The Truth About Fertility, Pregnancy and Labour with Mama Doctor Jones
In this episode, Hannah is joined by Mama Doctor Jones, who is a physician and OB-GYN, and creates YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok content all about periods, pregnancy, and birth. Mama Doctor Jones discusses all sorts of things, including what to expect when trying to conceive, different types of fertility treatments like IUI and IVF, and the state of sex ed in the United States. She and Hannah talk about ovulation tracking, menstrual health, and how much bullshit information is out there. Finally, Mama Doctor Jones gives a doctor's opinion on hypnobirthing and talks about how to be trans-inclusive as a medical practitioner in the OB-GYN field. Plus, they talk about poo!
Read the episode transcript here!
SHOW NOTES
What we chat about…
What is an OB-GYN? What is the obstetrics and what is the gynaecology?
What sex ed in the United States is missing
Where Mama Doctor Jones thinks sex ed should start
Watching birth videos in class with no context
How many births has Mama Doctor Jones seen?
What don't people expect about birth going into it?
The cultural fear around birth
What does Mama Doctor Jones think about hypnobirthing?
Doctors training in pain management
What should someone starting out trying to conceive know?
The myth of only seeing a doctor after trying to conceive for a year
How can a field like obs and gynae be more trans-inclusive? What can medical practitioners do?
Gender and sex boxes on medical paperwork
Trans-inclusive language in medical care settings
How does IVF actually work? (21:12)
What are other options than IVF?
What is IUI and how does it work?
How much does diet influence your fertility/cycle? (26:50)
What is a high or low risk pregnancy? What do those terms mean? (28:45)
Has Mama Doctor Jones ever had a patient with an ileostomy or stoma? (30:15)
Trying to conceive after abdominal surgery
When should you go see a doctor about irregular periods? Is it worth checking out even if you're not trying to conceive? (31:57)
What should people know about their fertility and what is just bullshit? (33:04)
How does stress affect fertility?
I'm scared to come off the pill to try for a baby as it keeps my severe period symptoms in check. (36:14)
Are there ways for people who experience a lot of pain with their menstrual cycle to conceive?
How stressful trying to conceive can be
Do pregnancy/labour permanently damage the core or can you regain the same core strength? (40:00)
Pelvic floor physical therapy
How to do pelvic floor exercises correctly
Poo during birth (with or without a stoma)
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MORE ABOUT MAMA DOCTOR JONES
Dr. Danielle Jones (she/her), known online as Mama Doctor Jones, is a board-certified ObGyn and online educator who has amassed a following of over 1 million across platforms. She is an expert in periods, pregnancy, and gynecologic health and is passionate about science education, autonomy, and patient-centered care. She’s been featured in the New York Times, on the cover of People Health, and is frequently featured as an expert by various news and media outlets.
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