The Unplanned Parent

Early Childhood Vaccines: What New Parents are Wondering

Dr. Samantha Johnston is back for round two. This time: early childhood vaccines. This episode covers every question new parents actually ask — why hep B is given at birth, whether the ACIP changes affect anything right now (they don’t, thanks to an AAP lawsuit), what the autism data actually shows, why spacing out vaccines backfires, what aluminum in vaccines means in context, and why giving Tylenol before shots is no longer recommended. Plus: kids today get exposed to 130 antigens through vaccines. Kids in the 1980s got over 3,000 — for fewer diseases. The episode reframes almost every common concern about childhood vaccines. Angel admits the autism thought crossed her mind when vaccinating her own kids. She vaccinated on schedule anyway. Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your treating physician for guidance specific to your situation!

A Pediatrician, Infectious Disease Specialist, and Soon-To-Be Dad Talk About Vaccines During Pregnancy

Vaccines during pregnancy: what to get, what you can’t get, and why it all matters more than most people realize. In this episode, Dr. Angel is joined by Dr. Samantha Johnston, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and longtime friend. Together they walk through the four vaccines recommended during pregnancy — Tdap, RSV, COVID, and flu — and explain exactly what each one is doing for the mom and the baby. They also cover MMR and varicella (live vaccines that can’t be given during pregnancy), herpes near delivery, and the new RSV monoclonal antibody for newborns. The ‘Stuff You Didn’t Know’ segment covers measles immune amnesia — how the natural measles virus can erase up to 70% of your lifetime immune memory. The vaccine doesn’t do this. The disease does. Raman ends the episode with Dr. Johnston’s number saved as Rash Samantha.

The Registry, the Car Seat, and the Guy Who Still Doesn't Have an Apartment

Ashley is 5.5 months pregnant, the baby bash is coming up, and Raman still doesn't have an apartment near the baby. Episode 7 of The Unplanned Parent is the practical one. Ashley spent 15 hours on her baby registry and is overwhelmed by the options. Raman plans to go with the flow and is grateful Ashley did the hard work. Dr. Angel steps in with the information that actually matters: what to look for in a car seat, why Wirecutter and Consumer Reports are your best friends, what the stroller pram function is for, and why the weight of the car seat itself matters more than most people think. They also cover breastfeeding — including what the data actually says about breastfeeding with breast implants, what to do when the latch doesn't work, and how pumping compares with breastfeeding. Plus sleep safety, co-bedding vs. bassinet, tongue ties, circumcision, and the two things you absolutely need to decide before you leave the hospital. And: 70% of people make errors installing a car seat. Even experienced ones. There's a fix for that. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your treating physician for guidance specific to your situation!

Why Ashley Chose Raman Over a Sperm Donor

Ashley is 22 weeks pregnant. And she's finally telling her side of the story. In Episode 6, she walks through how she got here: the deadline she gave herself at 42, the FaceTime call where Raman's name came up as a joke, and the morning-after text where he said he was actually considering it. She also explains why she chose a known person over a sperm donor — and why specifically Raman. Then she gets into the legal agreement. What started easy became hard fast. Two things in the document made her cry. One almost made her call everything off. Dr. Angel closes with why talking through the big parenting questions before you have a baby is so much better than after.

She Froze Her Eggs at 34 With No Partner and No Plan

Ashley is finally here, and she's 22 weeks pregnant. In Episode 5, she tells her own story: why she froze her eggs at 34, what it actually felt like to give herself daily shots for three weeks, and why she went back and did it again at 40. She also shares the unexpected thing the egg freezing process gave her: a diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis that had been missed for years, and a treatment that changed how she felt almost overnight. Dr. Angel walks through the science: thyroid hormone and fertility, how the egg-to-embryo attrition process works, what the data says about IVF outcomes, and the story of the first IVF baby born in 1978. The first time we hear this story from the other side of it.