716. The Postpartum Lies We’ve Been Told—And What to Do Instead with Maranda Bower
The Female Health Solution Podcast
Release Date: 04/02/2025
The Female Health Solution Podcast
You’ve been told, “Your labs look normal.” But you’re dragging through your days, snapping over nothing, wide awake at 2 a.m., and feeling like a stranger in your own body. So what's this really about? “Normal” isn’t the whole story. Most standard lab tests are designed to rule out disease. They’re not built to uncover the root cause of fatigue, hormone imbalances, anxiety, stubborn weight, or burnout. That’s why so many women are left thinking: “Something’s wrong, but no one can find it.” It’s not you. It’s your labs. Standard blood work often misses: cortisol...
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I need to tell you about Brenda. When she first came to me, she was done. Exhausted, burned out, frustrated. She felt like she was living in a body she didn’t recognize anymore — and no matter how “healthy” she tried to be, nothing was working. ✔️ Her hair was thinning. ✔️ Her weight was climbing. ✔️ She couldn’t sleep. ✔️ Her energy was nonexistent. ✔️ Her cycles were all over the place. And she kept thinking, “Maybe it’s just stress… maybe it’ll pass.” But it didn’t. What Brenda didn’t realize was that years of unaddressed hormone shifts — from...
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Being exhausted every day is not normal. Not the “I need a little nap” kind of tired. I’m talking about the kind of exhaustion where: You can’t do the grocery store + make dinner in the same day. Folding a load of laundry feels like climbing a mountain. You cancel plans (again) because you just can’t. And when you bring it up? You get told: “Maybe you’re just stressed.” “It's just getting older” "That's just part of being a woman. No. You are not crazy for feeling this way. And you deserve answers. Your energy levels are the result of so many pieces...
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Have you ever found yourself thinking: “I’m not doing anything different… but all of a sudden I’m exhausted, gaining weight, snapping at everyone, and feeling like a shell of myself. What is going on?!” If this sounds like you — please know you’re not crazy, and you’re definitely not alone. I hear this story from women all the time. ➡️ You’re eating well. ➡️ You’re moving your body. ➡️ You’re getting to bed on time. ➡️ And yet — you wake up drained. Mood swinging like crazy. Feeling disconnected from yourself and your people. And when you ask for help?...
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As a physical therapist, Samantha spent years treating bodies in pain. But what she uncovered was that so many of her patients — high achievers, athletes, professionals — weren’t just dealing with physical symptoms. They were carrying deep emotional wounds: perfectionism, people-pleasing, addiction to productivity, and shame. And it wasn’t just in their heads. It was in their nervous systems. In her new book, Breaking the Circuit, she shares: ✨ Her personal journey through addiction recovery, grief, and self-forgiveness ✨ How trauma patterns live in the body and affect our health...
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Let’s clear something up right now — if you’ve been feeling off with your hormones… whether it’s bloating, mood swings, poor sleep, stubborn weight, low energy, or unpredictable cycles… there’s one simple thing you might be overlooking: PROTEIN. I know, you’ve probably heard that protein’s important. But do you really know why it matters for your hormones? Most women don’t — and it’s costing them. 👉 Here’s how protein impacts your hormones at every level: ✨ Hormone Production: Your body literally builds hormones out of amino acids (the building blocks of...
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Let’s talk about burnout — the kind that makes you feel mentally fried, physically drained, and like even getting through your to-do list is a monumental task. Here’s the thing nobody tells you: burnout isn’t just “being stressed out.” It’s a physiological hormonal crisis happening in your body. By the time most women hit burnout, it’s not just about being tired. It’s about your adrenals, cortisol, dopamine, testosterone, and progesterone all taking a nosedive — and your body sending up all the flares. 👉 Ever felt like you’re dragging yourself through the day? 👉 No...
info_outlineI need to tell you something you might not hear enough: Postpartum is about YOU just as much as it’s about your baby. And yet, we live in a culture that’s more focused on swaddles and sleep schedules than the well-being of the person who just created a whole human.
I recently sat down with Maranda Bower from Postpartum University, and let me tell you—she dropped some serious truth bombs about what’s missing in postpartum care and how we can change the game. Maranda’s journey started when she had her first baby and realized she was completely unprepared for what came next. She is an expert in child development, a science-loving go-getter who thought she had everything figured out… until postpartum knocked her flat.
Sound familiar? Maybe you felt that overwhelming exhaustion, the anxiety, the body that didn’t quite feel like your own anymore. Maybe you were told, “Oh, that’s just mom life. Welcome to the club.” But Maranda’s work proves something powerful: Postpartum struggles aren’t just something to tough out—they’re signs that your body needs nourishment, care, and support.
The Truth About Postpartum That No One Talks About
👉 Science is just catching up to what women have always known: postpartum recovery takes longer than six weeks, and it affects everything from your hormones to your nervous system to your gut health.
👉 There are more studies on postpartum cows than postpartum women (yep, you read that right). Why? Because dairy sales matter more than maternal health. Let’s change that.
👉 Your postpartum experience literally shapes your baby’s brain. Research shows that a mother’s health has a profound impact on childhood development, yet the support for moms? Almost nonexistent.
And don’t even get me started on the whole “bounce back” culture. If you’ve been complimented on your weight loss while secretly feeling like a hollowed-out shell of yourself, you’re not alone. Maranda and I talked about how real postpartum recovery is about nourishment, rest, and support—not about how fast you can fit into your pre-baby jeans.
So What Can We Do?
✨ Shift the focus: Prioritize your recovery just as much as your baby’s needs. You both deserve it.
✨ Seek real postpartum support: Functional nutrition, hormone balancing, nervous system care—these aren’t luxuries; they’re necessities.
✨ Ditch the shame: You’re not “just tired” or “being dramatic.” If something feels off, trust yourself. Your body is speaking to you.
Maranda’s work at Postpartum University is all about giving moms and professionals the tools to make postpartum a time of healing, not just survival. If you’re in the thick of it (or know someone who is), consider this your permission slip to take your postpartum care seriously.
You are not alone, and you deserve to feel whole again.
Find Maranda:
Website: https://postpartumu.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/postpartumuniversity/
Free Postpartum Nutrition Toolkit for Providers: https://postpartumu.com/handouts
Postpartum Nutrition Certification: https://postpartumu.com/certification