Ep. 454: Understanding Placenta Health to Prevent Stillbirth with Dr. Heather Florescue, OBGYN (Re-air of Ep. 274)

In this re-aired episode, HeHe sits down with Dr. Heather Florescue for an incredibly important and deeply educational conversation about stillbirth prevention, placental health, and the warning signs families deserve to know during pregnancy. Together, they unpack why conversations around stillbirth are so often avoided, how education can empower—not scare—parents, and what proactive care can look like when we truly prioritize maternal and fetal health.

Dr. Florescue explains the role of placental function in pregnancy outcomes, why estimated placental volume matters, and how recognizing changes in fetal movement and maternal intuition can be life-saving. She also shares current research, discusses risk factors that are often overlooked, and highlights protocols used in places like the UK and Australia that have helped reduce stillbirth rates through earlier intervention and better patient education.

This episode is not about fear. It’s about informed awareness, advocacy, and helping families understand that paying attention to your body and your baby matters. If you’ve ever felt dismissed during pregnancy or wondered whether you were “overreacting” to a concern, this conversation is such an important reminder that your instincts deserve to be heard.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Florescue is an ob.gyn. in private practice at Women Gynecology and Childbirth Associates in Rochester, N.Y. She delivers babies at Highland Hospital in Rochester, NY. She received her medical degree at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, completed her internship and residency in obstetrics & gynecology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She is certified by the American Congress of Obstetrics & Gynecology. She and her husband are parents to a set of triplets. Dr. Florescue is passionate about the prevention of pregnancy and infant loss and the care for families who suffer these terrible tragedies.

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Connect with HeHe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitybyhehe/

Connect with Dr. Florescue on IG: https://www.instagram.com/drflorescueobgyn/

BIRTH EDUCATION:

Learn how to stay in control of your birth and reduce the risk of unnecessary interventions in our Avoid a C-Section Webinar. HeHe breaks down the cascade of interventions, explains what’s really happening in the hospital, and shares practical strategies to protect your birth plan, advocate for yourself, and navigate labor with confidence. Perfect for anyone who wants a positive, informed hospital birth experience: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/csection

Feeling nervous about speaking up in labor? Our Scripts for Advocacy give you the exact words to handle the most common conversations that can make or break your birth experience. From declining unnecessary interventions to asking the right questions about procedures, these scripts empower you to stay in control, speak confidently, and protect your birth plan — even when the pressure is on. Think of it as your personal toolkit for advocating like a pro, so you can focus on your baby, not the stress: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/Scripts-for-Advocacy

And if you haven’t grabbed it yet… Snag my free Pitocin Guide to understand the risks, benefits, and red flags your provider may not be telling you about, so you can make informed, powerful decisions in labor: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/pitocin

Join The Birth Lounge for judgment-free, evidence-based childbirth education from HeHe that shows you exactly how to navigate hospital policies, avoid unnecessary interventions, and have a trauma-free labor experience, all while feeling wildly supported every step of the way: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/

Want prep delivered straight to your phone? Download The Birth Lounge App for bite-sized birth and postpartum tools you can use anytime, anywhere: https://www.thebirthlounge.com/app

LINKS MENTIONED:

Star Legacy Foundation: https://starlegacyfoundation.org/

Count the Kicks: https://countthekicks.org/

PUSH Pregnancy: https://www.pushpregnancy.org/

Tommys.org: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information

Saving Babies Lives Care Bundles: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Saving-Babies-Lives-Care-Bundle-Version-Two-Updated-Final-Version.pdf