Stethoscopes and Strollers
Welcome to Stethoscopes & Strollers! I'm Dr. Toya, mom of two, OBGYN, and coach for physician moms. Here, we go beyond the hospital halls, into the messy, magical early years of parenting—think diapers, sleepless nights, and figuring out how to deal with all those unexpected twists and turns.
Every episode, I dive into topics like mental health, the ins and outs of postpartum sex, sorting out childcare, and how having little ones changes your marriage. We’ll talk about getting back to work after baby, the real deal with mom guilt thanks to those tough doctor schedules, what pumping at work is really like, and how to keep all the balls in the air without dropping any. We’re here to get real about the hard choices, like deciding to stop breastfeeding, and so much more. This is a space for focusing on taking care of you, because managing scrubs and swaddles takes a village.
You'll figure out how to ask for and actually accept help, because let’s be honest, getting support is crucial for thriving as both a mom and a doctor.
Just a quick heads-up: while we're all about sharing and supporting, remember this isn’t medical advice. We’re here to connect, share experiences, and grow—together, without the medical jargon.
So, grab your coffee or tea, and get ready to dive into those parts of being a physician mom that don't get talked about enough. You're not riding this roller coaster alone, and you definitely deserve all the support you can get.
Tune in to Stethoscopes & Strollers for some real, honest insights and practical tips to make momming a bit easier. It’s time to get the conversation started!
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Episodes
132 episodes
124. When He Changes After the Baby: Understanding Paternal Postpartum Depression
Hey Doc,Father's Day has me thinking about something we don't talk about nearly enough.Men can experience postpartum depression too.In this episode, I'm diving into paternal postpartum depression, why it often goes u...
123. Blackie, Whitey, and Beautiful Brown Skin: Raising Free Black Children in a World Obsessed with Socialization
Hey Doc,As Juneteenth approaches, I've been thinking a lot about freedom.Not the big, abstract kind we usually talk about. The everyday kind.The freedom to be a child.The freedom to love your beautiful brown s...
122. How I Find Great Au Pairs When the Apps Look Empty
Hey Doc—If you're looking for an au pair right now and wondering whether all the good candidates have disappeared into thin air, you're not imagining it.I've had several physician moms ask me how I find au pairs when the ag...
121. Patients Lie. Or Do They? How HVAC Customers remind me of patients
Hey Doc,Were you taught that patients lie?I was.Somewhere during training, the idea got planted that our job is to uncover the truth because patients won’t always tell it. Then I became an attending and started exper...
120. The Most Underrated AI Tool for Busy Physician Moms - Notebook LM
Hey Doc —I finally had to sit down and record this episode because I keep talking about NotebookLM to everybody. My Facebook friends. My sisters. Random physician moms who probably just asked me one innocent question and suddenly got a 2...
119. Affirmations Aren't Magic. They're Instructions.
I have to tell you what just happened in my house. My son ran inside to find me, eyes wide, proud as anything, and announced: "Mommy, I was just being resourceful." His toy car had rolled under the fridge. He tried the broom. He tried the mop. ...
118. Traveling With Your Au Pair (And Actually Enjoying It)
Au pair travel comes up in the groups every single week, and it's usually a horror story. The awkward silences, the au pair completely checked out, the vacation that didn't feel like a vacation.I did this episode because I think a lot of...
117. Michelle Obama Said the Same Thing I’ve Been Telling Y’all
Hey Doc,I just got back from ACOG and I’m still on a high!I went mainly to hear Michelle Obama speak and she did not disappoint. But what surprised me most was how deeply aligned her message was with everything I talk about here o...
116. Full Circle in DC: Medicine, Motherhood, and Michelle Obama
Hey Doc,I’m on my way to DC!My first home in this country. Howard. All of it.I’m going to ACOG’s ACSM, our national meeting, which is funny, because I don’t practice anymore.But this work I do with physician moms is ...
115. How to Delegate Your Life as a Woman Physician (Without Paying for Busywork)
Hey Doc,If you’ve ever said, “I just need more help,” and then somehow ended up more overwhelmed… this episode is for you.Because the problem usually isn’t that you don’t have help.It’s that you’re delegating the w...
114. When the Life You Wanted Doesn’t Fit Anymore
Hey Doc,Let’s talk about something that sounds simple… but clearly is not.You are allowed to change your mind.I say that, and I already know some of you are side-eyeing me like, “Okay… but it’s not that easy.”<...
113. If You’re Hesitating About Childcare, Listen to This
Hey DocI had a moment recently that stopped me in my tracks.My kids were heading out for a full day—something fun, something special—and I wasn’t there. And instead of guilt?I felt peace. Gratitude. Relief.Not...
112. Happy Doctor’s Day (And a Reminder You Might Need)
Hey Doc —Doctor’s Day can feel… underwhelming.A small gesture. A generic message. Maybe a reminder that you’re appreciated, without anything actually changing.And for a lot of physicians, that disconnect doesn’t go u...
111. Part 2: Dr. Traci De Splinter on Mom Guilt, Career Choices, and Raising Successful Daughters
Hey Doc —This is Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Traci De Splinter, an OB/GYN here in Texas and a seasoned physician mom whose daughters are now adults.In Part 1, we talked about what it looked like for her to hav...
110. Part 1: Dr. Traci De Splinter 2 under 2, New attending, new city, new life
Hey Doc —This is a conversation I’ve really been looking forward to sharing with you.I’m joined by Dr. Traci De Splinter, an OB/GYN here in Texas and a seasoned physician mom whose daughters are now adults. I love co...
109. Celebrating Yourself: Why High Achievers Struggle to Do It
Hey Doc —There’s something I see over and over again when I work with physician moms.You’ve achieved incredible things. Medical school. Residency. Building a career. Raising children. Holding together entire ecosystems of people w...
108. Fear Isn’t a Sign to Stop: What “Doing It Scared” Actually Looks Like
Hey Doc,I’m in the middle of launching a brand-new HVAC business with my husband. And let me tell you: starting a business from scratch, self-funded, no clients, no safety net? It will humble you real quick.I’ve been nauseo...
107. Part 2: Dr. Gina Dapul-Hidalgo’s Story: Investing in Herself and Shattering Limiting Beliefs
Hey Doc,What do you do when everything looks “successful” on paper… but you’re not actually satisfied?In Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Gina Dapul-Hidalgo — allergist, CEO, twin mom — we talk about the season that doesn...
106. Part 1: Dr. Gina Dapul-Hidalgo’s Story: No Family Nearby, Newborn Twins, and a Full-Time Job
Hey Doc,What happens when you’re pregnant with twins, working full-time, and living in a city with no family nearby?In this first part of my conversation with Dr. Gina Dapul-Hidalgo, board-certified pediatric and adult alle...
105. The Degrees You Think You Need (But Don’t)
You already have the degree that matters, doc.But somewhere along the way, many of us started believing that we need another certification, another course, or another set of letters behind our name before we’re...
104. Why This Physician Coach Launched an HVAC Business
Hey Doc,In this episode, I’m sharing a major life update that, on the surface, looks like a hard pivot, but is actually a continuation of everything I’ve been building since I left corporate medicine.📣 I’m officially the co...
103. Teach Your Sons How To Treat You: Your Actions are the Curriculum
Hey Doc —If you got sick tomorrow, would your family know how to care for you?Would your partner step up?Would your kids know what to do?Or would you be left watching everyone wait for you to get better, so yo...
102. How to Handle Surprise Meetings with Leadership
Hey Doc —There’s a specific kind of dread that comes with a vague meeting invite.No agenda.No context.Just: “Leadership wants to meet.”You already know — it’s rarely good.Whether you’re ...
101. How I managed locums with a baby and a toddler— and how you can too
Hey Doc,“I’ll do locums once the kids are older.”Sound familiar?That’s the line I hear most from physician moms when they’re curious about locums but don’t think it’s realistic with a baby or toddler at home...
100. Celebrating 100 Episodes of Stethoscopes and Strollers: Welcome to 2026!
Hey DocWe made it. A brand new year and the 100th episode of Stethoscopes and Strollers.This isn’t just a milestone. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and remember why this podcast, and this work, exists in the first place...