
The Critical Care Obstetrics Podcast
Your trusted resource for everything to do with high-risk and critical care obstetrics. Our experienced, interprofessional team shares insights from years of practice, simulation, and team training—making complex topics simple and easy to understand. Sometimes it’s just us, sometimes it’s guests, and sometimes it’s case reviews—always with the goal of helping you provide the best care. Thanks for listening!
Latest episodes

Apr 15, 2024 • 37min
The WAR on Invasive Group A Strep
Suzanne and Stephanie discuss a case of peripartum invasive Group A Strep and highlight management opportunities. Listeners will also learn about the WAR on invasive Group A strep: W: Weird, wild painA: Aggressive interventionR: Rapid progressionThe experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics. Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN is the Nursing Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics with many years of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women. Julie Arafeh, RN, MS is the Simulation Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a leading expert in simulation.Critical Care Obstetrics Academy: https://www.clinicalconceptsinob.com/Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalcareob/Dr Martin's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stephanie-martin-65b07112aCCOB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-concepts-in-obstetrics/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/OBCriticalCareCCOB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clinicalconceptsinobstetricsDr Ma...

Apr 1, 2024 • 19min
A-OK for AFE is not AOK
Dr. Stephanie Martin discusses the A-OK protocol for Amniotic Fluid Embolism management, reviewing case reports and sharing opinions. Topics include healthcare professionals' concerns, collaborations with AFE Foundation, decision-making in difficult cases, and limited scientific evidence for the AOK protocol.

Mar 18, 2024 • 25min
Family Presence During Maternal Resuscitation
Family presence during resuscitation is becoming more accepted in ICUs and Emergency Departments. What about obstetric resuscitations? Dr Suzanne Baird and Julie Arafeh discuss family presence during maternal cardiac arrest and other obstetric emergencies. The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics. Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN is the Nursing Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics with many years of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women. Julie Arafeh, RN, MS is the Simulation Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a leading expert in simulation.Critical Care Obstetrics Academy: https://www.clinicalconceptsinob.com/Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalcareob/Dr Martin's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stephanie-martin-65b07112aCCOB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-concepts-in-obstetrics/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/OBCriticalCareCCOB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clinicalconceptsinobstetricsDr Ma...

Mar 4, 2024 • 1h 10min
Resuscitation from (massive) obstetric hemorrhage: Who, What, When and How
Dr. Alan Frankfurt, OB Anesthesiologist, discusses resuscitation from obstetric hemorrhage with experts in critical care obstetrics. Topics include volume replacement challenges, physiologic changes in pregnancy during hemorrhage, managing obstetric hemorrhage and effects of epidural on anesthesia, assessing blood loss and shock management, and effective communication in maternal hemorrhage emergencies.

Feb 19, 2024 • 44min
Diabetic Ketoacidosis: Do you have a management plan and protocol?
In this episode, Stephanie and Suzanne discuss DKA pathophysiology, causes, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and management. The critical care management aspects outlined include:1. Replace fluids2. Supply insulin3. Replace potassium4. Supply glucoseThe experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics. Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN is the Nursing Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics with many years of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women. Julie Arafeh, RN, MS is the Simulation Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a leading expert in simulation.Critical Care Obstetrics Academy: https://www.clinicalconceptsinob.com/Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalcareob/Dr Martin's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stephanie-martin-65b07112aCCOB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-concepts-in-obstetrics/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/OBCriticalCareCCOB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clinicalconceptsinobstetricsDr Ma...

Feb 5, 2024 • 46min
Would You Recognize Pulmonary Edema in Pregnancy?
Suzanne and Stephanie discuss the clinical presentation and diagnosis of pulmonary edema, including how to differentiate between cardiogenic and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. They also address assessment of the pregnant patient with hypoxemia and management of both types of pulmonary edema.The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics. Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN is the Nursing Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics with many years of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women. Julie Arafeh, RN, MS is the Simulation Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a leading expert in simulation.Critical Care Obstetrics Academy: https://www.clinicalconceptsinob.com/Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalcareob/Dr Martin's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stephanie-martin-65b07112aCCOB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-concepts-in-obstetrics/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/OBCriticalCareCCOB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clinicalconceptsinobstetricsDr Ma...

Jan 22, 2024 • 22min
Rethinking The Response To Maternal Early Warning Criteria
In this podcast Julie Arafeh discusses rethinking the response to maternal early warning criteria to be better prepared for obstetric emergencies.The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics. Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN is the Nursing Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics with many years of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women. Julie Arafeh, RN, MS is the Simulation Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a leading expert in simulation.Critical Care Obstetrics Academy: https://www.clinicalconceptsinob.com/Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalcareob/Dr Martin's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stephanie-martin-65b07112aCCOB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-concepts-in-obstetrics/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/OBCriticalCareCCOB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clinicalconceptsinobstetricsDr Ma...

Jan 8, 2024 • 37min
Another Obstetric Hemorrhage Case and Preventable Outcome
Dr. Stephanie Martin and Julie Arafeh discuss another hemorrhage case and how the outcome could have been prevented. Communication plays such a huge part in this case.The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics. Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN is the Nursing Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics with many years of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women. Julie Arafeh, RN, MS is the Simulation Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a leading expert in simulation.Critical Care Obstetrics Academy: https://www.clinicalconceptsinob.com/Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalcareob/Dr Martin's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stephanie-martin-65b07112aCCOB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-concepts-in-obstetrics/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/OBCriticalCareCCOB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clinicalconceptsinobstetricsDr Ma...

Dec 11, 2023 • 34min
How to Use the Chain of Command
Dr. Stephanie Martin and Julie Arafeh discuss when and how to use the chain of command to ensure patient safety and maintain trust between members of the healthcare team.The experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics. Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN is the Nursing Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics with many years of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women. Julie Arafeh, RN, MS is the Simulation Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a leading expert in simulation.Critical Care Obstetrics Academy: https://www.clinicalconceptsinob.com/Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalcareob/Dr Martin's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stephanie-martin-65b07112aCCOB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-concepts-in-obstetrics/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/OBCriticalCareCCOB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clinicalconceptsinobstetricsDr Ma...

Nov 27, 2023 • 28min
Debriefing to improve team performance: A discussion with Dr Lou Halamek
Dr Lou Halamek joins Julie Arafeh in a discussion on the use of debriefing to improve team performance, including strategies and tactics for more effective and efficient debriefings.Here are some useful references to review:Halamek LP, Cady R, Sterling MR. Using briefing, simulation and debriefing to improve human and system performance. Semin Perinatol 2019;43(8):151178. Epub 2019 Aug 10. PMID 31500845Chitkara R, Bennett M, Bohnert J, Yamada N, Fuerch J, Halamek LP, Quinn J, Padua K, Gould J, Profit J, Xu X, Lee HC. In situ simulation and clinical outcomes in infants born preterm. J Pediatr. 2023 Aug 31:113715. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113715. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37659586Sawyer T, Loren D, Halamek LP. Post-event debriefings during neonatal care: Why aren’t we doing them, and how can we start? J Perinatol 2016;36(6):415-419. PMID: 27031321https://cape.stanford.edu/programs/BannerPage.htmlThe experts at Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics pool their decades of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women to discuss the challenges encountered in caring for these vulnerable women. Dr Stephanie Martin is the Medical Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist with expertise in critical care obstetrics. Suzanne McMurtry Baird, DNP, RN is the Nursing Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics with many years of experience caring for critically ill pregnant women. Julie Arafeh, RN, MS is the Simulation Director for Clinical Concepts in Obstetrics and a leading expert in simulation.Critical Care Obstetrics Academy: https://www.clinicalconceptsinob.com/Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalcareob/Dr Martin's LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/stephanie-martin-65b07112aCCOB LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clinical-concepts-in-obstetrics/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/OBCriticalCareCCOB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clinicalconceptsinobstetricsDr Ma...