Healthy As A Mother

What labs should women actually be asking for, and what do those numbers really tell you about your health? In this episode of Healthy As A Mother, Dr. Leah Gordon breaks down the key labs she believes women should understand, from blood sugar and fasting insulin to thyroid, iron, inflammation, reproductive hormones, vitamin D and more. She explains what these markers can reveal about metabolic health, fertility, energy, hormones, symptoms and overall health, and why looking at a single lab without the right context can sometimes miss the bigger picture.The conversation also dives into reproductive hormone testing, including estradiol, progesterone, FSH, LH, AMH, testosterone, SHBG and DHEA, with a major emphasis on understanding where you are in your menstrual cycle when certain labs are drawn. Leah and Morgan discuss why cycle tracking and understanding ovulation can give women important context about their own health, whether they are trying to conceive, trying to avoid pregnancy, navigating postpartum or breastfeeding, or approaching perimenopause.They also cover thyroid markers, ferritin and iron studies, hs-CRP and inflammation, cortisol, vitamin D, ANA, and the importance of considering a partner’s semen analysis when trying to conceive. The episode ultimately comes back to one central idea: learning the basics of your own health can help you ask better questions, recognize when something deserves further investigation, and become more informed about what is happening in your body.00:00 Trailer + Introduction03:26 Understanding Women’s Health Labs04:58 Why Testing Matters for Women’s Health09:29 Blood Sugar, Insulin & Metabolic Health16:34 Thyroid Labs: TSH, T3, T4 & Antibodies23:18 Iron & Ferritin: What Women Should Know29:10 Inflammation & hs-CRP33:59 Why Preconception Lab Testing Matters38:57 Reproductive Hormones & Cycle Timing40:52 Estradiol: When to Test Estrogen42:17 Progesterone: When to Test It45:37 Cycle Tracking & Knowing When You Ovulate49:46 FSH & LH: What They Tell You54:42 AMH & Ovarian Reserve57:54 Testosterone, SHBG & DHEA61:14 Cortisol, Vitamin D & Stress62:38 ANA, Fertility & Partner Testing63:56 Understanding Your Labs & Advocating for Your HealthResources From This Episode:Dr. Leah's Free Fertility Lab Guide - https://drleahgordon.com/fertility-lab-guide-freebieDr. Leah's Free Fertility Masterclass - https://fertilitymasterclass.drleahgordon.com/Dr. Leah's Taking Back Fertility Program - https://takebackfertility.drleahgordon.com/Dr. Leah's Womanhood Wellness Membership - https://drleahgordon.com/joinHealthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTubeHealthy As A Mother Podcast | InstagramHealthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTokHealthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch StoreFind 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 EarthleyUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at RedmondFor 20% off your first order at Needed, use code HEALTHYMOTHERSave $260 at Lumebox, use code HEALTHYASAMOTHERUse code HAAM and save 10% at Fond

Eczema is incredibly common in babies and children, but what if the skin is only showing us part of the story? In this episode, Dr. Morgan MacDermott sits down with holistic nurse, clinical herbalist, and pediatric eczema practitioner Abbie Bradford to unpack the many factors that can contribute to eczema and why there isn't one universal cause or solution. They discuss the connection between eczema, gut health, food allergies and sensitivities, the microbiome, antibiotics, C-sections, breastfeeding, environmental exposures, and mold. Abbie also explains why the last thing that happened before a flare isn't necessarily the root cause, when food-based topicals may be problematic for babies, how to think about probiotics and stool testing, and which practical changes parents can start with at home. They also cover mold testing, breastfeeding and elimination diets, allergy testing, topical care, red light, bathing, and why some children may eventually "grow out" of eczema without actually addressing what was happening underneath. Most importantly, this conversation gives parents a framework for thinking about eczema without getting overwhelmed by the endless list of possible triggers. Rather than chasing one cause, Abbie explains how to look at the whole picture and identify the factors that may be contributing to a child's individual presentation.00:00 Trailer + Introduction02:47 Why Eczema Is More Than a Skin Problem06:00 How Common Is Childhood Eczema?09:40 Eczema Is a Symptom, Not the Root Cause11:00 Can Food-Based Lotions Make Eczema Worse?13:28 Vaccines, Immune Reactivity & the “Bucket” Analogy19:42 Are Food Allergies Causing Eczema?21:44 When Baby Rashes Are Normal vs. Concerning23:09 The Gut-Eczema Connection25:47 Mold & Environmental Triggers32:04 How to Test Your Home for Mold38:00 Why Indoor Mold Can Become a Problem40:32 Can Eczema Happen Even Without Antibiotics or Medical Interventions?42:54 Probiotics & Gut Testing for Eczema44:16 Tiny Health vs. GI Map: What Parents Should Know47:55 When Probiotics Can Make Eczema Worse49:57 Gut Healing, Herbs & Why “Killing” Too Soon Can Backfire54:44 The First Things Parents Can Do at Home61:01 Breastfeeding, Elimination Diets & Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy67:57 Will My Child Grow Out of Eczema?72:17 Are Allergy Tests Helpful?74:36 Topicals, Red Light & Caring for Eczema-Prone Skin77:21 Bathing, Moisturizing & Why It Depends79:23 Final Thoughts for ParentsResources From This Episode: Check out Abby's Website - https://www.myvibranthealth.net/Follow Abby on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_abbiebradford/ERMI Mold Dust Test - https://moldtesting.com/IEP (Indoor Environmental Professional) List - https://iseai.org/iep-list/Tiny Health Stool Test - https://tinyhealth.myshopify.com/?rfsn=8737966.461e18&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=8737966.461e18Evivo Probiotic - https://www.evivo.com/ION Biome Gut Support - https://intelligenceofnature.com/products/gut-health-supplementCheck out Free to Feed on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/free.to.feed/Dairy Free Breastfeeding Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/dairyfreediet.breastfeeding/ Lumebox Red Light Therapy Device, use code HEALTHYASAMOTHER - https://thelumebox.com/pages/lb68/?_ef_transaction_id=&oid=3&affid=4336&discount=healthyasamotherpodcastActive Skin Repair - https://shop.bldgactive.com/discount/HEALTHYMOTHERAlba Un-Petroleum JellyDr. Morgan's Pediatric Sickness CourseHealthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTubeHealthy As A Mother Podcast | InstagramHealthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTokHealthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch StoreDr. Morgan MacDermott | InstagramDr. Morgan MacDermott | WebsiteUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 10% at EarthleyUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at RedmondFor 20% off your first order at Needed, use code HEALTHYMOTHERUse code HAAM and save 10% at Fond

What happens when we stop viewing the menstrual cycle as an essential part of female biology and start treating it as something to suppress? In this episode, Dr. Leah Gordon and Dr. Morgan MacDermott take a deeper look at the history and culture surrounding hormonal birth control, how women came to view their cycles as inconvenient or problematic, and what can happen when symptoms like painful periods, PMS, acne, irregular cycles, or heavy bleeding are suppressed instead of investigated. They discuss the difference between contraception and treating the root cause of hormonal symptoms, fertility awareness and modern cycle tracking, potential side effects and risks of hormonal birth control, informed consent, fertility, and why individualized care matters. Most importantly, this isn't an argument that every woman should avoid birth control, it's a conversation about understanding your body, knowing your options, and making intentional decisions about your reproductive health.00:00 — Trailer & Introduction03:38 — The War on Female Biology07:05 — The History of Birth Control11:08 — Is Birth Control Fixing the Problem?13:58 — The Fire Alarm Analogy16:40 — Informed Consent & Birth Control19:21 — When Birth Control Has a Place24:22 — A Personal Experience With Birth Control30:21 — What Is “Woman Essence”?34:54 — Fertility Awareness vs. Birth Control40:10 — The Truth About the Rhythm Method41:58 — Public Health vs. Individualized Care44:42 — Can Birth Control Mask Fertility Problems?45:32 — The Potential Risks of Hormonal Birth Control47:46 — Depo-Provera & Emerging Safety Concerns49:09 — How Much Do We Really Know About Long-Term Risks?51:37 — Birth Control & Fertility: What We Know53:03 — Why Did Male Birth Control Studies Stop?53:59 — Birth Control, Responsibility & Choice56:09 — Feminism, Motherhood & the Modern Woman60:39 — Is Our Culture Designed for Mothers?63:15 — Know Your Why Before Taking Birth Control63:44 — Your Cycle Is a Vital Sign64:57 — What Real Reproductive Freedom Looks Like65:50 — Learning to Value the Female Cycle67:47 — Finding Joy in Your Womanhood71:09 — ClosingResources From This Episode:Download Dr. Leah's Free Fertility Lab Guide - https://drleahgordon.com/fertility-lab-guide-freebieJoin Womanhood Wellness membership - https://drleahgordon.com/joinPeriod as 5th Vital Sign - https://youtu.be/HIKr1R3iYKo?si=mLjYzAPYON15ArM0Preparing Body for Pregnancy After Birth Control - https://youtu.be/THaoCkFAxWk?si=787HpG-E06M4L5AqHealthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTubeHealthy As A Mother Podcast | InstagramHealthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTokHealthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch StoreFind 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 EarthleyUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at RedmondFor 20% off your first order at Needed, use code HEALTHYMOTHERSave $260 at Lumebox, use code HEALTHYASAMOTHERUse code HAAM and save 10% at Fond

ADHD can look very different in women and motherhood: hormonal shifts, pregnancy, and postpartum can dramatically change how those symptoms show up. In this episode, we’re joined by integrative ADHD specialist Dr. Carrie McMillin to unpack the ADHD brain, including executive function, task initiation, working memory, hyperfocus, dopamine, and emotional regulation.We dive into how estrogen and progesterone interact with dopamine throughout the menstrual cycle, why some women notice more ADHD symptoms during the luteal phase, and what can happen during pregnancy and postpartum. Dr. McMillin explains why the postpartum period can be especially challenging, including the effects of the dramatic estrogen drop, prolactin, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and the increased demands of caring for a baby.We also discuss how to distinguish ADHD from normal motherhood overwhelm, anxiety, and sleep deprivation; how ADHD is diagnosed in adults; medications and supplements; iron, B vitamins, L-tyrosine, and other potential supports; the importance of building systems around your individual executive-function struggles; and why small sources of genuine joy can be an important part of supporting your brain.Finally, we talk about perimenopause, irritability and PMDD, caffeine, screen time, and practical ways women with ADHD can work with their brains instead of constantly fighting against them. The biggest takeaway? Understanding what's happening in your brain can replace shame with self-compassion and help you build systems that actually work for you.00:00 —Trailer & Introduction03:06 —The ADHD Brain Isn't Broken06:15 —The 3 Types of ADHD11:02 —Task Initiation, Motivation & Executive Function12:06 —Hyperfocus & Dopamine14:57 —Why ADHD Affects Working Memory19:29 —Why Motherhood Can Amplify ADHD Symptoms21:00 —How ADHD Is Diagnosed in Adults24:20 —ADHD & the Menstrual Cycle27:26 —Estrogen, Progesterone & Dopamine34:17 —ADHD During Pregnancy35:35 —Why Sleep Deprivation Can Mimic ADHD40:36 —How Pregnancy Changes the Brain42:01 —The Postpartum ADHD Crash44:36 —ADHD, Breastfeeding & Prolactin45:45 —Supporting ADHD Postpartum50:19 —ADHD-Friendly Systems That Actually Help52:21 —Finding Joy When You're Overwhelmed55:43 —Is It ADHD or Just Motherhood Overload?58:25 —ADHD Medication: When Is It Worth Considering?60:40 —Supplements & Natural ADHD Support65:24 —ADHD, Irritability & PMDD66:36 —ADHD & Perimenopause67:17 —Building Systems Around Your Brain70:08 —Caffeine & ADHD71:47 —Screens, Dopamine & ADHD75:17 —The Biggest Takeaway for Moms With ADHDResources From This Episode:Dr. Carrie's Website- adhdetails.com Dr. Carrie's Instagram- www.instagram.com/adhdetailsSmart but Scattered book- https://amzn.to/3RtakE8 The Radical Guide for Women with ADHD book- https://amzn.to/3PUJdS0 Your Brain Is Not Broken book- https://amzn.to/4dYcYdI Do Less book- https://amzn.to/49YznFl Finch app- https://finchcare.com/mobileTrello app- https://trello.com/ClickUp app- https://try.web.clickup.com/qcca0vh17mp2Skylight calendar- https://tidd.ly/4s8VJe9 Get some of the supplements(creatine, L-tyrosine, pharmaGABA, L-theanine, lion's mane)recommended for 15% off on Fullscript- https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/mmacdermott/store-startUse code HEALTHYMOTHER to get a discount on Needed Stress Support- https://www.thisisneeded.com/discount/HEALTHYMOTHERHealthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTubeHealthy As A Mother Podcast | InstagramHealthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTokHealthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch StoreDr. Leah Gordon | InstagramDr. Leah Gordon | WebsiteWomanhood Wellness | WebsiteDr. Morgan MacDermott | InstagramDr. Morgan MacDermott | WebsiteUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 10% at EarthleyUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at RedmondFor 20% off your first order at Needed, use code HEALTHYMOTHERSave $260 at Lumebox, use code HEALTHYASAMOTHERUse code HAAM and save 10% at Fond

In this episode of Healthy As A Mother, Leah and Morgan unpack one of the biggest fears many women have when considering IVF: Are IVF babies less healthy? They explore what the research actually shows around premature birth, low birth weight, NICU admissions, congenital heart defects, allergies, eczema, asthma, and autism. More importantly, they ask whether those outcomes can truly be attributed to IVF itself. They discuss the many variables that can complicate the research, including the underlying causes of infertility, parental age, sperm and egg health, metabolic and autoimmune conditions, pregnancy complications, and the amount of medical intervention surrounding IVF. They also cover epigenetics, microbiome health, induction and C-sections, baby aspirin, pregnancy monitoring, and why optimizing both parents' health before IVF may matter.Ultimately, this is a conversation about moving beyond fear and black-and-white thinking to look at IVF with more nuance, critical thinking, and hope. The hosts also share their personal experiences with IVF and why they believe it can be an important tool when it is truly needed, while still questioning how intentionally it is used.00:00 – Trailer & Introduction03:45 – Are IVF Babies Less Healthy?05:34 – The Fear of IVF and Baby Health07:05 – What the Research Actually Shows09:26 – Relative Risk vs. Absolute Risk10:33 – Is IVF Really the Cause?10:59 – The Underlying Causes of Infertility14:32 – Sperm Health, Egg Selection & Epigenetics17:47 – Could IVF Itself Affect Health?20:09 – Does IVF Bypass Natural Selection?22:29 – How Parental Health Can Affect the Baby25:27 – Are We Too Far Outside of Nature?27:21 – IVF, Autism & What the Research Can't Tease Apart31:17 – The Problem With How We Study IVF35:09 – Could AI Change Medical Research?37:14 – Why Patterns and Clinical Experience Matter40:00 – The Absence of Evidence Is Not Evidence of Absence41:55 – How to Think Critically About Research42:53 – IVF and Congenital Heart Defects43:45 – IVF, Allergies, Eczema & the Microbiome46:04 – Pregnancy Monitoring After IVF47:19 – Do IVF Patients Need Baby Aspirin?48:46 – The Problem With Too Much Intervention51:28 – IVF, Induction & C-Sections54:27 – Could Birth Interventions Affect Baby Health?56:10 – Are IVF Babies Actually Different?57:19 – IVF as a Tool, Not a Failure58:46 – How to Optimize Health Before IVF59:59 – Using IVF Intentionally62:00 – Finding Your Own “Edge” Around IVF64:03 – Your IVF Decisions Are Yours65:11 – A Message of HopeResources From This Episode:Dirty Genes by Ben Lynch - https://www.drbenlynch.com/Join Dr. Leah's Womanhood Wellness membership! - www.womanhoodwellness.comDownload Dr. Leah's FREE Optimizing IVF Guide! - https://drleahgordon.com/ivf-freebieDownload Dr. Leah's FREE Investigating Infertility Guide! - https://drleahgordon.com/infertility-freebieHealthy As A Mother Podcast | YouTubeHealthy As A Mother Podcast | InstagramHealthy As A Mother Podcast | TikTokHealthy As A Mother Podcast | Merch StoreFind 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 EarthleyUse code HEALTHYMOTHER and save 15% at RedmondFor 20% off your first order at Needed, use code HEALTHYMOTHERSave $260 at Lumebox, use code HEALTHYASAMOTHERUse code HAAM and save 10% at Fond