The International Partnership for Perinatal Excellence Grand Rounds Podcast

The International Partnership for Perinatal Excellence
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Monthly

Conversations and insights on perinatal health—covering pregnancy, birth, and compassionate care—with a focus on practical wisdom and better outcomes for mothers, babies, and families.

  1. Jun 15

    From Teen Mother to Nurse-Led Maternity Founder: Cynthia Sparks on Community-Based Perinatal Care

    In this episode of Perinatal Grand Rounds, hosted by the Star Legacy Foundation, Executive Director Lindsay Wimmer speaks with Cynthia Sparks, RN, certified breastfeeding counselor, case manager, and founder of Mainline Maternity Care in the Baltimore area. Cynthia shares her powerful journey from becoming a teen mother to building a nurse-led, community-based maternity care model that supports families through pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, and maternal mental health. She discusses the gaps in education and access that families face, the impact of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and the importance of holistic, multidisciplinary care. The conversation also explores systemic disparities in maternal health, the role of community partnerships, and how organizations like Mainline Maternity Care and the International Partnership for Perinatal Excellence are working to improve outcomes through education, empowerment, and integrated support systems.

    37 min

  2. May 11

    Honoring Military Families Through Pregnancy and Infant Loss: A Conversation with Dr. Lakeatta Tong

    In honor of Memorial Day, Star Legacy Foundation and the International Partnership for Perinatal Excellence welcome Dr. Lakeatta Tong, a retired Air Force nurse and founder of Airman’s Angels, for a powerful conversation on perinatal loss within military families. Drawing from over two decades of service in maternal and child health, Dr. Tong shares insights on grief, pregnancy after loss, mental health, military culture, and the importance of compassionate support systems for service members and their families.

    42 min

  3. Mar 2

    Bridging the Gap: Evidence, Empowerment & Online Education with Dr. Franziska Haydanek (@PagingDrFran)

    In this episode of Perinatal Grand Rounds, Lindsey Wimmer of the Star Legacy Foundation sits down with board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Franziska Haydanek — known to millions as Paging Doctor Fran. Together, they explore how social media is reshaping patient education, the delicate balance between honesty and fear in obstetrics, supporting families through loss, and why informed partnership between patients and providers matters more than ever.

    24 min

  4. Feb 12

    Sleep and Pregnancy: How Maternal Sleep Impacts Health Outcomes with Dr. Louise O’Brien

    Dr. Louise O’Brien, a leading expert in sleep and maternal-fetal medicine at the University of Michigan, explores the critical role of maternal sleep during pregnancy, its impact on complications like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, fetal growth, and stillbirth, and discuss groundbreaking research on non-invasive interventions like CPAP therapy. From practical sleep hygiene tips to life-changing clinical insights, this conversation is essential listening for healthcare providers, researchers, and anyone interested in improving maternal and infant outcomes.

    40 min

  5. 12/19/2025

    Danielle Pollock on Stillbirth Stigma, Research, and Changing the Conversation

    In this episode of Perinatal Grand Rounds, researcher and bereaved mother Dr. Danielle Pollock shares how her personal loss led to groundbreaking research on stillbirth stigma and its far-reaching impact on families, clinicians, and prevention efforts. Drawing from her work developing the Stillbirth Stigma Scale, Danielle explores how public and self-stigma deepen grief, fuel isolation, and limit open conversations in healthcare and society. She also challenges clinicians and communities to say the word stillbirth, normalize informed risk discussions, and recognize bereaved parents as powerful agents of change. This episode offers critical insight into how reducing stigma can improve both bereavement care and prevention.

    34 min

  6. 11/20/2025

    Strengthening Perinatal Mental Health: Lynn Ingram on Advancing Screening Standards

    In this episode of the Grand Rounds podcast, we sit down with Lynn Ingram of Ingram Screening to explore the critical role of early, consistent, and equitable perinatal mental health screening. Lynn shares how improved screening standards can help clinicians identify risks sooner, support families more effectively, and close long-standing gaps in care. Through evidence-informed insights and real-world experience, she highlights what’s working, what still needs to change, and how providers can make meaningful improvements in the mental health continuum of care for birthing people. This conversation is a powerful call to strengthen systems, elevate awareness, and prioritize maternal mental health at every touchpoint.

    28 min

  7. 11/03/2025

    Finding Light After Loss: Rachell Dumas on Nine Pregnancy Losses and A Light After Nine

    In this deeply moving episode of the Star Legacy Foundation podcast, we sit down with Rachell Dumas, founder of A Light After Nine. Rachell shares her personal journey through the heartbreak of nine pregnancy losses and how she transformed her grief into a mission to support other families navigating the unimaginable. Learn how she created A Light After Nine to honor her children, bring hope, and build a community of comfort and healing for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. This conversation is both heart-wrenching and inspiring, offering compassion, insight, and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, light can be found.

    45 min

  8. 10/16/2025

    Dr. Ponnila Marinescu: Training Tomorrow’s Clinicians in Perinatal Palliative Care

    In this episode, Dr. Ponnila Marinescu, MFM specialist and faculty at the University of Rochester Medical, joins us to talk about perinatal palliative care, and how she’s preparing future clinicians to both prevent loss and compassionately support families when it occurs.

    41 min
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5
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3 Ratings

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Conversations and insights on perinatal health—covering pregnancy, birth, and compassionate care—with a focus on practical wisdom and better outcomes for mothers, babies, and families.

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