Healthy As A Mother

What actually happens to your baby in the first 24–48 hours after birth, and which newborn interventions should you say yes or no to?

In this episode, we break down 14 common newborn interventions and procedures parents may be offered right after delivery. From delayed cord clamping and suctioning to vitamin K, hepatitis B, erythromycin eye ointment, newborn metabolic screening, hearing and heart tests, circumcision, jaundice, early bathing, and pediatric follow-up, we explain what these interventions are, why they’re offered, and what parents should understand before birth.

Whether you’re planning a hospital birth, home birth, or birth center delivery, this conversation will help you make informed decisions about newborn care and know what questions to ask when creating your birth plan.

00:00 Trailer + intro
01:13 Why newborn interventions matter
03:44 Delayed cord clamping
09:23 Rubbing and suctioning after birth
14:26 Swaddling, hats, and skin-to-skin
18:37 The golden hour and delaying newborn exams
21:10 Vitamin K shot vs oral vitamin K
29:44 Hepatitis B vaccine at birth
34:07 Erythromycin eye ointment
36:57 Newborn metabolic screening / heel prick / PKU test
39:19 Newborn blood sugar testing
41:42 Hearing test and congenital heart disease screening
46:36 Circumcision considerations
47:32 Early bath and newborn microbiome
52:31 Newborn jaundice explained
56:39 Breastfeeding jaundice vs breast milk jaundice
59:04 Pediatrician visits and delayed vaccine schedules
01:05:39 Closing thoughts

Resources From This Episode:
Vax Dilemmas: Hesitancy, Studies, and Alternate Schedules with Dr. Joel Gator Warsh | Ep. 109 - https://youtu.be/d72t0Dv18Ok?si=OawY6xJOcWhy0w44
Vaccines From A Neurodevelopmental Perspective with Dr. Ari Calhoun | Ep. 52 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healthy-as-a-mother/id1663942916?i=1000648382589
5 Things That Ruin Breastfeeding | Ep 146 - https://youtu.be/BQgB9rQ_Msk?si=fwrB0QJ1DvfzrrUm
Breastfeeding and Trying To Conceive | Ep 113 - https://youtu.be/vRXXioExVh8?si=epAYIrJeqe197ftJ
Breastfeeding: What to KNOW before your baby is born | Ep 10 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/healthy-as-a-mother/id1663942916?i=1000601146225

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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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Use code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at Redmond
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In this honest life update episode, we’re sharing what motherhood looks like for us right now... the wins, the challenges, and the very real in-between.

We talk about rebuilding strength after a C-section, navigating toddler chaos and overstimulation, how sleep deprivation affects everything, and why routines can feel life-giving in certain seasons of motherhood. We also open up about feeling baby kicks during pregnancy, the emotional weight of the mental load, waking up at 5 a.m., hormone-supportive habits, and the financial pressure that can come with running a business while raising a family.

This episode is candid, relatable, and full of those real mom moments that often go unspoken. If you’re in a season of trying to hold it all together while also finding your way back to yourself, this one will feel like a conversation with friends who get it.

In this episode, we cover:
Rebuilding strength and reconnecting with your body after a C-section
The emotional and physical impact of postpartum sleep deprivation
Toddler chaos and the reality of parenting multiple kids
The invisible mental load many mothers carry every day
Why routines can actually create more freedom, creativity, and flow
The transition out of the postpartum season and back into personal rhythms
Navigating motherhood while growing and supporting a business
The financial and emotional pressures of entrepreneurship during family life
The beauty of sharing both the wins and the challenges of motherhood
Why real conversations about motherhood matter more than perfection online

00:00 Intro
01:33 Life updates
02:14 Toddler chaos and the destruction phase
07:49 Reflecting on postpartum while caring for other children
12:33 Why sleep deprivation is so hard in motherhood
13:35 Trying to stay organized as a mom (and why chaos still happens)
21:39 The small parenting struggles that add up
31:00 The Skylight calendar and organizing family life
39:24 Getting back into exercise after a C-section
44:30 Getting back into routine and finding rhythm again
54:45 The pressure for business to grow financially
1:00:00 Money as the next personal growth frontier
1:03:51 Why sharing life updates matters
1:07:19 Outro

Resources Mentioned:
Uplift Workout Program: Use code DRLEAH0770 for $20 off
Dow Janes Financial Program

Healthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTube
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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 HAAM 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

Your menstrual cycle isn’t random; it’s a monthly hormone report card.

In this episode, Dr. Leah breaks down how to decode your cycle from bleed to bleed and what common symptoms may be telling you about progesterone, estrogen, inflammation, ovulation, and fertility.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your spotting, PMS, heavy bleeding, dry cycles, painful periods, or irregular timing are “normal”, this episode will help you understand what your body may actually be communicating.

In this episode, we cover:
• Spotting before your period & what it means for progesterone
• Light or short periods & signs of low estrogen or under-fueling
• Heavy bleeding & estrogen dominance
• Ovulation pain: normal vs red flag
• PMS, PMDD & progesterone deficiencies
• Mood shifts right after ovulation
• Low cervical mucus / dry cycles
• Long cycles & PCOS clues
• Short cycles, luteal phase defects & egg reserve
• Brown blood & blood stagnation
• Severe cramping & endometriosis
• Breast tenderness, prolactin & fibrocystic changes

00:00 – Trailer & Intro
02:06 – Your cycle as a “report card”
06:14 – Spotting before your period (low progesterone clues)
08:53 – Mid-luteal spotting: infection, polyps, implantation
13:54 – Light or short periods (low estrogen & under-fueling)
18:54 – Heavy bleeding (estrogen dominance & growth conditions)
23:47 – Ovulation pain explained
26:05 – PMS & PMDD (progesterone, nutrients, blood sugar)
30:19 – Mood changes after ovulation
33:38 – Low cervical mucus / dry cycles
36:46 – Long cycles & PCOS
42:47 – Short cycles & ovarian reserve
47:25 – Brown blood & stagnation
48:50 – Severe cramping & endometriosis
53:09 – Breast changes & lymph support
57:06 – Final thoughts

Resources From This Episode:
Episode #31: The Power of Progesterone
Episode #151: When Sex Hurts
Hormone & Cycle Health Episode Playlist

If you want step-by-step hormone education, cycle tracking guidance, and root-cause protocols, explore the Womanhood Wellness Membership for deeper support: https://drleahgordon.com/join

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 HAAM 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

Pregnancy over 40 is often surrounded by fear, but the real story is more nuanced than most women are told.

In Part 2 of our Over 40 series, we break down what actually matters when considering pregnancy later in life, including medical risks, lifestyle factors, birth decisions, and even the surprising benefits of having babies in your 40s.

If you’ve been labeled “advanced maternal age,” feeling pressure about timing, or wondering whether it’s too late to grow your family, this episode offers an evidence-based and compassionate perspective.

In this episode, we discuss:
✔️ Induction pressure and spontaneous labor after 40
✔️ How to evaluate pregnancy risks realistically
✔️ Miscarriage and chromosomal risk explained simply
✔️ When shorter age gaps may make sense biologically
✔️ The truth about twins and fertility after 40
✔️ Longevity myths — why later fertility may signal better health
✔️ Breastfeeding, family planning & timing decisions
✔️ Breast cancer risk reduction linked to pregnancy and nursing
✔️ Lifestyle factors that matter most in pregnancy after 40
✔️ Preconception health, nutrition, and exercise recommendations

00:00 Trailer + Podcast Intro
01:45 Episode Begins — Pregnancy & Birth Over 40 Overview
02:13 Why More Women Are Having Babies After 40
03:55 Advanced Maternal Age: What Actually Matters
06:02 Chromosomal Risks Explained (Down Syndrome & Testing)
08:00 NIPT Testing — Pros, Cons & When It Makes Sense
10:14 Twin Pregnancy Risk After 40
13:27 Miscarriage Statistics by Age
16:54 Pregnancy Complications Over 40 (Hypertension & Preeclampsia)
19:35 Placenta Previa Risk Factors
21:35 Gestational Diabetes & Lifestyle Factors
23:30 Growth Restriction & Paternal Health Influence
24:58 Preterm Labor Risk
25:47 Stillbirth Risk — What the Numbers Really Mean
28:02 Induction & Cesarean Rates After 40
30:35 Medical System vs Physiological Birth Discussion

Pregnancy outcomes are influenced by far more than age alone: metabolic health, lifestyle, and individualized care play a major role. Whether you’re trying to conceive, are currently pregnant, or are simply exploring your options, this episode aims to replace fear with clarity.

Watch Part 1 of this series HERE

Resources From This Episode:
Dr. Morgan's 6 Week Pregnancy Call
Episode #31 The Power of Progesterone
Episode #150 Everything You Were Never Taught About The Placenta
Episode #113 Breastfeeding and TTC

Healthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTube
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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 HAAM 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

Part 1 of a 2-Part Series: Fertility Over 40

Fertility over 40 is becoming more common than ever, but with it comes confusion, fear, and a lot of outdated information.

In this episode of Healthy As A Mother, we begin a two-part fertility series focused on conception after age 40. We break down what actually changes with age, what matters most for fertility, and — most importantly — what you can influence.

Because chronological age is only one piece of the picture.

You’ll learn why egg quality matters more than egg count, how lifestyle and metabolic health impact fertility outcomes, and how women can support ovulation, hormone balance, and mitochondrial health as they age. If you’ve been told your age alone determines your fertility, this episode offers a more nuanced and hopeful perspective.

In this episode, we cover:
• Why chronological age doesn’t equal ovarian health
• The real role of egg quality vs. egg count (AMH explained)
• How mitochondrial health impacts fertility
• Environmental toxins and hidden fertility stressors
• Blood sugar balance and metabolic health after 40
• Inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormone disruption
• Ovulation strength and progesterone production
• Short luteal phases and why they matter for implantation
• Signs of low progesterone you shouldn’t ignore
• How lifestyle changes can meaningfully improve fertility outcomes

00:00 — Trailer & Podcast Intro
03:25 — Episode begins: Fertility over 40 overview
05:10 — Chronological age vs ovarian environment
21:30 — Egg quality, lifestyle, and metabolic health
23:58 — Inflammation, stress & nutrient deficiencies explained
24:25 — Progesterone, luteal phase & cycle changes after 40
25:10 — Signs of low progesterone to watch for
48:43 — IVF myths: why optimization matters first
49:12 — Why IVF doesn’t bypass egg or sperm quality
49:42 — Rethinking fertility decisions after 40
50:51 — Fertility as a marker of overall health

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 HAAM 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