Backyard Health

My Postpartum Story: Life Updates | Ep. 35

Erin Jowett

When you think of grief, you probably think about losing a loved one. But what about the grief that comes with changing your health? The truth is—anytime you let go of foods, routines, or identities you’ve loved, you go through a grieving process.

In this episode of Backyard Health, I share my own postpartum story of running advanced labs that revealed elevated thyroid antibodies, gut barrier dysfunction, and food sensitivities. The results meant big changes for me—going gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free while navigating a surprise update and real life.

I’ll walk you through:

  • The moment I realized “normal” labs weren’t enough postpartum
  • What my functional testing uncovered and how it shaped my healing plan
  • The stages of grief that show up when you have to change your diet or lifestyle
  • Why skipping grief often leads to sabotage and yo-yo patterns
  • The mental skills that help me (and my clients) move through change with more ease

This isn’t a story about perfection. It’s about being honest with the anger, sadness, and frustration that come with health changes—and learning how to move through grief so you can actually find healing.

If you’ve ever felt resentful about what you “have” to give up in order to be healthy, this episode will remind you that grief is not a sign of failure. It’s part of the process.