Episodios

  • When Sex Hurts: The Root Causes No One Talks About | #151

    When Sex Hurts: The Root Causes No One Talks About | #151
    Feb 11 2026

    Painful sex is far more common than most women realize and far more complex than we’re ever taught.


    In this episode, Dr. Leah shares her deeply personal 18-year journey with painful sex, low libido, and feeling dismissed by the medical system, alongside a comprehensive breakdown of the real root causes of pain during sex, from trauma and pelvic floor dysfunction to hormonal changes and lesser-known conditions like provoked vestibulodynia (PVD).


    We talk honestly about why painful sex is not something you should “just push through,” why many conventional treatments miss the mark, and how healing often requires addressing multiple layers at once: physical, neurological, hormonal, and emotional.


    If sex has ever felt painful, burning, tense, or emotionally complicated, or if you’ve been told everything “looks normal” but something still feels wrong, this conversation is for you.


    Painful sex is not a personal failure, a relationship problem, or something you should tolerate. It’s often a signal, and when you understand the signal, healing becomes possible.


    Content Note

    This episode includes discussion of sexual trauma, medical trauma, and chronic pain. Please take care while listening and pause if needed.


    What We Cover in This Episode

    1. Why painful sex is common but not normal
    2. How trauma (sexual, medical, or cultural) can create involuntary pelvic floor tension
    3. The difference between deep pain vs. pain at the vaginal opening (and why that matters)
    4. What vaginismus is and why dilators alone often aren’t enough
    5. How pain and pleasure share the same neurological pathways
    6. The role of vibration in interrupting pain signals
    7. Why hormonal birth control can contribute to painful sex
    8. What provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) is and why most women have never heard of it
    9. How postpartum hormonal shifts can cause pain even when labs look “normal”
    10. Why testosterone matters for vulvar tissue health
    11. The connection between low libido and pain
    12. How hypertonic (overly tight) pelvic floors contribute to pain, birth challenges, and postpartum issues
    13. Why every woman should see a pelvic floor physical therapist at least once
    14. How scars, tailbone injuries, infections, and nerve pain syndromes play a role
    15. Why healing painful sex requires a root-cause, multi-layered approach
    16. A message of hope: healing is possible, even after years of pain



    00:00 Trailer + show intro

    02:00 Why painful sex is more common than we think (and why women feel so isolated)

    04:00 Dr. Leah’s personal story: living with painful sex from the very beginning

    08:00 Being dismissed by doctors + why chronic pain is so confusing and isolating

    12:30 Why treating symptoms doesn’t work

    16:00 Endometriosis and deep pain during sex

    25:30 Why pregnancy sometimes improves pain (and why it doesn’t always last)

    32:45 Vaginismus explained

    40:45 Pain, pleasure, and the nervous system

    44:30 Trauma healing during pregnancy and how it changed postpartum pain

    47:45 Provoked Vestibulodynia (PVD)

    52:45 Birth control, testosterone, and why estrogen isn’t always the issue

    56:45 What finally worked

    59:45 Other overlooked causes of painful sex

    1:04:30 Hypertonic pelvic floors

    1:08:30 Final reflections, hope, and next steps


    Resources Mentioned:

    1. Dr. Leah's When Sex Hurts Immersion Course Waitlist
    2. When Sex Hurts (book)
    3. Womanhood Wellness Membership
    4. Episode: Birth Preparation for Sexual Trauma Survivors
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    1 h y 17 m
  • Everything You Were Never Taught About the Placenta (And Why It Matters So Much) | #150

    Everything You Were Never Taught About the Placenta (And Why It Matters So Much) | #150
    Feb 4 2026

    The placenta is one of the most misunderstood organs in pregnancy, yet it plays a central role in implantation, miscarriage risk, fetal growth, preeclampsia, birth complications, and postpartum recovery.


    In this episode of Healthy As A Mother, Dr. Morgan delivers a clear, grounded crash course on the placenta: what it is, how it forms, how it functions, and what can go wrong. We unpack common myths, explain real risks without fear, and clarify why the placenta quietly determines so many pregnancy outcomes.


    This conversation is designed to replace anxiety with understanding and confusion with clarity, so parents can make informed decisions throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.


    In this episode, we cover:

    1. What the placenta actually is and why it’s often called the baby’s “twin”
    2. How implantation and early placental development affect pregnancy outcomes
    3. Why male fertility and sperm health matter more than most people realize
    4. Placental anatomy explained simply (chorion, amnion, Wharton’s jelly)
    5. Common placental variations and what they really mean
    6. Serious placental complications and how they’re managed
    7. First-trimester bleeding and subchorionic hemorrhage
    8. Placental insufficiency, fetal growth restriction, and preeclampsia
    9. The third stage of labor and birthing the placenta
    10. Active vs expectant management and Pitocin use
    11. Retained placenta, postpartum hemorrhage, and recovery
    12. What to do with the placenta after birth: encapsulation, burial, lotus birth, or disposal


    Educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare provider for personal medical care.


    TIMESTAMPS

    00:00 – Why the placenta matters more than people think

    03:00 – Placenta development and implantation

    09:00 – Male fertility, sperm health, and pregnancy outcomes

    15:00 – Placental anatomy explained simply

    18:30 – Cord insertions and placental variants

    22:00 – Velamentous cord insertion and vasa previa

    27:00 – Placental positioning and placenta previa

    32:00 – Placenta accreta and surgical risks

    37:00 – Subchorionic hemorrhage and first-trimester bleeding

    42:00 – Placental insufficiency and fetal growth restriction

    45:00 – Preeclampsia explained

    48:30 – Placental abruption

    50:00 – Retained placenta and postpartum hemorrhage

    53:30 – Birthing the placenta (third stage of labor)

    56:00 – Pitocin and hospital management

    59:00 – What to do with the placenta after birth


    ➡️ New episodes every Wednesday


    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 10% at Fond

    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
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    1 h y 19 m
  • Why Modern Motherhood Feels So Hard: The Human Animal in Captivity | #149

    Why Modern Motherhood Feels So Hard: The Human Animal in Captivity | #149
    Jan 28 2026
    Why does modern motherhood feel so hard — even when you’re doing everything “right”?In this episode of Healthy As A Mother, we explore a powerful lens for understanding hormones, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and burnout: humans are animals — and modern life is not designed for our biology.From nervous system dysregulation and chronic stress to fertility struggles, postpartum depletion, and emotional overwhelm, this conversation reframes modern motherhood as a biological mismatch, not a personal failure.We cover:The “human animal in captivity” conceptWhy community is essential for mothersSunlight, sleep, movement, and hormonal healthNervous system overload, modern stress, and burnoutWhy self-care isn’t indulgent — it’s biological necessityThis episode is for women and mothers who feel like something about modern life, health, and motherhood just isn’t working — and want a deeper, root-cause understanding.00:00 Introduction: The Human Animal02:05 Humans as Animals05:10 Animals in Captivity09:15 The Continuum Concept14:05 Biohacking vs Nature18:20 Hormones, Detox & Toxic Load22:45 Genetics & Sensitivity27:10 Evolution or De-Evolution31:30 The Loss of the Village36:20 Reciprocity & Support40:55 Parenting, School & Disconnection44:35 Sunlight, Sleep & Circadian Rhythm48:40 Men, Women & Biological Roles53:10 Food, Nutrient Depletion & Seasonality57:45 Sensory Overload & The News1:03:10 Warriors, Nurturers & Purpose1:08:40 Living Like an Animal Again1:12:30 Final Thoughts👉 New episodes every WednesdayResources Mentioned in This Episode:I Am Documentary Continuum ConceptThe Red Tent Ishmael Find more from Dr. Leah:Dr. Leah Gordon | InstagramDr. Leah Gordon | WebsiteWomanhood Wellness | WebsiteFind more from Dr. Morgan:Dr. Morgan MacDermott | InstagramDr. Morgan MacDermott | WebsiteUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at RedmondFor 20% off your first order at Needed, use code HEALTHYMOTHERSave $260 at Lumebox, use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER
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    1 h y 18 m
  • How Our Culture & Systems Failed Women Who Want to Be Mothers | #148

    How Our Culture & Systems Failed Women Who Want to Be Mothers | #148
    Jan 21 2026
    Our culture and systems have failed many women who want to be mothers, not through malice, but through neglect, misalignment, and outdated priorities.In this episode, we explore how education, feminism, medicine, and career culture shaped a generation of women who were never truly prepared for motherhood. This is a nuanced, honest conversation about how our culture and systems have failed many women who want to be mothers.We want to say this clearly up front: this conversation reflects our lived experiences and what we see in our work. It is not meant to invalidate women who had supportive, empowering paths to motherhood, nor does it represent every experience across different socioeconomic or cultural backgrounds.What we explore here is a pattern. For decades, women were encouraged to prioritize education, career, and productivity, often with little to no preparation for health, fertility, or motherhood. Feminism brought women freedom, opportunity, and choice, and we honor that deeply. But like all cultural movements, there were unintended consequences that many women are only now grappling with.In this conversation, we discuss:• Why motherhood was treated as an afterthought rather than a life path• How feminism empowered women — and where systems failed to evolve alongside it• The lack of reproductive and health education for young women• How birth control often masked dysfunction instead of addressing root causes• Why so many women feel blindsided by fertility struggles in their 30s• The cost of prioritizing weddings, careers, and productivity over preparation for motherhood• Maternal burnout, postpartum strain, and the lack of systemic support• What a more integrative, honest, and compassionate approach could look likeThis is not about blame. It’s about awareness because we can’t change what we don’t acknowledge. Our hope is that by having these conversations openly, we can support women now and create better systems for future generations. If this episode resonated with you, please consider subscribing, sharing, or leaving a review. These conversations matter. 00:00 — Why We’re Having This Conversation02:45 — This Isn’t Everyone’s Experience But It’s a Real Pattern05:30 — Feminism Gave Women Choice... And Then the Pendulum Swung09:45 — When Motherhood Became an Afterthought13:20 — Career First, Motherhood “On the Side”17:40 — The Lie We Were Sold About Fertility & Birth Control22:10 — Why So Many Women Are Struggling to Conceive in Their 30s27:15 — “Our Society Is Not Set Up for Women to Become Mothers”31:00 — We Prepare for College & Sports — But Not Health34:30 — Imagine a World Where Girls Are Taught About Their Bodies38:20 — The Cost of Ignoring Motherhood (Burnout, Infertility, Trauma)42:45 — Weddings, Nurseries & Misplaced Priorities47:30 — What the Medical System Gets Wrong About Fertility52:10 — How This Could Change for the Next Generation56:00 — This Isn’t About Blame, It’s About What’s Broken59:00 — Final Thoughts, Hope & Why These Conversations Matter👉 New episodes every WednesdayResources Mentioned in This Episode:Join Womanhood WellnessSocial Studies DocuseriesThe Time Machine MovieFind more from Dr. Leah:Dr. Leah Gordon | InstagramDr. Leah Gordon | WebsiteWomanhood Wellness | WebsiteFind more from Dr. Morgan:Dr. Morgan MacDermott | InstagramDr. Morgan MacDermott | WebsiteUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 10% at FondUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at RedmondFor 20% off your first order at Needed, use code HEALTHYMOTHERSave $260 at Lumebox, use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER
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    1 h y 10 m
  • A Real Life Update: Pregnancy, Motherhood Seasons & What’s Changing for Us | #147

    A Real Life Update: Pregnancy, Motherhood Seasons & What’s Changing for Us | #147
    Jan 14 2026

    In this life update episode, we’re sitting down for an honest, unfiltered conversation about what’s really been going on behind the scenes: from pregnancy and health updates to sleep deprivation, motherhood challenges, and big life decisions.


    Dr. Morgan shares a deeply personal pregnancy update, including navigating pregnancy while being sick, fertility considerations, and what it feels like to prepare for another baby while holding space for uncertainty. Dr. Leah talks candidly about postpartum sleep struggles, co-sleeping, teething, and the emotional toll of chronic sleep deprivation, alongside the sweetness and perspective that comes with motherhood.


    We also dive into the realities of running a business while parenting, navigating children’s health concerns, making hard decisions around fertility and family planning, and learning how to hold both gratitude and exhaustion at the same time.


    This episode is a real, grounded conversation for anyone who wants honest motherhood talk — no filters, no pretending, just real life.


    What We Discuss
    1. Pregnancy life updates and preparing for a new baby
    2. Pregnancy after health issues and navigating early pregnancy anxiety
    3. Fertility differences and conversations around IVF and family planning
    4. Postpartum sleep struggles, co-sleeping, and chronic sleep deprivation
    5. Teething, illness, and children’s health worries
    6. Motherhood emotions: gratitude, overwhelm, fear, and joy
    7. Running a business while parenting young children
    8. Making peace with uncertainty and big life decisions
    9. Holding opposites in motherhood — exhaustion and sweetness at once


    00:00 – Welcome & why we love life update episodes

    02:15 – Social media, sharing updates, and being more offline

    06:30 – Deciding whether to have another baby

    12:45 – Pregnancy after health issues & fertility considerations

    20:30 – Getting sick in early pregnancy & managing anxiety

    27:40 – Progesterone, fertility differences, and early symptoms

    33:50 – Finding out the baby’s gender & family reactions

    39:45 – Emotional shifts, energy changes, and pregnancy differences

    45:30 – Sleep deprivation, teething, and postpartum struggles

    52:10 – Children’s health worries, co-sleeping, and mental load

    57:00 – Gratitude, perspective, and closing thoughts


    👉 New episodes every Wednesday


    Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

    • Araza Makeup - Use code DRLEAH for 10% off!


    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
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    59 m
  • 5 Things That Ruin Breastfeeding (And Why No One Prepares Mothers for This) | #146

    5 Things That Ruin Breastfeeding (And Why No One Prepares Mothers for This) | #146
    Jan 7 2026

    Breastfeeding is often framed as natural, yet so many mothers struggle, feel overwhelmed, or are told their bodies are failing them. In this episode, we break down five major factors that can sabotage breastfeeding and why women are rarely prepared for them.


    We explore how birth interventions, IV fluids, epidurals, misinformation, lack of postpartum support, and unrealistic expectations around sleep and feeding can deeply impact milk supply, confidence, and the breastfeeding relationship. We also unpack why phrases like “fed is best” can sometimes shut down honest conversations about the real challenges mothers face.


    This conversation is not about shame or blame. It’s about education, context, and holding nuance. Tools like formula, C-sections, and IVF can be life-saving and necessary, but they should not be treated as the first or only option without addressing root causes and the systemic gaps in maternal care.


    Episode Chapters

    00:00 Introduction & Why this conversation matters

    02:15 How birth influences breastfeeding

    07:10 IV fluids, engorgement & supply panic

    12:30 Epidurals & interventions

    18:45 The worst breastfeeding advice

    24:10 Bottles, pacifiers & nipple confusion

    30:05 Where “fed is best” falls short

    36:40 Systemic gaps in breastfeeding education

    43:20 Formula, IVF & C-sections

    51:10 Sleep pressure & breastfeeding

    58:30 Compassion, context & informed choice

    1:03:30 Final reflections


    In This Episode, We Cover:

    • How birth experiences influence breastfeeding success

    • Common breastfeeding myths and harmful advice

    • Why supply-and-demand is rarely explained clearly

    • How sleep pressure disrupts maternal instincts

    • Why breastfeeding struggles are not a personal failure


    🎧 Listen in for a grounded, honest discussion that gives mothers the information they deserve, and the permission to hold compassion, nuance, and informed choice.


    👉 New episodes every Wednesday

    👉 Explore related conversations in our Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum playlists


    Resources Mentioned in This Episode

    1. Dr. Morgan’s Mastitis Manual
    2. Dealing with mastitis? Get Dr. Morgan’s comprehensive Mastitis Manual and learn how to identify which type of mastitis you have, whether antibiotics are necessary, and how to support healing naturally. - https://milkmedicine.com/mastitis-manual/


    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 10% at Fond

    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
    Más Menos
    1 h y 7 m
  • Coming Off Birth Control: What Your Body Needs Before Pregnancy | #145

    Coming Off Birth Control: What Your Body Needs Before Pregnancy | #145
    Dec 31 2025

    In this episode of Healthy As A Mother, we’re joined by Dr. Leah Gordon to explore why so many women struggle with fertility, even when their labs look “normal.”


    We discuss how hormonal birth control, chronic stress, gut health, inflammation, and nervous system dysregulation can quietly block conception and implantation.


    Dr. Leah explains why ovulation alone doesn’t always equal fertility, how the body’s stress response impacts reproductive hormones, and what it really means to support the body before pregnancy.


    This is a compassionate, root-cause conversation for women navigating unexplained infertility, coming off birth control, or preparing their body for pregnancy, and a reminder that the body isn’t broken, it just needs the right support.


    RESOURCES MENTIONED

    • Womanhood Wellness Membership: Where functional medicine meets feminine wisdom—guiding you to balance hormones, awaken libido, and prepare for pregnancy with intention. 👉 Join today
    • The Birth of the Pill — A deep dive into the origins and long-term implications of hormonal birth control 👉 https://amzn.to/4slrNfw\
    • Episode #4 - Preconception: What It Is and Why It Matters 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healthy-as-a-mother/id1663942916?i=1000593847905


    In this episode, we cover:

    00:00 Coming Off Birth Control & Preconception Overview

    02:55 Why Preconception Matters More Than We’re Taught

    06:10 What Really Happens When You Stop Hormonal Birth Control

    10:55 Why “Wait and See” Isn’t Enough After Birth Control

    14:45 How Birth Control Disrupts Hormone Communication

    19:05 Post-Pill Hormone Surges & Acne Explained

    22:20 Why Your Cycle May Not Return Right Away

    25:05 The Hidden Nutrient Depletions From Birth Control

    29:45 Birth Control as Symptom Masking (The Fire Alarm Analogy)

    34:50 The Key Nutrients Needed for Fertility & Pregnancy

    40:20 Why Most Prenatals Aren’t Enough

    43:30 Liver Health, Detox & Hormone Clearance

    48:35 How Birth Control Impacts the Gut & Microbiome

    53:10 Inflammation, Stress & Fertility Challenges

    57:40 Nervous System Regulation & Preparing for Pregnancy

    01:02:10 Final Thoughts on Healing Before Conception


    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
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    1 h y 5 m
  • #144: The Hidden Emotional Toll of Infertility | Dr. Andrea Liner

    #144: The Hidden Emotional Toll of Infertility | Dr. Andrea Liner
    Dec 24 2025

    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 hardest part of trying to conceive isn't your body, but the silence around what you're actually feeling?

    

    In this episode, Dr. Leah sits down with Dr. Andrea Liner, a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in reproductive mental health. She's also an IVF mama who navigated nearly four years of infertility, including misdiagnosis, two egg retrievals, and being told at 32 that she needed an egg donor.


    The trying to conceive journey brings up emotions most people don't know how to name, let alone process. Dr. Andrea walks through the mental traps that commonly keep couples stuck, the relationship dynamics that shift under pressure, and what actually helps when nothing is going according to plan.


    You’ll Learn:


    [00:00] Introduction

    [02:60] Dr. Andrea's nearly four-year fertility journey

    [15:27] The mental toll on high-functioning achievers who can't muscle their way through infertility

    [17:44] How fertility struggles permeate every aspect of your daily life and identity

    [18:45] The existential questions that surface when you feel like a failure at what matters most

    [24:29] When sex becomes a chore rather than a fun activity that cultivates connection and brings new life into the world

    [27:13] The worst things people say and how to navigate relationships during infertility

    [37:34] First steps for navigating pregnancy loss

    [40:55] The shame of struggling in pregnancy when you fought so hard to conceive

    

    Connect on a deeper level with Dr. Andrea by joining her mailing list.


    Find more from Dr. Andrea:


    Flux Psychology | Website

    Reproductive Psychology | Instagram


    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
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    50 m