Healthy As A Mother

2d ago

Pregnant and wanting to learn how to optimize your health, prepare for birth, learn to breastfeed, and heal during postpartum? Come take Dr. Morgan’s pregnancy class ! Not every supplement in pregnancy is harmless. Some can actually increase risk for you and your baby. Pregnancy supplements can be sorted into clear buckets: hard yes, maybe, and hard no. In this episode, you’re going to learn our core essentials, the optional add-ons that depend on your labs and symptoms, and the products that sound helpful online but clash with how a pregnant body actually works. We draw the line on some popular herbs, powders, and nervous system helpers, and for good reason—these decisions are shaped by both research limits and real clinical experience. If you’re pregnant and staring at a cabinet full of bottles scratching your head, the real challenge isn’t finding more options; it’s knowing which few are worth taking and when. You’ll receive insights on how we think about risk, timing, and dose, when we’ll push harder on something like immune support to avoid medications, and where we’d rather you do nothing than experiment. A small, intentional stack can serve you better than chasing every trending supplement. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [03:07] The overlooked problem with most prenatals and why ingredient form matters [04:30] The simple rule that prevents most women from absorbing iron properly [07:11] The hidden reason pregnant women shouldn’t fear vitamin A [09:20] How magnesium becomes a multipurpose lifesaver for sleep, cramps, and digestion [09:55] The real vitamin D levels you should aim for [17:04] When probiotics actually matter in pregnancy, and when they don’t [20:16] The surprising list of safe remedies you can use when you get sick while pregnant [27:05] The trending supplements that truly are safe [41:03] The herbs you must avoid because they disrupt hormones and fetal development Resources Mentioned: Orthomolecular Vitamin D3 + K2 Drops | Website Healthy as a Mother episode on Baby Brain Support in Pregnancy with Dr. Ari Calhoun | Spotify or Apple Dr. Morgan's Managing Illness While Pregnant or Breastfeeding Course | Website Find more from Dr. Leah: Dr. Leah Gordon | Instagram Dr. Leah Gordon | Website Womanhood Wellness | Website Find more from Dr. Morgan: Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Instagram Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Website Use code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at Redmond For 20% off your first order at Needed , use code HEALTHYMOTHER Save $260 at Lumebox , use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER Save 10% on pasture-raised bone broths from FOND with code HEALTHYMOTHER

Dec 10

Get real, true hydration with Redmond Re-lyte! Try it for 15% off, here . What if the real problem isn't salt itself but the way we've stripped it, feared it, and deadened the water we drink it with? We’re sitting down with Darryl Bosshardt, a salt expert from Redmond, Utah, who grew up inside his family's mineral business. We had a lot of fun recording this episode because he's as intensely nerdy about salt as we are about birth and motherhood. We question how salt ended up cast as the villain and what that fear has quietly done inside us, especially when studies and headlines ignored context like water and overall diet. We open up the tension between the mineral-rich salt and spring water humans adapted to and the stripped, “dead” versions most people are leaning on today. Instead of handing you another protocol, we stay focused on how it actually feels when you give your body enough of what it runs on and stop fighting its design. You’ll Learn: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:06:09] How ancient civilizations survived and thrived around salt deposits [00:11:52] The clever way our ancestors found salt and water [00:17:17] The fascinating science of salt crystal size and why it changes how salty food tastes on your tongue [00:20:30] The biblical origins of "kosher salt" and why it's called that (it has nothing to do with being blessed) [00:26:31] The 1954 mouse study that demonized salt [00:32:17] The shocking truth: consuming less than 2,300mg of sodium resulted in a 430% increase in heart attacks [00:34:19] The Brewer's Diet approach to preventing preeclampsia with unrestricted salt, protein, and water [00:40:16] What "dead water" is and why spring water contains the full electrolyte profile our bodies expect [00:47:32] The bottle experiment that proves RO water is aggressively trying to dissolve everything it touches [00:52:30] Drinking demineralized water makes your body pull minerals from your jawbone and teeth [01:03:05] The heavy metals question: understanding parts per billion versus actual micrograms consumed [01:13:04] How to evaluate ANY product with three simple questions about producer, source, and processing Resources Mentioned: Find A Spring | Website Water & Salt, the Essence of Life by Barbara Hendel and Peter Ferreira | Book FDA Total Diet Study | Article Find more from Darryl Bosshardt by following him on LinkedIn . Find more from Dr. Leah: Dr. Leah Gordon | Instagram Dr. Leah Gordon | Website Womanhood Wellness | Website Find more from Dr. Morgan: Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Instagram Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Website Use code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at Redmond For 20% off your first order at Needed , use code HEALTHYMOTHER Save $260 at Lumebox , use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER

Dec 3

Womanhood Wellness is where functional medicine meets feminine wisdom—guiding you to balance hormones, awaken libido, and prepare for pregnancy with intention. Join today. What if the everyday things touching your skin were quietly working against your hormones and fertility? Are there products lurking in your home, messing with your hormones, fertility, and even your kids? In this episode, you’re going to learn how something as simple as underwear, leggings, lube, or your favorite scent can shift your entire vaginal microbiome, change the pH in that delicate ecosystem, and ripple into things like infections, discharge, odor, and trouble conceiving. Most of us were raised to assume that if a product is on the shelf, it must be safe, and no one ever sat us down to explain how to spot the things that are the least like nature in our environment. Things like hidden plastics, fragrances, and chemicals might be sneaking into your daily routine, and there are simple swaps that can dramatically lower the load without making you feel like you’re living in a bubble. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [06:50] How the wrong underwear disrupts your vaginal microbiome and fertility [12:05] What tight, synthetic leggings do to moisture, bacteria, and hormone balance [17:14] Why most personal lubricants damage sperm, and what to use instead [21:12] The everyday plastic exposures are silently lowering fertility [25:20] The hidden hormone disruptors in candles and home fragrances [28:17] How laundry detergents and dryer sheets flood your body with hormone disruptors [34:24] Why shower products may be a daily source of toxins you don’t realize Resources Mentioned: Auden Underwear | Website Country Save Laundry Detergent | Amazon Molly Suds Laundry Detergent | Amazon Branch Basics Laundry Detergent | Website Pyrex Food Storage | Website Find more from Dr. Leah: Dr. Leah Gordon | Instagram Dr. Leah Gordon | Website Womanhood Wellness | Website Find more from Dr. Morgan: Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Instagram Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Website Use code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at Redmond For 20% off your first order at Needed , use code HEALTHYMOTHER Save $260 at Lumebox , use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER

Nov 26

Womanhood Wellness is where functional medicine meets feminine wisdom—guiding you to balance hormones, awaken libido, and prepare for pregnancy with intention. Join today. Why do some women who “do everything right” still struggle to get pregnant? There are five hidden fertility factors most doctors never mention, things like infections you can’t feel but quietly sabotage your chances, how your immune system might be attacking instead of protecting, and what your nervous system has to do with conception. This episode is not another checklist of supplements or labs. It’s a deeper look at what your body’s really trying to tell you, and how to start listening. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [02:31] The hidden infections silently impacting fertility and why your doctor might miss them [08:04] How autoimmunity quietly disrupts conception and what to test for [10:34] The surprising role of your nervous system in signaling whether it’s safe to get pregnant [17:57] The feminine energy imbalance that blocks fertility [20:42] How toxin overload and poor detox pathways create a hidden barrier to conception [26:05] Where to find deeper support for uncovering your hidden fertility blocks Resources Mentioned: Vibrant Wellness – Environmental Toxins Test | Website For a deeper dive, listen to our past episodes: #22 Detoxing Before Pregnancy | Spotify or Apple #112: Thriving with Hashimoto’s | Spotify or Apple #99: Holistic Approaches to Fertility | Spotify or Apple #97: Mold and Fertility with Dr. Leslie Black | Spotify or Apple #66: How Feminism Has Influenced Our Modern Culture & Hormones | Spotify or Apple #62: Gut Health, the Microbiome, and Fertility | Spotify or Apple Find more from Dr. Leah: Dr. Leah Gordon | Instagram Dr. Leah Gordon | Website Womanhood Wellness | Website Find more from Dr. Morgan: Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Instagram Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Website Use code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at Redmond For 20% off your first order at Needed , use code HEALTHYMOTHER Save $260 at Lumebox , use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER

Nov 19

Have you ever pumped milk in an airport bathroom while your boss texted you about a meeting? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton, a naturopathic doctor, past president of the AANP, speaker, author, and mom of five. She’s lived every version of the working-mom juggle, from returning to work at four weeks postpartum to running national organizations while nursing on red-eye flights. We unpack what “going back to work” really looks like when you’re healing, pumping, leading, and trying not to lose yourself in the process. The sleep deprivation, the daycare colds, the guilt, the wins, and the systems that make it survivable. It’s raw, funny, and painfully real. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [04:44] What going back to work at four weeks postpartum really feels like [09:33] When breastfeeding becomes a mental and physical breaking point [19:37] The reality of pumping and traveling while balancing leadership roles [28:34] Simple ways to prep your baby’s immune system for daycare [42:44] How an au pair can completely change family life and sanity [48:49] The real cost of help versus trying to do it all alone [53:41] Creating your village and finding real mom friendships [58:38] The energetic shift between ambition and motherhood [1:00:17] Why having it all never means doing it all at once [1:04:52] What happens when motherhood and work collide Resources Mentioned: All supplements can be found through Fullscript (save 15%) Electric flosser | Amazon Learn more from Dr. Jaclyn on her website . You can also follow her on LinkedIn . Explore gentle, science-based cold & flu wellness tips from Dr. Morgan Find more from Dr. Leah: Dr. Leah Gordon | Instagram Dr. Leah Gordon | Website Womanhood Wellness | Website Find more from Dr. Morgan: Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Instagram Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Website Use code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at Redmond For 20% off your first order at Needed , use code HEALTHYMOTHER Save $260 at Lumebox , use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER

Nov 12

Dealing with mastitis? Get Dr.Morgan’s comprehensive Mastitis Manual here , and learn all about how to tell which type of mastitis you have, if you need antibiotics or not, and how to treat it naturally! Why does weaning sometimes feel like puberty all over again? What really happens to your body and mind when breastfeeding ends? From mood swings and night sweats to shifts in libido and energy, the postpartum experience doesn’t stop once your baby’s done nursing. Hormones recalibrate, neurotransmitters change, and sometimes it all hits harder than you expect. In this episode, we get into why some women glide through weaning while others feel like they’ve been knocked sideways, as well as what that “mini puberty” moment actually means for your physiology and emotions. It’s a mix of real talk, biology, and the reassurance you wish you’d heard sooner. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [06:53] Why breastfeeding protects against postpartum depression [09:00] The surprising physical changes after weaning [12:55] The truth about when it’s biologically normal to night wean [15:33] How weaning can feel like puberty and what mood swings really mean [17:06] Why low progesterone after weaning can lead to early miscarriages [18:03] What to know about fertility, ovulation, and contraception while weaning [22:40] How weaning affects your thyroid, adrenals, and overall energy Resources Mentioned: Milk Medicine Pregnancy Course | Website Related Healthy as a Mother Podcast Episodes: All About Weaning: Philosophy, How To, and Factors to Consider | Spotify or Apple Breastfeeding and Trying To Conceive | Spotify or Apple Mastitis and Clogged Ducts: What TO Do and What NOT To Do | Spotify or Apple Baby-Led Weaning with Thriving Foundations with Dr. Alyssa | Spotify or Apple Find more from Dr. Leah: Dr. Leah Gordon | Instagram Dr. Leah Gordon | Website Womanhood Wellness | Website Find more from Dr. Morgan: Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Instagram Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Website Use code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at Redmond For 20% off your first order at Needed , use code HEALTHYMOTHER Save $260 at Lumebox , use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER

Nov 5

Join Womanhood Wellness to learn more about all of the things we discuss in this episode. What if the world really was rigged in your favor, even when your fertility journey feels impossible? In this episode, Dr.Leah sits down with her husband, Mike, to unpack their six-year journey through severe male factor infertility that eventually led them to IVF. Mike shares the raw truths and lessons he wishes every man knew before stepping into this process, from the mindset that kept him grounded to the habits and testing that changed everything. They get real about the hardest moments, the difference between fighting and surrendering, and the mindset shift that made the impossible feel bearable. It’s not a how-to guide, it’s a story about meaning, surrender, and what it really takes to stay connected through the storm. Because… sometimes the only way forward is trusting that even this is happening for you. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [04:52] Why viewing life as “rigged in your favor” can shift infertility grief into gratitude [08:03] The critical balance between fighting for answers and surrendering control [09:39] Why avoiding testing keeps men stuck in ego instead of empowered [12:38] How releasing judgment and embracing IVF with excitement changes the experience [14:28] Everyday toxins that quietly damage testosterone and sperm quality [20:28] The truth about EMFs and keeping phones in your pockets [22:32] Which supplements and detox tools actually matter for men’s sperm health [37:22] The difference between ejaculated and immature sperm can determine IVF success [43:47] The important lesson their six-year journey revealed about finding meaning in struggle Resources Mentioned: Peter Sage Academy | Website Needed – Men’s Fertility Line | Website Good Clean Love Lubricants | Website Coconu – Water-Based or Oil-Based Lubricant | Website Yes – Organic Lubricant | Website Find more from Dr. Leah: Dr. Leah Gordon | Instagram Dr. Leah Gordon | Website Womanhood Wellness | Website Find more from Dr. Morgan: Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Instagram Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Website Use code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at Redmond For 20% off your first order at Needed , use code HEALTHYMOTHER Save $260 at Lumebox , use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER

Oct 29

What if the skills that make breech and twin birth safe have been intentionally erased from modern medicine? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Stuart Fischbein, an OB-GYN and longtime advocate for physiological birth. After nearly three decades in hospitals and over a decade attending home births alongside midwives, he’s become a leading voice in reteaching the lost art of vaginal breech and twin delivery. Together, we dig into how this knowledge disappeared, what replaced it, and why practitioners are no longer taught to trust birth. Dr. Stuart exposes the ripple effects of fear, policy, and profit that shape today’s obstetric system. We look at the flawed studies that reshaped global practice, the quiet politics behind “standard of care,” and the consequences of replacing skill with surgery. There’s a reason breech birth became a lost language, and a growing movement to relearn it. You’ll Learn: [00:00] Introduction [03:17] Why the medical system stripped doctors of individuality and decision-making power [12:05] How one flawed study reshaped global birth practices overnight [19:59] Who qualifies for vaginal breech birth [31:33] When “hands off the breech” isn’t enough [36:46] How doctors rationalize ignoring evidence that contradicts hospital policy [40:52] The hidden conflicts of interest behind vaccine and medication recommendations [56:36] Why hospitals prioritize liability and revenue over individualized, physiological care [01:03:41] Rediscovering birth as a human experience [01:08:25] When medicine loses its humanity Resources Mentioned: Fearless Pregnancy by Stuart Fischbein, Victoria Clayton, and Joyce Weckl | Book Twin Home Birth by Fischbein, S. | Article Breech Birth At Home by Fischbein, S. and Freeze, R. | Article “Home Birth” With An Obstetrician by Fischbein, S. | Article Term Breech Trial (2000) by Hannah, M. et al. | Article Healthy as a Mother episode #135 on The Truth About Ultrasounds: Risks & Benefits | Apple or Spotify Birthing Instincts Podcast | Apple or Spotify Learn more from Dr. Stuart on his website . You can also follow him on Instagram , Facebook , and X . Find more from Dr. Leah: Dr. Leah Gordon | Instagram Dr. Leah Gordon | Website Womanhood Wellness | Website Find more from Dr. Morgan: Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Instagram Dr. Morgan MacDermott | Website Use code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at Redmond For 20% off your first order at Needed , use code HEALTHYMOTHER Save $260 at Lumebox , use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER