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In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, we’re revisiting this important throwback episode on how clinicians can better support patients experiencing pregnancy loss.  Dr. Christina Francis spoke with Dr. Michaelene Friedenberg, president and CEO of the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care, about the language, timing, and presence that can make a difficult moment of care more compassionate. Drawing on lived experience and years of research, Dr. Friedenberg shares what patients may feel after a loss and how healthcare professionals can help them feel seen and supported.  Resources:   Watch part two of Dr. Francis' conversation with Dr. Friedenberg.  Learn more about the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care. Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Marriage, family formation, and pro-life policy are more connected than many people realize.   Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of AAPLOG, talks with Melanie Israel, a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a platinum sponsor of MBEC 2026, about how think tanks turn research into action through legislation, coalition building, and advocacy. They unpack a decade of pro-life policy shifts, the post-Roe landscape, and emerging questions around abortion, conscience rights, religious liberty, and end-of-life issues.  Listen to and share this episode if you’re curious as to why marriage and healthy relationships matter to family well-being, how policy can support moms, babies, and fathers, and what’s next for health reform and the Restoring American Wellness initiative.   Thank you to the Heritage Foundation for being a platinum sponsor of MBEC 2026 and for being a partner in pro-life policy.   Resources:   Learn more about the Heritage Foundation.  Learn more about the Restoring American Wellness (RAW) initiative by the Heritage Foundation. Register for MBEC 2027 in St. Louis, Missouri.  Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Antenatal steroids have saved countless babies, but the biggest question in obstetrics is no longer whether they work. It’s when, how much, and for whom. And the answers are changing fast. Enjoy this incredible plenary from MBEC 2026 in Seattle, Washington. Previous podcast guest and MBEC 2027 speaker Dr. Hector Chapa breaks down the evolving science behind fetal maturation, from the original 1972 sheep study to the newest guidance reshaping practice today.  If you care for preterm patients, teach residents, need to understand why long-held assumptions about steroids are being rewritten, or just want to dive into an interesting and fascinating topic in obstetrics, this episode is for you. Dr. Chapa shows why “fetal maturation” is bigger than lung development, why the old 24-to-48-hour rule is outdated, and why the traditional seven-day rescue window may soon be history.  If you’re a medical professional, student, resident, or midwife, please join us for MBEC 2027 in St. Louis, Missouri, from February 26-28,2027.   Resources:   Learn more about MBEC 2027.  Interested in becoming a sponsor or exhibitor? Learn more here.  Check out Dr. Chapa’s OBGYN No Spin Podcast.   Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

At OBservations, we describe our podcast as an open conversation on women's health. In this episode, we're expanding that conversation to include men's health and the often-overlooked impact that induced abortion can have on fathers.  Joining us is Sean Corcoran, CEO of Men for Life and a first-time speaker at MBEC 2027, AAPLOG's national medical conference. Men for Life is the world's only consistently pro-life organization dedicated to ensuring men's voices are included in conversations about human rights and abortion. Through his work, Sean seeks to shed light on how abortion affects fathers and why their experiences matter.  Before leading Men for Life, Sean built a successful career as a family law attorney. In 2022, he retired from law to focus on being fully present as a husband and father while pursuing a new calling. Today, he writes and speaks on fatherhood, addiction and recovery, and the impact of abortion on men.  Sean's passion for this work is deeply personal. At just 19 years old, he lost a son to abortion, an experience that led to years of addiction, self-destructive behavior, homelessness, and encounters with the criminal justice system. Through recovery and healing, he found renewed purpose and has dedicated his life to helping others navigate similar struggles while advocating for fathers whose voices are often left out of the abortion conversation.  In this conversation, Sean shares his redemption story, discusses the mission of Men for Life, and explains why acknowledging the experiences of fathers is an important part of understanding the full impact of abortion.  Resources: Learn more about Men for Life.  Learn more and register for MBEC 2027 in St. Louis, Missouri.  Inquire about Men for Life’s Fatherhood Program.  Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

The Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) fight is headed toward a make-or-break ruling, and the evidence coming out of court could reshape how women hear about this lifesaving option nationwide.   Peter Breen, executive vice president and head of litigation at the Thomas More Society, walks through the California attorney general’s case against Heartbeat International and Real Options, including the push for more than $20 million in penalties and a gag order that could stop women from learning abortion pill reversal exists. He explains how the litigation unfolded, why the state tried to frame free life-saving counseling as “false advertising,” and how discovery exposed major weaknesses in the state's claims.  You’ll hear how the trial tested the credibility of ACOG, what happened when Dr. Mitchell Crenin’s study was scrutinized under oath, and why the data around APR looks very different when the full records are examined. Peter also shares how Heartbeat’s network and Real Options have tracked thousands of cases, including a reported success rate of more than 70 percent at Real Options, and why the women themselves are the ones paying the price when this information is withheld.  This episode is essential if you care about medical freedom, women’s health, pregnancy center defense, or the future of abortion pill reversal in America. The ruling could land just before the holidays, and the impact may reach far beyond California.  Resources:   Learn more about the Thomas More Society  Learn more about Abortion Pill Reversal  Learn more about the APR lawsuit in California  Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

In this special episode of OBservations, the tables are turned once again as AAPLOG CEO Dr. Christina Francis hands hosting duties over to her friend and pro-life advocate Monica Snyder, Executive Director of Secular Pro-Life.   Together, they unpack two viral reports – one from ProPublica about the connection between ectopic pregnancies and pro-life laws. This conversation will give you the facts the media often doesn't tell you.   Why might a physician send a patient home for follow-up instead of treating immediately? What is the difference between methotrexate, abortion drugs, and diagnostic aspiration? And what do current medical guidelines actually recommend when a pregnancy's location cannot yet be determined?  Whether you're a physician, policymaker, or simply trying to make sense of the headlines, listen to this episode for clear, evidence-based exploration of ectopic pregnancy that is too often misunderstood.  Resources:   Learn more about Secular Pro-Life Secular Pro-Life's Breakdown on Pro-Publica's Ectopic Pregnancy article AAPLOG’s Ectopic Pregnancy Guideline AAPLOG’s Concluding Pregnancy Ethically Guideline Explore Secular Pro-Life's Speakers Study mentioned: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2833030Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

A prenatal diagnosis should never decide whether a child lives or dies.   This episode brings a unique perspective to the surrogacy case involving McKenna West and Baby Gabriel case, as OB/GYN Dr. Christina Francis and Pediatrician and Executive Director of the American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) Dr. Jill Simons discuss the case from a medical perspective. They discuss what it reveals about disability discrimination, commercial surrogacy, and the urgent need to treat pre-born children as patients with dignity.  When baby Gabriel was diagnosed in the womb with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the pressure on his surrogate to abort sparked a national conversation about who gets protected in medicine - and who gets treated like a commodity. In this conversation, listen to Drs. Francis and Jill unpack why that diagnosis is not the end of the story, what modern treatment for HLHS actually looks like, and why the right medical response starts with care, not abortion or abandonment.  Resources:   Learn more about ACPeds Read AAPLOG and ACPeds’ statement on the McKenna West case. Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Pro-life laws are not what put women at risk - misinformation does. Dr. Callum Miller breaks down the medical, legal, and ethical arguments behind abortion policy, and why the most alarming claims about miscarriage care, ectopic pregnancy, and abortion pills collapse under unbiased scrutiny.  From Malta’s zero maternal deaths in 12 years to the UK medical groups that publicly warned about mail-order abortion pills, Dr. Miller walks viewers through how fear gets weaponized in the abortion debate. If you want to understand what the FDA, the media, and medical institutions get wrong, this episode gives you the facts behind the controversy.  Dr. Callum Miller is a medical doctor and research fellow at the University of Oxford, where he teaches philosophy and researches abortion policy across medical, ethical, legal, and sociological perspectives. He has published 30+ academic papers and has received prizes from Oxford and the Royal College of Psychiatrists for his bioethics work.  Essential listening if you care about abortion policy, women’s health, medical ethics, or how to stand firm in a hostile professional climate without being naive about the risks.  Additionally, hear from one of our MBEC 2026 sponsors, the Charlotte Lozier Institute, and the critical research they do. Dr. Cameron Louttit joins to discuss their work on life sciences, the safety of abortion drugs, and the importance of accurate scientific communication in the pro-life movement. Learn more about MBEC 2027 and possible opportunities for sponsorship, attendance, and student scholarships!   Resources:   Learn more about Dr. Calum Miller.  Learn more about MBEC 2027.  Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Children's rights advocate and Them Before Us founder Katy Faust joins Dr. Christina Francis to discuss why children should be at the center of every conversation about marriage and family. Together, they explore the ethical implications of surrogacy, the cultural shifts that have shaped modern family structures, and why Katy believes the fight for marriage is ultimately a fight for justice for children.  More than a discussion of reproductive technology, this episode examines surrogacy through both a medical and cultural lens, asking difficult questions about what children need and what they deserve.  We hope you'll enjoy this conversation and share it with someone who may not have considered the broader implications of surrogacy.  About Katy Faust:  Katy Faust never intended to become an activist.  As a pastor's wife and stay-at-home mother, she watched cultural conversations about marriage and family change dramatically. As public debates intensified, one question continued to stand out  Who is speaking for the children?  That question led her to launch a blog focused on defending children's rights in marriage and family policy. What began as a small online platform grew into a global movement. Katy went on to write for national publications, speak to audiences around the world, and found Them Before Us, an organization dedicated to advancing child-centered policies and advocating for the rights of children.  Today, Katy is a leading voice in conversations about marriage, family, and the importance of putting children first.  Resources:   Katy Faust's website.  Purchase Faust's and Stacy Manning's Book: Them Before Us: Why We Need a Global Children’s Rights Movement Learn more about Them Before Us.  Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

In this mailbag episode of OBservations, we answer follower questions on some of the most commonly misunderstood topics in pro-life OB-GYN care. Dr. Christina Francis and Dr. Susan Bane join Jordan Butler to discuss miscarriage management, ectopic pregnancy, D&C procedures, mifepristone, fetal pain, and the language used in prenatal diagnoses.  We break down the differences between miscarriage and induced abortion, explain why D&Cs are ethically and medically used in many situations, and address why ectopic pregnancies cannot currently be “transferred” into the uterus. We also explore medical management options for miscarriage, the risks of unsupervised abortion pills, and how terminology can shape both patient care and public understanding.  If you’ve ever had questions about what pro-life medicine actually looks like in practice, this episode offers thoughtful, honest answers grounded in clinical experience.  Have a question you want answered? Email us at [email protected].   Resources mentioned:   AAPLOG's Undercover Abortion Pill Investigation  AAPLOG and EveryLife's ReThink Pregnancy Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Somewhere along the way, healthcare became disconnected from faith, but Dr. Mike Chupp believes that faith and healthcare are crucially connected.   In this episode of OBservations, Dr. Susan Bane interviews Dr. Mike Chupp, CEO of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), about his journey to becoming a doctor, how he became involved in CMDA, the purpose and passion of CMDA, and why medicine needs healthcare professionals to embrace their faith.   About Dr. Chupp: He completed a five-year general surgery residency at Methodist Hospital in 1993. From 1993 to 2016, Mike enjoyed nearly seven years of private general surgery practice as a missionary member of the Surgical Department of Southwestern Medical Clinic (a large Christian multi-specialty group) and Lakeland Regional Health System in St. Joseph, Michigan. Mike has been married to Pam for 31 years and they have four adult children and one granddaughter. In 2016, Mike completed 20 years of service as a career missionary with World Gospel Mission (WGM), serving at Tenwek Mission Hospital in Kenya.  Listen to this episode and be inspired by Dr. Chupp to bring your faith into the workplace, whether it's a hospital or office.   Resources:   Learn moreabout CMDA.  Listen to CMDA’s podcast, Faith in Healthcare.  Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most companies overlook the profound impact of aligning their mission with their products. Anton Krecic, founder of Seven Weeks Coffee, reveals how turning a simple morning ritual, a cup of coffee, into a tool for pro-life advocacy has fueled millions in donations to pregnancy resource centers. During AAPLOG's Partnership Grant Month with Seven Weeks Coffee, Dr. Christina Francis sits down with Anton to discover how intentional sourcing, ethical business practices, and unwavering conviction can transform your brand into a movement for good, while also discussing the similarities in how AAPLOG and Seven Weeks Coffee came to be. You'll also hear how AAPLOG and Seven Weeks Coffee are partnering together for our "Fuel a Future Physician" campaign  In this eye-opening conversation, you'll learn how Anton built a fast-growing, donor-supported coffee empire that donates 10% of every sale to protect the most vulnerable, the preborn. We break down the power of direct trade versus fair trade, and how a passion for excellence complements a heart for mission. Anton shares how his background in supply chain management and an unexpected injury led him to launch a business rooted in biblical values, impacting thousands of lives along the way.  Whether you're looking to align your business with your pro-life convictions or simply want to support a cause that saves lives, make sure to support Seven Weeks Coffee AND AAPLOG by using our referral link below. Plus, get 10% off using code AAPLOG.   Resources:   Shop Seven Weeks Coffee and support AAPLOG  Use code “AAPLOG” for 10%.  Follow Seven Weeks Coffee Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Alex Fisher, a first-year med student and Navy Reserve member, joins Dr. Susan Bane to share his experience on the biases shaping his medical education. He reveals specific examples of abortion and gender-affirming bias and a how a culture of silence, fear, and ideological skewing hampers future doctors’ ability to serve patients with true integrity and how physicians can stand up for conscience protections in a polarized environment.  If you’re a medical student, resident, or future doctor, especially one questioning the prevailing narrative, this episode is your wake-up call. It’s about reclaiming medical education, defending conscience rights, and ensuring that science, morality, and patient care remain intertwined.  Join us for this thought-provoking conversation and share with someone who may not know this is happening in our medical schools.   Resources:   Save the Date for MBEC 2027 Support AAPLOGin our mission to support physicians and future physicians. Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

What happens when a respected physician publicly shares a pro-life conviction?  In this episode of OBservations, host and AAPLOG Chair Dr. Susan Bane sits down with Dr. Hector Chapa to discuss his journey to becoming an OB-GYN, his rise to leadership within the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the moment he realized he could no longer stay silent.  After years of professional success, including a thriving medical podcast and leadership roles within his field, Dr. Chapa posted three simple words: “Fetal Lives Matter.”  The response was immediate.  Dr. Chapa shares the backlash he faced, why he chose to speak out despite the risks, and how AAPLOG provided support during a difficult season. He and Dr. Bane also discuss the importance of modeling courage for the next generation of physicians and medical professionals.  This compelling conversation is an encouragement to physicians, students, healthcare professionals, and anyone who wants to stand firm in their convictions with both courage and compassion.  About Dr. Chapa  Hector Chapa, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified OB-GYN, Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Clerkship Director for OB-GYN at the Texas A&M University School of Medicine. He is a nationally and internationally recognized speaker and published author in obstetrics and gynecology.  Dr. Chapa has conducted research on minimally invasive gynecologic procedures and has authored more than 40 clinical articles, case reports, and medical commentaries covering both obstetric and gynecologic topics. His research interests also include therapies for abnormal uterine bleeding, postpartum sentinel events, and women's sexual health.    Resources:   Mark your calendars MBEC 2027 and explore!  Listen to Dr. Chapa’s OBGYN No Spin Podcast Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram

In this special episode of OBservations, Dr. Christina Francis steps out of the interviewer’s seat and into the hot seat as she’s interviewed by her friend and fellow pro-life advocate, Monica Snyder, Executive Director of Secular Pro-Life.  Monica and Dr. Francis tackle a growing trend in media coverage: the conflation of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy treatment with induced abortion. Together, they examine how these narratives shape public understanding of pro-life laws and discuss the real-world consequences of medical misinformation.   Dr. Francis explains the medical realities of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy treatment, what pro-life laws actually say, and why clear, accurate communication is essential for both patients and providers.  The conversation moves into the recent experience of Rep. Kat Cammack, whose ectopic pregnancy treatment was reportedly delayed after healthcare providers were influenced by false claims about legal restrictions on care. They also talk about a miscarriage story out of Arkansas. Dr. Francis explains the medical realities of ectopic pregnancy treatment, what pro-life laws actually say, and why clear, accurate communication is essential for both patients and providers.  Monica brings her unique perspective as a pro-life atheist and longtime advocate who specializes in countering misinformation and helping people engage in productive conversations across ideological divides.  Join us for an honest discussion about medical facts, media narratives, and the importance of getting the science and the law right.  Resources:   Learn more about Secular Pro-Life AAPLOG’s Ectopic Pregnancy Guideline AAPLOG’s Concluding Pregnancy Ethically Guideline ProPublica Article on Emily Wardof’s miscarriage.  Secular Pro-Life's take on Pro-Publica's article.  Learn more about us at www.aaplog.org Become a member at www.aaplog.org/join Join our mailing list here. Click here to donate. Follow us on: Facebook Twitter Instagram