Pregnancy Pearls

Thinking about another baby? The calendar is only one part of the conversation. On this episode of Pregnancy Pearls, Dr. Nicole Plenty explores what deserves attention before your next pregnancy—from physical recovery and previous pregnancy complications to fertility concerns, emotional readiness, and the support you’ll need. Dr. Plenty breaks down pregnancy spacing and explains why feeling recovered doesn’t always mean your body is ready to begin again. She discusses how experiences such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and a C-section can inform your next pregnancy plan, along with the importance of reviewing medications, managing existing health conditions, and scheduling a preconception consultation. In this week’s listener case, a 37-year-old mother wants to grow her family after a complicated delivery but worries that waiting could affect her fertility. Dr. Plenty walks through the medical and emotional questions that deserve attention before trying again, including lingering anxiety and birth trauma. Today’s Pregnancy Pearl: Don’t just ask, “How long should I wait?” Ask what needs to be healthier, treated, healed, or planned before your next pregnancy. You deserve to move forward informed, supported, and with a plan. Have a pregnancy question or experience to share? Email [email protected]. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app. Follow, rate, comment, and share.

In this episode of Pregnancy Pearls, Dr. Nicole Plenty explains why pregnancy spacing matters and how the body continues recovering long after delivery. From rebuilding iron stores and balancing hormones to allowing the uterus and pelvic floor to heal, the time between pregnancies can affect both maternal health and the development of the next baby. Dr. Plenty discusses the potential risks associated with becoming pregnant again too quickly, including preterm delivery, low birth weight, placental complications and maternal anemia. She also explains why waiting too long may present additional concerns—and why many experts consider 18 to 24 months between delivery and conception an ideal range for women without age-related fertility concerns. But pregnancy planning is not one-size-fits-all. For women over 35, those approaching 40, patients who required fertility treatments or those hoping to conceive after a C-section, the conversation becomes more individualized. Dr. Plenty explains how medical history, fertility, previous pregnancy complications, emotional well-being and family support should all influence the decision. A 37-year-old listener who recently delivered her first child writes in with a deeply personal question: Should she wait the recommended 18 months, or begin trying sooner to preserve her chances of having the three children she and her husband have always wanted? Dr. Plenty walks through the questions that should guide that decision and reminds listeners that becoming pregnant sooner than planned does not mean they have done anything wrong. It may simply mean that additional monitoring is needed to support a healthy pregnancy. This episode’s clinical pearl: The best time for another pregnancy is not determined by the calendar alone. It is determined by your health, your fertility and your family’s overall goals. To submit a question or suggest a future topic, email [email protected]. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app. Visit: MeanOleLionMedia.com Follow Mean Ole Lion Media on Instagram: @MeanOleLionMedia Watch on YouTube: Mean Ole Lion Media TV Follow Pregnancy Pearls on Instagram: @Pregnancy_Pearls Follow Pregnancy Pearls on Facebook: @PregnancyPearls

In this episode of the Pregnancy Pearls Podcast, host Dr. Pliny breaks down May-Thurner syndrome (iliac vein compression syndrome)—a condition that is frequently overlooked when evaluating leg swelling and blood clot risks in expectant mothers. Learn why anatomic compression of the left common iliac vein by the right common iliac artery creates a 'garden hose' pressure effect, why pregnancy unmasks these symptoms, and how to differentiate normal pregnancy swelling from a serious vascular concern. Key Topics Covered: Anatomy & Pathophysiology: What Mae Thurner syndrome is and how compression leads to sluggish blood flow, chronic venous hypertension, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Pregnancy Risk Factors: How hypercoagulability, increased clotting factors, vein dilation, and uterine pressure exacerbate clot risks. Prevalence & Symptoms: Why up to 1 in 5 adults have compression without knowing it, and key red flags such as persistent left-sided leg swelling, heaviness, pelvic discomfort, or recurrent DVTs. Diagnosis: Limitations of leg compression ultrasounds for high pelvic veins, and when to consider pelvic Doppler, MRI/MR venography, or postpartum CT venography. Treatment & Management: Safe anticoagulation in pregnancy (therapeutic vs. prophylactic Low Molecular Weight Heparin / Lovenox), avoiding contraindicated oral anticoagulants/warfarin, compression therapy, and postpartum stenting options. Listener Case & Clinical Pearl: Addressing persistent unilateral swelling and empowering patients and providers to advocate for further workup. Connect & Contact: Email: [email protected] Instagram: @pregnancy_pearls Facebook: @pregnancypearls

In this special crossover episode of Pregnancy Pearls and Oh That’s Deep: Black Women Conversations, Dr. Nicole Plenty is joined by her friend and co-host Jănine Brunson for an honest conversation about uterine fibroids—a condition that affects millions of women and disproportionately impacts Black women. Dr. Plenty explains what fibroids are, the symptoms they can cause, their potential impact on fertility and pregnancy, and the treatment options available. Jănine then shares her deeply personal journey, from living with debilitating pain and uncontrollable bleeding to undergoing two myomectomies and fighting to preserve her fertility. Together, they confront the expectation that Black women should quietly endure pain, reveal how fibroids can disrupt work, intimacy, confidence, and everyday life, and emphasize the importance of listening to your body, seeking second opinions, and finding a provider who respects your goals. Fibroids may be common, but suffering in silence should never be. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app. Follow, rate, comment, and share.

In this episode of Pregnancy Pearls, Dr. Nicole Plenty explains hyperemesis gravidarum, a serious pregnancy condition involving persistent nausea, vomiting, dehydration, and significant weight loss. Drawing from both her medical expertise and her own difficult pregnancy experience, Dr. Plenty discusses common symptoms, possible hormonal factors, available treatments, and the warning signs that require urgent medical attention. The episode also addresses the emotional toll of hyperemesis, especially for mothers who feel guilty because they cannot work, care for their families, or function as they normally would. Responding to a listener who has lost weight, required IV fluids, and is struggling despite medication, Dr. Plenty offers an important reminder: hyperemesis is a real medical condition—not a lack of strength, gratitude, or willpower. Today’s Pregnancy Pearl: Don’t measure your pregnancy against someone else’s highlight reel. Needing medication does not mean you failed. Going to the hospital does not mean you are weak. Asking for help does not mean you are ungrateful. Your job is not to tough it out—it is to take care of yourself so your baby has the healthiest environment possible. Find more shows like this on the Mean Ole Lion app.