Healthy As A Mother

Thinking about a home birth but unsure whether it’s actually safe?

In part one of this Home Birth 101 series, Dr. Morgan breaks down the biggest myths around home birth, who is actually a good candidate, why some women choose home birth over hospital birth, and what the research says about safety outcomes for low-risk pregnancies.

We also unpack intervention rates, C-sections, epidurals, transfers, and why birth environment matters more than most people realize.

If you’ve been curious about home birth but overwhelmed by fear-based messaging, this episode is a must-listen.

00:00 Introduction + Trailer
02:39 Why We Needed a Home Birth Episode
09:05 What We’re Covering in This Series
09:54 Home Birth vs Birth Center vs Hospital Birth
13:19 Why Women Choose Home Birth
20:09 Who Is a Good Candidate for Home Birth?
23:05 The Mindset Required for Home Birth
26:32 COVID & The Shift Toward Home Birth
28:09 Is Home Birth Actually Safe?
36:47 What Research Says About Home Birth Outcomes
44:37 Part 1 Wrap-Up

Resources From This Episode:
Maternal Outcomes Study

Other Related Episodes:
Dr. Morgan's First Three Home Birth Stories
Dr. Morgan's 4th Birth Story
Dr. Leah's 1st Birth Story
Dr. Leah's 2nd Birth Story
Everything You Need to Know About Hospital Birth with Care Messer
How Breech Birth Exposes Hospital Dysfunction with Dr. Stuart Fischbein

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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

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In this candid life update, Leah and Morgan share the highs, lows, and unexpected twists they've been navigating behind the scenes.

Leah opens up about the emotional weight of supporting fertility patients through both pregnancies and losses, her husband's exciting startup milestone, and how the "Chinese bamboo tree" analogy is reshaping her perspective on purpose, patience, and growth.

Morgan shares a challenging pregnancy season filled with health scares, a surprising viral infection, a powerful experience supporting a home birth, and a frightening family medical emergency involving her father. Together, they explore motherhood, identity, business, resilience, and what it means to keep moving forward when life feels overwhelming.

00:00 Trailer: High Highs, Low Lows & Life Updates
00:43 Why We Love Life Update Episodes
05:28 The Emotional Weight of Fertility Care
09:58 Looking Beyond Root Causes: The Bigger Infertility Crisis
12:13 Startup Wins & A New Season of Life
14:13 The Chinese Bamboo Tree Lesson on Patience
18:43 Growing a Podcast Without Clickbait
20:43 Work, Motherhood & Identity Shifts
24:43 Toddler Sleep, Nursing & Parenting Updates
26:58 The Dream Life Formula & Becoming Your Future Self
30:43 Morgan's Pregnancy Challenges Begin
31:43 Bee Stings, Swelling & Pregnancy Surprises
36:43 A Painful HSV Infection & Health Scare
41:13 The Doctor Who Showed Up When It Mattered Most
44:28 Missing the Dance Recital for a Birth
47:28 Supporting a Long Labor & Hospital Transfer
53:13 Baby Archer Arrives
54:33 A Family Emergency: Dad's ICU Stay
01:01:13 Navigating Stress, Caregiving & Pregnancy
01:05:43 Preparing for Baby #3 & Summer Plans
01:09:28 Therapy, Support Systems & Looking Ahead
01:10:43 Final Thoughts & Outro

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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
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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

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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
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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