Healthful Woman Podcast

Episodes

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  “The 9th Month: Everything you need to know about the last few weeks of pregnancy” – with Dr. Sara Kostant 17.08.2026 45m

  Dr. Sara Kostant returns to Healthful Woman to explain what patients can expect in the final 4-6 weeks of their pregnancies. She covers topics like common symptoms, increasingly frequent visits to your obstetrician, and what doctors look out for as labor and delivery grow closer.
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  "Pelvic and Pubic Symphysis Pain in Pregnancy and Postpartum" - with Dr. Jaclyn Bonder 10.08.2026 46m

  This episode of Healthful Woman features Dr. Jaclyn Bonder, associate professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine at Cornell with expertise in pelvic, pregnant, and postpartum pain.
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  "Esty's Story, Part 2" - With Dr. Esther Rollhaus 02.08.2026 36m

  In this episode of Healthful Woman, Dr. Fox continues his conversation with Dr. Esther Rollhaus, a reproductive psychiatrist, as she shares the second half of her deeply personal journey through postpartum psychosis. She discusses her recovery, the treatment that helped her heal, returning to work as a psychiatrist, growing her family through surrogacy, and how her experience has shaped the compassionate care she now provides to patients facing postpartum mental health challenges.
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  "Esty's Story, Part 1" - With Dr. Esther Rollhaus 27.07.2026 36m

  On this episode of the Healthful Woman Podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox speaks with reproductive psychiatrist Dr. Esther "Esty" Rollhaus, who shares the first part of her personal fertility and birth journey: years of male-factor infertility and multiple IVF cycles during medical school and residency, culminating in a twin pregnancy. She recounts a harrowing delivery at 32-33 weeks complicated by an unrecognized preterm labor, an inability to breathe while pushing, and serious postpartum infections in both her and her newborn son, followed by a difficult seven-week NICU stay for both twins. The episode closes on a reflective note about the disconnect between the joy she expected as a new mother and the fear and emotional numbness she actually experienced.
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  "Thrombophilia in Pregnancy: The Clot Thickens…" - with Dr. Andrei Rebarber 20.07.2026 49m

  Dr. Andrei Rebarber returns to Healthful Woman to discuss thrombophilia, or blood clotting, in pregnancy. In this episode, he explains research into thrombophilia, the hormonal or genetic causes for clotting in pregnancy, and more.
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  Mailbag 36: "What does the Fox say" - With Dr. Nathan Fox 12.07.2026 32m

  In this Mailbag episode, Dr. Fox answers listener questions covering uterine dehiscence versus uterine rupture, including how they're diagnosed, managed, and what they mean for future pregnancies. He also addresses a listener's recovery and subsequent pregnancy planning after a complete uterine rupture, the effects of maternal sepsis on a fetus, and why many women with gestational diabetes have normal A1C levels outside of pregnancy. As always, Dr. Fox draws on clinical experience and research to give nuanced, reassuring answers to these complex questions.
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  "Travel in Pregnancy" - with Dr. Caroline Friedman 06.07.2026 26m

  On this episode of Healthful Woman, Dr. Fox and Dr. Friedman discuss the nuanced advice they give patients regarding travel during pregnancy. They cover topics like timing travel during pregnancy, advice for different types or stages of pregnancy, and considerations for flying, destinations, and more.
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  Mailbag 35: "What does the Fox say" - With Dr. Nathan Fox 28.06.2026 26m

  In this "Mailbag" episode of the Healthful Woman Podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox answers listener questions covering a range of topics in maternal-fetal medicine. He provides an in-depth explanation of umbilical artery Doppler testing, including what elevated, absent, and reversed flow mean, and how those findings guide monitoring frequency and delivery timing for growth-restricted babies and twins. The episode also touches on twin-specific topics like growth divergence and preterm birth screening using cervical length and fetal fibronectin, and wraps up with a discussion on preeclampsia symptoms and the potential role of at-home blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy.
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  "Why All the Fuss About Advanced Maternal Age?" - with Dr. Stephanie Melka 21.06.2026 36m

  Dr. Melka joins Healthful Woman to talk about advanced maternal age, or AMA. In this episode, she explains the history of identifying AMA and terms like “elderly pregnancy” or “geriatric pregnancy,” clears up misconceptions about risks, and explains common problems that obstetricians screen for or treat in AMA patients.
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  Mailbag 34: "What does the Fox say" - With Dr. Nathan Fox 15.06.2026 33m

  In this "Mailbag" edition of the Healthful Woman podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox answers listener questions covering a range of women's health and obstetric topics. He addresses questions about chorioamnionitis found on placental pathology, returning to fertility after long-term Mirena IUD use, the history and current practice of episiotomies, and NICU level considerations for a planned VBAC delivery. The episode wraps up with a thorough discussion of Asherman's syndrome, including its causes, diagnosis, treatment via hysteroscopy, and implications for future fertility.
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  "Fetal Echocardiograms: a Heart to Heart" - with Dr. Jen Lam-Rachlin 08.06.2026 45m

  Dr. Lam-Rachlin returns to Healthful Woman to discuss fetal echocardiograms, a procedure she describes as “one of the most fascinating part of the stuff that we do on a day-to-day basis.” She and Dr. Fox explain the differences between blood flow in a fetus vs a child or adult, congenital heart defects, and more.
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  Mailbag 33: "What does the Fox say" - With Dr. Nathan Fox 01.06.2026 27m

  In this "Mailbag" episode of the Healthful Woman podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox addresses listener questions about preterm birth, covering topics like placental abruption, late preterm delivery, and the challenges of predicting recurrence in future pregnancies. He also discusses "threatened preterm labor", which is painful, regular contractions without cervical dilation, and the limited options available for managing it. The episode wraps up with a brief discussion on the safety of laser hair removal during pregnancy.
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  "Postpartum Hemorrhage!" - with Dr. Samantha Do 25.05.2026 45m

  Dr. Samantha Do returns to Healthful Woman to talk about post-partum hemorrhage, which she says is “one of the most common [complications] that we think about for all patients.” She and Dr. Fox review causes for bleeding after delivery, how doctors treat these patients, and more.
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  Mailbag 32: "What does the Fox say" - With Dr. Nathan Fox 18.05.2026 30m

  In this "Mailbag" episode of Healthful Woman, Dr. Nathan Fox answers listener questions covering a range of pregnancy-related topics, from fetal growth and kidney findings to Braxton Hicks contractions and large-for-gestational-age babies. He breaks down complex medical concepts in plain language, reassuring listeners that many common findings, like a baby measuring in the seventh percentile or mild pyelectasis, are often benign while explaining when closer monitoring is warranted. The episode also tackles practical questions about core exercise during pregnancy and how diet does (and doesn't) affect glucose screening tests.
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  "Contraception / Birth Control" - with Dr. Stephanie Lam 11.05.2026 39m

  Dr. Stephanie Lam returns for an episode on contraception. In this episode, she explains the discussions that gynecologists have with patients on contraception, including choosing the right type of birth control, the symptoms that contraception can alleviate, and protection against STDs.
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  Mailbag 31: "What does the Fox say" - With Dr. Nathan Fox 04.05.2026 33m

  In this "Mailbag" episode of Healthful Woman Podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox tackles a wide range of listener questions, covering topics from the mechanics of twin vaginal delivery to fetal heart arrhythmias and the genetics of balanced translocations. He also addresses the significance of fetal fraction results in prenatal screening and what they may indicate about placental health. The episode wraps up with a thorough discussion on the safety of multiple C-sections, offering a nuanced, non-judgmental perspective on how risk should be evaluated on an individual basis rather than by a fixed number of procedures.
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  “Newborns! Part B: The rough and tumble first few months” – with Dr. Tracy Agnese 27.04.2026 34m

  What are parents most worried about in the first few days of their baby’s life? What’s normal in the first few days? What should you actually call your doctor about? Pediatrician Dr. Tracey Agnese joins Healthful Woman to answer some of these common questions about a baby’s first few days of life.
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  “Newborns! Part A: From birth until you go home” – with Dr. Tracy Agnese 19.04.2026 26m

  Dr. Tracey Agnese, a pediatrician, joins the podcast to discuss newborn evaluations and what pediatricians look out for in a baby’s first appointments. Plus, she and Dr. Fox discuss her Youtube channel and Instagram account, @babydocmama, which she started to answer common questions from new parents.
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  "Shifrah: Supporting women with hyperemesis" - with Shayna Safran 13.04.2026 40m

  In this episode of the Healthful Woman Podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox speaks with Shayna Safran, a survivor of severe hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) and founder of Shifrah, a nonprofit supporting women with this debilitating condition. Shayna shares her personal journey through multiple HG pregnancies, the life-changing discovery of vitamin deficiencies, and how these experiences inspired her to create educational resources, peer support programs, and guidance for both patients and healthcare providers. Together, they discuss Shifrah’s mission to improve outcomes, raise awareness, and empower women to advocate for safe, effective care during HG pregnancies.
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  Mailbag 30: What does the Fox say - With Dr. Nathan Fox 06.04.2026 29m

  In this 30th “Mailbag” episode of the Healthful Woman podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox answers listener questions on a range of women’s health topics, including the safety of teeth whitening during pregnancy, options for vaginal birth after multiple C-sections, and strategies to reduce the risk of recurrent intrauterine growth restriction. He also discusses the nuances of prenatal genetic screening.