This show is about the VBAC Playbook—your complete guide to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. We bring together everything you need to know in one place: all of our experience, the risks and benefits, the latest evidence, and the practical steps to prepare. Whether you're weighing your options, looking for reassurance, or wanting to feel fully informed before talking with your provider, this playbook equips you with clear, comprehensive, and empowering information to help you make the best decision for your birth.

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe—your questions could be featured in our next episode!

For additional resources and information, be sure to visit our website at Maternal Resources: https://www.maternalresources.org/. You can also connect with us on our social channels to stay up-to-date with the latest news, episodes, and community engagement:

• YouTube: Dive deeper into pregnancy tips and stories atyoutube.com/maternalresources .
• Instagram: Follow us for daily inspiration and updates at @maternalresources .
• Facebook: Join our community at facebook.com/IntegrativeOB
• Tiktok: NatureBack Doc on TikTok

Grab Our Book! Check out The NatureBack Method for Birth—your guide to a empowered pregnancy and delivery. Shop now at naturebackbook.myshopify.com .

Pregnancy and childbirth are filled with important decisions, and sometimes the advice you receive from your OB/GYN or midwife can feel overwhelming—or incomplete. In this episode of True Birth, we take an honest look at when and why you might consider seeking a second opinion during pregnancy or for birth planning.

A second opinion is not about questioning your provider's expertise—it's about ensuring you have the full picture before making decisions that impact your health and your baby's well-being. We discuss situations where a second opinion can be especially valuable: when facing a major intervention such as induction, cesarean birth, or surgery; when you're given limited options; or when your instincts tell you something doesn't feel right.

We'll explore how different providers approach issues like VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), high-risk pregnancy management, and birth preferences, and why those perspectives can vary. Just as importantly, we share practical tips on how to approach the process: how to ask for your records, how to frame the conversation, and how to choose the right expert for a balanced perspective.

Our goal is to empower you to feel confident, informed, and supported in your care. Remember: seeking a second opinion is your right, not a sign of mistrust. It's one of the best ways to advocate for yourself and ensure you're making decisions aligned with your values and goals.

Tune in as we unpack real scenarios and offer guidance on making the second-opinion process respectful, productive, and ultimately reassuring—for a healthier pregnancy and a birth experience that feels right for you.

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe—your questions could be featured in our next episode!

For additional resources and information, be sure to visit our website at Maternal Resources: https://www.maternalresources.org/. You can also connect with us on our social channels to stay up-to-date with the latest news, episodes, and community engagement:

• YouTube: Dive deeper into pregnancy tips and stories atyoutube.com/maternalresources .
• Instagram: Follow us for daily inspiration and updates at @maternalresources .
• Facebook: Join our community at facebook.com/IntegrativeOB
• Tiktok: NatureBack Doc on TikTok

Grab Our Book! Check out The NatureBack Method for Birth—your guide to a empowered pregnancy and delivery. Shop now at naturebackbook.myshopify.com .

In this episode of True Birth, we take on one of the most fraught subjects in pregnancy care: substance use. Their conversation goes beyond the obvious admonition that "drugs are bad in pregnancy" to explore the nuance — what counts as a teratogen, which substances alter fetal development directly, and which compromise pregnancy through vascular, placental, or behavioral pathways.

The discussion begins with tobacco, a substance that does not cause specific birth defects but exerts powerful vascular effects that restrict blood flow to the placenta, increasing the risks of low birth weight, preterm birth, and ectopic pregnancy. From there, they move to alcohol, one of the few true teratogens, responsible for fetal alcohol syndrome and its enduring neurodevelopmental and behavioral consequences. The conversation then widens to heroin and opioids, which do not deform fetal anatomy but devastate pregnancy outcomes through miscarriage, placental abruption, and neonatal withdrawal syndromes.

Cocaine emerges as a particularly dangerous agent, not for teratogenicity but for its capacity to cause catastrophic circulatory collapse in both mother and fetus — strokes, abruptions, and even loss of fetal limbs due to infarcted placental tissue. The hosts also explore the gray areas: hallucinogens like LSD, stimulants such as ecstasy, and prescription amphetamines. They note the complexity of studying these substances, given the socioeconomic, dietary, and mental health confounders that often accompany their use.

What makes this episode compelling is not just the catalog of risks but the larger question of how to think about exposure. Mallon and Abdelhak acknowledge the historical shifts — from a time when physicians condoned "a few cigarettes a day" to today's zero-tolerance policies — and they highlight emerging treatments for addiction, such as Ibogaine, which may offer new hope for patients but remain medically and legally unsettled.

The episode's takeaway is clear: in pregnancy, no recreational substance is benign. Some, like alcohol, directly alter embryologic development; others, like nicotine and cocaine, impair the very systems that sustain pregnancy. The evidence is complex, but the principle is simple — abstaining is the only truly safe choice.

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe—your questions could be featured in our next episode!

For additional resources and information, be sure to visit our website at Maternal Resources: https://www.maternalresources.org/. You can also connect with us on our social channels to stay up-to-date with the latest news, episodes, and community engagement:

• YouTube: Dive deeper into pregnancy tips and stories atyoutube.com/maternalresources .
• Instagram: Follow us for daily inspiration and updates at @maternalresources .
• Facebook: Join our community at facebook.com/IntegrativeOB
• Tiktok: NatureBack Doc on TikTok

Grab Our Book! Check out The NatureBack Method for Birth—your guide to a empowered pregnancy and delivery. Shop now at naturebackbook.myshopify.com .

Two Days, Two Docs: Stories from the Delivery Room takes you inside an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at 48 hours in Labor & Delivery through the eyes of two physicians: Dr. Yaakov Abdelhak and Dr. Apig Mosses from Maternal Resources. From the adrenaline of middle-of-the-night emergencies to the quiet, awe-filled moments of new life, these stories capture the highs, lows, and everything in between. Whether you're a fellow clinician, an expectant parent, or simply curious about what really happens beyond those hospital doors, you'll hear the human side of medicine—raw, real, and unforgettable.

• YouTube: Dive deeper into pregnancy tips and stories atyoutube.com/maternalresources .
• Instagram: Follow us for daily inspiration and updates at @maternalresources .
• Facebook: Join our community at facebook.com/IntegrativeOB
• Tiktok: NatureBack Doc on TikTok

Grab Our Book! Check out The NatureBack Method for Birth—your guide to a empowered pregnancy and delivery. Shop now at naturebackbook.myshopify.com .

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released new clinical guidance on April 17, 2025 that recommends, as they see it, reimagining prenatal care in the U.S. Instead of the traditional 12–14 in‑person visits, ACOG now advocates for individualized prenatal care schedules—especially for average‑ and low‑risk patients—tailored based on medical, social, and structural determinants of health as well as patient preferences The guidance encourages early needs assessments (ideally before 10 weeks), shared decision‑making, coordination of social support resources, telemedicine, and group care modalities to reduce barriers and drive equity Drawing on the PATH framework developed with the University of Michigan, ACOG presents sample visit schedules and monitoring strategies reflecting evidence that fewer visits—with flexible modalities—can maintain quality while improving access and patient experience

As clinicans who have been offering unparalleled care for decades, find out what Dr. Abdelhak and his team at Maternal Resources think of groundbreaking this new update.

• YouTube: Dive deeper into pregnancy tips and stories atyoutube.com/maternalresources .
• Instagram: Follow us for daily inspiration and updates at @maternalresources .
• Facebook: Join our community at facebook.com/IntegrativeOB
• Tiktok: NatureBack Doc on TikTok

Grab Our Book! Check out The NatureBack Method for Birth—your guide to a empowered pregnancy and delivery. Shop now at naturebackbook.myshopify.com .

Dr. Mosses comes to Maternal Resources after serving as the Medical Director of the OB/GYN department at Ezra Medical Center in Brooklyn, where he built a thriving obstetric practice from the ground up, now averaging over 50–60 deliveries per month. Prior to that, he was a senior attending physician at NYU Langone in Midwood, Brooklyn, where he maintained a cesarean section rate of under 10%—a testament to his skill in supporting vaginal births, including twin deliveries and VBACs (vaginal birth after cesarean). His approach combines clinical rigor with a strong belief in giving patients safe options for physiologic birth.

Expertise in Vaginal Twins, VBACs, and Minimally Invasive Surgery

Known for his hands-on experience with high-volume deliveries, Dr. Mosses has a deep expertise in managing vaginal twin deliveries and has successfully supported many patients through VBACs. He has performed thousands of deliveries and a wide range of gynecologic surgeries using open, laparoscopic, and vaginal approaches. Whether managing a routine pregnancy or a more complex case, his goal is always the same: to deliver excellent care that respects patient autonomy and promotes healthy outcomes. This commitment perfectly mimmics the core of what Maternal Resources is all about.

Training, Awards, and Teaching Excellence

Dr. Mosses completed his OB/GYN residency as Chief Resident at Richmond University Medical Center, where he received the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Award and completed advanced training in gynecologic oncology at Sloan Kettering. He has also supervised and trained residents at multiple academic institutions, including NYU Langone and Lutheran Medical Center. His academic background, combined with his leadership and research accolades, reflects his ongoing commitment to advancing women's health.

Dr. A. Jay Mosses has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to the field of obstetrics and gynecology with several prestigious awards. During his residency at Richmond University Medical Center, he was honored with the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Award, acknowledging his excellence in minimally invasive surgical techniques. Additionally, his research on the use of double balloon cervical ripening catheters in managing massive hemorrhage in cervical ectopic pregnancies earned him the First Place Award at the 2016 Annual Residents' and Fellows' Research Paper Competition. These accolades reflect his commitment to advancing clinical care through both surgical skill and academic research.

We're honored to have Dr. Mosses on our team and know our patients will benefit from his skill, warmth, and unwavering dedication to their care.

• YouTube: Dive deeper into pregnancy tips and stories atyoutube.com/maternalresources .
• Instagram: Follow us for daily inspiration and updates at @maternalresources .
• Facebook: Join our community at facebook.com/IntegrativeOB
• Tiktok: NatureBack Doc on TikTok

Grab Our Book! Check out The NatureBack Method for Birth—your guide to a empowered pregnancy and delivery. Shop now at naturebackbook.myshopify.com .

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we explore birth stories. Through candid, firsthand birth stories, we highlight how listening to your body, trusting your instincts, and building the right care team can make all the difference.

Whether you're planning a hospital birth, birth center experience, or home delivery, this episode reminds us that not all providers are created equal—and sometimes, your OB just doesn't know when it comes to birth.

Who This Episode is For:
Pregnant people, birth workers, doulas, midwives, and anyone curious about the realities of modern maternity care.

• YouTube: Dive deeper into pregnancy tips and stories atyoutube.com/maternalresources .
• Instagram: Follow us for daily inspiration and updates at @maternalresources .
• Facebook: Join our community at facebook.com/IntegrativeOB
• Tiktok: NatureBack Doc on TikTok

Grab Our Book! Check out The NatureBack Method for Birth—your guide to a empowered pregnancy and delivery. Shop now at naturebackbook.myshopify.com .

Epidural anesthesia is a type of local anesthetic that is injected into the epidural space. This procedure numbs the spinal nerve roots and provides a block to the lower abdomin, pelvic and lower extremity portion of the body. It is the safest and most effecive method of pharmacologic pain management in labor available.

When it comes to managing labor pain, epidurals are one of the most commonly requested and effective options. But despite their widespread use, many expecting parents still have questions or concerns. Here's what you need to know.

An epidural is a type of regional anesthesia that blocks pain in a specific part of the body—most commonly from the waist down. It's administered through a small catheter placed in the lower back and can significantly reduce the intensity of contractions without making you drowsy or disconnected from the birth experience.

One of the biggest benefits of an epidural is flexibility. It can be adjusted throughout labor depending on your needs and comfort. Some people feel enough relief to rest, while others maintain enough sensation to push effectively during delivery. Contrary to popular myth, an epidural does not usually slow labor or increase the risk of cesarean delivery in most healthy pregnancies.

Like all medical interventions, epidurals do carry some risks—such as a drop in blood pressure, headache, or in rare cases, complications related to placement. However, for many, the benefits far outweigh the risks, especially when monitored by an experienced anesthesiologist.

Choosing pain relief is a deeply personal decision. Whether you plan to get an epidural, go unmedicated, or keep your options open, the most important thing is that you feel supported, respected, and informed.

Remember, there's no one "right" way to give birth. Empowered birth is about making choices that align with your values, goals, and comfort. An epidural doesn't take away your strength—it supports your journey.

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