Send us Fan Mail “Survivor” sounds like a finish line. For many people, it feels more like a label you’re handed while you’re still trying to process what just happened. Cara and Missi get personal about cancer survivorship, using Missi’s breast cancer journey to talk about the part nobody can fully prepare you for: living in the in-between, where every new ache can trigger scanxiety and “life after” doesn’t come with a clear map. We walk through what survivorship means clinically and emotio...

Send us Fan Mail Sex can change fast after birth, and it can change again in perimenopause and menopause, but that doesn’t mean you’re broken. We dig into why libido, arousal, and comfort often shift when estrogen drops postpartum and later in life, and how that hormone reality shows up as vaginal dryness, painful sex (dyspareunia), and the sense that your body isn’t responding the way it used to. We also talk about the common brain-body mismatch many women experience and how mental load can ...

Send us Fan Mail A newborn arrives fast, the dates are fuzzy, and everyone in the room is sure they know how far along the pregnancy was. Then the baby tells a different story. That’s where a solid gestational age assessment and real bedside pattern recognition can change the entire plan in minutes. We talk through the Ballard assessment in a way that’s built for busy midwives, midwifery students, and anyone responsible for newborn care. We explain what the Ballard score is designed to do, w...

Send us Fan Mail Trying to conceive can turn into a crash course in hormones overnight, and the medication list can feel like a different language. We slow it down and translate what fertility medications actually do in the body, why midwives still need to understand them even when we are not the prescribers, and how to support patients through the stress that often comes with IUI, IVF, and “why is this taking so long?” moments. We walk through the most common reason fertility care sta...

Send us Fan Mail Milk supply can feel mysterious when you’re tired, sore, and staring at a hungry newborn. We sit down and make lactogenesis practical by walking through what’s happening in the breast during pregnancy, what flips hormonally right after the placenta delivers, and why “milk coming in” usually peaks around days 2 to 5. Along the way, we translate the science into the questions we hear every week: Is leaking in pregnancy a good sign? Why does engorgement happen? When should we wo...

Send us Fan Mail What if the biggest driver of a healthy pregnancy isn’t found in a chart, but in a bus schedule, a work shift, or a zip code? In this episode, Cara and Missi pull back the curtain on social determinants of health and talk candidly about why late or no prenatal care rarely means a patient doesn’t care—and how midwives can meet these barriers head-on. We break down the big five domains—economic stability, education, healthcare access, neighborhood and environment, and social c...

Send us Fan Mail Day-one decisions shape a newborn’s first week, and small changes can prevent big problems. In this episode, Cara and Missi dig into what’s truly evidence-based now—delayed bathing to protect vernix and temperature, uninterrupted skin-to-skin to reduce energy burn, and clear thresholds for when to check and treat low blood sugar. Along the way, we unpack how updated NRP guidance simplifies early care: extend cord clamping to at least 60 seconds when possible, start term babie...

Send us Fan Mail The ocean isn’t magic, but it helps the healing. We went to the beach with a full slate of work—course updates, new cases, retreat planning—and a fuller heart, talking honestly about what it takes to recover and what it means to care well. Missi is four weeks post‑mastectomy, relearning daily life without lifting, reaching, or rushing. Cara remembers months on bed rest, the longing for a hair wash, and the quiet panic of being still. Together, we map the gap between “Let me k...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to land a midwifery job that actually fits your philosophy, pace, and life? We open up about our own first-job journeys—what went right, what we’d change, and how each step shaped our expectations. From researching practice models to reading culture, we walk through the practical prep that matters most: knowing how the team truly functions, how midwives share call, and how collaboration shows up when the unit gets busy. We also get tactical about interviewing without s...

Send us Fan Mail A new season meets a new reality: we’re grateful for 100K downloads, proud of students who crossed the finish line after multiple tries, and honest about a recent breast cancer diagnosis that changed the rhythm of our days. Missi walks through the surprise pathology, why we chose an aggressive plan, and what bilateral mastectomy and a forced season of stillness look like for a do‑everything human. We talk openly about anxiety, support, and “aggressive optimism,” because clari...