Episode 33: Erica Zaworski – an OBGYN with all the Pregnancy and Postpartum Empowerment and Information
by Nikki Parnell — November 20, 2020
**For starters, LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE FOR A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
We talk this week with Erica Zaworski on all things pregnancy and postpartum from an OBGYN’s perspective! You can feel Erica’s passion for this line of work and for the women she gets to work with everyday. Erica prefaces our conversation by reminding us that every single pregnancy is different – just when you think you have a handle on it, something is going to blow your mind or surprise you. And that’s okay, it’s part of the process. She shares tips with us on what to look for in an OB, how to make sure your personal needs are being met, and to make sure you can have open, honest communication with a provider you trust.
We talk about exercise during pregnancy and it’s many benefits for both mom and baby but Erica also brings up how just being pregnant is an amazing thing and to be gentle on ourselves if we can’t run as much as we might want to. She says, “Remember: You’re growing a human inside you… that automatically qualifies you as super badass. If that’s not a superpower, I don’t know what is!” I love that. Thank you, Erica for that much needed recognition and acknowledgement!
She explains what to look out for in pregnancy – what to do, what to avoid and common questions that come up from mamas. She gives us some great takeaways – do kegels, keep doing the exercise you’ve been doing, hydrate like crazy, watch your heart rate during exercise, and for us trail runners, have a heart to heart with yourself about things like fall risk on the trails. Ask yourself if you’re the kind of person who is prone to falling on flat ground even when not pregnant or if you’re a “burly little mountain goat and you’re never going to stumble?” Be sure to not take unnecessary risks but do keep finding ways to take care of your mental health – maybe resort to hiking with trekking poles, using the buddy system, etc.
For preggo moms who are experiencing anxiety or depression make sure you’re talking to your doctor! It’s 2020, we’re all extra anxious and pregnant moms are affected even more. See a counselor to find coping mechanisms and maybe medication if need be. Voicing your concerns early is so important and Erica reminds us that “it doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you’re strong enough and brave enough to say this isn’t right, I need help.” That goes for the 4th trimester too. The health care system is not ideal as of right now. Many moms feel that they’re thrown to the wolves and left alone to care for themselves after having a baby. Erica knows this and says there is a huge initiative right now to reduce maternal mortality rates and for more people to recognize the 4th trimester of pregnancy after child birth. We need policy changes to optimize the standard of care for each mama – more follow up appointments for physical and mental health and more physical therapy requests from moms and referrals from doctors too.
Erica also raises awareness of domestic violence within pregnancy. Rates of violence significantly increase when a woman is pregnant and she expresses how important our role as friends or family members is to check in and look out for each other during this vulnerable time. Listen to your mom intuition and if you think a loved one is struggling, Erica gives advice on how you might go about helping them.
We cover all of this and much, much more so go have a listen! We think it is all useful information for anyone, whether you’re pregnant or you know someone who is, these kinds of conversations help us all be here for one another. Click the link below or search “Run Hard Mom Hard” on all podcast platforms to hear this episode. Don’t forget to subscribe and share with your mom tribe! Thank you!
**Big thanks to our sponsor this week, Cure Hydration! Cure is an organic electrolyte drink mix made with organic coconut water and pink Himalayan salt designed to help you recover from hard workouts, late nights, travel or illness. Cure has 4x the electrolytes of normal sports drinks but it has no added sugar, it’s vegan, non-GMO and gluten free! Go to curehydration.com and use code RUNHARD20 for 20% off your first order!**
Show notes:
If you’re worried about domestic violence within pregnancy for yourself or someone else, Call an OB in your area or the Nationwide hotline for domestic violence 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)
Go Fund Me page for Melissa McGill, her family and to educate others on maternal mental health and promoting policy change
Great resources for anyone struggling with postpartum mental health:
Erica’s favorite race: Mac Forest 50k and Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati, OH
Erica’s favorite meal: Mango avocado Fishy Tacos from Run Fast, Eat Slow
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