For this week’s episode of So Glad You Asked with Dr. Ruta Nonacs and Allie Hales, wewere joined by Emily Oster, the author of Expecting Better and the founder of ParentData.

For those who may not be familiar with Emily Oster, she is an economist whose work has helped many parents feel more informed and less overwhelmed by the constant stream of advice and information surrounding pregnancy and parenting. Her bestselling book Expecting Better took a data-driven look at pregnancy and early parenting, tackling questions many expectant parents worry about — from food restrictions during pregnancy to sleep training and infant feeding.

Throughout her work, Emily Oster has brought an economist’s perspective to understanding medical research and risk, helping readers think critically about data while also recognizing the emotional complexity of these important decisions.

Her latest book, The Unexpected: Navigating Pregnancy During and After Complications, explores what happens when pregnancy or postpartum experiences do not go according to plan. “Unexpected” can mean many different things: infertility, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, medical complications, traumatic birth experiences, feeding challenges, or postpartum mental health struggles. The book was co-written with maternal-fetal medicine specialist Nathan Fox, MD and offers both practical guidance and emotional support for families trying to move forward after difficult experiences.

One of the central themes of this episode is how deeply pregnancy is tied to expectation. While a person may be expecting a baby, they are also often carrying countless other expectations — about how pregnancy will unfold, what birth will feel like, how feeding will go, and even who they will become as a parent. These expectations are shaped by family stories, cultural messages, social media, medical advice, and personal hopes.

But no matter how carefully we plan, pregnancy and postpartum rarely unfold exactly as imagined. Even uncomplicated pregnancies contain uncertainty, and when something difficult or traumatic happens, many parents are left searching for answers, reassurance, and a way to regain a sense of safety and control.

During this episode, we explore important questions including:

• How do you make decisions after a complicated pregnancy or postpartum experience?
• How do you interpret the overwhelming amount of information available online?
• How can data be helpful without becoming another source of anxiety?
• What helps people cope with fear and uncertainty in a subsequent pregnancy?
• How do you move forward emotionally after loss, trauma, or medical complications?

Emily also speaks candidly about the emotional side of navigating pregnancy after complications — something data alone cannot fully resolve:

“The emotional preparation part is really trying to transform what’s often an experience of feeling punished or at fault into asking: how can I practically prepare myself to move forward?”

This conversation offers a thoughtful and compassionate look at the intersection of information, uncertainty, grief, and resilience. Whether you have experienced pregnancy complications yourself or are supporting someone who has, this episode provides validation, practical guidance, and a reminder that unexpected experiences are far more common than many people realize.

—Ruta Nonacs, MD PhD