Prepare
“Prepare” is the Mercy Perinatal podcast dedicated to helping parents prepare for the journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. “Prepare” is hosted by Dr Rangi De Silva (specialist female obstetrician and gynaecologist) and Alison Abboud (registered midwife and nurse) who are joined by special guests along the way. We know that becoming a parent can be an exciting but daunting experience. We've created this podcast to provide parents with the information and resources they need to feel confident and prepared every step of the way. Our expert hosts and guests will share their evidence-based knowledge and experience on topics ranging from pre-conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum. We want to empower parents with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their pregnancy and baby's health. We are thrilled for you to join us on this exciting journey of parenthood with "Prepare."
Episodes
In this SEASON 1 FINALE episode, Ali and Rangi discuss some key questions you might have about:
🍐 What you should be eating in pregnancy.
🍫 What is good in moderation.
🍔 When to listen to your cravings
🍽️ …and much more…
Grab a snack and hit play! Available wherever you get your podcasts.
Loved Season 1 of Prepare? We are already planning our second season, coming later in 2025. ...
In this episode, Ali and Rangi discuss birth plans — and more importantly, the value of having a flexible birth plan.
They cover the essentials of creating a birth plan, starting with the reminder that there’s no one right way to do it. Your birth plan can be as general or as detailed as you like — it’s entirely up to you.
Key points they explore include:
- Pain management options
- Labour and delivery environment (e.g. m...
In this episode, Ali and Rangi discuss information overload during pregnancy.
They explore the benefits of social media, such as finding a sense of community, while also highlighting the dangers, including misinformation and misdiagnosis.
They also share tips on handling both solicited and unsolicited advice from well-meaning family members and provide guidance on where to find reliable information.
Most importantly, ...
In this episode, Ali is joined again by guest co-host, Professor Sue Walker AO, maternal fetal medicine sub-specialist at the Mercy Hospital for Women, and Co-Director of Mercy Perinatal.
Ali and Sue discuss Miscarriage and address key questions, such as:
- What is Miscarriage? Why do they occur?
- What is the treatment for a Miscarriage?
- What is involved in the recovery of a Miscarriage?
- What does this mean for ...
In this episode, Ali is joined again by guest co-host, Professor Sue Walker AO, maternal fetal medicine sub-specialist at the Mercy Hospital for Women, and Co-Director of Mercy Perinatal.
Ali and Sue discuss Fetal Growth Restriction answer your burning questions, such as:
- What is Fetal Growth Restriction (FGR)?
- How is FGR detected?
- What are the causes of FGR?
- Can FGR be prevented?
- What happens once my baby has...
In this episode, Ali is joined by guest co-host, Professor Sue Walker AO, maternal fetal medicine sub-specialist at the Mercy Hospital for Women, and Co-Director of Mercy Perinatal.
Ali and Sue discuss COVID-19 in pregnancy and labour and answer your burning questions, such as:
- What does a COVID-19 infection mean for me and my baby?
- Are COVID-19 vaccines safe in pregnancy?
- Do I need to tell my healthcare pro...
In this episode Ali and Rangi chat with Professor Lisa Hui about Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV), and discuss what is cCMV, how it is contracted, and what it means for your pregnancy and your child later in life, and also what actions you can take to prevent it.
Prof Lisa Hui is a maternal fetal medicine specialist with research interests in cell-free fetal nucleic acids, prenatal screening and diagnosis. S...
In this episode Rangi and Ali welcome back Professor Stephen Tong to Prepare. Prof Tong is a specialist obstetrician at the Mercy Hospital for Women, Professor at The University of Melbourne, Co-Director of Mercy Perinatal and author of The Birth Book.
With Prof Tong, the team discuss Preeclampsia, what is it, how common is it, what does a diagnosis mean for you and your baby, how is it treated, what are the ...
In this episode, Ali and Rangi chat with Associate Professor Fiona Brownfoot about Fetal Monitoring, and discuss key points, including:
- What is Fetal Monitoring?
- Why does my baby need Fetal Monitoring?
- What does Fetal Monitoring involve? What are the different methods?
- When does Fetal Monitoring start in a pregnancy?
- How long does it take?
- What does the future look like for Fetal Monitoring?
Trimesters, placenta, term, uterus, cervix, gestation, vernix, amniotic sac, prenatal, antenatal, postnatal, perinatal... oh my!
In this episode, Ali and Rangi go over and break down some common terms you'll hear on your pregnancy journey.
In this episode Ali and Rangi chat with Associate Professor Lisa Hui about Genetic Screening, and discuss what is screened, how screening occurs and when, the costs associated with screening, and follow up testing that may occur.
A/Prof Lisa Hui is a maternal fetal medicine specialist with research interests in cell-free fetal nucleic acids, prenatal screening and diagnosis. She is Associate Professor in the ...
In this special episode, we welcome Professor Catherine Chamberlain, descendent of the Trawlwoolway people of Tasmania (Palawa), registered midwife and public health researcher to discuss the importance and logistics of "birthing on country" for indigenous people. In this episode, Ali is joined by guest co-host, Professor Sue Walker AO, maternal fetal medicine sub-specialist at the Mercy Hospital for Women, ...
So you've had a positive pregnancy test, and your GP has confirmed that you're pregnant... what now? Ali and Rangi discuss the different pathways of receiving antenatal care, what each model is, who is the primary team, and the pros and cons of each model of care (including expected costs). Join us as the team navigates you through the different options.
In this episode Rangi and Ali welcome their very first guest to Prepare, Professor Stephen Tong! Prof Tong is a specialist obstetrician at the Mercy Hospital for Women, Professor at The University of Melbourne, Co-Director of Mercy Perinatal and author of The Birth Book.
With Prof Tong, the team discuss the Placenta, what is it, why is it so important, and what can you do with it once your baby is born.
So you've just found out your pregnant through a home pregnancy test (or planning for this step) - what comes next? Listen in as Ali and Rangi discuss the next steps, including making that first GP appointment, taking vitamins, and sharing the news with your support network.
Please note that this episode briefly mentions miscarriage/pregnancy loss, which can be distressing to some listeners. Resources ar...
So why exactly does your medical team want to keep seeing you in your pregnancy for appointments? Rangi and Ali discuss all the different things the medical team get up to in your appointment and behind the scenes to ensure you and your baby are best monitored for the best start to life and parenthood.
"Prepare" is the Mercy Perinatal podcast dedicated to helping parents prepare for the journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. “Prepare” is hosted by Dr Rangi De Silva (specialist female obstetrician and gynaecologist) and Alison Abboud (registered midwife and nurse) who are joined by special guests along the way.
So, who are Rangi and Ali? How did they get to where they are now? Wha...
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