The Follow-Up: My Birth Story Changed Everything

Five and a half years ago, I became a mother. But the day my son was born wasn’t the best day of my life... it was the worst. In this deeply personal Follow-Up episode, I revisit the story that changed everything for me: my traumatic birth experience with my son Ryaan, the complications that followed, and how it impacted me as a mother, a pediatrician, and a human. Whether your birth went sideways slowly or spiraled in an instant—this episode is for you. I share: The moment I knew something was wrong What I experienced during 13 painful days in the hospital How trauma shaped my identity, my anxiety, and my approach to parenting The invisible grief many parents carry Why birth trauma deserves to be seen, supported, and spoken about If you’ve ever felt like your story didn’t “count” because you survived… this one is for you. 💛 You are not alone. Your story matters. And healing is possible. Listen to the original, full episode. Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices