the data-informed pregnancy and parenting books Expecting Better and Cribsheet, both of which have become wild bestsellers. But Covid only accelerated her ascent, as anxious parents turned to her for wisdom in navigating uncertain times. She started a Substack newsletter, ParentData, which has become a phenomenon in its own right, with more than 160,000 subscribers. The newsletter was a lifeline for many of its readers, who treated Emily like a trusted advisor or a friend. Those relationships reminded her that, even as the worst of the attacks rolled in via email and social media, she was making a positive difference in people's lives. It gave her the confidence to say important and true things, even when there was a social cost to doing so. “There was a connection that was forged there that I think helped people in a time that was really hard, and I'm really proud that I got to do that,” Emily says. “I think that that is totally worth it from that standpoint. So I'm not sorry.”https://www.parentdata.org/Emily's recommended reads:https://whattocook.substack.com/https://www.thenewfatherhood.org/https://substack.com/profile/12430253-nellie-bowlesShow notesSubscribe to ParentData on SubstackFind Emily on Twitter, Instagram, and her websiteEmily's writing in The Atlantic: on school closures and a pandemic amnesty[02:41] Wanting to be a writer[04:41] Writing Expecting Better[07:15] The Amy Schumer moment[09:22] Writing Cribsheet[12:16] The tension of social media [14:41] Writing about Covid-19 and school closures[18:33] The cost of being yelled at on Twitter[21:32] Developing a thickened skin[25:49] Writing The Atlantic piece [26:55] Dealing with abusive comments[28:03] Humanizing both sides[29:49] Learnings from the blowbacks[32:09] Weighing up taking the heat[35:25] The value of writing on Substack[39:18] On going paid[42:00] Academia and writing[45:50] Teaching students[49:00] Emily's recommended readsThe Active Voice is a podcast hosted by Hamish McKenzie, featuring weekly conversations with writers about how the internet is affecting the way they live and write. It is produced by Hanne Winarsky, with audio engineering by Seven Morris, content production by Hannah Ray, and production support from Bailey Richardson. All artwork is by Joro Chen, and music is by Phelps & Munro. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit read.substack.com

Emily Oster, author of “Expecting Better,” “Cribsheet,” and “The Family Firm,” meets with Dr. Fox to discuss sleep training and the importance of establishing a regular sleep schedule at different stages of development.

Emily Oster is here - economics professor at Brown, 3x best selling author who debunks all your parenting myths with DATA!!! She wrote Expecting Better, Cribsheet and The Family Firm. We talk about how you can worry less about your parenting decisions, how moms can think about deciding their career path to find better balance and that even though working makes people happy and parenting makes people happy - we're not twice as happy when we do both! So Emily is here to help us find the path that's right for us (aided by data!). Plus Emily and Kim do a rapid fire with questions like: should you drink when pregnant, how much screen time should your kids have and how to get your kids to eat veggies. Lastly, Kim acknowledges she is lucky her husband uses data to make decisions in their household so basically their home isn't a clown show all the time. For our Real Mom Moment, Licensed marriage and family therapist turned money mindset coach Jacent Wamala joins us. *Looking to grow your business without dancing embarrassingly or being burnt out? Click here to learn more about my new VIDEO BOOT CAMP live group coaching course. We have a few spots left! LINKS: -Emily Oster's substack Emily Oster's books  Instagram-Jacent Wamala Instagram

Pastor Matt Swords talks to Jim & Rachel Ehrman about the truths and tests behind their weekend message entitled "Expecting Better".

"Once we realized it was real… I mean, it's not like that happens every week. It was really freaking cool!" Emily Oster was first on the Ali on the Run Show last February. At the time, the economist, Brown University professor, and best-selling author talked about how running is the one place in her life where she lets go of all the data and just runs. Fast-forward a few months, and Emily has a running coach (Kaitlin Goodman!), a training plan, a pair of super shoes, and finisher's medals from a 1:41 half marathon and 42:01 10K. Safe to say, Emily's relationship with running has evolved! In this conversation, recorded in front of a live audience at the Tracksmith Trackhouse in Boston, Emily — who is the author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm — talks about that evolution, and about whether more racing is in her future. Plus, what it was like being honored as one of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2022, including how she found out about the honor, what it was like being on the red carpet next to Zendaya, and whether her kids are impressed by her achievements. SPONSOR: Tracksmith. Click here and use code ALI22 to get free shipping. Plus, Tracksmith will donate 5% of your purchase proceeds to The Trevor Project. Follow Emily: Instagram @ProfEmilyOster Twitter @ProfEmilyOster Subscribe to her newsletter Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Join the Facebook group Twitter @aliontherun1 Support on Patreon Blog Strava SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

You're a good parent if you drink coffee while pregnant. You're a good parent if you don't breastfeed. You're a good parent if you drag your kid to soccer practice… and then let them quit the team mid-season. This week's podcast guest, award-winning economist Emily Oster, isn't saying these things to make you feel better. She's got the data to back it up. Frustrated by all of the “rules” she encountered as a mom-to-be, she researched popular parenting advice and discovered just how much of it is misguided or flat-out wrong. As Dr. Becky and Emily discuss her most surprising discoveries over the years, they demonstrate the power of data to deshame our parenting choices. You'll leave the episode with your own version of, “I'm a good parent who _______.” For more information, subscribe to Emily's newsletter ParentData on https://www.parentdata.org/ and check out her three books: “Expecting Better,” “Cribsheet,” and “The Family Firm.” Join Good Inside Membership: https://bit.ly/3cqgG2A Follow Dr. Becky on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbeckyatgoodinside Sign up for our weekly email, Good Insider: https://www.goodinside.com/newsletter Pre-order Dr. Becky's upcoming book, Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be, at goodinside.com/book or wherever you order your books. Today's episode is brought to you by the following sponsor: Outschool's online learning platform has over 150,000 live interactive classes—it's the perfect way to keep your kids engaged in learning and fun all summer. And because there are classes every single day of the week, from morning to night, you can schedule your kid's classes to work around your schedule. Go to www.outschool.com/goodinside and use the code DRBECKY to get a $20 credit towards your first class.

The ongoing story baby formula shortage in the U.S. has left many parents scrambling to find enough to feed their children. The shortage started after a critical manufacturing plant shut down and some products were recalled. That Abbott nutrition plant in Michigan reopened last week but the company warns it could still take nearly two more months before much of the formula is back on store shelves.  To help explain how any of this could happen, what parents should do, and what the data shows for the decades-old debate about breastfeeding versus formula, we spoke with economist, New York Times bestselling author, and mother Emily Oster. Time magazine recently named her one of its “100 most influential people” of the year, citing her data-driven and popular advice about parenting and pregnancy in her books “Expecting Better” “Cribsheet” and “The Family Firm.” And now, she's sharing the latest data-driven information with us, too. This episode is brought to you by kiwico.com (Listen for the discount code) and Pampers.com Get ad-free episodes and support the show by becoming an INSIDER: www.theNewsWorthy.com/insider  

Today we're excited to be welcoming Emily Oster back on the podcast! The last time Emily joined us to debunk many of the myths we hear as parents, and today she's specifically sharing her expertise on how we can be more confident in the decisions we're making as moms with school-aged children. Emily Oster is a Professor of Economics at Brown University and the author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet and The Family Firm. We were so glad that Emily came back to talk about this topic, because the decisions we must make do get trickier as our kids get older. This is the stage that we are entering right now with our little ones, and we know that many of you are in the same season or getting close to it, so we hope you find the information that Emily shares valuable to you. To hear more great advice from her, we encourage you to check Episode 98, the last time she was here to chat with us!We'd love it if you shared the episode to your Instagram Stories and tag us, @herselfpodcast and @profemilyoster. If you could do us a favor and write a review wherever you listen to the podcast, we read every single one of them and are so grateful for your support in helping us grow the podcast. MEET Emily: https://www.instagram.com/profemilyoster/ 10% off at BETTERHELP: http://betterhelp.com/herself $20 off first purchase at ROTHY'S: http://rothys.com/herselfLinks & Resources:Emily's Website, Instagram and Facebook All of Her Books Get Emily's ParentData Newsletter 98. Emily Oster on Debunking the Myths We Hear as Parents106. HERself Expert: Author Eve Rodsky on Sharing the Load at HomeOutliers by Malcolm Gladwell Let's connect!HERSELF SHOP: https://herself-podcast-favorites.myshopify.com HERSELF PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/herselfpodcast HERSELF INSTAGRAM: http://instagram.com/herselfpodcast MEET AMY: http://instagram.com/ameskiefer MEET ABBY: http://instagram.com/abbyrosegreen

Today on Natch, Jackie introduces the hunnies to one of her dearest and oldest pals, entertainment producer, creative consultant, and all-around tastemaker Laura Youngkin. The two chat all about their hometown nostalgia, what high school was like with Jackie, and how powerful it is to have your second toe be longer than your big toe. Plus, getting pregnant at the same time despite two very different experiences, gratitude and respect for your changing body, and how knowledge is power. NOTE- this episode heavily discusses fertility, including pregnancy loss, IVF, and various medical procedures. Around half way through the episode, Jackie mentions the book "Expecting Better," along with an iron supplement called blood builder. The conversation launches directly after that. For a list of everything mentioned in this episode, go to www.natchbeaut.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest today is Emily Oster. Emily is a Professor of Economics at Brown University and the author of "Expecting Better", "Crib Sheet" and "The Family Firm". She has a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard and prior to teaching at Brown, she was on the faculty at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. This episode is all about children and families. We discuss the surprising truth about whether women can drink caffeine and alcohol during pregnancy, the difference between randomized trials and observational studies, the problems with nutrition research, and the concept of a natural experiment. We also talk about overly cautious public health messaging, how the principles of business management can apply to managing a family, the rising complexity of having a family in the modern age, the arms race of extracurricular activities, and how much parents should push their kids to do things they don't like. We go on to discuss the difference between public, private and charter schools, why certain charter school networks have been so successful, what to feed your kids and the degree to which our adult tastes are shaped by the foods we eat as children, the overdiagnosis of ADHD and the prescription of Adderall to children. Finally, we talk about the effect of social media on children, the harmful effects of school closures during COVID, and how to raise happy kids.​​​​​​​