What to Expect When You're Expecting with guest Heidi Murkoff

Heidi Murkoff, author of the globally bestselling 'What to Expect' series, reveals how her own 'oops pregnancy' sparked a revolution in maternal support—turning personal panic into a lifeline for millions. What began as a desperate search for reassurance in a bookstore has evolved into a 40-million-copy empire, a 20-million-member digital community, and a nonprofit dedicated to empowering at-risk mothers worldwide. Her core message? Pregnancy and parenting aren’t about perfection—they’re about connection, empathy, and radical self-care. Murkoff argues that the most powerful thing couples can do while trying to conceive isn’t tracking ovulation, but nurturing their relationship. She calls for a societal shift: preconception care as preventive medicine, doulas as essential support, and first-trimester leave as a right—not a privilege. Her vision is bold: invest in women before conception, and you invest in healthier families, stronger communities, and a more compassionate world. The data is clear—healthy preconception habits reduce lifelong disease risk, lower healthcare costs, and even prevent future societal crises. This isn’t just about babies; it’s about reimagining how we value and support human life from the very beginning.