Undefining Motherhood with Katy Huie Harrison, PhD tentwentytwo

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 

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.