Maternal Health Episodes

Black Maternal Health Week: Aptril 11-17, 2026

In this episode of Black Women's Health Podcast, Dr. Rahman discusses both the challenges of large fibroids when contemplating pregnancy and the challenges of large fibroids during pregnancy.

In this episode of Black Women's Health, Dr. Rahman talks about the presence of uterine fibroids while pregnant. Pregnant with Fibroids and Scared taps into the exact fear, isolation and uncertainty pregnant women actually feel - especially Black women, who often feel dismissed in clinical spaces.Sadly high quality data/research on the relationship between fibroids and pregnancy outcome is limited.Fibroids are incredibly common in Black women. And we have the highest prevalence of fibroids durin...

In this episode of Black Women's Health Podcast, Dr. Rahman discusses the small but increasing interest in home births. For Black Women this is often a choice made to avoid the inherent racism encountered within our healthcare system. Dr. Rahman is sadden to see the amount of public attention that is being given to menopause compared to the relative lack of attention given to Black maternal mortality.For those pregnant women contemplating a home birth irrespective of their reason and particularl...

A Physician. A Wife. A Mother. A Stage 4 Cancer Patient. Here's to "shining the light" on this incredible person. This is one of my favorite interviews.

Reducing Black maternal mortality isn't just a moral imperative - it improves health outcomes for all women and strengthens the economy. McKinsey's new report lays out a five-point strategy, but is it enough? In this episode, Dr. Rahman breaks it down: what they got right, what's missing, and what else needs to be done. Group prenatal care, Medicaid reform and Black leadership in clinical trials must be part of the conversation. Listen in for a provocative, fact-based take on how we can truly sa...

Rihanna's back-to-back pregnancies have sparked conversations about pregnancy spacing - how close is too close between births? In this episode, we break down what research says about short pregnancy intervals, the risks for mom and baby. Whether you're planning your next child or just curious about the medical facts, you'll learn what's recommended and why timing matters.

Black Maternal Health Week 2025 just ended. In this episode, Dr. Rahman shares practical, evidence informed steps that can help improve pregnancy outcomes for Black women.What we cover:- Why a first trimester ultrasound matters- Importance of fetal movement tracking- Importance of home blood pressure monitoring- The reasoning why all Black pregnancies are high riskIt's not about being afraid during a pregnancy- it 's about being empowered and having healthier pregnancies.#BlackMaternalHealthWeek...

When words fail, stories can still heal. In this powerful episode, Dr. Cheryl Law joins Dr. Rahman to share her deeply personal experience with metastatic breast cancer - and how she found her voice through support from family, friends and Facebook groups.

Dr. Law opens up about her initial reluctance to speak out and how affiliating with Gilead and a collective of women living with metatstatic breast cancer led to the creation of Adventure Jar - a book to help families with young children talk...

Menopause: What does it mean? Why is it so difficult? Where can I get answers? Learn and get answers to your questions. Join us in a FREE online Menopause course staring 2/1/2025

What happens when your pain is ignored, your symptoms dismissed, and you're left to navigate a debilitating condition on your own? In this episode, we dive into the powerful story of a young Black woman whose battle with endometriosis was compounded by medical disregard. Discover how Ms. Nace DeSanders turned her struggle into strength, ultimately creating the groundbreaking film Dance of the Demon to shed light on the suffering of so many with chronic debilitating conditions.

Is Menopause a hoax? Is it a "disease" created and designed for midlife women requiring medications (s) to successfully manage? If you believe this, stop here. This podcast is not for you. In this podcast, Ms. Charlie Jordan Brookins, shares the personal story of her menopause discovery and holistic management. Today she is a certified menopause coach committed to helping other women to navigate menopause. If this information is helpful to you, don't forget to share with a girlfriend.

We examine and use for diagnosis/monitoring our:

Blood

Saliva

Stool

Urine

Why don't we examine and use for diagnosis/monitoring a woman's menstrual flow?

Our guest, Dr. Naseri, has researched this question. Listen as she discusses the current and potential uses of menstrual blood flow that is being offered by her company, Qvin.
If the thought of using menstrual blood flow for diagnosis and monitoring seems disgusting and/or inappropriate to you, we ask you Why?

There are mulitple menopause symptoms. Low libido and can be one. There are options.

Cardiovascular disease in the #1 killer. Most breast cancer patients die of cardiovascular disease. There is limited research re: women and heart disease. Kudos to Alicia Chong Rodriguez, founder and CEO of Bloomer Tech, a company designing bras to monitor and collect clinical cardiovascular data

How do you tell? What if it is always like that? Learn the two tests that you need to get.

There is a time to bleed. And there comes a time when all bleeding should stop. Postmenopausal bleeding is not normal.

You work hard.. but then there's that time of the month. You work hard.. but you can't admit to your follow colleagues that you're having perimenopausal symptoms.

Imagine if your employer had a workplace policy to accommodate you when you are experiencing menstrual or menopausal symptoms. What if you could choose to 1) work from home, 2) go to work but have access to amenities that would your help you minimize your symptoms or 3) get a paid day off without requiring a doctor's note.

Incredible...

There has been a change. Previously pregnant women and women of childbearing age were excluded from clinical research trials.

Today women of all ages and persons of color are being recruited for clinical research studies.

One active area of research is menopause.There is active and ongoing research regarding the use of medication(s) to delay or to postpone menopause.

Dr. Leslie Farrington is the co-founder and executive director of Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood. In Part I, she tells her story of being Black but looking White and how she has experienced racism.

In this interview she discusses why and how a woman can advocate for herself when receiving heallthcare.

Dr. Leslie Farrington is an accomplished OBGYN. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood, Inc . She has dedicated her life's work maternal health racial disparities and promoting patient advocacy within our health care system.


In this personal and insightful interview, she shares her story of being and identifying as a Black woman while not appearing as such.


Part 1- Her personal story


Part 2- Her advocacy

Recent reports and surveys show that women of all ages say they don't have a good understanding of her reproductive anatomy and function. There are questions. Questions about menarche. Questions about periods. Questions about fibroids, adenomyosis, PCOS, infertility. And question about menopause.
This section is dedicated to providing a basic and a better understanding of female reproductive health. We've gone back to basics.
Feel free to send questions, share and to provide feedback.

A recent study, Commercially Available Prenatal Vitamins Do Not Meet American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Nutritional Guidelines sampled non prescription prenatal vitamins. None of the sampled prenatal vitamins provided what was recommended.

Should pregnant and lactating women be participant in clinical drug trials? The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine have published a Consensus Study Report to address how those involved in such clinical drug trials can avoid liability. Is this a good idea? Let's think about this. Let's talk.