Postpartum University® Podcast

Maranda Bower, Postpartum Nutrition Specialist
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Top-Ranked Podcast for Postpartum Care Providers in Nutrition + Holistic Care The current postpartum care model is failing—leaving countless mothers facing postpartum depression, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune issues. For providers, the call is clear: advanced, root-cause care is essential to real healing. The Postpartum University® Podcast is the trusted resource for professionals committed to elevating postpartum support. Hosted by Maranda Bower—a medical researcher, author, mom of 4, and the founder of Postpartum University®—each episode delivers powerful insights into functional nutrition, hormonal health, and holistic practices for treating postpartum issues at the root. This podcast bridges the gaps left by Western medical education, empowering providers to support their clients with individualized, science-backed, and traditional-aligned solutions. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive insights, resources, and tools to revolutionize your impact in postpartum wellness and functional nutrition: www.PostpartumU.com/Subscribe. 

  1. A Functional Approach to Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts vs. Postpartum OCD EP 240

    4D AGO

    A Functional Approach to Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts vs. Postpartum OCD EP 240

    Send us a text Let's be real: telling a terrified mom that her horrific intrusive thoughts are "normal" is only half the story, and it's not good enough. This episode is your new essential guide. We're cutting past the surface talk about "scary thoughts" and diving deep into the neuroscience of what's actually going on. Your client's brain is doing a brilliant, protective job being hypervigilant, but then sleep deprivation, nutritional depletion, and chronic stress turn that protection into a panic spiral. We explain exactly how to spot the difference between a normal thought and pathological Postpartum OCD and, most importantly, how to offer root-cause solutions that stop the nervous system from fueling those terrifying images. If you want to move beyond just screening and genuinely help your clients heal, you need to hear this. Check out the episode on the blog HERE Key time stamps:  1:03  Naming the Unspeakable: What Do Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts Really Look Like? 2:34  Why Telling a Mom "It's Normal" Simply Isn't Enough (and Why It's Harmful). 5:57 Maternal Brain Plasticity 101: How Evolution Made the Postpartum Brain Brilliant. 8:18  Hypervigilance, Sympathetic Dominance, and The Postpartum Energy Debt. 10:58  The Spiral: When a Protective Thought Leads to Pathological Anxiety. 14:25 Root Causes Driving Postpartum Nervous System Dysregulation. 17:54 Case Study: Resolving Severe Nighttime Intrusive Thoughts with Nutrition (Ferritin & Labs). 20:22 Case Study: Feeding Anxiety, Blood Sugar Crashes, and Adrenal Support. 22:09 The Critical Distinction: Intrusive Thoughts vs. Postpartum OCD (P-OCD). 25:12 The Whole-Person Assessment Framework for Intrusive Thoughts. 27:08  Layered Interventions That Work: Regulation, Foundations, Trauma, and Support. 29:27 Common Provider Mistakes: Minimizing, Catastrophizing, and Isolating Symptoms. 32:17  Intrusive (Ego-Dystonic) Vs. Psychotic (Ego-Syntonic) Thoughts: Why This Distinction is Life-Saving. 35:17  Partner Education: Helping Support People Provide Help, Not Judgment. 37:47  Building Resilience, Not Symptom Suppression: Long-Term Nervous System Health. NEXT STEPS: 🎒Download the Postpartum Restoration Method™ Assessment Tool 🧠Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training 🔔Sign up for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Waitlist 👍Rate, REVIEW & share the podcast 📱Connect on Instagram! 📚Get a Copy of the BOOK: Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness Additional Courses for Providers & Postpartum Professionals

    40 min
  2. Postpartum Gut Health and The Mother-Baby Microbiome | Anu Simh EP 239

    OCT 28

    Postpartum Gut Health and The Mother-Baby Microbiome | Anu Simh EP 239

    Send us a text Postpartum providers, let's be direct: Your clients are exhausted, anxious, and let down by the current system. This episode with functional health expert Anu Simh gives you the unfiltered truth about postpartum recovery. We're destroying the "bounce back" myth and focusing on root causes: the massive changes in the mother-baby microbiome, the power of 42 days of rest, and why conventional diet advice is failing. Anu explains why the focus must be on rebuilding health at the root—through strategic nutrition, gut health support, and, most critically, community support. This is a deep-dive into how ancient, holistic care practices backed by modern science provide the lasting solutions for your clients’ lifelong well-being. Check out this episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/postpartum-gut-health-and-the-mother-baby-microbiome-anu-simh-ep-239/ Key time stamps 01:50: Ditch "Bounce Back": Recovery is about rebuilding the body, not a quick fix.05:33: Ancient Wisdom: Universal postpartum care means warming foods and holistic support.09:51: Provider Gap: Mothers seek help elsewhere because doctors miss the gut-microbiome connection.12:00: 42 Days of Rest: It's a non-negotiable functional health window for hormonal and microbial reset.15:40: Fueling Recovery: Good fats and complex carbs are essential for brain function and breastfeeding.18:39: Microbiome Heirloom: The mother's gut changes dramatically, directly impacting the baby's microbial health.22:15: Missing Support: Lack of community connection is a primary driver of maternal stress and poor outcomes.26:28: Resources: Anu's book, Flourish from Within, on optimizing the baby's first three years.Connect with Anu Anu Simh is a Board Certified Functional Health Coach and graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She blends her background in organic chemistry, Ayurvedic counseling, and holistic nutrition to guide clients toward vibrant, lasting health. Anu’s work centers on gut health, sleep quality, circadian rhythm, and the brain’s reward system to reduce inflammation, manage cravings, and support sustainable weight loss. Through her Nine Arms of Wellness program, she teaches how to use food as medicine and draws from over 100 dietary theories to support physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.   Website | IG  NEXT STEPS: 🎒Download the Postpartum Restoration Method™ Assessment Tool 🧠Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training 🔔Sign up for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Waitlist 👍Rate, REVIEW & share the podcast 📱Connect on Instagram! 📚Get a Copy of the BOOK: Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness Additional Courses for Providers & Postpartum Professionals

    29 min
  3. The Invisible Mental Load - Why Mothers Are Breaking Down EP 238

    OCT 21

    The Invisible Mental Load - Why Mothers Are Breaking Down EP 238

    Send us a text Your postpartum clients aren't just "busy"—they're breaking down. Here's the truth your assessments are missing: The invisible mental load is a chronic state of cognitive overload that's hijacking her body.  This isn't a failure of willpower; it's a physiological response to chronic stress that causes everything from unexplained anxiety and low milk supply to pelvic pain and insomnia. Maranda reveals how this unacknowledged cognitive burden triggers the HPA axis, shuts down nervous system regulation, and creates a cascade of physical symptoms. Every postpartum provider—from lactation consultants to functional health experts—must recognize this root cause. Stop treating the symptoms (the fatigue, the rage, the anxiety) and start addressing the overload. Learn the red flags and the Postpartum Restoration Method framework to deliver the lasting solutions your clients desperately need. Check out the episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/the-invisible-mental-load-why-mothers-are-breaking-down-ep-238/ Key time stamps:  1:03 -  Defining The Invisible Mental Load & The Shocking Case of Low Milk Supply3:33 - The Physiology of Cognitive Overload: HPA Axis and Systemic Effects6:53 - Clinical Patterns Providers Miss: The Hyper-Vigilant Manager, Overwhelmed Perfectionist, and Depleted Default Parent9:37 - Pelvic Floor Tension & The Bonding "Disconnection"22:15 - The Red Flags and "Better Questions" for Assessment NEXT STEPS: 🎒Download the Postpartum Restoration Method™ Assessment Tool 🧠Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training 🔔Sign up for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Waitlist 👍Rate, REVIEW & share the podcast 📱Connect on Instagram! 📚Get a Copy of the BOOK: Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness Additional Courses for Providers & Postpartum Professionals

    26 min
  4. Making Postpartum Beautiful | Courtney Boylan EP 237

    OCT 14

    Making Postpartum Beautiful | Courtney Boylan EP 237

    Send us a text This episode rips into the postpartum care crisis and why the current system fails new mothers. Maranda hosts Courtney Boylan, founder of Le Lolo, a brand dedicated to transforming sterile, clinical postpartum essentials into beautiful, functional, and empowering tools. Courtney shares her personal struggle with postpartum mental health and the medical-grade narrative that makes women feel "broken." We discuss the deep need for high-quality postpartum accessories and why shifting the focus to the mother's needs first is the only path to true postnatal healing and long-term maternal wellness. This is a bold call for a cultural shift in how we support and value the new mother. Check out this episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/making-postpartum-beautiful-courtney-boylan-ep-237/ Key time stamps:   00:15: Addressing the Postpartum Care Crisis and need for Holistic Solutions. 01:33: Courtney Boylan shares her postpartum mental health struggles and the market gap. 02:37: The birth of Le Lolo: Transforming sterile postpartum essentials into beautiful tools. 04:29: Le Lolo's mission: Products as a physical reminder of a mother's worth and strength. 08:01: The crucial shift: Prioritizing the mother’s needs first for true postnatal recovery. 09:12: The taboo truth: Mother's self-care prevents depletion and resentment. 13:37: Normalizing postpartum products on a baby registry to end shame. 18:18: Why Postpartum Providers must advocate for and educate on essential products. Connect with Courtney  Courtney Boylan is the founder of Le Lolo, a brand dedicated to making postpartum essentials beautiful, functional, and empowering for new moms. Inspired by her own experience as a mom of three, she created Le Lolo to fill a gap in the market—offering stylish, high-quality accessories that remind new moms of their strength, beauty, and worth. With 16 new breastfeeding accessories that just launched, Le Lolo is on a mission to revolutionize and beautify the postpartum market. At its core, the brand is a reminder that self-care and self-love are essential during postpartum—because no one is more deserving of beautiful accessories than a new mom. Website | IG  NEXT STEPS: 🎒Download the Postpartum Restoration Method™ Assessment Tool 🧠Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training 🔔Sign up for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Waitlist 👍Rate, REVIEW & share the podcast 📱Connect on Instagram! 📚Get a Copy of the BOOK: Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness Additional Courses for Providers & Postpartum Professionals

    23 min
  5. When It's Not Depression - Misdiagnosed Mental Health in Postpartum EP 236

    OCT 7

    When It's Not Depression - Misdiagnosed Mental Health in Postpartum EP 236

    Send us a text There is a massive blind spot in perinatal mental health: the failure to investigate root causes. This episode is a fierce wake-up call.  Postpartum professionals, stop watching new moms get a PPD/PPA label when their body is screaming for help. That crippling fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety is often a symptom of profound physiological imbalance, not just a psychiatric one. We’re exposing the epidemic of undiagnosed medical conditions—like Hashimoto's, severe iron deficiency, and B12 depletion—that mimic PPD. If you want lasting solutions and to quit playing symptom whack-a-mole, you must learn to spot the "Anxious Mother" and "Depleted Mom" patterns and confidently demand the life-saving comprehensive labs that reveal the truth. Check out the episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/when-its-not-depression-misdiagnosed-mental-health-in-postpartum-ep-236/ Key time stamps:  0:00The Crisis in Postpartum Care 1:10 Sarah’s Story: Misdiagnosed and Depleted3:37 Labs No One Ordered6:58 Maranda’s Postpartum Wake-Up Call11:42 Stats That Should Make You Angry15:02 Symptom Whack-a-Mole in Clinics17:49 Screening Limits and Missed Needs21: 16 Pattern One: The Anxious Mother24:32 Pattern Two: The Depleted Mom27:12 Thyroid Truths Postpartum31:09 Inflammation as a Driver33:35 A New Model: Root-Cause Training37:12 The Cost of Misdiagnosis40:22 What Moms and Providers Can Do NEXT STEPS: 🎒Download the Postpartum Restoration Method™ Assessment Tool 🧠Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training 🔔Sign up for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Waitlist 👍Rate, REVIEW & share the podcast 📱Connect on Instagram! 📚Get a Copy of the BOOK: Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness Additional Courses for Providers & Postpartum Professionals

    42 min
  6. From Isolation to Collaboration: Building Your Postpartum Provider Community | Brooke Harmer EP 235

    SEP 30

    From Isolation to Collaboration: Building Your Postpartum Provider Community | Brooke Harmer EP 235

    Send us a text In a world of fragmented perinatal, postpartum and maternal care, collaboration is a radical act of healing.  This episode challenges the status quo by diving into a conversation with perinatal nutrition expert Brooke Harmer, who shares her own journey from feeling like an 'outsider' in the perinatal and postpartum space to becoming a sought-after collaborator. She offers a no-fluff guide to bridging the gap between holistic and conventional medicine. You will learn how to overcome the fear of rejection, build powerful partnerships with OBs, midwives, and mainstream brands, and elevate your role as a postpartum professional to create a more holistic care system for mothers. Check out this episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/from-isolation-to-collaboration-building-your-postpartum-provider-community-brooke-harmer-ep-235/ Key time stamps:  00:00: The radical idea of collaboration in maternal care 02:12: Brooke's personal journey to becoming a collaborative partner 04:15: Why fragmentation in postpartum care is a critical issue 07:33: The mindset shift from 'outsider' to 'trusted resource' 09:05: What to do when you feel invisible in your community 11:47: How to find common ground with conventional providers 14:50: The single biggest barrier to collaboration 21:20: The key players every postpartum team needs 23:45: Tactical steps to form partnerships today 26:38: How a nutritionist partners with OBs and PTs 29:10: The power of a shared mission for postpartum wellness 40:17: The mission of building a future of fully supported mothersConnect with Brooke:  Brooke Harmer is a certified perinatal nutritionist who empowers moms to take a proactive approach to their health through holistic nutrition and lifestyle habits. Her work blends scientific research with ancient wisdom to help moms work with their medical providers and their bodies to thrive during pregnancy and postpartum. She is the author of two best-selling cookbooks, host of a top 30 podcast, and has become a trusted voice in the mama community for all things health and wellness. Website | IG  NEXT STEPS: 🎒Download the Postpartum Restoration Method™ Assessment Tool 🧠Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training 🔔Sign up for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Waitlist 👍Rate, REVIEW & share the podcast 📱Connect on Instagram! 📚Get a Copy of the BOOK: Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness Additional Courses for Providers & Postpartum Professionals

    38 min
  7. The 5 Sciences of Postpartum Nutrition (It's Not Just Nutrition) EP 234

    SEP 23

    The 5 Sciences of Postpartum Nutrition (It's Not Just Nutrition) EP 234

    Send us a text The truth about postpartum nutrition goes way beyond kale smoothies and multivitamins. For too long, women's healthcare has failed mothers, leaving them to seek answers from online influencers and fads. But as a provider, you're ready to do more. This is a deep dive into the five interconnected sciences that truly shape a mother’s healing journey. We're getting to the heart of what's missing in modern care—looking beyond recipes to the deep biological, emotional, and cultural forces that determine a mother's recovery. This is a blueprint for a new standard of holistic postpartum care that empowers you to offer a deeper, more effective kind of support that honors a mother's whole being. Check out the episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/the-5-sciences-of-postpartum-nutrition-its-not-just-nutrition-ep-234/ Key time stamps:  0:02 Why the current postpartum care system is failing.1:50 The myth that postpartum nutrition is just about healthy eating.2:53 A mother's body is regenerating and recalibrating, not just recovering.4:31 Science 1: Nutritional Biochemistry and cellular-level healing.9:26 Science 2: Neuroscience, explaining the profound reorganization of the maternal brain.12:52 Science 3: Anthropology, the cultural and ancestral roots of postpartum care.15:31 Science 4: Chronobiology, showing why male-based science fails postpartum women.17:57 Why postpartum healing is cyclical, not linear.19:55 Integrating all five sciences for truly holistic care.23:25 The free resource for providers: the Postpartum Restoration Method Assessment Tool. NEXT STEPS: 🎒Download the Postpartum Restoration Method™ Assessment Tool 🧠Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training 🔔Sign up for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Waitlist 👍Rate, REVIEW & share the podcast 📱Connect on Instagram! 📚Get a Copy of the BOOK: Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness Additional Courses for Providers & Postpartum Professionals

    26 min
  8. Is It Postpartum or Perimenopause? | Lauren Tetenbaum EP 233

    SEP 16

    Is It Postpartum or Perimenopause? | Lauren Tetenbaum EP 233

    Send us a text As a postpartum professional you've likely seen the confusing overlap between postpartum and perimenopause, especially with women having babies later in life.  Our conventional medical system treats these two distinct phases as separate, leaving women feeling lost and often misdiagnosed. This episode tackles the key signs and solutions that empower providers like you to offer truly informed root-cause care. We're joined by Lauren Tetenbaum, a specialist in maternal mental health and perimenopause, to break down the science, the shame, and the solutions, because we believe every woman deserves comprehensive care. Check out the episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/is-it-postpartum-or-perimenopause-lauren-tetenbaum-ep-233/ Key time stamps:  00:00: An introduction to the confusing overlap between postpartum and perimenopause.02:57: Breaking down how similar symptoms appear in both phases.05:25: Why lifestyle is the foundation for treating both conditions.07:11: The ongoing stigma around medication and quick fixes.09:16: Myth-busting the safety of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).15:31: Why our hormonal dips are natural but not always normal.17:50: The normalization of symptoms like postpartum depression and anxiety.20:34: The overlap of perinatal mental health and perimenopause.23:39: How to advise women who are unsure what's happening to their bodies.24:45: Maranda’s closing remarks on the importance of informed decisions.Connect with Lauren Lauren Tetenbaum, LCSW, JD, PMH-C is a licensed clinical social worker, women's rights advocate, and writer dedicated to supporting and empowering women through life transitions. With experience as both a lawyer and a psychotherapist, Lauren specializes in counseling women navigating identity shifts related to motherhood, career, and reproductive health. Lauren frequently contributes thought leadership to media and professional organizations; she is the author of the 2025 book Millennial Menopause: Preparing for Perimenopause, Menopause, and Life's Next Period. Learn more about Lauren at thecounseLaur.com.  Website | IG NEXT STEPS: 🎒Download the Postpartum Restoration Method™ Assessment Tool 🧠Perinatal Mental Health Certificate Training 🔔Sign up for the Postpartum Nutrition Certification Waitlist 👍Rate, REVIEW & share the podcast 📱Connect on Instagram! 📚Get a Copy of the BOOK: Reclaiming Postpartum Wellness Additional Courses for Providers & Postpartum Professionals

    27 min
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About

Top-Ranked Podcast for Postpartum Care Providers in Nutrition + Holistic Care The current postpartum care model is failing—leaving countless mothers facing postpartum depression, anxiety, hormonal imbalances, and autoimmune issues. For providers, the call is clear: advanced, root-cause care is essential to real healing. The Postpartum University® Podcast is the trusted resource for professionals committed to elevating postpartum support. Hosted by Maranda Bower—a medical researcher, author, mom of 4, and the founder of Postpartum University®—each episode delivers powerful insights into functional nutrition, hormonal health, and holistic practices for treating postpartum issues at the root. This podcast bridges the gaps left by Western medical education, empowering providers to support their clients with individualized, science-backed, and traditional-aligned solutions. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive insights, resources, and tools to revolutionize your impact in postpartum wellness and functional nutrition: www.PostpartumU.com/Subscribe. 

Information

  • Creator
    Maranda Bower, Postpartum Nutrition Specialist
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    242
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Postpartum University® Podcast
  • Show Website
    Postpartum University® Podcast

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