Ep 305: Trust Your Body — Ashley’s Story of Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Birth With Power
Dr. Nicole C. Rankins
4.8 • 650 Ratings
🗓️ 21 October 2025
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
When Ashley’s hands and feet started to itch, she almost brushed it off as “just another pregnancy symptom.” But that simple sign turned out to be something much more serious — intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). This condition can significantly increase the risk of stillbirth.
In this episode, Ashley shares how she faced ICP not once, but twice — from an unexpected early labor that left no time for pain meds to finding peace and confidence in her second birth. Her story is a raw and empowering reminder to trust your instincts, speak up when something feels off, and lean on your care team.
You’ll learn:
- What ICP is and why early detection matters
- How Ashley’s lightning-fast first birth unfolded (and what she wishes she’d known)
- How her second birth experience was completely different — and healing
- Practical signs to watch for if you ever experience unexplained itching
- Why listening to your body can literally save lives
Resources Mentioned:
- ICP Care — support and information for families affected by ICP
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | In today's episode, Ashley shares her powerful story of navigating intra-hypatic colystasis of pregnancy, |
| 0:07.4 | not once but twice from unexpected early labor to a lightning fest, birth with no time for pain meds. |
| 0:14.8 | Ashley's experience is a vivid reminder of how important it is to listen to your body. |
| 0:23.4 | She's now an advocate for ICP awareness, and her journey is one every expecting parent needs to hear. Welcome to the Birth with Power |
| 0:34.6 | podcast, where knowledge is power and power transforms birth. I'm Dr. Nicole |
| 0:40.4 | Calloway Rankin's mom of two and practicing board certified OBGYN with over 20 years of experience |
| 0:46.4 | and nearly 2,000 births attended. I've seen firsthand how the hospital system can leave women |
| 0:52.6 | feeling unheard and uncertain, but that doesn't have to be |
| 0:56.0 | your story. Here, you'll get the knowledge, support, and strategies to take charge of your |
| 1:01.4 | birth experience so you can walk into the hospital feeling calm, confident, and empowered. |
| 1:07.7 | Note, this podcast is for educational purposes only and it's not a substitute for medical |
| 1:12.3 | advice. See the full disclaimer at Dr. Nicole Morgans.com forward slash disclaimer. Now let's get to it. |
| 1:19.4 | Hello there. Welcome to another episode of the podcast. This is episode number 305. Whether this is your |
| 1:27.1 | first time listening or you've been here before. |
| 1:29.2 | I'm so glad you're spending some time with me today. In this episode, you'll hear from Ashley. |
| 1:35.6 | Ashley had intra-hypatic coli-stasis of pregnancy or ICP with both of her pregnancies. |
| 1:42.4 | ICP is a liver condition where bile acids build up in the body |
| 1:46.4 | during pregnancy, and if it's not caught early, it can increase the risk of complications |
| 1:51.4 | like stillbirth. In her first pregnancy, Ashley ended up delivering it just 35 weeks and went |
| 1:58.6 | through, well, a lot, including shoulder dystotia and episiotomy without |
| 2:04.5 | pain medication, a vacuum-assisted birth, and a post-fartum hemorrhage that led to a blood |
| 2:09.6 | transfusion. She's sharing her story to raise awareness about ICP and help other families feel |
... |
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