The Birth Lounge Podcast

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, makers of luxuriously soft bamboo sheets, blankets, and sleep essentials. Because your rest matters, mamas. Cozy Earth makes it easier to get the cozy, breathable sleep your body (and your little one) deserve. Use code HEHE at https://cozyearth.com/ for 20% off your order and treat yourself to the sleep you’ve been dreaming of.

 

Preeclampsia is one of those pregnancy conditions that gets mentioned often, explained poorly, and frequently dismissed until it suddenly isn’t. In this episode, HeHe sits down with Dr. Dallas Reed to pull back the curtain on what preeclampsia actually is, how it shows up, and what expectant parents deserve to understand long before things feel urgent.

Together, they break down the basics in a way that’s clear and human, including how common preeclampsia really is, what symptoms to take seriously, and how to make sense of blood pressure readings and pregnancy-related hypertension diagnoses. Dr. Reed explains the differences between severe and non-severe preeclampsia, what monitoring can look like before and after 37 weeks, and why postpartum preeclampsia deserves more attention than it often gets.

The conversation also explores prevention and management, including lifestyle considerations, aspirin use, and how care plans may differ depending on risk level, gestational age, and whether someone is being monitored inpatient or outpatient.

A major focus of the episode is the future of personalized maternal care, including a deep dive into the Encompass test. This new RNA-based blood test, available between 18 and 22 weeks, helps identify pregnancies at higher risk for preeclampsia and pairs that insight with an evidence-based action plan and virtual support. Dr. Reed shares how this type of testing may change the way providers and families approach monitoring, communication, and early intervention, including potential benefits for out-of-hospital birth settings.

This episode is grounded, evidence-based, and empowering, offering expectant parents tools, language, and understanding so they can participate confidently in their care rather than feeling blindsided by it.

 

Mirvie will be accepting insurance soon so check with your providers! You can also use code HeHe for $300 off! 

 

Learn more at https://www.mirvie.com/

 

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Preeclampsia

00:56 Welcome to The Birth Lounge Podcast

01:39 Features of The Birth Lounge App

03:00 Pregnancy and Postpartum Articles

04:54 Introduction to Today's Episode

07:47 Discussion with Dr. Dallas Reed

08:35 Understanding Preeclampsia

10:46 Symptoms and Diagnosis

18:56 Managing Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

22:37 Risk Factors and Prevention

31:59 Strategies to Prevent Preeclampsia

32:29 Healthy Lifestyle Recommendations

33:37 Monitoring and Follow-Up

35:05 Risks and Complications of Preeclampsia

37:05 Postpartum Preeclampsia

39:20 Managing Preeclampsia Before 37 Weeks

41:20 Inpatient Care and Medications

46:22 Understanding the Encompass Test

53:06 Benefits of the Encompass Test for Home Births

58:19 Final Thoughts and Resources

 

Guest Bio:

Dr. Dallas Reed, practicing OBGYN, medical geneticist and advisor to Mirvie, a company delivering data-driven solutions for predictive and preventive care in pregnancy. Mirvie recently launched Encompass, which is the first RNA-based blood test to predict preeclampsia risk, combined with an evidence-based preventive action plan and virtual assistant to guide individualized support and care. 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Connect with HeHe on Instagram 

Connect with Mirvie on IG 

 

BIRTH EDUCATION:
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere.

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor.

Some birth stories don’t go the way anyone expects, and Hannah’s is one that every expectant parent deserves to hear.

In this episode of The Birth Lounge, Hannah joins us to share her experience of developing preeclampsia and giving birth at 28 weeks, despite having what looked like a completely normal pregnancy. She walks us through the early signs that were easy to miss, the moment everything shifted, and what it was like to suddenly find herself navigating a NICU stay she never saw coming.

Together, we talk about why preeclampsia can feel so shocking, how often it’s missed or caught late, and why first trimester placental screening has the potential to change outcomes. Hannah shares what she wishes she had known sooner, what helped her advocate within the medical system, and how early detection could have altered her experience.

This conversation also offers practical, heartfelt support for NICU parents and the people who love them. Hannah shares what actually helped during her NICU journey, how relationships can shift under that kind of stress, and what meaningful support really looks like when a baby arrives early.

We also explore emerging tools like the Encompass test, the role of baby aspirin, and how global practices around placental screening differ from what’s commonly offered in the U.S. This episode isn’t about fear, it’s about awareness, advocacy, and the belief that parents deserve better information earlier.

If you’re pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or supporting someone through a high-risk experience, this episode will leave you feeling more informed, more empowered, and less alone.

Guest Bio:

Hannah is a NICU mom turned maternal health advocate. After developing severe preeclampsia at 28 weeks, she delivered her daughter three months early to save both of their lives. Now, Hannah shares what she wishes she had known so other parents don’t have to be blindsided by a diagnosis they were never truly prepared for.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Connect with HeHe on Instagram 

Connect with Hannah on IG 

 

BIRTH EDUCATION:
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere.

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor.

 

LINKS/RESOURCES:
If the NICU has touched your story, our NICU Support & Survival playlist on YouTube is there to hold space with honest conversations and supportive guidance.

 

These are the NICU outfits from Luxie Charm Hannah mentioned! 

 

Learn more about why first trimester preeclampsia screening matters. This short video from Labcorp breaks down the importance of early, blood-based screening across pregnancy and how earlier insight can change outcomes for families: https://womenshealth.labcorp.com/preeclampsia-risk-assessment-across-all-trimesters-using-blood-based-biochemical-markers


Support making early screening the standard of care: Hannah has started a petition advocating for first trimester preeclampsia risk screening to be included in routine prenatal care in the U.S., helping protect parents before they’re ever blindsided: https://www.change.org/p/make-first-trimester-risk-screening-part-of-standard-prenatal-care-in-the-u-s

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth, makers of luxuriously soft bamboo sheets, blankets, and sleep essentials. Because your rest matters, mamas. Cozy Earth makes it easier to get the cozy, breathable sleep your body (and your little one) deserve. Use code HEHE at https://cozyearth.com/ for 20% off your order and treat yourself to the sleep you’ve been dreaming of.

Join HeHe in this re-aired episode as she dives into a super important topic: preeclampsia. She sits down with High-Risk OB/GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist, Dr. Lexi Hill, to break down what preeclampsia really is, how it can show up after 20 weeks, and the signs to watch for—high blood pressure, persistent headaches, swelling, or proteins in your urine. Dr. Lexi shares practical guidance on monitoring yourself, key risk factors, questions to ask your provider, and the medical options you might be offered if preeclampsia arises—giving you clarity, confidence, and tools to advocate for your health and your baby’s.




Guest Bio:
Dr. Lexi Hill obtained her BS in Nutritional Sciences with a minor in Spanish from Texas A&M University. After taking a year to volunteer abroad in Costa Rica, substitute teach, and work as a Medical Assistant, she attended medical school at Texas A&M followed by an OB/GYN residency in Phoenix, Arizona. The native Texan returned to Galveston, Texas to complete a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch where she received multiple teaching awards for her involvement with medical students and residents. Dr. Lexi Hill is licensed in over 20 states and practices telemedicine full-time to underserved communities. She is extensively involved with the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine to help advocate for maternal health care at both the state and national level. She has traveled extensively and enjoys incorporating her study of the Spanish language into her daily clinical practice. Her commitment to teaching self-advocacy skills to patients, as well as physicians, led her to start her own business based on the three pillars of EXPANDING knowledge, DEVELOPING skills, IMPACTING lives (E.D.I). With this concept, Dr. Lexi Hill shares data driven pregnancy information through social media, YouTube videos, and her podcast. She also offers virtual concierge consultations which require no referral or delays due to insurance. She truly has a passion to help individuals experience a happy and healthy pregnancy.

Links: 
Connect with Dr. Lexi: https://www.drlexihill.com/

 

Resources from Dr. Lexi:

www.drlexihill.com/aspirin

 

www.drlexihill.com/fetaltesting

 

https://www.drlexihill.com/advocate




Link to purchase a module or book a consultation with Dr. Lexi

https://www.drlexihill.com/pregnancy-advocacy

 

Connect with HeHe on IG: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/

 

Join The Birth Lounge here for judgment-free childbirth education and more resources like this that prepare you for an informed birth and how to confidently navigate hospital policy to have a trauma-free labor experience!

 

Check out the original episode here.

Feeling exhausted, foggy, short of breath, or just not like yourself during pregnancy and being told “that’s normal”? This episode is for you.

In Episode 417 of The Birth Lounge, HeHe sits down with OB/GYN PA and public health expert Kristy Goodman to talk about anemia in pregnancy and why it’s so often overlooked, minimized, or brushed off until it becomes a much bigger issue. Together, they break down what anemia actually is, how and when it should be screened for, and why catching it early can completely change how you feel during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum.

They explore how untreated anemia can impact energy levels, labor stamina, recovery, and overall well-being, and more importantly, what becomes possible when it’s properly identified and treated with intention. Think more clarity, more strength, better healing, and the confidence to advocate for yourself instead of second-guessing your symptoms.

Kristy brings an evidence-based, patient-centered lens to this conversation, helping listeners understand what labs matter, what questions to ask their provider, and how to push back when concerns are dismissed as “just part of pregnancy.”

This episode is grounding, empowering, and deeply validating. If you’ve ever felt brushed off, unsure whether what you’re feeling is normal, or just want to feel stronger and more supported in your body, this conversation will give you real tools and real answers.

🎧 Tune in to learn how understanding anemia can help you reclaim your energy, protect your recovery, and walk into birth feeling informed and capable, not depleted.




Guest Bio:

Kristy received a Master of Science in PA Studies and a Master of Public Health in Health Education and Behavioral Science from Rutgers University. She completed a postgraduate residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and has worked as an OB/GYN PA for over 10 years. She is an advocate for evidence-based, patient-centered care and has worked in a variety of women's health settings with a particular focus on preconception care.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
Connect with HeHe on Instagram 

Connect with Kristy on IG 

BIRTH EDUCATION:
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere.

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor.

This episode is brought to you by our Newborn Sleep Solutions Guide, because newborn sleep doesn’t need fixing, it needs understanding.

Newborn sleep can feel like one of those things everyone has opinions on… and somehow none of them actually help at 3am. In this episode of The Birth Lounge, HeHe breaks down what newborn sleep really looks like and why daytime sleep matters way more than most parents are ever told.

This conversation focuses on biology, not bootcamp sleep rules. HeHe explains how supporting daytime rest sets the stage for better nights, what wake windows actually mean for a brand-new baby, and how simple tools like swaddling, white noise, and a full belly can make a big difference. No rigid schedules. No “cry it out.” Just realistic, nervous-system-friendly support for brand-new humans and the parents learning alongside them.

You’ll also hear HeHe’s go-to tips for creating a sleep environment that works with your baby’s circadian rhythm (hello, darkness and sound), plus gear recommendations that are actually useful, not just trendy. She wraps it all up with resources like the Newborn Sleep Solutions Guide for parents who want clarity without overwhelm.

If you’re wondering whether your baby’s sleep is normal, or you just want a calmer, more intuitive way to approach those early weeks, this episode is your exhale.

Timestamps
00:00 Newborn sleep expectations (and why you’re not doing it wrong)
01:11 Personal update + what this episode is really about
02:51 What newborns biologically need for sleep
06:39 Daytime sleep, wake windows, and overstimulation
09:28 Swaddling, sensory input, and calming the nervous system
18:12 Feeding tips that support better rest
20:36 White noise and why silence isn’t always your friend
22:55 Light, darkness, and circadian rhythm support
24:47 Final reassurance + helpful resources

Connect with HeHe on Instagram 

 

BIRTH EDUCATION:
Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way

Want prep delivered straight to your phone?
Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere.

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet…
Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor.

 

LINKS MENTIONED:
Grab your copy of the Newborn Sleep Solution here!