Undefining Motherhood with Katy Huie Harrison, PhD

It’s essential to prioritize yourself, even when it’s hard. In this wrap-up episode to Season 1, Katy & Sarah get really personal. From conversations about fertility to being part of the sandwich generation, they reflect on Season 1, chat about recent struggles they’ve faced personally, and share how those struggles have impacted this season. 

Plus, find out what’s to come next season, and how you can help shape the future of Undefining Motherhood!

Talk to us about this episode on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/undefiningmotherhood/

A huge thanks to our sponsor, Genate by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more about how they’re changing the future of maternal health care at https://thegenatetest.sjv.io/75O71A Use code undefining10 for 10% off all orders over $50.

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Abortion—a loaded word we’re actually getting all wrong. Reproductive rights have become so hot button that we have protests, rallies, and entire political campaigns based on a word that doesn’t actually mean what we think it does.

I’m a scholar of words who also happens to have “habitual aborter” written on her medical chart. (I’ve lost 4 wanted pregnancies, in case you were wondering.) 

So it’s no wonder I became fascinated with this word that has us all shouting but never listening. Where did it come from? What does it really mean? How is it possible that it’s used to describe my history of recurrent miscarriages AND by protestors shouting words like “murderer”?

Good questions, and we’ve got the answers. Listen up, friend. In this episode, we’re getting really personal, really deep, and also, a little bit nerdy. And it’s really important.

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Ever felt like you’re not living up to the healthiest standards when deciding what to eat during pregnancy, preconception, or postpartum? Here’s the good news, friend. What’s best for me may not be best for you. It’s all individual, and today, we’re chatting with genetic nutritionist Cara Everett to learn how to find out what *you* need to make the best prenatal nutrition choices!

Cara’s actionable advice is easy to follow and backed by science. In fact, this episode also features one of her clients, Sarah, who’s also our Marketing Director here at Undefining Motherhood. After meeting with Cara to discuss her Genate Test results, Sarah texted me that the session was “incredible” and “should be part of standard prenatal care.” That’s when I knew I had to bring Cara’s empowering knowledge directly to you. 

In this episode, you’ll learn

→.the top 5 foods for pregnancy & trying to conceive

→.simple nutrition hacks that make a big difference

→.how you can learn about your own specific needs so you can pick the best foods & supplements to support your baby’s development. 

A huge thanks to our sponsor, Genate by SNP Therapeutics. By the end of this episode, you’ll be as excited as I am about their test and prenatal vitamin bundle. Snag it at https://thegenatetest.sjv.io/75O71A and use code undefining10 for 10% off all orders over $50.

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In this eye-opening episode, we're diving into a topic close to my heart: the impact of medical language on women's healthcare experiences. Have you ever noticed how some medical terms can make us feel less like individuals and more like a case study? It's a conversation we need to have. We're exploring how certain phrases and words in the medical world can unintentionally dehumanize and disempower women, especially when it comes to our reproductive bodies.

Let's talk about why words matter. From terms that imply blame to those that evoke feelings of failure, the language used by healthcare professionals can deeply affect how we perceive our bodies and our self-worth. But here's the thing—it doesn't have to be this way. This episode is about more than just highlighting the problem; it's about envisioning a healthcare dialogue that uplifts and supports, rather than diminishes.

Join us as we navigate the tricky waters of medical terminology, sharing stories and insights on how to advocate for language that respects and honors the complexity of women's health. Whether you've personally felt the sting of insensitive medical language or you're a healthcare professional looking to make a positive change, this conversation is for you.

Together, we're paving the way for a more compassionate and empowering approach to talking about women's health. Because at the end of the day, we all deserve to be treated with dignity and understanding, especially in our most vulnerable moments. Let's change the narrative.

Links: 

Peanut Renaming Revolution: Glossary of Terms: https://www.peanut-app.io/blog/renaming-revolution-glossary

Talk to us about this episode on Instagram at

https://www.instagram.com/undefiningmotherhood/

A huge thanks to our sponsor, Genate by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more about how they’re changing the future of maternal health care at https://thegenatetest.sjv.io/75O71A

Use code undefining10 for 10% off all orders over $50.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Postpartum is one of the hardest periods of many women’s lives. From the sleep deprivation to the massive identity shift, to the healing and hormonal changes for birthing mothers, there’s a reason most new moms find themselves feeling completely unprepared.

So what happens when you’re in this already life-changing time, and then the world shatters from underneath you? We talk a lot at Undefining Motherhood about how to support moms, and today’s special guest tells stories that take that support to a whole new level. 

Ali Garfinkel was still in the thick of those postpartum days when she received a devastating cancer diagnosis, and her story is one we all need to hear. It’s one of resilience and hope, but also one that teaches us how we can truly show up for one another when it’s needed most. How the act of just “being there”—be it physically or emotionally—can move mountains in people’s lives. 

Join me as we learn from Ali about walking through hardship, accepting help from our communities, and how to truly support each other in the hardest of times.

If you feel moved to support other families like Ali’s, it’d mean the world to me if you could make a small donation here: undefiningmotherhood.com/lls 

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) provides the kind of support Ali talks about receiving from her own community in this episode. I’ve connected with families who’ve received family support, patient advocacy, co-pay assistance, and funding for travel for medical care and clinical trials from LLS. Oh, and did I mention LLS has helped fund 70% of the FDA-approved blood cancer treatments since 2016?

Donate now at undefiningmotherhood.com/lls 

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If you’ve spent even 5 minutes looking at pregnancy accounts on social media, then you know there’s a firestorm of conflicting information about prenatal nutrition and supplementation. And, well, I had a lot of questions I wanted answered from an actual expert. 

But who really is the expert? Is it the OBGYN who keeps up with research but doesn’t have much education about nutrition? The nutritionist who has degrees in how our body metabolizes different nutrients, but who doesn’t have training in obstetrics? 

Enter Camille Hoffman, OBGYN, Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, and integrative health practitioner with special training and research interests in nutrition. In this episode, we talk about what you really need to know about prenatal nutrition and supplementation–from the food we put in our bodies, the prenatal vitamins we take, and how to make the best choices for our bodies. She also shares some groundbreaking new research she’s doing into choline, and how she’s using that research to lobby for overcoming racially based health disparities. 

This episode is chock full of incredible information for anyone preconception or expecting, so listen up!

A huge thanks to our sponsor, Genate by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more about how they’re changing the future of maternal health care at https://thegenatetest.sjv.io/75O71A

Use code undefining10 for 10% off all orders over $50.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s nothing one-size-fits-all about motherhood–either the path to it or through it. It's a messy, beautiful, and deeply individual journey. In this episode, we continue our conversation with Alex Kornsweit, talking about each of our unique struggles to find ourselves through the chaos of motherhood. We delve into heartfelt stories, quirky things we’ve found that really support us and our families, and what our journeys have looked like to finding personal fulfillment so we can really embrace who we are as individuals in motherhood. 

From the humorous to the heartfelt, we explore what it means to find your authentic self amidst the chaos and beauty of raising children. This episode is a reminder that it's okay to carve your own path, prioritize yourself, and find joy in the imperfections of parenting.

Download Alex’s free guide, “9 Steps to Embracing Your Motherhood” at https://discovery.embraceyourmotherhood.com/, and find her on Instagram @ourbeautifulsurprise 

Talk to us about this episode on Instagram at

https://www.instagram.com/undefiningmotherhood/

A huge thanks to our sponsor, Genate by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more about how they’re changing the future of maternal health care at https://thegenatetest.sjv.io/75O71A

Use code undefining10 for 10% off all orders over $50.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Walking through the fire of infertility, all you can hope for is to come out the other side with a baby in your arms. But we don’t often talk about struggles that come with motherhood after infertility–from the unexpected anxieties, unsupportive advice, and oh so much more. In this episode, we’re diving deep into these silent struggles Alex Kornsweit. From navigating societal expectations to finding personal peace, this episode is a raw look at the realities behind becoming a mom when the path is anything but straight. Having experienced infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, surrogacy, and so much more, Alex brings sage advice, tested wisdom, and much needed humor. If you’ve ever experienced infertility or loss, or if you love anyone who has, this episode is for you!

Download Alex’s free guide, “9 Steps to Embracing Your Motherhood” at https://discovery.embraceyourmotherhood.com/, and find her on Instagram @ourbeautifulsurprise 

Talk to us about this episode on Instagram at

https://www.instagram.com/undefiningmotherhood/

A huge thanks to our sponsor, Genate by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more about how they’re changing the future of maternal health care at https://thegenatetest.sjv.io/75O71A

Use code undefining10 for 10% off all orders over $50.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh, the infamous "enjoy every moment" advice. If you’re a new mom, you’ve probably heard this more times than you can count. And if you’re anything like me, it might make you feel a bit . . .  well, inadequate. In this episode, we're unpacking the well-meaning but often misguided advice new moms get bombarded with, focusing on the classic—enjoy every moment.

Here’s the deal: becoming a new parent is a colossal shift. It's beautiful, yes, but it's also incredibly hard. And let's be real, not every moment is enjoyable. When I was deep in the new motherhood trenches, struggling more than I ever admitted, the advice to "enjoy every moment" felt more like a rebuke than a comfort. It made me wonder, was I the only one finding this so tough? Spoiler alert: I wasn’t, and neither are you.

This chat is for anyone who's ever felt less-than because they weren't soaking up every second with their newborn with pure joy. We're diving deep into why this advice, though rooted in truth about the fleeting nature of babyhood, can make new parents feel isolated, guilty, and like they're failing at one of life's most significant roles.

But it's not all heavy. We’re also exploring how to shift the narrative to offer support that truly uplifts and acknowledges the rollercoaster that is new parenthood. It’s about understanding that while, yes, the days are long and the years are short, it's okay not to cherish every diaper change or midnight feeding.

So, whether you're navigating the choppy waters of new motherhood or you’re looking to support a new mom in your life more effectively, this episode is packed with real talk, empathy, and actionable tips. It's a conversation that might just change the way we think about and offer advice to new moms. Tune in, and let’s get real about the highs and lows of motherhood, together.

Talk to us about this episode on Instagram at

https://www.instagram.com/undefiningmotherhood/

A huge thanks to our sponsor, Genate by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more about how they’re changing the future of maternal health care at https://thegenatetest.sjv.io/75O71A

Use code undefining10 for 10% off all orders over $50.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we’re tackling those well-intended but often hurtful words of comfort, like "just relax" that totally miss the mark for people navigating issues like infertility and miscarriage. But this episode isn’t just about reproductive struggles. In fact, it isn’t about that at all. It’s about language, history, culture, psychology, and why it’s so hard for us to look someone in the eye and sit with them in their grief. It’s about what actually happens when we say things to try to make it better, even though we can’t. 

This conversation is a deep dive into why advice to support can actually hurt, using the example of the all-too-common “just relax.” It’s not just about the words; it’s about the isolation and blame those words inadvertently cast. We’re unpacking the psychology and history behind this advice, equipping you with genuinely supportive ways to help those in the midst of reproductive grief.

Join us for a heartfelt and enlightening conversation full of laughter, learning, and a shift towards more empathetic support. It's one of my favorite episodes this season, offering insights and actionable tips for navigating these conversations with care. Let’s change the way we talk about fertility and loss, one honest word at a time.

Talk to us about this episode on Instagram at

https://www.instagram.com/undefiningmotherhood/

A huge thanks to our sponsor, Genate by SNP Therapeutics. Learn more about how they’re changing the future of maternal health care at https://thegenatetest.sjv.io/75O71A

Use code undefining10 for 10% off all orders over $50.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices