In this special Q&A episode of The Push Podcast, we are answering questions from listeners and followers! We cover a wide range of topics, including precipitous (fast) labor, your first postpartum bathroom trip, and tips for VBAC success. We also dive into fertility and PCOS, cannabis and energy drink use while breastfeeding, and the role of social media in maternal care.

Plus, we explore outpatient Foley bulb induction, personal gowns for C-sections, birth control implants and missed periods, IV placement during labor, and pregnancy considerations for trans men on testosterone. If you’re a curious mind and have lots of questions around women’s health, then this episode will be perfect for you, as our experience and evidence-backed answers will satiate some questions and spark others! To get your own question answered, DM, email, or comment, and we’ll try to include it in future content!

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Welcome back to season 2 of The Push Podcast!

In this episode, Nurse Sydney and Dr. Meghan McGrattan break down TOLAC (Trial of Labor After Cesarean) to help women truly understand their birth options after a C-section. If you’re pregnant after a cesarean or you're a curious woman with aspirations of being a mom, or just a girl who loves to learn, this conversation walks you through the science behind TOLAC, including success rates, uterine rupture risk, hospital policies, and evidence-based guidelines, so you can separate fact from fear.

We will explain how providers determine candidacy for TOLAC, teach you how to interpret relative versus absolute risk in a way that actually makes sense, and offer tips on how to advocate for yourself. This episode is about women’s health education, informed consent, and empowering you to push for the birth you want, ask the right questions, and make a confident, values-aligned decision about your birth with all the information!

In this episode, Nurse Sydney and her nursing school friends Celina (Labour & Delivery Nurse) and Maddie (Pediatric Cardiology Nurse) share what it was really like becoming nurses in 2020.

They talk about starting their careers in the middle of the pandemic, the imposter syndrome they faced as new grads, and the advice they wish someone had given them.

They’re sharing:

• What it was really like starting their careers during COVID

• The pressure, fear, and confusion of being brand-new nurses in a crisis

• How imposter syndrome showed up for each of them

• The moments that shaped them

• The advice they wish every new grad could hear

Whether you’re a student nurse, a new grad, or curious about the reality behind the scenes, this episode is honest, relatable, and a little nostalgic.

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is not just severe morning sickness — it’s a serious pregnancy condition that can be physically, emotionally, and mentally devastating.

In this episode of The Push Podcast, we’re joined by Maria and Julia from Hyperemesis Gravidarum Canada (@hg.canada), who share their powerful lived experiences navigating HG. They speak honestly about being dismissed, debilitated, and struggling to survive pregnancy — and what ultimately helped them through.

Created in collaboration with Hyperemesis Gravidarum Canada, this episode brings lived experience and clinical expertise together to push for better understanding and better care for HG.

After hearing their stories, Nurse Sydney and Dr. Meghan McGrattan break down the medical side of hyperemesis gravidarum, including:

• What HG is — and how it differs from typical nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
• Current understanding of HG pathophysiology
• Evidence-based treatments, including medications, IV therapy, and nutritional support
• Red flags, advocacy, and when to seek care
• Where to find support and reliable resources

This episode is for anyone affected by HG — those experiencing it, supporting someone who is, or wanting to better understand a condition that is too often misunderstood.

Support & Resources:

• Hyperemesis Gravidarum Canada
  • Private Facebook Support Group
  • Instagram: @hg.canada
  • LinkedIn: Professional Network for Hyperemesis Gravidarum in Canada
  • Beyond the Birth Story Podcast — Episode 13
• HER Foundation: @hgmoms
• Healthy Pregnancy Hub: @healthypregnancyhub | @grossesseensante
• HG Art exhibition - "Voices of HG: Canadians Speak Through Art"August 2026 in Ontario

If you’re pregnant and suddenly questioning every skincare product in your bathroom—this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Push Podcast, Nurse Sydney and OB-GYN Dr. Meghan are joined by Caroline Watson, licensed medical aesthetician and skincare specialist from St. Thomas Aesthetics Med Spa in Toronto, to break down pregnancy-safe skincare without fear or overwhelm.

We talk about what actually happens to your skin during pregnancy, which ingredients are safe to use, which ones to avoid, and how to care for common concerns like acne, pigmentation, dryness, and sensitivity—without falling into misinformation from social media.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why your skin changes so much during pregnancy

• Common pregnancy skin concerns (acne, melasma, sensitivity, rashes)

• Skincare ingredients that are safe vs. ones to avoid

• How to simplify your routine during pregnancy

• Professional tips for choosing products without panic

• When to check in with your healthcare provider

This episode is educational, reassuring, and evidence-informed, designed to help you feel confident caring for your skin while pregnant.

You can find Caroline at the following links:

St. Thomas Aesthetics Med Spa: https://www.fordplasticsurgery.com/

Caroline Watson Beauty: https://carolinewatsonbeauty.com/

If your period pain wipes you out every month, makes you miss work, or has you curled over in agony — welcome to Cramp Camp. In this episode, Nurse Sydney (L&D nurse) and Dr. Meghan (OB-GYN) break down what’s actually normal, what’s not, and when painful periods deserve a closer look.

We cover:

• Why cramps happen and why some cycles hurt more

• Primary vs. secondary dysmenorrhea

• Common causes like endometriosis, adenomyosis, fibroids, and ovarian cysts

• The biggest red flags: pain outside your period, heavy bleeding, vomiting, and pain that disrupts daily life

• What actually helps — from NSAIDs and timing, to heat, TENS, and hormonal options

• When to see your doctor and how to advocate for your pain to be taken seriously

This episode is validating, myth-busting, and designed to help you understand your pain — not just push through it.

Thinking about getting an IUD? In this episode, Dr. Meghan (OBGYN) and Nurse Sydney break down everything you need to know before deciding if this birth control option is right for you.

We cover the basics — how IUDs work, hormonal vs. copper, benefits, side effects, and who might be a good candidate. With social media filled with scary or extreme IUD insertion stories, it can be hard to know what’s real and what’s not. We talk honestly about:

• What insertion can feel like

• Why people have such different pain experiences

• Practical pain-management options before and during the appointment

• How to advocate for yourself

We also share real patient experiences, debunk myths, and give you the questions we encourage every person to ask their provider before choosing an IUD.

Whether you’re considering birth control for the first time or thinking about switching methods, this episode will help you feel informed, confident, and supported in making the decision that’s right for your body.

This episode is for educational purposes only and not medical advice.

In this episode, Nurse Sydney and Dr. Meghan sit down with three of BirthTok’s most-loved creators — Kara the Baby Nurse, Mama Nurse Tina, and Labor Junkie RN — for an unfiltered roundtable on what it’s really like being nurse creators online. The conversation dives into why they share their stories, what keeps them motivated, and the harder parts of creating content that most people never see. A must-listen for anyone curious about the world of BirthTok and the reality behind scrubs-to-social media.