How to Talk to Your Doctor: Navigating important conversations about your care
Jan 16, 2025
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In this episode, Dr. Nathan Fox, an OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist, returns to share insights on navigating pregnancy healthcare. He discusses how to recognize when to call your doctor and the subjective nature of pregnancy symptoms. The conversation emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health during pregnancy, as well as promoting open communication with healthcare providers. Dr. Fox also offers strategies for empowering patients to ask the right questions and advocate for themselves in medical settings.
Pregnant individuals should distinguish between self-management and seeking medical help to improve their prenatal care experience.
Open communication with healthcare providers is vital for expectant parents to address concerns and improve health outcomes during pregnancy.
The episode emphasizes the importance of mental health screening during pregnancy to identify and address issues like depression and anxiety early.
Deep dives
Reintroduction of Pregnant Data and Insights from The Unexpected
The episode highlights the relaunch of the Pregnant Data newsletter, which now offers up-to-date answers for common pregnancy inquiries. This newsletter is designed to support pregnant individuals in navigating the complexities of pregnancy with reliable information. Alongside the newsletter, the discussion showcases the book 'The Unexpected,' co-authored with Dr. Nathan Fox, which addresses the challenges that may arise during pregnancy. Together, these resources aim to empower expectant parents by improving their preparedness and fostering better communication with healthcare providers.
Understanding Prenatal Visits and Communication with Doctors
The conversation covers the nuances of prenatal doctor visits, including the importance of distinguishing between self-management and reaching out for medical help. It emphasizes how many individuals fear overburdening their doctors, affecting their willingness to seek care when experiencing troubling symptoms like excessive vomiting. The episode underscores the subjective nature of identifying normal versus concerning symptoms and encourages patients to advocate for themselves in medical settings. Engaging openly with doctors is essential for effective communication and understanding one’s health during pregnancy.
Addressing Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy
The podcast delves into the common experience of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, stressing the significance of recognizing when to seek help. It outlines two key thresholds: the critical threshold of being in danger, which necessitates immediate medical attention, and the subjective threshold of personal discomfort. Expectant mothers are encouraged to consult their healthcare providers if they feel that any level of sickness is impairing their quality of life. The discussion promotes a supportive and non-judgmental approach from healthcare professionals to ensure expectant mothers feel comfortable seeking help.
The Importance of Mental Health During Pregnancy
The episode discusses the emergence of perinatal depression and anxiety, noting that these conditions can begin before delivery and not just postpartum. It highlights the significance of screening for mental health issues during pregnancy and addresses potential risks associated with untreated mental health conditions. There is an emphasis on recognizing danger signs, such as a lack of enjoyment in daily activities or feelings of self-harm. The conversation promotes the idea that seeking support, whether through therapy or medication, is critical for the well-being of both the mother and the baby.
Empowering Patients to Engage with Their Healthcare Providers
The podcast encourages individuals to take an active role in their prenatal care by preparing questions ahead of appointments and communicating their needs clearly. It suggests that patients reflect on their healthcare preferences to ensure they receive personalized care that aligns with their comfort level. By recognizing the dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship, patients can enhance the quality of their interactions and ensure their concerns are addressed. Ultimately, fostering open communication in healthcare settings contributes to better outcomes for expectant parents.
Today on ParentData, we're welcoming back Dr. Nathan Fox, Emily's co-author for The Unexpected- a book about when things go wrong, or at least get complicated, in a pregnancy. Nate is an OB-GYN and a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, and he is one of our favorite returning podcast guests, not just because he’s a great talker but also because it’s really nice to have a doctor who can both provide medical answers to questions that come up around pregnancy, and help you have the best possible experiences with your own doctor.
We’re discuss some big issues that arise during pregnancy and the many prenatal doctor’s visits; about the distinction between self-management and calling your doctor (when do you know if something is normal-bad or bad-bad?), and we’ll talk about just how subjective that line actually is. We also talk about risks and tradeoffs and about the kinds of postpartum issues that are worth addressing while still pregnant (we're looking at you, depression and anxiety).
The Unexpected, and this conversation, are meant to help people be much better prepared for what they may face in their pregnancies and to help better navigate conversations with doctors — both the expected conversations and the unexpected ones.
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