The Unplanned Parent

Dr. Angel's Health and Wellness Coaching/Arcbound
  • 5.0 (60)
  • Parenting
  • Series

The Unplanned Parent is a podcast about what it actually takes to bring a child into the world: the decisions, the health prep, the weird legal conversations, and everything your doctor doesn't have time to explain. Hosted by pediatrician Dr. Angel Rampal and her free-spirited nomadic brother, Raman, the show follows Raman's real-time journey into platonic co-parenting with his longtime friend, Ashley, who is currently pregnant via IVF. Angel brings the science. Raman brings the chaos. Together they cover the questions most parents don't know to ask, from preconception health to the stuff no one puts in a birth plan. Whether you're expecting, considering it, or just curious about what modern family-building actually looks like up close, this is the show for you. New episodes drop every week.

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  1. Episode 1

    Baby Zen Is Here

    He’s here. In this episode of The Unplanned Parent, Raman and Ashley are joined by Dr. Angel to tell the story of Baby Zen’s arrival. Two weeks old at the time of recording, Zen came into the world via induction at 39 weeks and four days — Ashley’s age and the IVF process both factoring into the decision to not go past 40 weeks. Raman picked Ashley up the morning of the induction, they went for a beach walk, got burritos, and headed to the hospital. What followed was about 14 hours of labor, no epidural, and Raman stepping out for a Coke Zero during active pushing. They cover the moment the baby arrived (he popped out, immediately pooped, immediately latched), Raman cutting the cord after being told it was “like cutting a piece of meat,” the accidental nipple photo texted to the entire family, the puja welcome ceremony at Ashley’s home with both families, the NICU stay for jaundice, Ashley’s postpartum incontinence situation (now resolved with a diaper solution she’s proud of), and Raman joining what he thought was a lactation group but was actually a loctation group for people with dreadlocks. Dr. Angel covers the medical side: brain changes in both birthing and non-birthing parents after a baby arrives, baby blues vs. postpartum depression (including her own experience having PPD with all three of her kids and only getting treatment with her third), placenta pills and why the data doesn’t support them, and occupational therapists as an underutilized resource for newborn feeding problems. Nobody can tell you what it’s going to feel like until it happens. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

  2. Episode 2

    Bilirubin, Newborn Jaundice, and Phototherapy, Oh My

    Baby Zen came home from the hospital. Then he went back. Jaundice — specifically a bilirubin of 19, a Coombs positive result, and ABO incompatibility — sent Raman and Ashley back to the NICU for four nights when Zen was four days old. In this episode they tell the full story: the text message, the crying, the packing of the bag, the phototherapy lights, the IV they couldn’t get in, the NG tube, and the occupational therapist who fixed the feeding problem with one nipple change. Dr. Angel covers what jaundice is, why it happens so commonly in newborns, what ABO incompatibility means, and the phototherapy guideline change in 2022 that halved the number of babies getting unnecessary treatment. Plus: the fascinating history of how phototherapy was discovered by nurses watching babies near hospital windows in the 1950s. Ashley’s parents sent a message about Raman as a father. It opens the episode. Bring a tissue.

  3. Season 2 Trailer

    Season Two is Here!

    Season Two is here. 👶 Last season, we followed Ashley and Raman through the whole wild, beautiful, planned-yet-unplanned journey to becoming platonic co-parents — the IVF, the waiting, the figuring it out as they went. Now Baby Zen has arrived, and everything has shifted. Season Two lives in that shift: the newborn haze, the questions nobody fully prepares you for, jaundice scares, feeding curveballs, sleepless nights, and the co-parenting dynamics that look one way on paper and completely different in real life. We're bringing some incredible guests along the way, and we're figuring a lot of this out in real time — right alongside Raman and Ashley. If you've been with us since Season One — thank you, genuinely. This show exists because you showed up. If you're just joining us, welcome. Subscribe wherever you listen, and we'll see you in Season One. Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your treating physician for guidance specific to your situation!

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Trailers

5
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

The Unplanned Parent is a podcast about what it actually takes to bring a child into the world: the decisions, the health prep, the weird legal conversations, and everything your doctor doesn't have time to explain. Hosted by pediatrician Dr. Angel Rampal and her free-spirited nomadic brother, Raman, the show follows Raman's real-time journey into platonic co-parenting with his longtime friend, Ashley, who is currently pregnant via IVF. Angel brings the science. Raman brings the chaos. Together they cover the questions most parents don't know to ask, from preconception health to the stuff no one puts in a birth plan. Whether you're expecting, considering it, or just curious about what modern family-building actually looks like up close, this is the show for you. New episodes drop every week.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Angel's Health and Wellness Coaching/Arcbound
  • Episodes
    17
  • Seasons
    2
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Dr. Angel's Health and Wellness Coaching/Arcbound
  • Show Website
    The Unplanned Parent