Ep 308: From IVF to Fast Labor: What Dr. Allison Learned on Both Sides of Birth

About this episode

Dr. Nicole C. Rankins interviews Dr. Allison Altman about her personal journey through infertility, IVF, and a fast hospital birth, highlighting the emotional aspects and lessons learned.

What happens when a perinatal psychologist — who supports women through fertility and birth trauma — becomes the patient herself? In this honest and heartfelt episode, I chat with Dr. Allison Altman, a Bay Area psychologist who specializes in women’s mental health and trauma, about her deeply personal journey through infertility, IVF, and an unexpectedly fast hospital birth. Allison opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy after infertility, how her professional training shaped her experience, and why advocacy and flexibility made all the difference. In this episode, you’ll learn: What it’s really like to go through IVF — and how uncertainty takes a toll on your mental health How anxiety can show up during pregnancy after infertility (and what helps) What an IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction) diagnosis means and how to navigate induction decisions How Allison balanced her birth preferences with hospital protocols — and why she said “no” to breaking her water early The surprising speed of her labor (from 4 cm to baby in 20 minutes!) and how she processed it afterward Why setting up postpartum support before birth matters more than you think Resources Mentioned…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Nicole C. Rankins

Guest: Dr. Allison Altman

Topics covered

• IVF
• fertility
• birth trauma
• mental health
• postpartum support
• hospital birth

Keywords

• IVF
• infertility
• fast labor
• mental health
• birth preferences
• postpartum support
• hospital protocols

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Birth With Power Pathway, Dr. Allison Altman’s website

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