A Mother is Born
A Mother Is Born is a podcast to support women and their partners through trying to conceive, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum—guided by values, intuition, and intention. Through real conversations about preconception planning, navigating maternity care, and the identity shift into motherhood, you'll find grounded support, practical education, and empowering guidance for every step of the journey.
Treating Postpartum Depression with Hormone Replace Therapy - with Dr. Larry Andrew
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In this episode of A Mother Is Born, Kaila Mackenzie sits down with Dr. Larry Andrew of East Bay Fertility and Hormone Therapy Center in Payson, Utah to discuss an alternative approach to treating postpartum depression (PPD): bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
Dr Larry Andrew - HRT for PPD
Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety are commonly treated with SSRIs and talk therapy — but what if hormone imbalance is a major root cause? Dr. Andrew explains how the sudden drop in estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone after delivery (when the placenta is exp...
My Postpartum Depression Story (and What Helped Me Heal)
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Postpartum depression is more than “just the baby blues.” In this episode of A Mother Is Born, birth mentor and doula Kayla Mackenzie shares her raw, personal journey through postpartum depression — from those first dark weeks after birth to finding hope and healing.
You’ll learn:
How to recognize the difference between postpartum depression and the baby bluesCommon risk factors (history of depression, stressful life events, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies, breastfeeding struggles, and more)How to recognize postpartum depression and tools professionals use to screen for itTreatment options, from therapy and SSRIs to...Seriously... Why Would You Skip the Epidural?
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Seriously… why would anyone skip the epidural? In this episode, I unpack the surprising reasons women say no to pain relief—and why it’s not as crazy as it sounds.
In a world where pain relief is right there for the taking, it can seem wild that some women actually choose to give birth without it.
Listen in to hear some surprising reasons that you may have never considered. From personal stories to common motivators like fear of needles, frustration with hospitals, wanting the full rite-of-passage experience, or avoiding the hidd...
Homebirth Midwives on Safety, Autonomy & Out of Hospital Birth
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Thinking about a home birth or curious what a birth center experience is like? In this episode of A Mother Is Born, I sit down with community midwives Brandi Sair (CPM) and Molly Rose (DEM) to talk about the realities of midwifery care, the safety of out-of-hospital birth, and their exciting new birth and wellness center opening in Santaquin, Utah.
We cover:
The different types of midwives and what their training means for familiesMyths and misconceptions about home birth safetyHow midwives manage complications like hemorrhage...Do I need a Doula?
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What does a doula do—and do you really need one?
In this episode of A Mother Is Born, birth mentor and labor doula Kayla Mackenzie explains the real role of a doula in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. Learn how doulas provide physical comfort measures, emotional reassurance, informed decision-making support, and advocacy in both hospital and home birth settings.
We’ll compare doulas vs. midwives, share research-backed benefits like lower C-section rates and shorter labors, and address common myths—such as “I don’t need a doula if I have an ep...
How to Rebuild Self-Trust in a System That Undermines It — with Veda Weinert
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Why do so many women struggle to trust their bodies, their instincts, and their decisions—especially in birth and motherhood?
In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow doula, Veda Weinert, cofounder of Women to Women Informed Health, to talk about how our culture and medical system systematically undermine women's self-trust—from puberty to postpartum—and how we can start reclaiming it.
We share personal stories, real examples from the birth room, and actionable ways to reconnect with your body’s cues. You'll hear:
How medi...OCD in Pregnancy and Postpartum
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In this episode of A Mother Is Born, I sit down with Grace, a therapist who specializes in OCD and trauma, to talk about how OCD can show up during pregnancy and postpartum—and why so many parents don’t realize they’re experiencing it.
We cover:
What OCD actually is (and common myths)The difference between intrusive thoughts and intuitionHow to find safe, informed providersTreatment options beyond medicationOur personal experiences with postpartum OCDWhether you’re a new parent, a birthworker, or just curious about what no one tells you about...
Form over Function: How the oversexualization of women's bodies affects preconception through postpartum.
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Why are breasts celebrated in beer ads but hidden when feeding a child? Why do we expect postpartum bodies to “bounce back” like birth never happened? Why do most of us have false ideas about how female sexual anatomy actually works?
In this episode, I sit down with my sister Adri for a conversation about how the sexualization of women’s bodies affects nearly every part of our lived experience—from birth and breastfeeding to bras, body hair, and shame.
We talk about what we learned to expect of our bodies g...
