Natural Doesn't Mean Easy: The Truth About Breastfeeding

Natural Doesn't Mean Easy: The Truth About Breastfeeding

In this episode of the Patient Innovations Podcast, hosts Rashmi Kandwal and Colleen Rogers explore breastfeeding from three perspectives: lived experience, clinical medicine, and maternal health innovation. New mom and content creator Brittany Runck opens up about her fertility journey, a NICU stay with her son Briggs, and what she calls the "middle ground" that doesn't get talked about enough. Dr. Michelle Haggerty, DO, MPH, IBCLC — founder of Fourth Trimester Doc — brings clinical precision to the question of why postpartum care in America is failing mothers, and what it looks like to actually fix it. And Ashley Mooneyham, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Momease Solutions, shares the research behind a 97% dissatisfaction rate with breast pumps — and the startup she built to do something about it. Every feeding path is real. Every mother deserves support. Top Learnings From This Episode * What the "fourth trimester" is and why it matters for maternal health * Matrescence: the birth of a mother, and why it deserves the same attention as adolescence * Why 60% of maternal deaths happen postpartum — and 85% are considered preventable * The connection between lactation and maternal mental health * Why breastfeeding reduces long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers * New clinical data: 10-20% of mothers physiologically cannot fully breastfeed * New treatment guidelines for mastitis (it's inflammatory — not always bacterial) * What's wrong with the standard six-week postpartum visit, and what better care looks like * Why 97% of mothers surveyed were dissatisfied with their breast pump experience * Supporting pumping moms in the workplace: rights, tools, and what employers can do * The NICU experience and the unique breastfeeding challenges NICU families face Featured Guests * Brittany Runck — Content creator and new mom sharing her fertility journey, NICU experience with her son Briggs, and the realities of early motherhood. Instagram and TikTok: @BrittanyRunck * Dr. Michelle Haggerty, DO, MPH, IBCLC of Fourth Trimester Doc — Physician board-certified in family medicine, integrative medicine, and lactation, providing in-home postpartum medical care for mothers and newborns. Currently in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield. * Ashley Mooneyham, PhD of Momease Solutions — Co-founder and CEO of a maternal health startup built on the voices of over 2,000 mothers. 2024 Minnesota Cup Grand Prize winner and 2025 HealthcareMN Startup of the Year. Hosted By * Rashmi Kandwal * Colleen Rogers Connect With Our Guests * Brittany Runck on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brittanyrunck * Fourth Trimester Doc: https://fourthtrimesterdoc.com * Momease Solutions: https://momease.com * Petal Soft Breast Flange on IndieGoGo (launching summer 2026): https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/momease Resources From This Episode Find Lactation Support * ILCA Lactation Consultant Directory: https://www.ilca.org/why-ibclc/falc * La Leche League International: https://www.llli.org * La Leche League of MN and the Dakotas: https://www.lllofmndas.org * Minnesota WIC Breastfeeding Hotline (free): 1-800-708-9010 | https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/wic/bf/index.html Maternal Mental Health * Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net * PSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773 | Text: 503-894-9453 * PSI Minnesota Chapter: https://psichapters.com/mn * Mothers on Edge: https://www.mothersonedge.org * Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance: https://www.mmhla.org NICU Family Support * Ronald McDonald House Upper Midwest: https://rmhc-uppermidwest.org * Everyday Miracles (MN): https://www.everyday-miracles.org Workplace Pumping * PUMP Act / FLSA Break Time for Nursing Mothers: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/73-flsa-break-time-nursing-mothers * Business Case for Breastfeeding (employer toolkit): https://womenshealth.gov * Mamava: https://www.mamava.com * MilkMate: https://milkmate.com Feeding Equity and Advocacy * Fed Is Best Foundation: https://www.fedisbest.org * Black Mamas Matter Alliance: https://blackmamasmatter.org * Minnesota Perinatal Network: https://www.mnperinatal.org Find a Doula * DONA International: https://www.dona.org/find-a-doula About the Patient Innovations Podcast The Patient Innovations Podcast brings together patients, clinicians, innovators, and healthcare leaders to explore how lived experience and human-centered innovation are reshaping healthcare. Listen and subscribe: https://healthcare.mn/podcast Contact: hello@healthcare.mn #PatientInnovations #Breastfeeding #MaternalHealth #FourthTrimester #BreastfeedingSupport #NICU #PostpartumCare #WomensHealth #HealthcareInnovation #HealthcareMN

Understanding Fertility: Knowing When to Seek Help and How to Support the Journey

Fertility decline often begins earlier than people realize, and the path to evaluation and treatment can feel isolating without the right support. Host Rashmi Kanwal sits down with Dr. April Batcheller, a reproductive endocrinologist, and Rosie Nestingen, founder of Rebloom Health, to talk about what fertility care actually looks like and what is often missing from it. This conversation matters because the earlier patients understand their own bodies and options, the more agency they have when timing and decisions become urgent. TOP LEARNINGS * Why fertility starts to decline noticeably in the early thirties and more rapidly after age 35. * How conditions like PCOS and endometriosis often go undiagnosed for years and quietly affect fertility. * What a first fertility evaluation actually includes, from medical and family history to a hormone panel, an ultrasound of the ovaries and uterus, and a semen analysis for couples. * Why Dr. Batcheller wishes she could meet her patients five years before they end up in her office. * The traditional guideline for seeing a fertility specialist: one year of trying without success if you are under 35, and six months if you are over 35. * The signs that should push someone to seek help sooner, including irregular cycles, known endometriosis, PCOS, a history of pelvic surgery, or a personal sense that something is off. * Why the medical side of fertility treatment is often strong while the emotional and community support around it is missing. * How Rebloom Health pairs people going through fertility treatment with peers who have been through similar experiences. * The difference between peer support, therapy, and medical advice, and why each has its own role. * Why peer support is most useful in the middle of figuring things out, not only after something has gone wrong. * How clinical care and human support need to work together for patients to feel less alone in fertility treatment. FEATURED GUESTS * Dr. April Batcheller -- reproductive endocrinologist who evaluates and treats patients navigating fertility challenges and emphasizes earlier conversations about hormones, cycles, and underlying conditions. * Rosie Nestingen -- founder of Rebloom Health, a peer support network for people navigating fertility, which she built after going through three years of her own fertility treatment. HOSTED BY * Rashmi Kanwal CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS * Rosie Nestingen: https://www.rebloomhealth.com RESOURCES Peer Support Community * Rebloom Health free community: https://www.rebloomhealth.com #PatientInnovations #RebloomHealth #Fertility #FertilityAwareness #ReproductiveHealth #PCOS #Endometriosis #WomensHealth #PeerSupport #HealthcareInnovation #PatientExperience

When Answers Are Hard to Find: Inside Rare Disease Care

In this episode of Patient Innovations, Rashmi and Colleen explore one of the most complex and often misunderstood areas of healthcare: rare disease. While each condition may be considered uncommon, the lived experience is anything but rare for those affected. For many patients, it means navigating daily uncertainty, evolving symptoms, and a long and often frustrating search for answers. This conversation brings rare disease into focus through lived experience, clinical reality, and emerging innovation—highlighting both the gaps in today’s system and the opportunities ahead. We hear from three powerful perspectives: Christine Von Raesfeld [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cvonraesfeld/], rare disease patient advocate working at the intersection of patient experience, AI, and digital health, shares her personal journey navigating complex, overlapping conditions. She reflects on the emotional and physical toll of living without clear answers, and how that experience has shaped her work in advancing patient-centered data use, privacy, and engagement. Dr. Nancy Cuan [https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/c/nancy-cuan.html], internal medicine physician at Stanford, offers the clinical lens on caring for patients with complex, multi-system conditions. She speaks to the challenges of diagnosis when symptoms don’t fit neatly into traditional pathways, and how care models are evolving to better support patients living with uncertainty. Pete Kane [https://www.linkedin.com/in/pwekane/], innovator in precision medicine and multi-omics, brings a forward-looking perspective on how advances in biological data and technology are beginning to uncover patterns that traditional diagnostics often miss—opening the door to more personalized, precise care for rare and complex conditions. Together, this episode explores rare disease through the lenses of the patient, the clinician, and the innovator—connecting lived experience, clinical complexity, and the future of what’s possible in healthcare. #PatientInnovations #RareDisease #CancerAwareness #PatientVoices #HealthcareInnovation #EarlyDetection #HealthEquity #AIinHealthcare #HealthcareMN

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

In this episode of Patient Innovations, Rashmi and Shannon dive into one of the most overlooked challenges in healthcare: rare disease detection, focusing on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), sometimes called nasal cancer. NPC forms deep in the upper throat behind the nose, and its early symptoms—persistent congestion, nosebleeds, ear fullness, hearing changes, or headaches—can feel minor and easily dismissed. Yet for many patients, these subtle signs lead to delayed diagnosis, fragmented care, and life-altering consequences. This conversation grounds NPC in lived experience, clinical insight, and innovation—highlighting where delay happens and how we can do better. The episode brings together three powerful perspectives: Michael Arulfo, Chief AI Officer and CTO at Cadre, shares his personal journey with NPC—from early symptoms that were easy to overlook to navigating diagnosis and treatment. His story reflects the emotional toll of uncertainty, moments of feeling unheard, and the importance of persistence and patient advocacy when something doesn’t feel right. Dr. Amy Anne Lassig, head and neck surgeon at Hennepin Healthcare, offers clinical clarity on why NPC is often diagnosed late. She explains how its location makes early detection difficult, how symptoms overlap with more common conditions, and how risk factors like Epstein-Barr virus can inform clinical suspicion. She also shares how clinicians approach treatment and the challenges of navigating rare cancers within complex care systems. Dan Que Pham, co-founder and CEO of Oncodea, highlights innovation in early cancer detection. She discusses how advances in blood-based diagnostics, nanophotonics, and AI are working to identify cancer earlier, reduce delays, and expand access to timely, life-saving care. Key takeaways from the conversation include: Rare diseases like NPC are often missed because early symptoms appear common and non-specific. Delays in diagnosis are shaped by both clinical complexity and system-level gaps in awareness and pathways. There is no one-size-fits-all journey; patient advocacy and persistence play a critical role in getting answers. Clinicians must balance probability with possibility, especially when symptoms persist without resolution. Innovation in early detection has the potential to significantly improve outcomes and reduce disparities. Listening to patient stories is essential to improving recognition, reducing delay, and saving lives. Links & Resources: Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma & Rare Cancer American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org [https://www.cancer.org/] National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov [https://www.cancer.gov/] Head & Neck Cancer Care Hennepin Healthcare: https://www.hennepinhealthcare.org [https://www.hennepinhealthcare.org/] Innovation in Early Detection Oncodea: https://oncodea.com [https://oncodea.com/] #PatientInnovations #RareDisease #NasopharyngealCarcinoma #CancerAwareness #PatientVoices #HealthcareInnovation #EarlyDetection #HealthEquity #AIinHealthcare #HealthcareMN

Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy (MRT/HRT)

In this episode of Patient Innovations, Rashmi and Mary dive into one of the most debated and misunderstood topics in women’s health: Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy (MRT/HRT). Menopause is a natural life transition, yet for many women it brings disruptive symptoms, limited access to care, and widespread misinformation. This conversation grounds menopause and hormone therapy in lived experience, clinical science, and innovation—cutting through fear and confusion. The episode brings together three powerful perspectives: Karen Bannon, spiritual care leader and educator, shares her personal menopause journey—from unexpected symptoms and their impact on daily life to navigating decisions around hormone therapy. Her story reflects the emotional toll of feeling unheard and the importance of informed, patient-centered care. Dr. Jewel Kling [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliana-jewel-kling-md-mph-macp-mscp-if-89386142/], Professor of Medicine and nationally recognized menopause expert at Mayo Clinic, offers clinical clarity on what’s happening biologically during perimenopause and menopause. She unpacks how evidence around hormone therapy has evolved, addresses common misconceptions, and explains how clinicians personalize treatment based on timing, risk, and individual goals. Ashlie Beiter [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlie-beiter-225267114/], founding partner and VP of Marketing at Winona, highlights innovation in menopause care. She discusses how telemedicine and education-first models are expanding access, reducing stigma, and helping women navigate hormone therapy with confidence and trust. Key takeaways from the conversation include: 1. Menopause is a major life transition—not a niche issue—and symptoms can significantly affect quality of life. 2. Hormone therapy requires nuance, not fear, with newer research clarifying safety, timing, and personalization. 3. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; informed, individualized care is essential. 4. Access to accurate information and trained clinicians remains a gap, one that innovative care models are helping to close. 5. Listening to women’s stories is critical to improving care and normalizing menopause conversations. Links & Resources: Menopause & Hormone Therapy The Menopause Society | Homepage: https://www.menopause.org [https://www.menopause.org/] Choosing a Healthcare Practitioner | The Menopause Society: https://www.menopause.org/for-women/choosing-a-healthcare-practitioner Mayo Clinic — Menopause & Hormone Therapy: https://www.mayoclinic.org [https://www.mayoclinic.org/] Female Sexual Health Prosayla | Female Sexual Health Education: https://www.prosayla.com [https://www.prosayla.com/] Related Podcast Read. Talk. Grow. Podcast — Guides at Mayo Clinic: https://readtalkgrow.mayoclinic.org Innovation in Care Winona — Menopause Care & Education: https://bywinona.com [https://bywinona.com/] #PatientInnovations #Menopause #HormoneReplacementTherapy #WomensHealth #MidlifeHealth #HealthEquity #PatientVoices #HealthcareInnovation #MenopauseCare #HealthcareMN