There is no greater tool for a healthier pregnancy and delivery than prenatal fitness. That's why our mission is to make safe, OB/GYN-approved fitness as much a norm for pregnancy as not smoking.
Dara Cook learned the secrets of creating addictive content at the media powerhouse MTV, where she was Head Creative of the MTV Video Music Awards, brand manager of Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out and Senior Vice President in business development.
Dara was inspired to launch Expect when her sister exercised in pregnancy–and witnessed her give birth in a labor so smooth that the OB-GYN was only in the delivery room for 15 minutes! Later, Dara read the overwhelming research that women who exercise in pregnancy drastically reduce their risk of all major pregnancy complications such as premature births, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and postpartum depression–and deliver healthier babies.
Noticing the lack of pre and postnatal fitness classes and modifications at her favorite gyms and fitness apps, Dara decided to leave MTV to help moms exercise in their own homes on their own time for healthier pregnancies, deliveries and babies. Dara and Expect cofounder Joey Pacheco met through their college alumni club in New York City back in 2014 and bonded over their shared love of fitness.
Cook is an alum of the Wharton School of Business, where she was a Joseph Wharton Scholar and Ben Franklin Scholar, and Harvard Business School’s General Management Program where her idea for Expect won the strategy competition. She is currently a Visiting Entrepreneur at Stanford Graduate School of Business’s Center for Social Innovation.
Joseph Pacheco is a tech and product polymath who has worn every hat in the startup world from CTO, to Head of Product, to full-time engineer, to UX designer, content creator, founder, and product manager. His experience spans 10+ years and seven startups, including two backed by Y-Combinator. With a deep understanding of recruitment and team building, Pacheco has conducted technical interviews for over 1,400 engineers who have gone on to accept roles at major firms such as Apple, Dropbox, Yelp, and others in the Bay Area, New York, and Seattle. He has also written 50+ articles with thought leadership on engineering, hiring, interviewing, and product design and analytics. His multi-faceted expertise makes him invaluable to every aspect of Expect’s business from its product strategy and vision, technical execution and foundations, user experience design, brand design and pitch materials—and even the Expect name itself!
Joseph graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Philosophy (with distinction) & Computer Science.
Jillian Ternosky is an accomplished fitness app creator with a track record of successful startups. As the former Head of Production for ClassPass, she launched the brand's original content studio and oversaw the streaming of up to 7 live shows per day, resulting in over 1,500 pieces of content. She also led an all- woman team in this role. Prior to her work at ClassPass, Ternosky brought live functionality to the popular fitness streaming app Daily Burn, where she produced and wrote Daily Burn 365, a daily fitness lifestyle show. Her production credits also include work with MTV’s iconic music video series TRL, Nickelodeon, and branded content for health drink brand Vitamin Water. Ternosky won an Emmy for her work at the MSG Network. She holds a degree from East Stroudsburg University.
I-Min Lee, MBBS, ScD, is a professor at Harvard Medical School and Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Lee co-authored the landmark studies on the impact of prenatal fitness in reducing gestational diabetes and hypertension, which helped prompt the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists to broadly recommend physical activity in the pre and postnatal periods. Dr. Lee’s primary area of interest is in the role of physical activity for preventing chronic diseases and enhancing longevity, and in women’s health. She has published more than 450 scientific articles and is lead editor of the textbook Epidemiologic Methods in Physical Activity Studies and is co-editor of Physical Activity Epidemiology, now undergoing its 3rd edition. She has served on national and international expert panels developing physical activity guidelines, including the 2008 US Physical Activity Guidelines, the 2010 WHO Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health, and the 2013 AHA/ACC Guideline on Lifestyle Management to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk. Dr. Lee sits on the international steering committee for the Lancet Physical Activity Series. She is principal investigator of a study that objectively measured physical activity in 18,000 women from 2011-2015; participants are now being followed for various health outcomes and mortality. She is principal investigator of the long-standing prospective Harvard Alumni Health Study that focuses on the relations of physical activity with long-term health outcomes. Dr. Lee received her from ScD and MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health and MBBS from National University of Singapore.
Rachel Villanueva, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. is the President of the National Medical Association, the largest and oldest national organization representing African American physicians and their patients in the U.S. She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists and a board-certified OB-GYN with New York University Langone Medical Center. Dr. Villanueva has held prestigious positions throughout her career, including serving as an assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU School of Medicine, coordinator of the Minority Research Apprentice Program at Yale University School of Medicine, President of the Manhattan Central Medical Society, and member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Alumni in Yale Medicine. In addition to her medical accomplishments, Dr. Villanueva is a former college athlete who actively promotes fitness among her prenatal patients. She earned her B.S. degree from Yale University and her M.D. degree, cum laude, from Yale University School of Medicine.
Dr. Schutt-Ainé is an Assistant Professor in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Baylor College of Medicine and OB/GYN at Texas Children’s Hospital. She has published multiple peer reviewed papers. She received her MD from Harvard Medical School and BS in Biology from Yale.
Physical activity is fundamental to well-being and longevity. This is true for the entire lifespan - from playing outside as kids to staying active when elderly, and pregnancy is no exception. It doesn’t always have to be intense, but moving your body is essential!
Dr. Evans is a board certified OB/GYN and Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Tufts. She also holds an MPH from BU and a Neuroscience degree from Wellesley.
As your body changes throughout pregnancy, it’s important to continue to stay active. This not only helps you prepare for labor, but studies have also shown staying active can reduce your risk of gestational diabetes in pregnancy and other pregnancy related conditions. Exercise throughout pregnancy can also aid in recovery postpartum.
Dr. Ryles is a Clinical Instructor in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Chicago Medical School. She previously received he MD and Residency from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College.
Exercise in pregnancy has tremendous health benefits. While there are so many things about pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum that are out of our control, exercise is one thing that we can (for the most part) control. It is one of the best things birthing people can do to optimize their pregnancy, labor, and recovery!
Dr. St. Louis is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the President of her local chapter of the National Medical Association, an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at UCF, practicing OB/GYN in private practice and founder of her own medical spa that focuses on female pelvic wellness.
Childbirth is one of the miracles of the human female body and also a huge physical endeavor. We need to prepare our body for pregnancy and postpartum periods so we can function to our fullest capacity. This is why I love Expect. They focus on fitness around pregnancy, which is underestimated in our society.
Dr. Morrone is a Fellow of ACOG and has repeatedly been included in lists like America’s Guide to Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the New York Times Super Docs. She has been a featured speaker on Lifetime Television, CNN, MSNBC, and the Oxygen Cable Network. She’s a practicing OB/GYN, clinical instructor at Mount Sinai, and received her MD from Columbia.
Breath training empowers women to manage pain associated with labor, control anxiety and fear associated with pregnancy labor and postpartum and improves mental mindset and overall maternal well being.
Dr. Villanueva is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists, Most Recent Past President of the National Medical Association, Practicing OB/GYN at NYU Langone Health, and Professor at NYU Medical School. She received her MD from the Yale School of Medicine, Cum Laude, and a BS in Biology from Yale College.
As a former competitive gymnast, I believe that fitness and exercise are crucial components of a woman’s total health and wellness.
Dr. Monu is a practicing OB/GYN with an MD from Weill Cornell Medicine and a PhD in Cell Biology from NYU Medicine.
Maintaining a healthy diet and active lifestyle is important prior to pregnancy for optimizing the chances of getting pregnant, but also critically important during the pregnancy and in the postpartum period. An active lifestyle during this critical time promotes general well being, improved mental wellness and reduces the risks of complications in pregnancy including but not limited to developing gestational diabetes, blood clots, hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, and preterm delivery. An active lifestyle including targeted activities for the pelvic floor also helps to reduce long term complications of pelvic floor disorders including but not limited to pelvic prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence. Expect provides an easily accessible platform with comprehensive programs that targets key areas for building and maintaining strength, cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility and mental strengthening that enhances the pregnancy journey and promotes a healthy recovery in the postpartum period. With Expect, women can expect a safe, fun, and carefully crafted program that they can enjoy and be motivated by during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.
Dr. Ayad is the Medical Director (and Former Chairperson) of Obstetrics & Gynecology as well as Secretary/Treasurer for Medical Staff at Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. She’s also a practicing Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist who received her MD from McGovern Medical School of the University of Texas Health Science Center.
Physical activity is as important as keeping good hygiene especially during pregnancy/ postpartum. It keeps your body in excellent shape.
Dr. Gore is a practicing obstetrics & gynecology specialist who travels to speak on women’s health issues while engaging in physician work. She is affiliated with MUSC Health Lancaster Medical Center. She received her MD from the Medical University of South Carolina and undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina.
Embracing exercise during pregnancy and postpartum isn’t just about physical strength; it’s about nurturing mental resilience, fostering self-care and empowering women to embrace the transformative journey of motherhood with confidence and vitality.