Postpartum University® Podcast

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What if the current "broken" postpartum care system isn't really broken... but just incomplete?

Maranda sits down with  Ja’Neen Jenkins,  a licensed professional counselor, certified childbirth educator, doula, and postpartum nutrition expert through Postpartum University, brings a rare blend of clinical expertise and personal experience to the table. She's changing the game by bridging the critical gaps in our current maternal healthcare system, offering a holistic approach that addresses everything from nervous system regulation to postpartum mental health and the vital role of postpartum nutrition. 

Check out the episode on the blog: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/regulating-the-postpartum-nervous-system-janeen-jenkins-ep-227/

Key time stamps: 

1:42: Janine's unique approach to maternal support
3:11: Identifying gaps in provider collaboration and holistic care
4:08: The critical role of a trusted liaison in maternal health
7:23: The challenges and beauty of pioneering a new care model
8:44: Navigating the tension between diagnosis and holistic care
12:24: The vital need for nutrition education in therapy
13:17: Discussing prevention in perinatal mental health
16:29: Nervous system dysregulation vs. mental health diagnoses
17:33: Deep dive into nervous system regulation for birth and postpartum
19:43: The power of HypnoBirthing and nervous system control
21:58: Applying nervous system regulation to motherhood
24:43: The role of nutrition in emotional and psychological healing
28:07: The power of relationships and collaboration in postpartum care

Connect with Ja'Neen: 

Ja’Neen Jenkins is a Licensed Professional Counselor, certified childbirth educator, doula, and postpartum nutrition expert who specializes in trauma-informed care for the perinatal journey. With a rare blend of clinical expertise and lived experience, she supports mothers through birth prep, emotional healing, and postpartum recovery with compassion and evidence-based tools. As the founder of the Covered Mama Community, she creates spaces where women feel deeply seen, supported, and empowered. Ja’Neen is passionate about helping mothers regulate their nervous systems, process their stories, and reclaim their strength.  Website  

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 

Send us Fan Mail

What does it really take to be a postpartum professional who delivers results? 

In this powerful behind the scenes episode, Maranda sits down with 2 CPPNS, Certified Postpartum Nutrition Specialists; Brooke Harmer and McKayla Broadhurst to reveal how the Postpartum Nutrition Certification radically transformed their careers. They get candid about the critical gaps in traditional postpartum care, sharing how this program gave them the tools to not only serve their clients more effectively but also to heal themselves. If you are a birth worker, healthcare provider, or postpartum advocate who knows there's a better way to support mothers, this is the story you need to hear. This isn't just about nutrition; it's about leading a new standard of care.

Check out the episode on the blog HERE: https://postpartumu.com/podcast/we-took-the-postpartum-nutrition-certification-heres-what-happened-ep-229/

Key time stamps: 

• 00:00: The postpartum crisis and the need for holistic solutions.
• 02:45: Brooke and McKayla share what brought them to postpartum care.
• 04:04: The lack of support mothers receive after birth.
• 06:00: How nutrition profoundly impacts a client's mental health.
• 09:14: The business benefits of integrating nutrition into care.
• 13:35: Why many traditional certifications fail to address postpartum needs.
• 20:09: The critical importance of a postpartum-only certification.
• 22:41: McKayla's story of healing chronic illness through nutrition.
• 26:05: Brooke's experience with a provider dismissing her postpartum symptoms.
• 29:03: The struggle of being an expert while needing to be cared for yourself.

Connect with Brooke [The Well Nourished Mama]

Website | IG | Podcast

Connect with McKayla [Utah Postpartum Care - by Bountiful Doulas]

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 

Send us Fan Mail

If you've felt the current postpartum care system isn't enough, leaving new moms struggling with postpartum depression, anxiety, or autoimmune conditions, this episode is for you. Maranda unveils her Postpartum Restoration Method™. It's not a quick fix, but a holistic, root-cause approach already empowering thousands of providers—from mental health professionals to nutritionists and doulas—to offer lasting solutions. Move beyond the outdated six-week checkup and discover how this method redefines postpartum recovery with truly comprehensive support.

Check out the episode on the blog HERE. 

Key time stamps: 

• 00:00: Intro to the Postpartum Restoration Method™ and its impact. 
• 02:32: Early feedback and success stories of the Assessment Tool. 
• 07:13: What is the Postpartum Restoration Method™? 
• 08:54: The five essential components: Physiological Restoration. 
• 09:46: The five essential components: Nutritional Foundation. 
• 11:56: The five essential components: Neurological Regulation. 
• 12:56: The five essential components: Rhythmic Recovery. 
• 14:13: The five essential components: Identity Integration. 
• 15:33: Maranda's personal and professional journey creating the method. 
• 21:54: The challenging re-branding story and why it's now even better. 
• 24:14: How the Postpartum Restoration Method™ assessment works in practice. 
• 28:51: Key insights driving the method's effectiveness. 
• 29:53: Why the method is offered for free to providers. 
• 31:55: The future vision for postpartum care. 
• 33:06: How providers can access the assessment tool and training.

Download The Assessment Tool & Provider Guide HERE. 

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 

Send us Fan Mail

Let's get real about a conversation that's been making waves and honestly, stirring up a lot of confusion: Does breastfeeding cause postpartum depression (PPD)?

If you've been working with new mothers or navigating the postpartum journey yourself, you've probably heard this claim, and it's time to dig into why blaming breastfeeding is not only inaccurate but also a massive distraction from the real issues impacting maternal mental health. This episode isn't just a discussion; it's a powerful call to action for every perinatal professional dedicated to truly supporting postpartum wellness and understanding the root causes of postnatal depression. 

Check out the episode on the blog HERE. 

Key time stamps: 

• 00:00: Does breastfeeding cause postpartum depression?
• 02:31: maternal mental health struggles beyond just breastfeeding.
• 03:26: Research confirms breastfeeding's protective role in postpartum mental health.
• 05:00: Deconstructing systemic failures + breastfeeding mothers.
• 06:08: The critical role of breastfeeding support for preventing PPD.
• 07:10: Understanding pressure and shame in infant feeding decisions.
• 09:19: Nutrient depletion  & postpartum depression symptoms.
• 10:43: How early return to work & maternity leave affect breastfeeding
• 12:06: Why isolation in postpartum care impacts mental health.
• 14:21: The issue with misinformation and poor lactation education.
• 15:49: Debunking myths about breastfeeding and sleep for new parents.
• 17:21: Key exceptions: D-MER and breast trauma in breastfeeding
• 18:51: Prioritizing trauma-informed care in postpartum support.
• 21:05: How postpartum providers can support breastfeeding & mental health.
• 22:15: Focus on the environment of care for new mothers.
• 24:52: Rebuilding a postpartum care system for nourished mothers.

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 

Send us Fan Mail

This episode cuts straight to the core, revealing how common birth medications—Pitocin, epidurals, and antibiotics—are directly connected to this surge in postpartum mental health crises. 

Postpartum providers and advocates: You know the reality. More new moms are struggling with postpartum depression (PPD), anxiety, and autoimmune conditions. This isn't just "normal." The evidence is undeniable: these birth medications and interventions disrupt hormonal feedback loops, alter the nervous system, and damage the crucial gut-brain axis. For any professional dedicated to maternal wellness, this is critical. Understand these links to offer holistic care practices and deliver lasting solutions in postpartum recovery.

Check out this episode on the blog HERE. 

Key time stamps: 

• 0:02 Birth Meds & PPD: Unpacking the undeniable link.
• 2:19 Informed Consent: Why this conversation is crucial, not about blame.
• 3:26 Overlooked Impacts: How labor meds affect mood, hormones, and healing.
• 6:03 Compelling Research: The science behind interventions and postpartum mental health.
• 8:54 Epidurals & Gut-Brain: Understanding nervous system and gut disruption.
• 10:16 Pitocin's Risks: Synthetic oxytocin's impact on emotional well-being.
• 11:19 Antibiotics & Microbiome: How gut disruption contributes to PPD.
• 12:27 The "Trifecta": Compounded effects of multiple interventions.
• 18:32 Routine Recovery: The urgent need for post-intervention healing protocols.
• 19:49 Healing Protocol: Key strategies for nervous system, gut, nutrients, and rest.
• 28:03 Empowering Moms: Community support, education, and sovereignty in postpartum care.
• 29:38 Call to Action: Your role as a provider in leading change.

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 

Send us Fan Mail

As postpartum providers, we're seeing it: new moms are struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety at epidemic rates—now affecting 1 in 3 women. This isn't normal; it's the number one complication of childbirth, and our current postpartum care system is clearly failing. If you're a healthcare professional, perinatal mental health specialist, or functional health practitioner seeking holistic postpartum care solutions and evidence-based strategies to truly help clients heal at the root, you need to understand why this is happening and what we can do about it.

Check out this episode on the blog HERE. 

Key time stamps: 

• 00:00: The failing postpartum care system and the rise of maternal mental health issues. 
• 01:57: Postpartum depression is NOT normal but a sign of un-met needs. 
• 03:53: The inadequacy of postpartum checkups & normalization of suffering. 
• 06:05: Historical exclusion of women from medical studies
•  08:50: Gender-specific health research & maternal brain changes. 
• 12:20: Complex physiological postpartum changes beyond the obvious. 
• 13:53: Gut health and nervous system regulation in postpartum healing. 
• 20:12: Learning from cultural postpartum traditions around the world. 
• 22:03: The importance of herbs  & nutrient-dense postpartum foods. 
• 23:59: The shift away from traditional support & struggle for modern moms. 
• 25:43: Postpartum retreats aren't the answer – healing happens at home. 
• 27:39: Postpartum care appointments and the need for in-home support. 
• 28:44: The transformative power of 40 days of deep postpartum support.

Connect with Janelle: 

Janelle Lara is a Theologian who focuses primarily on the intersection between Alternative Spirituality and Christian Theology in her research. She enjoys sharing her studies and presenting her findings on her Youtube channel, @janellemlara. She lives in Southeast Georgia with her husband and young children. 

Youtube

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 

Send us Fan Mail

Ever wonder why your postpartum clients feel like they're in a fog, forgetful, or just plain different? 

It's not just "mom brain" as we know it. In this eye-opening episode, we’re completely shifting the conventional understanding of the postpartum brain and diving deep into the profound neurological rewiring that happens after birth. Forget surface-level fixes; we're talking about real, lasting solutions for postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and maternal burnout by understanding the biological brilliance behind a mother's transformation. This isn't about "fixing" women; it's about seeing their bodies and brains with the reverence they deserve, and equipping postpartum providers with the holistic care practices to truly heal their clients at the root.

Check out this episode on the blog HERE. 

Key time stamps: 

• 0:48: Postpartum brain is rewiring, not broken. 
• 3:23: What happens to the brain in postpartum? Neurological transformation explained. 
• 4:25: Increased diligence, heightened emotional sensitivity, disrupted memory & focus, decreased self-prioritization.
• 5:30: Biologically appropriate functions without proper support lead to burnout, anxiety, rage.
•  6:46: The role of stress in brain rewiring – adaptive vs. chronic. Chronic stress creates maladaptive programming. 
• 10:40: Mom brains prioritize survival and baby's needs, not broken. 
• 11:29: Oxytocin strengthens memory of emotionally charged events. 
• 12:24: Understanding intrusive thoughts: protection, not pathology. 
• 15:28: How to support postpartum brain recovery: nutrition, nervous system regulation, repletion. 
• 16:05: Why holistic approaches are crucial and why single strategies fail. 
• 17:44: Body-based trauma release techniques like TRE therapy. 
• 18:11: The importance of safe co-regulating relationships. 
• 19:59: Consistent nutritional repletion is biochemical reality.
•  20:25: Sleep rhythm and restoration for active brain repair. 
• 24:08: Reclaim mom brain: it's a superpower, not a problem. Postpartum rewiring makes mothers more intuitive, protective, efficient. 

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 

Send us Fan Mail

If you're a postpartum provider, you know the juggle: supporting new moms while often navigating your own intense motherhood journey, battling burnout, and feeling stretched thin. This episode gets real with midwife Corina Fitch & Maranda who share their deeply personal struggles with postpartum mental health – from depression to bipolar disorder – and how those experiences completely shifted their approach to holistic postpartum care. If you're a doula, midwife, or any birth worker focused on maternal wellness and improving our current system, you'll want to hear this. They explore how understanding and embracing matrescence is crucial not just for your clients to thrive, but for you as well.

Check out this episode on the blog HERE. 

Key time stamps: 

• 0:43 Postpartum recovery is a multi-year transformation, not just weeks
• 2:13 Corina's own postpartum depression fueled her passion for maternal wellness
• 4:00 Even birth professionals face their own postpartum struggles
• 10:48 Personal healing ignited innovative holistic maternal support programs
• 17:05 Postpartum University grew from provider demand for root-cause healing for moms
• 19:58 Many moms turn to alternative support after traditional healthcare fails them
• 22:43 Postpartum University addresses the gap in provider education
• 27:19 New laws push for extended, comprehensive postpartum care plans
• 31:33 Pregnancy causes immediate brain changes & motherhood's lifelong impact.

Connect with Corina: 

Corina Fitch is a Certified Professional Midwife and Neonatal Intensive Care nurse with over 27 years of experience in the field of maternal health.  She is also a Certified Feminine Power Transformational Facilitator and has been leading women’s circles and ceremonies for over 2 decades.  Corina has three daughters, each one bringing deeper meaning to her work. In 2017, after experiencing postpartum depression following the birth of her third daughter, Corina founded MotherFly, an organization dedicated to supporting maternal wellness and thriving.  

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 

Send us Fan Mail

As a postpartum provider, functional health practitioner, and perinatal nutritionist, you're likely being asked daily: "What's the best postnatal vitamin?" But here's the uncomfortable truth: the supplement market, especially for postpartum nutrition, is a wild west, riddled with misleading practices and products that could be doing more harm than good. Forget the simple brand recommendations. This episode pulls back the curtain on white labeling in supplements, reveals why so many popular brands are problematic, and empowers you to identify high-quality, bioavailable nutrients your clients actually need. We're challenging the "pill for every ill" mentality and arming you with the science to truly nourish depleted postpartum moms at the root.

Check out this episode on the blog HERE. 

Key Time Stamps: 

• 00:54: The Postnatal Supplement White Labeling Scam (Why Most Brands are Problematic)
• 04:31: Spotting a Fake: How to Identify Low-Quality Postpartum Supplements
• 08:22: Beyond Folic Acid: Crucial Checks for High-Quality Postpartum Vitamins
• 10:42: Food First: Why Real Food Outperforms Postpartum Supplements (Science-Backed)
• 13:25: The Supplement Trap: How Isolated Nutrients Can Harm Postpartum Moms
• 15:20: When Supplements Are Needed: A Provider's Guide for Postpartum Depletion
• 18:50: Topical Magnesium & Beyond: Optimal Delivery Methods for Postpartum Absorption
• 27:21: Your Checklist: What to Look for in a Truly Effective Postpartum Supplement
• 28:38: Advanced Biochemistry: Navigating Nutrient Interactions in Postpartum Supplements
• 31:14: The P5P Controversy: Understanding B6 Risks for Postpartum Mental Health
• 36:50: Herbs as Medicine: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Postpartum Nourishment
• 40:17: Precision Matters: Empowering Postpartum Providers in Supplement 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 

Send us Fan Mail

Ever had a gut feeling that your client's postpartum depression or anxiety wasn't just about hormones? What if the real root is an unspoken birth experience, a wound that's been hiding in plain sight? This episode is a must-listen for anyone in perinatal mental health, functional health, or holistic postpartum care. Dr. Maya Weir peels back the layers of birth trauma, exploring its deep neurological effects, how it secretly shows up in the postpartum period, and why therapy alone often don't work. Transform how you support your postpartum clients, understand maternal trauma at its core, and add powerful somatic healing techniques to your toolbox. 

Check out the episode on the blog HERE. 

Key Time Stamps

• 1:47 Redefining birth trauma as more than just emergencies
• 3:00 Why grief is often at the heart of the trauma
• 5:38 Trauma vs. mourning: Recognizing the deep emotional layers
• 8:33 The surprising physiological & neurological signs of birth trauma
• 10:17 Common hidden symptoms of living with unresolved birth trauma
• 12:04 Misdiagnosing PPD/Anxiety when it's actually birth trauma
• 13:54: Why talk therapy often falls short for birth trauma healing
• 14:43 How somatic work helps the brain process trauma + bilateral stimulation and resourcing
• 16:41 Exploring intergenerational healing and ancestral connections
• 18:59 Why past traumas resurface intensely in postpartum
• 20:10 Healing in parenthood
• 21:27 Cultural wisdom about maternal healing and family patterns
• 25:07 Integrating family constellation work
• 26:09: A powerful somatic practice for any birth provider: 10-tap regulation.

Connect with Dr. Maya Weir

 Dr. Maya Weir is a clinical psychologist specializing in birth trauma treatment and the emotional landscape of early parenthood. Her own experience of becoming a parent revealed how physically, emotionally, and psychologically intense the transition can be. She helps parents make sense of their journey, heal from birth trauma, and find more grounded, connected ways to move forward. 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