Postpartum University® Podcast

Maranda Bower, Postpartum Nutrition Specialist
  • 4.9 (54)
  • 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. The End of the Postpartum University® Podcast + What's Next EP 250

    JAN 13

    The End of the Postpartum University® Podcast + What's Next EP 250

    Send us a text This isn’t a farewell, it’s an evolution. Let’s be honest, if you’re listening to this podcast, you know basic postpartum protocols are falling short for clients battling postpartum depression, PPA, and autoimmune conditions, which is why we aren’t quitting, we’re going deeper in a different way.  Maranda is pausing the podcast because the weekly format became a cage, limiting the essential unconstrained research and complex arguments needed for deep root-cause analysis. She's making a deliberate shift to a long-form writing platform dedicated to giving you what you really need: comprehensive functional health frameworks and searchable, in-depth holistic maternal health resources. If you're ready to stop relying on surface-level fixes and access the next level of dignified, research-based postpartum provider education that truly heals, the revolution is about to unfold. Check out this episode on the blog HERE.  Key time stamps:  0:15: Acknowledging the failing care system and the urgent need for holistic root cause care.2:00: The podcast format is too limited for sharing complex health arguments.4:00: Why long-form writing offers superior depth and unconstrained research.5:30: The shift to a new, searchable writing platform for comprehensive resources.7:15: The continued growth of postpartum nutrition certification and perinatal mental health training.8:30: The final, crucial message: Question everything and trust the mother's body knowledge. 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

    13 min
  2. How Fertility Impacts Postpartum | Gabriela Rosa EP 249

    JAN 6

    How Fertility Impacts Postpartum | Gabriela Rosa EP 249

    Send us a text That years-long struggle to conceive doesn't disappear when the baby arrives—it becomes the root cause of challenging postpartum recovery. Fertility specialist Gabriela Rosa is here to expose the devastating link between unresolved fertility trauma and intense perinatal mental health struggles. . We dive deep into the physiological and emotional barriers, highlighting the profound impact of pre-conception health and the shocking reality that the male factor accounts for up to 50% of fertility issues, yet remains frequently ignored. Learn how to shift focus from treating symptoms like postpartum anxiety to addressing the arduous, traumatizing path to pregnancy for true holistic family healing. Check out the episode on the blog HERE.  Key time stamps:  04:15: The unresolved trauma of infertility and how it fuels guilt and resentment in the fourth trimester.09:32: Need for trauma-informed perinatal mental health for previously infertile mothers.10:19: Infertility is never "one thing" but systemic, biochemical obstacles.14:27: The concept of transgenerational fertility and lifetime exposures.16:00: Endocrine disruptors and their impact on reproductive lifespan.19:00: Why miscarriages are common but not normal—a call for root-cause investigation.25:52: The critical need to address male factor infertility 27:10: How Gabriela Rosa achieved a 78.8% live birth rate by treating both partners.30:45: The conflicting interests in the healthcare system that promote IVF overuse over prevention.35:18: The massive cost savings of implementing preventative medicine in the perinatal period.36:44: Inspire Study for reproductive grief and trauma.Connect with Gabriela  Gabriela Rosa is a renowned fertility specialist, reproductive health educator, and Harvard University-awarded scholar. She is the founder and CEO of The Rosa Institute, the world's first virtual and holistic fertility clinic, serving patients globally. Gabriela's innovative methodology addresses biochemical obstacles to help couples overcome infertility and recurrent miscarriages. With her team, she has educated over 140,000 couples in more than 110 countries. She also hosts the TalkSex with Gabriela Rosa podcast. For more information, visit www.fertilitybreakthrough.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

    41 min
  3. The Warming Foods Principle - Ancient Wisdom Modern Science Finally Proves EP 248

    12/30/2025

    The Warming Foods Principle - Ancient Wisdom Modern Science Finally Proves EP 248

    Send us a text The truth is out: If your clients are struggling with slow healing, relentless fatigue, or impaired milk production, the cold food in their diet is the root cause. For generations, reductionist nutrition dismissed the ancient, global wisdom of warming foods as mere cultural folklore. They were wrong. This episode is your urgent intervention, proving with hard science that ice water and cold cereal actively deplete the new mother's energy reserves, fueling everything from anxiety to postpartum depression. Maranda dives into the non-negotiable physiology—from digestive enzyme function to nervous system regulation—that proves traditional postpartum care systems (like TCM and Ayurveda) understood holistic health far better than modern medicine. Discover the concrete, scientific mechanisms that validate the Warming Foods Principle and learn how to integrate this critical postpartum nutrition strategy immediately, giving your clients the rapid, foundational recovery they deserve. It's time to stop letting modern convenience trump functional healing! Check out the episode on the blog HERE.  Key time stamps:  00:30: The universal consensus: Traditional postpartum care systems across the globe mandate warm foods.04:15: Examples from TCM, Ayurveda, Latin American, African, and European traditions.11:47: Why modern medicine dismissed this ancient wisdom as superstition (reductionism, male-dominated science).19:50: Physiological mechanism 1: Cold food impairs digestive enzyme function at 98.6°F.21:20: Physiological mechanism 2: Cold causes vasoconstriction, impairing blood flow and nutrient absorption.23:45: Physiological mechanism 3: Cold forces metabolic energy expenditure (thermogenesis) the mother can't afford.26:38: Physiological mechanism 4: Cold activates sympathetic "fight or flight," warm supports parasympathetic "rest and digest."29:10: The role of warming spices (ginger, cinnamon, turmeric) in promoting gastric secretions.31:45: The link between warm foods, optimal blood flow, and robust milk production.34:23: Addressing objections: Hot climates and the difference between "refreshing" and "beneficial."36:50: The power of the Three Pillars of Knowledge (Science, Stories, Practice) for optimal perinatal health education.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

    22 min
  4. Postpartum Anxiety: Why Traditional Screening Misses the Identity Crisis | Carley Schweet EP 247

    12/23/2025

    Postpartum Anxiety: Why Traditional Screening Misses the Identity Crisis | Carley Schweet EP 247

    Send us a text When your clients say they're "drowning" or they "can't trust themselves," we can't just chalk it up to a simple chemical imbalance. We have to get real about postpartum anxiety (PPA). The clinical model, with its standard screening tools like the Edinburgh scale, is missing the deeper, unrecognized crisis of identity and boundaries that fuels so much of the mental load and perinatal mental health struggle. Carley Schweet joins Maranda us today to share her own journey through undiagnosed PPA and the profound psychological and neurological rewiring that happens in the mother's brain. They talk about radical self-care, the power of reconnecting with maternal intuition, and how setting and honoring boundaries is the key to moving from feeling "not enough" to thriving in motherhood. This conversation is your key to recognizing the subtle, yet debilitating, non-clinical signs of PPA and giving your clients permission to choose differently so they can heal at the root. Check out this episode on the blog HERE:  Key time stamps:  01:47 Carley's personal struggle with undiagnosed postpartum anxiety 02:56 The  fear of losing a child that silences mothers & mental health. 03:40 The creation of Hello Postpartum gift boxes to honor the mother07:12 Standard clinical scales miss the identity shift and deeper trauma. 08:25 Postpartum anxiety can start 3+ years after birth. 09:48 Carley's coaching background + boundaries and people-pleasing. 11:13 Motherhood as a mirror for untrue narratives and lack of self-care. 13:53 The challenge of boundary setting is a consistent theme16:14 Psychological and neurological rewiring in the mother's brain 17:21 The biggest hormonal drop occurs after the placenta detaches. 17:40 The power of giving yourself permission to choose differently 19:36 How Chat GPT and AI contribute to intuitive disconnection 21:52 The daily practice of disconnection Connect with Carley:   In 2020, Carley founded Hello Postpartum, a platform dedicated to curating thoughtful gift boxes for new moms while uplifting other women-owned businesses. As a mom of two, published author, entrepreneur, and holistic self-care coach, Carley brings a passionate and intentional perspective to all she does. She currently lives outside of Seattle, where she runs her business and enjoys life with her family.   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

    25 min
  5. The Fiber Paradox: Why Raw Veggies and High-Fiber Foods Sabotage Postpartum Recovery EP 246

    12/16/2025

    The Fiber Paradox: Why Raw Veggies and High-Fiber Foods Sabotage Postpartum Recovery EP 246

    Send us a text Let's expose the standard advice that is making new mothers miserable: the push for high-fiber, raw fruits and vegetables immediately postpartum. It sounds healthy, but it's the root cause of crippling postpartum bloating, gas, and poor nutrient absorption! Get ready for a physiological truth: the postpartum digestive system is temporarily compromised. Loading it with complex plant matter is sabotage. You'll uncover the ancient wisdom of traditional cultures (Chinese, Ayurvedic) that prioritized warm, cooked, easily digestible foods for thousands of years. This episode is your guide to strategic postpartum nutrition that maximizes healing and finally ends the cycle of depletion and discomfort. Check out this episode on the blog HERE.  Key time stamps:  02:50: Why the postpartum digestive system is temporarily compromised.04:05: The body prioritizes critical healing over complex digestion. 05:40: Traditional cultures prioritize warm, cooked, easily digestible foods. 07:15: Why cold, raw foods dampen the digestive "fire." 08:20: The flaw in modern nutrition: ignoring digestibility and absorption. 08:50: Fiber requires significant digestive capacity the postpartum body lacks. 10:10: How high-fiber foods cause bloating, gas, and inflammation in a compromised gut. 11:00: Raw vegetables are problematic: they require high energy and are "cooling." 12:50: The benefits of cooking: increased nutrient bioavailability and reduced anti-nutrients. 13:30: The real causes of postpartum constipation (hormones, fear, magnesium deficiency). 14:55: How high fiber impairs nutrient absorption (binding effect) for depleted mothers. 16:00: The correct progression: simple/cooked → complex/raw. 17:00: Immediate relief: Switching to cooked, warm food resolves bloating in days. 17:55: The importance of respecting digestive capacity and natural progression.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

    19 min
  6. The Problem with Obstetrics and How it's Failing Mothers with Dr. Stuart Fischbein EP 245

    12/09/2025

    The Problem with Obstetrics and How it's Failing Mothers with Dr. Stuart Fischbein EP 245

    Send us a text Postpartum providers, the PPD and exhaustion your clients face are direct outcomes of the medicalized birth model. Renowned OB-turned-advocate Dr. Stu Fischbein joins us to expose why standard practices (like the "six-week checkup") create pervasive obstetrical trauma. This episode cuts through the noise to reveal the root cause of the postpartum crisis and shows you how to fight for the holistic care your clients deserve. Check out this episode on the blog HERE Key time stamps:  01:44: Dr. Stu's unique perspective: 28 years in hospital OB vs. 12+ years in home birth04:52: OB residency teaches providers to view pregnancy as an illness08:00: The hospital model is designed for efficiency and profit11:48: The "see you in six weeks" model is driven by financial reimbursement15:04: The medical system separates mother and baby as two entities20:50: The economic and societal benefit of paid parental leave23:44: subsidizing midwifery care for a year is an important social change26:40: Why women must not abdicate responsibility for their birth care29:44: Obstetrical abuse behaviors are similar to domestic abuse35:07: Obstetrical trauma makes postpartum recovery more difficult. 38:40: cognitive dissonance that prevents doctors from seeing the problem. 44:45: Why families cannot rely on the system for postpartum support. 46:00: The critical role of the husband in defending the mother48:38: Why medicine ignores what it can't quantify or bill for 50:40: The danger of licensing doulas and regulating quality. 54:17: Why midwifery schools are becoming medicalized Connect with Dr. Stu Stuart James Fischbein MD is a published author of the book “Fearless Pregnancy, Wisdom & Reassurance from a Doctor, A Midwife and A Mom” and peer-reviewed papers Homebirth with an Obstetrician, A Series of 135 Out of Hospital Births, Breech Birth at Home and Twin Home Birth. He spent 28 years assisting women with hospital birthing and, then for the next 12+ years, was a homebirth obstetrician who worked directly with midwives.  He now lectures globally, advocating for informed consent and reteaching breech & twin birth skills. Host of the weekly Birthing Instincts Podcast with Blyss Young. 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

    1h 8m
  7. The 300-500 Calorie Myth - Why Standard Postpartum Nutrition Advice Is Starving Mothers EP 244

    12/02/2025

    The 300-500 Calorie Myth - Why Standard Postpartum Nutrition Advice Is Starving Mothers EP 244

    Send us a text  Stop Starving Postpartum Mothers: The Dangerous Lie of the 300-500 Calorie Postpartum Diet Recommendation The 300-500 calorie recommendation for breastfeeding?  It's fundamentally flawed, based on decades-old data scaled down from men, and is actively keeping postpartum mothers nutritionally depleted. Maranda is exposing this colossal gap in maternal health. Learn the real metabolic demands of healing, the truth about nutrient depletion, and the 1100–1600 extra calories needed for holistic recovery. This is the key to unlocking lasting solutions for your clients struggling with exhaustion and mood disorders. Check out this episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/the-300-500-calorie-myth-why-standard-postpartum-nutrition-advice-is-starving-mothers-ep-244/ Key time stamps:  02:12: Defining the 300-500 calorie myth and its inadequate nature.03:45: The shocking history: RDAs based on male bodies, not women.06:40: The massive nutrient depletion caused by pregnancy and birth.08:15: Milk production costs 500-700 calories—consuming the entire recommendation.09:30: Energetic demands: Tissue healing, blood rebuilding, hormone recalibration.10:18: The shocking truth: Moms need 1100–1600 extra calories a day.11:55: The focus of current science is accommodating weight loss, not healing.13:00: 80% of postpartum women are depleted in key nutrients.14:50: Why the body literally cannibalizes bones and teeth for milk.16:30: The solution: Focusing on nutrients, not just calories.17:00: Protein needed: 80 to 120 grams per day for tissue repair.17:55: Importance of therapeutic micronutrients (beyond RDA levels).18:40: The damaging effect of calorie restriction on postpartum hunger signals.19:50: Restricting calories triggers a stress response and leads to weight retention.20:45: The myth that breastfeeding guarantees automatic weight loss.21:40: Prolactin, the lactation hormone, triggers fat storage—it's protective.22:30: The 300-500 calorie recommendation needs to die. 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

    20 min
  8. The War on Women's Language with Milli Hill EP 243

    11/25/2025

    The War on Women's Language with Milli Hill EP 243

    Send us a text If you feel like you & your clients are losing a battle, you need to listen. Journalist and activist Milli Hill  connects the dots on how the industrialized assault on female health is a unified war on women's autonomy. Milli connects the industrialized assault on female health to the rise of PPD and birth trauma. We expose the truth your perinatal mental health clients face: how ultra-processed food, profit-driven medicalization of childbirth, and sex-based language erasure attack the biological reality of motherhood.  Check out the episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/the-war-on-womens-language-with-milli-hill-ep-243/ Key time stamps:  02:20 Ultra-Processed Women Why changing diet is a radical act of resistance04:45 Disconnection from nature and the body as a systemic issues09:06 The link between industrialization, profit, and the patriarchal control over women's bodies12:11 Why the saying "all that matters is a healthy baby" minimizes the woman's birth experience and value14:15 Moms and babies are not fine/ moving away from normalization of struggle16:16 Navigating the debate around sex-based language and cancel culture 25:00 Distinguishing between individual inclusion/pronoun respect and population-level language erasure26:37 The erasure of women in politics and publications creates a new form of censorship28:58 Language war is a men's rights movement aiming to decouple womanhood from female biology31:00 "What About Women?"Connect with Milli Milli Hill is a best-selling author, feminist journalist, and advocate known for reframing the narrative around women's bodies and autonomy in health. She is the author of The Positive Birth Book, Give Birth like a Feminist, and the critically acclaimed Ultra Processed Women. She founded and ran the Positive Birth Movement (2012-2021), a global network focused on improving birth experiences. A leading voice in the debate around sex-based language in maternity care, she writes the popular Substack, WHAT ABOUT WOMEN, which focuses on feminism, sex/gender issues, and the erasure of women from language, alongside her Substack Unprocess (exploring a less processed plate and life). She lives in Somerset with her family. Website | IG | Substack  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

    34 min
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4.9
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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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    252
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Postpartum University® Podcast
  • Show Website
    Postpartum University® Podcast

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