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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

743. The Shocking Truth About Women’s Health: Medical Myths, Hormone Facts & What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You show art 743. The Shocking Truth About Women’s Health: Medical Myths, Hormone Facts & What Your Doctor Isn’t Telling You

The Female Health Solution Podcast

In this episode, I get fired up (again!) about the massive gaps, systemic bias, and flat-out inaccuracies in the way women’s health is studied, treated, and talked about. From clinical research excluding women to medical myths that still persist today, we break down exactly why so many women feel unheard—and what you can do about it. I'm talking about everything from the historical exclusion of women in medicine to why “bikini medicine” is not an actual category, how stress impacts us differently, and why your sleep, energy, and metabolism might feel totally out of whack. In this...

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742. The Morning Routine That Transformed My Gut Health (My Skin, Sleep & Energy Too!) show art 742. The Morning Routine That Transformed My Gut Health (My Skin, Sleep & Energy Too!)

The Female Health Solution Podcast

Ever wondered what the best way is to start your morning for optimal gut health? In this episode, I’m breaking down the exact routine I follow (and recommend to my clients) that supports digestion, boosts energy, helps with skin issues, and sets the tone for a smoother day overall. I’m also sharing the backstory—how I discovered my gut was behind my cystic acne, why your mouth health directly impacts your digestive system, and why skipping breakfast may be one of the worst things you can do for your hormones and metabolism. Whether you’re starting from scratch or ready to fine-tune...

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741. Training For Two: How To Use Fitness To Support A Pain-Free Pregnancy with Gina Conley show art 741. Training For Two: How To Use Fitness To Support A Pain-Free Pregnancy with Gina Conley

The Female Health Solution Podcast

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Gina Conley.  Gina Conley is the founder of MamasteFit, a perinatal fitness trainer, birth doula, and mom of four. She bridges the gap between fitness and birthwork, offering both in-person training and online support to help parents stay strong, confident, and informed throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. As the author of Training for Two, Gina provides evidence-based strategies for movement, pelvic health, and birth preparation. Her unique approach combines fitness and birth support, empowering families with the knowledge and...

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740. How To Balance Cortisol For Better Energy, Mood and Sleep show art 740. How To Balance Cortisol For Better Energy, Mood and Sleep

The Female Health Solution Podcast

Cortisol often gets a bad rap, but it’s actually essential. Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol helps wake you up, energize your mornings, and regulate your stress response throughout the day. It should peak mid-morning and slowly taper off by night. But stress, caffeine, poor sleep, and even late-night workouts can throw off this rhythm.  If you can’t get up in the morning or hit that afternoon slump, chances are your cortisol is off. Let’s talk about some ways to get it back on track:  You can’t out-supplement bad sleep. If you’re not in bed by 10 p.m., you’re...

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739. Why Smart Women Get Stuck in Overeating and Emotional Eating Cycles with Dr. Melissa McCreery show art 739. Why Smart Women Get Stuck in Overeating and Emotional Eating Cycles with Dr. Melissa McCreery

The Female Health Solution Podcast

In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Melissa McCreery.  Dr. Melissa McCreery is a psychologist, emotional eating expert, author, host of the Too Much on Her Plate podcast, and the creator of Your Missing Peace, the program that supports smart, busy women in creating freedom from overeating and peace with food. She has helped thousands break cycles with overwhelm, overload, and overeating without feeling deprived, and without depending on ridiculous amounts of willpower. Participants in her signature program lose their cravings and their overeating habits. Dr....

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738. Cortisol, Burnout and the End of Chronic Overwhelm show art 738. Cortisol, Burnout and the End of Chronic Overwhelm

The Female Health Solution Podcast

Let’s get real for a moment. Not “do you feel overwhelmed?” but how overwhelmed are you… right now? If your answer is “way more than I used to be,” you’re not alone. In fact, that’s the norm for so many women I speak to—feeling maxed out, overstimulated, and constantly on edge. And here’s the wild thing: most of us don’t even realize how deep into burnout we’ve gotten until our bodies shut down.  Think about it: every day you juggle thousands of decisions, from “What’s for dinner?” to managing family schedules, careers, social commitments, and digital...

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737. Top 5 Health Issues Women Think Are Normal—But Aren’t show art 737. Top 5 Health Issues Women Think Are Normal—But Aren’t

The Female Health Solution Podcast

“That’s just part of being a woman.” “You’re just getting older.” “Maybe you’re overreacting.” “It’s probably all in your head.” Let’s stop right there. Just because something is common doesn’t make it normal. Let’s break down the top five health issues that women experience far too often—and have been told to ignore. 1. Mood Swings Yes, your mood naturally shifts across your cycle—but when it becomes overwhelming, unpredictable, or makes you feel like you’ve lost control? That’s a red flag. If you find yourself: Crying uncontrollably over small things ...

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736. 3 Powerful Habits That Balance Your Hormones (Don't Skip These!) show art 736. 3 Powerful Habits That Balance Your Hormones (Don't Skip These!)

The Female Health Solution Podcast

Here’s the truth most people don’t want to hear: the secret to balanced hormones isn’t in a miracle pill or trendy hack. It’s in the boring basics. As a women’s health and hormone expert, I want to make sure you’re doing these three simple things consistently. Prioritize Protein & Real Food If you’re skipping meals, cutting carbs, or living off coffee and snacks, your hormones are running on empty. Your body needs steady fuel to support hormonal and metabolic functions. Aim for protein with every meal Avoid processed and sugary foods Eat consistently throughout the day...

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735. I Changed My Body By Taking These Supplements Every Day show art 735. I Changed My Body By Taking These Supplements Every Day

The Female Health Solution Podcast

One of my top questions: What’s YOUR routine like?” So today, I’m walking you through what I actually take on a regular basis — the supplements that give me energy and balance, even in the middle of the chaos.  A quick note: Yes, I use a lot of supplements. But no, I don’t take everything every day. I listen to my body and respond based on where I’m at in my cycle, what’s going on in my life, and what my most recent labs and genetic testing show.  Cycle-Synced Support Let’s start with my favorite: my hormone-support tinctures. I’m a nerd about this stuff because it...

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734. The Top Signs of Perimenopause & What To Do About It show art 734. The Top Signs of Perimenopause & What To Do About It

The Female Health Solution Podcast

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this perimenopause—or something else?”, you’re not alone. For many women, the symptoms can be confusing and frustrating. But here's the truth: perimenopause is a normal, natural phase—and it doesn’t have to feel like the end of the world. Let’s clear the air. Common signs of perimenopause include irregular or skipping periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, anxiety, trouble sleeping, brain fog, joint pain, weight changes, low libido, and more. And stress can make any of these 10x worse!  That’s where cortisol comes in. Stress is a...

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More Episodes

I 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