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.
A Mother is Born
Treating Postpartum Depression with Hormone Replace Therapy - with Dr. Larry Andrew
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
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 expelled) can trigger significant mood changes. He outlines how bioidentical hormone therapy may help restore hormonal balance and relieve symptoms of postpartum mood disorders.
Dr Larry Andrew - HRT for PPD
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
- Why hormone levels plummet after birth and how that impacts mood
- The role of the HPA axis and cortisol in postpartum depression
- How estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone affect postpartum recovery
- What bioidentical hormones are and how they differ from synthetic hormones
- Treatment timelines, testing, and expected symptom improvement
- Safety considerations for breastfeeding mothers
- When hormone therapy may be contraindicated
- How postpartum anxiety and PMDD relate to hormone imbalance
- Lifestyle factors that influence hormone health, including nutrition, vitamin D, environmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors
Dr. Andrew also shares how he evaluates candidates for hormone therapy, what recovery typically looks like (often within days to weeks), and how long treatment may be needed.
Dr Larry Andrew - HRT for PPD
If you’ve struggled with postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, PMDD, or hormone-related mood changes — and feel like SSRIs are your only option — this episode explores additional perspectives on hormonal treatment approaches so you can make informed decisions about your care.
As always, this episode is educational and not a substitute for personalized medical advice.
Instagram: @kaila_mikenzie_birth
Values-Based Birth Planning Workbook
Explore In-Person or Virtual Birth Support
email: hello@kailamikenzie.com