All About Pregnancy & Birth

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You're not alone in your uncertainty about this monumental life stage of pregnancy and birth. If you’re ready to replace the overwhelm of late-night Googling with expert conversations and stories of strength and positivity from women just like you — join us on the top-rated All About Pregnancy & Birth podcast. The All About Pregnancy & Birth podcast is your place for supportive, evidence-based information from Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, an OB/GYN physician who’s been in practice for over 20 years and has helped nearly 2000 babies into this world. You’ll also learn from innovative experts and hear stories of strength and resilience from parents and moms-to-be experiencing the same overwhelm and excitement as you.

Recent Episodes
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Recent Reviews
  • MorganMWW
    Birth of my Dreams!
    I’ve been an avid listener for years! I love the quality unbiased education Dr. Rankins provides. I took the birth preparation course and had the unmediated hospital birth of my dreams. I owe it all to the education I received from this podcast and the course. Thanks Dr. Nicole!
  • D047295727
    If you are pregnant choose this podcast!
    This is a fantastic podcast for learning about pregnancy and birth, both a medical & educational perspective, plus great birth stories with Dr Nicole’s takeaways. Highly recommend
  • HellFaceKillah
    So incredibly helpful!
    I just listened to Ep 67 about Cesarean birth; I have vasa previa and I’ll be having a C-section in about 8 weeks. I’m so grateful I found this podcast which walked me through the entire procedure carefully with matter-of-fact language. I feel so much more prepared & no longer so afraid. Thank you so much!
  • offdutymermaid
    Fantastic Resource For a First Time Mom
    I’m currently eight months pregnant with my first baby. I started listening to Dr. Nicole’s podcast during my first trimester. I am a former nurse, now healthcare quality analyst. I wanted to find a resource with a proper medical background. I rely on science, case studies, and research when making my healthcare decisions. Dr. Nicole provides that and so much more. Her expertise and compassion shown during her birth story episodes is incredible. I also attended one of her free birth plan courses. She shared a lot of information and answered many questions from myself and other attendees. I am forever grateful for having found this podcast. Thank you, Dr. Nicole.
  • JessicaLevenson
    Great resource
    I always look forward to the latest episodes. I wish I had found this podcast during my first pregnancy but I’m grateful to have had it for my second and now third babies. Dr. Rankins is easy to listen to, the information is trustworthy and helps me feel confident in my birth. Thank you!
  • Juliethany
    Love your podcast!
    Love how you are so detailed at explaining everything! Can you please touch on Mast Cell syndrome and management during pregnancy? I have so many fears about this one as not enough studies on Xolair, which is the only thing that’s put my mast cell in remission and I’m terrified on lack of studies or what I can do. My doc says it’s up to me to continue xolair. It’s so hard to understand DAO blockers etc , please help!
  • MAllyK0000
    Second time Mom learning a lot!
    This podcast is packed full of useful information! Even as a second-time mom, I am learning a lot. This will be my first hospital birth, so it’s helpful that the content is from the perspective of a hospital-based OB-GYN. The tone is personable while still being very fact-based. For example, Dr. Calloway Rankins does a great job distinguishing when she is sharing her opinion vs. sharing an ACOG statement. She also does a great job educating listeners on the handful of things that can happen during labor and birth that qualify as true obstetric emergencies.
  • MadisonNW86
    Info Good but…
    The actual information contained within the podcast is good but SO much of the time is spent listening to ads and self-promotion. It’s a little frustrating.
  • mimi_mom_13
    Confidence booster
    Super informative episodes that helped me throughout my pregnancy. By the time I gave birth I understood the whys and hows of so many interventions, complications, and circumstances that I might face. I love that this is hosted by an OB/GYN who really knows what is going on in the field. She chooses great guests and topics!
  • Nayabgj
    Thank you Thank you Thank you
    I am so glad I found this podcast! This is my third pregnancy but the first one to get past the first trimester and I have been eager to learn all that I can to make the best of it and have a beautiful pregnancy and birth that I deserve! It’s very reassuring to receive great advice and trustworthy information from Dr. Nicole. I can’t thank you enough.
  • SFBayMama
    A must-listen for expecting mamas!
    I love how Dr. Rankins breaks down the reality of birth and how I don’t need to be fearful. I highly recommend this podcast and appreciate the chats with experts on the front lines of pregnancy!!
  • Ricky.Lemons
    10 minute episode, 5 minutes of ads.
    I appreciate entrepreneurs but this was ridiculous.
  • Alex Neik
    Informative, but very Progressive
    There is so much helpful pregnancy/birthing information and tips provided in this podcast, which is SO appreciated, especially for this first-time mama. However, you lost me with the “pregnant people” term. It is unfathomable that extremely intelligent individuals (especially doctors who have so much knowledge about the human body) are giving into this ideology in the name of inclusivity. If you are someone who is capable of having a baby, you ARE a woman because ONLY women have the body parts necessary to house and birth a child. I could identify as a car, but that doesn’t change the *fact* that cars can’t have babies, does it? Anyways, very grateful for the abundance of stories and information shared in Dr. Nicole’s podcast, but wish the progressive ideology would be omitted. Let’s stick to the facts, please.
  • @azmisd_
    🫶🏽 this podcast
    I really enjoy this podcast. Dr. Rankin’s proves to be a supportive resource for new moms struggling with the challenges of caring for a newborn. In the episode featuring Dr. Stephanie Waggel discussing postpartum depression, the podcast takes a compassionate approach, shedding light on the commonality of struggles with depression and anxiety after childbirth. Dr. Rankins and Dr. Waggel's insights contribute to a reassuring narrative, helping understanding and offering valuable support to those navigating the complexities of postpartum mental health. This episode is compassionate, helping viewers understand the prevalence of these challenges and encouraging open conversations around maternal mental well-being. I would recommend it to my friends for certain.
  • Rosie Brown 1234
    Newest episode with Dr. Waggel
    It was very insightful to learn about how mental health care is important for expecting and new moms. I could clearly tell that Dr. Waggel is a psychiatrist who is very informed and stays up to date about working with pregnant and postpartum individuals.
  • mazeem12
    I loved the latest episode!
    All About Pregnancy & Birth," hosted by Obgyn Dr. Nicole C. Rankins, is a commendable podcast that delves into the uncertainties surrounding pregnancy. In a recent episode featuring Dr. Stephanie Waggel, the discussion on postpartum depression stands out for its informative and destigmatizing approach. Dr. Rankins and Dr. Waggel provide valuable insights, addressing the often overlooked aspect of unwanted thoughts experienced by many new mothers. Moreover, the podcast breaks down stereotypes by highlighting that postpartum depression is not exclusive to women; it sheds light on the fact that men can also grapple with this mental health challenge. This episode contributes significantly to fostering understanding and support for those navigating the complex landscape of postpartum mental health.
  • cloui87
    Thank you for episode 104!!
    Recently I realized that I needed to own my pregnancy trauma stories (high risk pregnancy, relationship hurt, pre-term delivery, 2 month NICU stay; missed miscarriage) as what they were - traumatic. I went searching for podcasts to start getting encouragement in my ears. This episode was validating, encouraging, and challenging - exactly what I needed to start using resources and get more support. Thank you!!
  • Brennakrause
    THANK YOU.
    This podcast has given me the answers I never had after a severe postpartum hemorrhage that nearly took my life. I was so confused and my doctor was extremely vague. I had lost 3 liters of blood and had to have 4 transfusions to restore my blood count as well as 3 surgeries and because of a failed procedure, I nearly needed to have my uterus removed. I’m so thankful for doctors like her to provide information that can seriously help save lives. I listened to one episode 6 times and it helped me to know what i need to say to future doctors. Thank you!!
  • saa309
    My go to pregnancy resource!
    I love this podcast! It is truly an invaluable educational resource for me as I progress along my first pregnancy. Not only can you rely on Dr. Nicole for sound, evidence based information, but she has such a calm, nurturing manner in which she educates. I love the mix of informational guest episodes, as well as the birth stories. I know I will be calm, confident and empowered as I head into my birth because of Dr. Nicole. Thank you for all that you do!
  • megann1201
    So Much Valuable Info!!
    At 27 weeks prego they say your baby recognizes mom and dads voices, and I think it’s safe to say, my baby also recognizes Dr. Rankins’ voice too! When I found out I was pregnant I asked my sister in law if I should go into pregnancy and birth blindly, or learn everything. Boy am I glad I chose not to listen and found this podcast. Not only does Dr. Rankins give exceptional research based evidence, but she also goes through others birth story’s pointing out how differently things can go, and gives her educated and informed opinion. This podcast is truly a wealth of knowledge and I’m so excited to do her birth course along with a few others that I’ve found based on recommendations from other moms interviewed on her podcast. Definitely not going into my birth blindly, and am so excited to be able to make informed decisions based on everything I’ve learned thanks to AABP.
  • FlyCrane2
    Forever a fan
    I’ve been listening to this podcast for years because I’ve been so excited to learn about pregnancy and birth, even when we weren’t ready to try. Now we are six months pregnant and I feel way ahead of the game because Dr. Rankins and her guests have provided such solid, non-anxious, and accessible info. One topic I would love to hear talked about is how eating disorders can affect fertility/pregnancy, as that is my history. Would love to come on the show with our birth story some day to share my experience but also would love to have an expert come on the show and talk about it.
  • Lykalyka N
    So thankful I found this podcast
    Dr. Rankins , This pregnancy podcast got me through my entire pregnancy. I learnt a lot and was well prepared for my birth. As a black woman , the content in this podcast is so spot on and was very insightful in equipping with the tools for a beautiful birth not only as a mother , but also as a black woman . I got the award to attend your class as well but that’s the day I gave birth 😀. Thank you for the time and energy you put into educating us .
  • SarahlynnM
    Helpful and Inspiring
    So grateful to have found this podcast!
  • sonatina26
    So thankful for such a reliable and evidence-based resource!
    Dr. Nicole Rankins is a true expert and I am so grateful I found her podcast. I’m in my first pregnancy (so I don’t know what I don’t know) and am slowly but surely feeling a lot more confident about pregnancy and birth with this podcast in my back pocket. I appreciate the variety of topics she covers and the different guests she interviews with such excellent questions. Sometimes you just don’t want to read a book or blog, and listening to this podcast provides me the right amount of educational information without being overwhelming. I appreciate how Dr. Nicole breaks everything down and makes medical concepts easy to understand. Thank you so so much for being so thorough and also for covering how important it is to advocate for yourself especially when systemic racism in maternal care is still a big issue. I will be a Dr. Nicole listener and fan for life!
  • Rose11192
    Highest quality pregnancy podcast
    This is by far my favorite pregnancy podcast. I’ve learned so much and I appreciate the wide variety of content Dr. Rankins creates. I’m so grateful this exists!
  • Lindsay623867
    Better Than My Birthing Classes
    This podcast is THE BEST for anyone who’s pregnant. It was so much more in depth than my birthing classes, and Dr. Rankins is so informative while also being warm and positive. I ended up having a pretty complex and traumatic first labor, but I felt mentally prepared because I’d learned so much from this podcast and understood what was happening at each stage of my delivery.
  • Nicolex13x
    Best pregnancy podcast
    I love this podcast! Dr. Nicole Rankin has a gift in explaining all things pregnancy without being condescending. Her voice is, calm, confident, and reassuring. Not being one her patients, it sounds like she has a common sense approach to care. Medical approach when necessary and letting the woman’s body do it’s thing at the same time. A true middle ground. I also love the format of the the birth stories. From conception, to prenatal care, to the delivery, and postpartum. It just makes sense. I did not take her birth class because I am a CRNA with a decent amount of OB anesthesia experience. I felt I could advocate for myself because I have the knowledge from my job for my birth. For people with limited knowledge of interventions that can occur during birth, I bet she has a wonderful way of explaining how and when to advocate for yourself. I really enjoy this podcast and still listen in postpartum. Highly recommend!
  • Tinka4rmTexas
    So Informative!!!
    I love this podcast. I am currently 21 weeks pregnant with my first child and I feel so informed already. I go in to every appointment now with questions I’ve learned from this podcasts. I started from the beginning and I had to leave a review when I got to Episode 91 Ricks Fatherhood Story today. It was so raw and real and makes me feel better with the comments my husband makes haha. Thank you so much Nicole for this podcast! Keep it up.
  • Morgan.....!
    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
    FIVE STARS! Best and most reassuring/ informative podcast!
  • KTJak
    Great podcast for pregnancy, birth preparation and postpartum
    I discovered this podcast at the beginning of my 2nd (current!) pregnancy and am so glad I did! Dr. Rankins is knowledgeable and informative. Her kindness and compassion are evident in each episode in the way she speaks and in the way she interacts with guests. I highly recommend this podcast! Dr. Rankins, will you come to Maryland to deliver my baby in a few weeks?!?!
  • Buddypearl
    My favorite birth podcast!
    I have been searching and listening to podcasts since trying to conceive my second child (my first just turned 20 so I’m starting all over again!) and I just love this podcast. Even though I want to do a home birth I find Dr Nicole to be the most informative, honest, and useful show to listen to. She has the best guests, and is great at interviewing. Her Dr Nicole notes at the end are great and even without a guest I love her topics. I feel she isn’t biased and has even tackled tough topics with grace. I’ve learned so much and look forward to every episode! Thanks so much! No matter how my birth goes I feel empowered and ready because of your work!
  • handmaidbirth
    That went downhill quickly...
    I really wanted to love this podcast and there were some good episodes but she lost me when recommending that one of the best ways to reduce maternal mortality was to give women more contraception. Seriously? The answer to institutionalized racism, incompetent providers, lack of access to proper evidence based care, domestic violence, PPD, and poverty (just to name a few causes) is to just tell women not to get pregnant as much? And the way she implied that women don’t have the self control to avoid pregnancy without it was so insulting. Shameful.
  • Kelsey Riddle
    So helpful & peace bringing
    This podcast has already helped me feel more prepared for & at peace around my upcoming birth. That means everything. Thank you!
  • PNWShana
    So glad my friend recommended this podcast
    I’m currently 25 weeks, due in the beginning of September. I’ve been listening for the last 4 months or so and can I just say how calming and informative this podcast is. I knew nothing about birth as this is my first child and listening to this podcast gives me the right questions to ask my doctor when I see him. I feel like it has made my interactions with my own OB so much more beneficial. I could not recommend this podcast enough to anyone having a baby or thinking about having a baby. Plus my husband and I are working through her birth preparation course now too that we found out about on the podcast.
  • dallasdanielle
    My favorite pregnancy podcast by far!
    I’m kind of a medical nerd, so when I became pregnant (FTM here) and saw how much sketchy info was out there I thought - it’s going to be impossible to find someone I trust. I actually started following Dr. Rankings on Instagram while trying to conceive so I checked out this podcast and am SO happy I did! I started the course too (honestly, after looking at a million others) and it’s fantastic!! Highly recommend to all mamas whether this is your first or fifteenth kid.
  • Whit Mc.
    Podcast Review
    I love this podcast! It’s my first pregnancy and I’ve learned so much from this podcast and Dr. Rankins. I feel way more prepared now than I did at the beginning. I’m excited to start her childbirth education courses in a few weeks with my husband and have the content all in one place. Her materials have been super helpful, and I’ve been printing everything out to make a book. Thank you!!!
  • Kentucky1stTimeMom
    Amazing information
    Thank you for your time and effort with this podcast. I’m a first time pregnant mom, and really have learned alot!! I wanted to ask, in reference to preterm birth epidsode, have you heard of or had experience with the blood test called PreTRM? It’s new on the market, I’m part of a study involving that test and tested at High Risk. It detects specific proteins in the blood. Just curious!!! Thank you 💜
  • NolaMovement
    I’m Ready!
    So grateful for this podcast! As I look forward to pregnancy, I feel empowered and exploring what ALL of my options are. Thank you Dr. Nicole!!
  • Oh_itsLotty
    Knowledgeable and Comforting
    Love love love this podcast! I listened to this podcast with my first baby and it helped me feel super knowledgeable about going into to birth. Pregnant again and revisiting all the episodes and I feel like Im learning all over again! Dr. Rankins gives grest info and cover so many good topics! Cant recommend this podcast and the birth class enough! Feeling so good about going into my birthing time with baby!
  • McKennaa B.
    Best Pregnancy Podcast!
    The All About Pregnancy and Birth podcast has been such a game changer for me! I am pregnant with my first child, and I have learned so much from Dr. Rankins and now feel so much more confident and calm going into my birth. I even took her birth class because I loved listening to her so much! I 10/10 recommend this podcast for anyone who is thinking about becoming pregnant or for someone who is! ❤️❤️
  • Cera05
    Birth Empowerment!
    I just wanted to drop a review and say THANK YOU! Because of listening to your episodes I felt empowered to talk to my OBGYN about skipping the repeat csection in the event I go past my due date and opting for an induction to still try for my VBAC! She was (and just over all is) so supportive of the idea and TOTALLY onboard which helped to get me more excited about championing this VBAC journey! So thank you for helping me be informed and empowered! 37w+5d and ready to have a beautiful birth of baby #2!
  • Slj411
    Very informative
    I’ve been listening for a few years, way before I was pregnant. Now that I am pregnant, I feel more ready and educated thanks in part to this podcast. I enjoy Dr Nicole’s evidence based approach and her perspective as an active OBGYN. Lots of topics are discussed and I also enjoy the birth stories!
  • Kalah V
    Empowering Information
    I’ve always struggled with health anxiety and worried about how I would manage pregnancy and birth. I’ve found this podcast and the Birth Preparation Course as helpful tools to help reduce and manage my fears. Each episode leaves me feeling more informed and empowered to navigate pregnancy and eventually birth. I highly recommend listening!
  • Meh512
    Informed and prepared a complicated birth!
    I loved Dr. Rankins’ podcast! She prepared me for a complicated birth. Including a 20 hour labor, forceps, meconium aspiration, a NICU stay, and postpartum depression. Because I listened to her podcast I was informed and prepared for all of those things. I don’t know how I would’ve gotten through if it weren’t for her!
  • hillmc
    Love!
    I found Dr. Rankins by way of the We Go There podcast. I have found her episodes so informative while in the last few weeks of my pregnancy. She creates an environment that many labor and delivery educators struggle with: balance. So many have agendas. Your birth should be this way or this way. She has eased my anxiety about certain possible interventions, and has also provided me with empathy and understanding for my providers and their preferred way of doing things. It also doesn’t hurt that she has a lovely voice! I enjoy listening to her!
  • AurumPhotos
    Dr. Rankins is the best!
    I started listening to this podcast before I was pregnant and I’m still listening to it with my 2 month old! She has content that is so informative for all walks of life! She asks the most well thought out questions and is so considerate of all opinions. I love how the podcast is data driven, she uses facts to support her claims. Keep doing what you’re doing, Dr. Rankins! And thank you!
  • Micki Pyper
    Valuable Content
    This podcast was recommended to me by a trusted coworker shortly after I found out I was pregnant for the first time. Knowing close to nothing about pregnancy or birth, this podcast has been so valuable to me in the information provided. I love the different perspectives and advice given as well. I highly recommend this podcast!
  • CaitlinC_
    Incredibly informative and enjoyable
    I cannot say enough good things about this podcast. If you haven’t already checked it out, go listen now! Whether you are pregnant, a support person, or generally curious about aspects of pregnancy or birth, this podcast is for you. Dr Rankins is extremely knowledgeable and presents the information in an empowering way. As a first time mom, I was nervous and unaware about so much that happens during pregnancy. Luckily, a friend recommended this podcast to me when I was in my first trimester. I’m so thankful she did!
  • claudiacs
    I’m a NCR convert!
    I have been listening to Dr. Rankins’ podcast since I found out about my first pregnancy at 6 weeks, and since then I have become a full-fledged, avid convert to her episodes! As a fellow physician, I respect so much the time and energy that she takes to bring evidence to her episodes, and to offer every viewpoint to a topic in an unbiased yet caring way. In a time when no one is shy about offering their strong opinions about how you should approach your pregnancy, she gives you information to go into your own pregnancy, labor (and parenthood!) armed with plenty of knowledge. The breadth of topics she covers and people she interviews are awesome! I used to eye roll at birth prep courses, but I’m so in love with Dr. Rankins’ podcast that I’ve enrolled in her birth prep course and am excited to go through it with my husband!
  • lingarv
    Enjoyable and informative
    I always look forward to new episodes and especially enjoy hearing the birth stories. It’s a great way to make the most out of my commute to work and during my daily walks. I appreciate this podcast so much during my first pregnancy. Thank you!
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