Healthy As A Mother

Exercising during pregnancy has a slew of benefits for both you and your baby, as well as your birth and postpartum recovery - but which exercises should be prioritized? Are there things we should avoid wholly? What if you are an athlete or consistent weight lifter and want to continue throughout the pregnancy? On today's show, we have Gina Conley of Mamastefit with us to talk all about prenatal fitness. Gina gives us an inspiring rundown on the many benefits of prenatal exercise, as well as the guidelines for exactly how much we should aim for and how much effort should be given. She busts common concerns and myths around prenatal exercises and brings us through the types of moves that help the pelvis prep best for birth. Let's dive in!This episode is sponsored by:Redmond Salt >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Needed >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 20% off your first order.Resources From This Episode:Mamastefit.comMamastefit InstagramBook: Training for Two by Gina ConleyMamastefit Prenatal Fitness Programs Free Birth Prep CircuitOther Episodes Mentioned In This Episode:Healthy as a Mother Episode #26: All Things Pelvic Floor with Dr. Lauren Mallari-Snyder, DPTStay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott

Are you planning on having your older children attend the birth of your new baby at home? Have you wondered if there are things you can do to prepare and educate them so that their experience, and yours, is as smooth as possible? Well, you've found the right podcast episode because today we're diving into the multitude of ways that we can begin layering in conversations around what birth is like for our children - to do just that. We chat about verbiage you can use that's helpful, how to act out what labor may be like so they know all the sounds and faces that are normal, good resources for books and videos to begin sharing with your other children so they have many layers of exposure to the topic and won't be scared or shocked come game day. We also talk about general considerations for ages and backup plans to have in case of transfer or tantrums. This one is packed- let's go!This episode is sponsored by:Redmond Salt >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Needed >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 20% off your first order.Resources From This Episode:Books about home birth for children: Amazon listInstagram accounts to find birth videos:@monetnicolebirths@badassmotherbirther@homesweethomebirthDr. Morgan's Immediate Postpartum CourseOther Episodes Mentioned in this Episode:Episode #85 Body Safety and Talking to Your Kids About SexEpisode #59 Adding More Children to Your Family: Considerations + TipsStay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott

Welcome to Season 7 in this life update episode where Dr. Leah shares all about how her second postpartum has been, now that her son is 1 month. She shares how, despite the birth and cesarean recovery and problems with his latch, she is thriving in postpartum. We discuss how various phases of motherhood can be so different for women, and possible reasons for it too - based on hormonal constitutions, recovery, complications, and more. Then Dr. Morgan discusses how her husband and her are potentially considering a fifth baby - even though they felt completely done after their fourth was born. It's been a heart-opening experience having their fourth here. She shares the fears, hopes, and layers of complexity around making this decision for their family and how they plan to approach it with a strong 6-month preconception plan first. We really are right there with you all in this family-building era - the ups, downs, high highs, and low lows. Let's dive in! This episode is sponsored by:Redmond Salt - Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Needed - Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 20% off your first order.Resources From This Episode:Dr. Leah's Lumebox Redlight Breathe by James NestorCell Core Detox Preconception Labs To RunDr. Leah's Fertility FormulaDr. Morgan's Pregnancy CallDr. Morgan's Immediate Postpartum SeriesOther Episodes Mentioned:#12: A Deep Dive Into Lip and Tongue Ties#73: Palate Expansion and Airway Dentistry with Dr. Dan Bruce#89: Leah's Second Birth StoryStay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott

We are excited to welcome Dr. Morgan's husband Wes back to the podcast to continue their conversations on his perspective on all things fatherhood - this time specifically discussing home birth, his role during the birth itself, and his role postpartum. He talks about the stats and research that helped him feel comfortable with home birth as a first-time dad with his son, and what he thought of the experience as it took place - as well as tips for birth partners in general. He gives us his philosophy on managing the postpartum workload with pride as a partner - happy to provide in this way while the baby and mom rest and recover. At the end, we had a few random rapid-fire questions from listeners about taking care of himself amongst it all, being tired, adding more siblings, and more. Let's go! This episode is sponsored by:Redmond Salt >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Needed >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 20% off your first order.Resources From This Episode:Healthy As A Mother Episode #63: Role Changes and Expectations within Fatherhood with Wes MacDermottCare MesserInstagramWebsiteMegan DoyleInstagramWebsiteFamily Seasons for CST for babiesDr Morgan's Immediate Postpartum SeriesStay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott

Have you ever wondered if sticking needles all over your body can help you get pregnant? Today Dr. Leah interviewed Emily and Ghoncheh from Aphrodite Fertility Acupuncture all about how acupuncture can be an incredibly valuable tool along the fertility journey. This is true whether you want to naturally balance your hormones and boost your fertility or if you are going through fertility treatments like IVF. They explain how it all works in a way we have never heard before! We learned so much in this episode and we can't wait for you to benefit from their amazing wisdom and knowledge.This episode is sponsored by:Redmond Salt >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Needed >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 20% off your first order.Resources From This Episode:Aphrodite Fertility Website (Now booking Saturdays)Aphrodite Acupuncture Fertility ProgramDr. Leah's Fertility Formula ProgramStay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott

Everyone has heard of postpartum depression, and maybe even postpartum anxiety - but postpartum RAGE is a symptom that can be a component of either of those, or a stand-alone experience - that doesn't get enough attention. In this episode, Dr. Morgan interviews Dr. Alice Pickering, a perinatal mental health clinical psychologist, all about postpartum rage. They discuss what it is, how it presents, factors that can contribute to it from a mental/emotional as well as physiological perspective, as well as management ideas for treatment. Both Dr. Alice and Dr. Morgan also share their personal experiences with postpartum rage, and their goal here is to help shed light on one of the shadow sides of motherhood - to normalize the experience and help provide some ways that you can get some help. Here we go! This episode is sponsored by:Redmond Salt >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Needed >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 20% off your first order.Resources From This Episode:Dr. Alice PickeringInstagramWebsiteDance of Anger bookJill Geisinger:Healthy As A Mother Episode #38: Homeopathy During Birth and Postpartum: Top 8 Remedies with Jill Giesinger from HerHomeopathyHerhomeopathy.com Dr. Morgan's Immediate Postpartum Series CourseStay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott

Dr. Leah has had her son and we are SO excited to welcome baby Kade to the world in this episode, detailing his birth story. Leah takes us on all of the twists and turns of the long unexpected path of getting him earthside - starting with the homebirth plan and natural induction methods to then reaching 42 weeks and pivoting to the hospital to get him here. Sometimes birth is a mystery where we never really get clear answers. We honor and respect what babies communicate to us and in this case, it seemed clear that despite best efforts, his plan was different from hers and she embraced it with grace. Congratulations again to the Gordon family, let's give it a listen! This episode is sponsored by:Redmond Salt >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Needed >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 20% off your first order.Resources From This Episode:Healthy As A Mother Episode #20: Home Birth Turned C-Section: Dr. Leah's Birth StoryHealthy As A Mother Episode #40: The Wisdom in Waiting: When TTC or Past Your Due DateHealthy As A Mother Episode #32: The Vital Importance of Baby's Position During Birth with Ann Gilligan, RN, LNC, RYPTAnn Gilligan on InstagramEvidence-Based Birth Article: What are the birth implications for a suspected big baby?Our New Favorite Makeup: ArazaDr. Leah's Recommendations for Trauma Healing & TherapiesDr. Leah's Fertility Formula ProgramStay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott

This is the second part of our two-part series all about Gestational Diabetes with Lily Nichols RDN. In this episode, we do an overview of testing options and discuss some of the lesser-known nuances of normal pregnancy metabolism - getting into some fascinating details around low blood sugars, continuous glucose monitors, and nutritive ketosis in pregnancy. We then discuss the conventional dietary recommendations and how they are insufficient and outdated and discuss the method of blood sugar management that Lily recommends to her clients to achieve the best outcomes. Also discussed is how this diagnosis of gestational diabetes can really come to wreck birth plans, even when it may not be applicable anymore - and how one can manage that best with their provider. Here we go!RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:Learn more from Lily Nichols:Website - www.lilynicholsrdn.comInstagram - @lilynicholsrdnLily's BooksLily's CoursesLily's article on Breakfast MistakesLily's article on CGM Experiment Part 1 & Part 2Healthy as a Mother Episode #87: Gestational Diabetes Part 1 with Lily NicholsHealthy As A Mother Episode #13: Baby Brain Support in Pregnancy with Ari CalhounEvidence-Based Birth Episodes on Big Babieshttps://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-for-induction-or-c-section-for-big-baby/https://evidencebasedbirth.com/what-are-the-birth-implications-for-a-suspected-big-baby-podcast/Stay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott

This episode is part 1 of an interview all about gestational diabetes with registered dietitian and well-known author, Lily Nichols. We discuss the ins and outs of how pregnancy metabolism changes insulin function and levels, and what happens when this process results in elevated blood sugar levels over time. We discuss risk factors for developing gestational diabetes, prevention, early screening that should be taking place but is not, lab lists, the risks to the baby if the mom's blood sugar continues to stay elevated, and the problems with certain testing methods. We also go on an all-too-important rant about vitamin D3 supplementation that you'll not want to miss. Be sure to check out part 2 next week as well - and now let's jump in!This episode is sponsored by:Redmond Salt >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Kudos Diapers >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Needed >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 20% off your first order.RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE:Learn more from Lily Nichols:Website - www.lilynicholsrdn.comInstagram - @lilynicholsrdnLily's BooksWomen’s Health Nutrition AcademyLily's article on Vitamin D and PregnancyOrder micronutrient testing via Dr. Leah's websiteHealthy as a Mother episode discussing blood sugar more: #78 Lifestyle Hacks of Hormone BalancingDr. Morgan's Immune Wellness for the Pregnant or Nursing Mother CourseStay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott

A man's fertility plays 50% of the role in conception and staying pregnant (yes, sperm issues can affect miscarriage too) yet there is so little support out there on how to evaluate male fertility. This is why we recorded today's episode, which are the top 10 tips on testing male fertility. We dive into how to test and when, the semen analysis, testing hormones, other markers, and so much more. This is an episode every woman, couple, and man should listen to who wants to be a parent someday.This episode is sponsored by:Redmond Salt >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 15% on your order.Needed >> Click here and use code HEALTHYMOTHER to save 20% off your first order.Resources From This Episode:Episode #4 Preconception: What It Is and Why It MattersEpisode #6 Sperm Matter: Why We Should Care About Male FertilityEpisode #35 Male-Factor Infertility: From a Man's Perspective with Mike GordonLegacy Sperm testing (Use code DRLEAH to save 15%)Dr. Leah's free guide for semen analysisDr. Leah's Fertility Formula program - Use code HEALTHYMOTHER for 15% off!Total-Toxicity Panel Lab Test MicroGen DX lab for semen infectionsStay Connected With Us:Healthy As A Mother: www.healthyasamother.comInstagram: @healthyasamotherpodcastDr. Leah: www.womanhoodwellness.comInstagram: @drleahgordonDr. Morgan: www.milkmedicine.comInstagram: @morganmacdermott