HeyJaredThe Birth Squad
Welcome to The Birth Squad! Join best friends and colleagues, Drs. Ijeoma Okwandu and Kimeshia Thomas, two black obstetricians and gynecologists who use the power of storytelling and interviews to explore the pregnancy and birth experiences of real people.Join us two Sundays…
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 4
- Latest publication
- Aug 16, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 5, 2026
Latest episodes
Why Are Black Women Still Dying in Childbirth? S4 Ep 8 (opens the original)
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Black women in the United States are still significantly more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes — and this disparity is not explained by education, income, or genetics. So what is actually driving it? In this season finale, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello have the honest conversation that too many people are still afraid to have:- Why Black women enter pregnancy carrying both excitement and fear at the same time. - Why maternal morbidity and mortality often starts quietly — wi
Why So Many Women Feel Lost After Giving Birth | S4 Ep7 (opens the original)
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Everyone prepares for the birth. Almost nobody prepares for what comes after. In this episode, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello break down what the postpartum period actually looks like and why so many women are left feeling overwhelmed, isolated, and unprepared the moment they get home: Why postpartum recovery takes far longer than anyone tells you The physical realities of healing after vaginal delivery and C-section How hormone shifts and sleep deprivation make everything feel heavier
What Doctors Wish More Women Knew About Birth Trauma | S4 Ep 6 (opens the original)
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"Your baby is healthy. That's all that matters." — But what happens when the birth itself feels traumatic, even when the outcome is good? In this episode, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello break down: Why birth trauma is defined by how the experience felt — not just the medical outcome How loss of control and lack of communication during emergencies can lead to trauma Why a healthy baby does not erase a traumatic birth experience The real disparities in who feels heard, believed, and supp
Do You Still Need an Doula if you want an Epidural? | S4 Ep5 (opens the original)
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You've decided on an epidural — so do you really still need a doula? Two Black OB-GYNs are answering this question once and for all. In this episode, Dr. Kimeshia Thomas and Dr. Ijeoma Bello break down: Why an epidural treats pain but does not replace support What doulas actually do in the labor room beyond pain management Why your need for support doesn't stop once the contractions do How doulas support your partner and help them stay calm and involved Why your doula is the only person in that
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