Healthy As A Mother

Getting pregnant again after a C-section comes with unique physical, emotional, and hormonal considerations that many women are never told about. In this episode, we break down what to know about fertility after cesarean birth, scar tissue healing, adhesions, secondary infertility, VBAC considerations, pelvic floor recovery, and the emotional impact a C-section can leave on the body.

We discuss how scar tissue and C-section healing may affect implantation, why some women experience difficulty conceiving after a cesarean, and the importance of supporting your core, pelvic floor, nervous system, and microbiome before trying for another baby. We also dive into placenta previa and accreta risks, uterine rupture statistics, spacing pregnancies after C-section, and how trauma can remain stored in the body long after birth.

Whether you’re preparing to conceive after a cesarean, considering a VBAC, healing from birth trauma, or simply wanting to better understand your body after a C-section, this episode offers both practical guidance and compassionate support.

00:00 Trailer & Intro
01:43 How C-Sections Can Affect Future Fertility
03:52 Scar Tissue & Adhesions Explained
05:25 Placenta Previa & Accreta Risks After Cesarean
10:25 Antibiotics, Microbiome & Secondary Infertility
11:41 Birth Trauma & Nervous System Healing
15:25 Body Image, Desire & Emotional Recovery
18:54 How Long Should You Wait Before Another Pregnancy?
22:46 Pregnancy Spacing, Core Strength & Recovery
24:29 Signs Your Scar May Need More Support
26:15 Pelvic Floor Therapy & Core Healing
29:19 Scar Massage, Gua Sha & Red Light Therapy
32:18 Supplements & Nutrients for Scar Healing
36:35 Preparing for a VBAC After C-Section
38:38 Multiple C-Sections & Birth Decisions
43:05 VBAC Statistics & Uterine Rupture Risks
49:15 Why Birth Decisions Aren’t One-Size-Fits-All
50:25 Preconception Support After a C-Section
51:30 Encouragement for Your Next Pregnancy Journey

Resources From This Episode:
Get $10 off Evvy Vaginal Test here!
Bloom Method
Thrive Physical Therapy (Dr. Lauren Mallari Snyder in San Diego)
Restore PT - Sarah Grahm (local in Boise)
Treasure Valley Pelvic Health

Other Related Episodes:
All About VBAC Part 1 Episode
All About VBAC Part 2 Episode
Vaginal Bugs and the Essential Role They Play Episode
The Secret Fertility Factor No One Talks About Episode
Home Birth Turned C-Section: Dr. Leah's Birth Story Episode
Dr Leah's Second Birth Story Episode
Detoxing Before Pregnancy: What Actually Matters (And What Doesn't) Episode
When Sex Hurts: The Root Cause No One Talks About Episode
Preconception: What It Is and Why It Matters Episode
Coming Off Birth Control: What Your Body Needs Before Pregnancy Episode
Breastfeeding While Trying To Conceive Episode

Healthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTube
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Instagram
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTok
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch Store

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 Earthley
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
Use code HAAM and save 10% at Fond

Tongue ties are one of the most misunderstood topics in infant feeding and airway health and many parents are left confused, dismissed, or unsure what to do next.

In this episode, Dr. Morgan sits down with IBCLC and craniosacral therapist Lynnelle King to break down the difference between babies who are simply “tight” versus babies who are truly tongue tied, why oral function matters far beyond breastfeeding, and how ties can impact everything from milk transfer and nipple pain to palate development, breathing, sleep, and long-term airway health.

They discuss common signs of oral ties, including clicking while nursing, blistered lips, white-coated tongues, poor milk transfer, gas, tension patterns, and recurring breastfeeding struggles. The conversation also dives into craniosacral therapy, fascial tension, healing after tie releases, timing of releases, and why individualized care matters so much for both mom and baby.

This episode is packed with nuanced discussion for parents trying to decide whether bodywork alone is enough, when a release may actually be necessary, and how to better advocate for yourself if you feel something isn’t right with your baby’s feeding experience.

00:00 Trailer + Intro
00:42 Why Tongue Ties Matter
02:55 Meet IBCLC Lynnelle King
05:40 Finding Lactation Support Before Birth
07:48 What Craniosacral Therapy Is
11:04 Tight vs Tied Explained
12:37 Are Tongue Ties More Common Today?
14:00 Airway Health & Modern Facial Development
15:38 Early Tongue Tie Releases
17:03 Why Tie Releases Aren’t a Quick Fix
18:44 Long-Term Effects of Tongue Ties
21:06 Common Signs of Oral Ties
22:24 High Palates & Airway Development
25:10 Understanding Fascial Tension
32:32 Can Bodywork Alone Fix Tongue Ties?
35:22 Why Lynnelle Only Did Bodywork for 4 Years
36:36 Are Tongue Tie Releases Harmful?
37:50 Why Some Tie Releases “Don’t Work”
41:35 How Tongue Tie Healing Actually Works
44:47 How Providers Assess Tight vs Tied
46:32 Best Timing for a Tongue Tie Release
53:37 The Ideal Window for Treatment
56:32 What Happens If You Wait Too Long
58:29 Why Early Lactation Support Matters
63:00 The Mental Health Impact of Feeding Struggles
64:47 Trusting Your Mother’s Intuition
65:28 Final Thoughts & Resources

Resources From This Episode:
Breath by James Nestor
Intake Magnetic Airway Strips
Strolling Under The Skin YouTube Video
Lynnelle's team at Family Seasons
Follow Lynnelle on Instagram

Other Related Episodes:
Episode #12: A Deep Dive into Tongue and Lip Ties
Episode #133: Low Milk Supply

Healthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTube
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Instagram
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTok
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch Store

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 Earthley
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
Use code HAAM and save 10% at Fond

What if hormone imbalances aren’t just physical?

In this episode, we sit down with women’s health and hormone coach Sam “The Hormone Goddess” to explore the deeper emotional, nervous system, and societal roots behind so many women’s health struggles.

We dive into the connection between trauma, stress, suppressed anger, feminine energy, and hormone health, and why so many women feel disconnected from their bodies in modern culture.

From painful periods and burnout to nervous system dysregulation and people-pleasing, this conversation unpacks the hidden layers influencing women’s health and healing.

We also discuss female rage, womb work, joy, pleasure, circadian rhythm, somatic healing, and what it actually means to reconnect with yourself as a woman.

If you’ve ever struggled with PMS, anxiety, exhaustion, hormone imbalances, fertility challenges, or feeling disconnected from your body, this episode is for you.

00:00 Intro + Trailer
01:36 Meet Samantha Hadadi
01:56 Sam’s Hormone Healing Journey
04:46 Trauma, Stress & Hormone Imbalances
05:51 Why Women Aren’t Taught About Their Bodies
07:36 Shame Around Periods & Womanhood
08:46 Why Society Fears Women’s Power
13:41 Female Anger & Hormonal Health
17:36 Suppressed Anger, Liver Health & Hormones
20:56 Somatic Practices for Releasing Anger
23:56 Trauma Release & Emotional Processing
25:51 The Healing Power of Movement & Community
26:46 Nervous System & Hormone Connection
29:56 Trauma, Stress & Women’s Health
32:16 Root Causes of Hormonal Imbalances
36:06 What Is Womb Work?
40:16 The Missing Piece in Hormone Healing
40:46 Joy, Pleasure & Feminine Energy
42:36 Productivity Culture & Women’s Health
47:36 Healing Through Dance & Movement
50:06 Hormones as Messengers
51:36 Reconnecting to Your Authentic Self
52:41 Final Message for Women
54:26 Supporting the Next Generation of Girls
57:36 Where to Find Sam

Resources From This Episode:
Dr. Leah's Womanhood Wellness Membership
Follow Samantha on Instagram

Healthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTube
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Instagram
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTok
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch Store

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 Earthley
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
Use code HAAM and save 10% at Fond

Birth preparation is often focused on the physical side of labor, including breathing techniques, birth positions, and what to expect during delivery. But for many women planning an unmedicated birth, the biggest factor influencing their experience is not physical at all.

In this episode, we explore birth mindset and how your mental and emotional state can impact labor, pain perception, and your overall birth experience. If you are preparing for an unmedicated birth, learning how to shift from control into surrender may be one of the most important skills you develop.

We discuss how modern culture conditions women to fear birth and how those beliefs can show up during labor. We also explore why high-achieving and type-A women often struggle more during birth, not because they are unprepared, but because they are wired to rely on control in situations that require trust and surrender.

You will learn how mindset influences the body’s natural ability to give birth, including the role of stress, fear, and the nervous system. We also introduce the concept of the "birth goddess" and explain how understanding the intuitive process of labor can completely change the birth experience.

This episode also unpacks the balance between preparation and surrender, and how your environment, support system, and energy in the room can either support or disrupt labor.

0:00 - Trailer and Introduction
1:55 - Why Birth Mindset Is Overlooked
3:00 - How Culture Creates Fear Around Birth
5:00 - Birth Is Mental and Physical
7:00 - Why We Fear Pain
9:00 - The Missing Rite of Passage in Modern Birth
11:00 - Birth as Transformation
13:00 - Why Control Makes Birth Harder
15:00 - The Birth Goddess Concept
18:00 - Surrender vs Control
21:00 - Preparation vs Surrender
24:00 - Why Knowledge Still Matters
27:00 - The Role of Your Support Team
30:00 - What a Spiritual Epidural Means
34:00 - How Environment Affects Labor
38:00 - Why High Achievers Struggle More
42:00 - Masculine and Feminine Energy in Labor
46:00 - Trust and Letting Go
50:00 - Rewiring Beliefs About Birth
55:00 - Preparing for the Unexpected
58:00 - Staying Grounded When Plans Change

Resources From This Episode:
Dr. Morgan's Pregnancy Call Lessons
Healthy As A Mother Epidurals Episode
Labor Like A Goddess book
Rent Tent book

Healthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTube
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Instagram
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTok
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch Store

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
Use code HAAM and save 10% at Fond

Birth preparation is often focused on the physical side of labor, breathing techniques, birth positions, and what to expect during delivery. But for many women planning an unmedicated birth, the biggest factor influencing their experience isn’t physical at all.

In this episode, we dive into birth mindset and explore how your mental and emotional state can directly impact labor, pain perception, and your overall birth experience. If you’re preparing for an unmedicated birth, understanding how to shift from control into surrender may be one of the most important skills you develop.

We break down how modern culture subtly conditions women to fear birth, and how those beliefs can show up in the delivery room. We also explore why high-achieving, type-A women often have a more difficult time during labor, not because they aren’t prepared, but because they’ve been wired to rely on control in situations that require the opposite.

You’ll learn how mindset influences your body’s natural ability to give birth, including the role of stress, fear, and your nervous system. We also introduce the concept of the “birth goddess”, a way to understand the physiological and intuitive process happening during labor, and how learning to trust that process can change everything.

This episode also unpacks the paradox of birth preparation: why you need both knowledge and surrender, and how to balance the two. We discuss how your environment, support system, and energy in the room can either support or disrupt the natural progression of labor. If you’re preparing for birth and want to feel calmer, more confident, and more in control of your experience, without actually trying to control the process, this conversation will completely reframe how you approach labor.

0:00 — Trailer + Introduction
1:55 — Why Birth Mindset Is So Overlooked
3:00 — How Culture Programs Fear Around Birth
5:00 — Birth Is a Mental Game (Not Just Physical)
7:00 — Why We Fear Pain (But Celebrate It in Other Areas)
9:00 — The Lack of “Rite of Passage” in Modern Birth
11:00 — Birth as Transformation (Not Just an Event)
13:00 — Why Control Makes Birth Harder
15:00 — The “Birth Goddess” Concept Explained
18:00 — Surrender vs Control (The Bus Analogy)
21:00 — Preparation vs Surrender Paradox
24:00 — Why Knowledge Still Matters in Birth
27:00 — Your Support Team = Your Protection System
30:00 — What a “Spiritual Epidural” Really Means
34:00 — How Environment Affects Labor (Hospital vs Home)
38:00 — Why High Achievers Struggle More in Birth
42:00 — Masculine vs Feminine Energy in Labor
46:00 — The Role of Trust + Letting Go
50:00 — Identity Work + Rewiring Your Beliefs About Birth
55:00 — Preparing for the Unexpected (Without Fear)
58:00 — How to Stay Grounded Even if Plans Change

Resources From This Episode:
Dr. Morgan's Pregnancy Call Lessons
Healthy As A Mother Epidural Episode
Labor Like A Goddess book
Rent Tent book

Healthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTube
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Instagram
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTok
Healthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch Store

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
Use code HAAM and save 10% at Fond