Postpartum Depletion Explained | Dr. Lauren Davis on Hormones, Fatigue & Breastfeeding Health

Are you—or your patients—still feeling drained months after giving birth?
In this FMP Essentials episode, Dr. Yousef Elyaman sits down with Dr. Lauren Davis, DO — a double-board-certified family physician and osteopathic neuromuscular medicine expert — to reveal the root-cause science behind postpartum depletion and how functional medicine can restore energy, hormone balance, and gut health — safely, even while breastfeeding.

Why This Matters

Most postpartum visits focus on depression screening alone.
But nutrient loss, hormone imbalance, mitochondrial fatigue, and gut disruption often go untreated — leaving moms depleted and exhausted.
Functional medicine gives clinicians a clear, evidence-based framework to correct these hidden imbalances and bring vitality back.

What You’ll Learn

What postpartum depletion really means (and why it’s missing from standard care)
Key labs: RBC Magnesium, Ferritin + Iron Panel, Vitamin D + K2, Thyroid + Cortisol Mapping
How to replete nutrients while preserving milk supply
The link between mitochondria, cell danger response, and chronic fatigue
Lactation-safe gut repair: probiotics, IgG/colostrum, glutamine, and food-first strategies
Hormone hygiene — cortisol / thyroid / estrogen resets through circadian and stress balance

Clinical Insights

Up to 40 % of moms skip the 6-week postpartum visit — early fatigue goes unnoticed.
RBC magnesium testing exposes “normal” labs that hide deficiency.
Pairing Vitamin D 6,400 IU/day + K2 supports both mother and infant.
Heal the gut ➜ balance hormones ➜ improve milk flow and detox capacity.

Practitioner Takeaways

Think beyond depression — screen for nutrient & mitochondrial deficits.
Replete the Big Five: Iron, Magnesium, Vitamin D + K2, Iodine, Trace Minerals.
Use 4-point Cortisol/Thyroid testing for accurate rhythm mapping.
Restore mitochondria with nutrient and stress-response coupling.
Educate patients — healing is biochemical + behavioral.

Shareable Quotes

“Postpartum depletion is real — and fixable — when you treat the root causes, not just the mood.”
“Normal labs don’t always mean normal energy — look at RBC magnesium.”
“Heal the gut, free the detox pathways, and milk supply often follows.”

Guest Bio

Dr. Lauren Davis, DO
Board-Certified in Family Medicine & Osteopathic Neuromuscular Medicine.
Founder of Latched Nourished Thriving and advocate for lactation-friendly functional care.
Moderator for Dr. MILK (Physicians supporting breastfeeding).
Instagram → @laurendavisdo

Host:

Dr. Yousef Elyaman | Functional Medicine Primary Care Physician | Founder of FMP Essentials

🚀 Practitioners — Take It to the Next Level
Want to master functional medicine and join a community of growth-driven practitioners?
👉 Join the Bronze Mastermind and get on the waitlist for the sold-out Silver and Gold tiers:
🔗 https://www.fmpessentials.com/mastermind-founders-launch
🌿 Ready for deeper transformation?
Explore our deep-dive clinical courses at
🔗 https://www.FMPessentials.com/

Connect with Us

Dr. Lauren Davis – LatchedNourishedThriving.com | @laurendavisdo
Dr. Yousef Elyaman – @drelyaman
FMP Essentials – @fmpessentialshq | https://www.FMPessentials.com/

Disclaimers

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
Listening does not establish a doctor-patient relationship.
Any supplement or therapy mentioned is not FDA-approved to treat or cure disease.
Practitioners must use their professional judgment.
The hosts and guests assume no liability for misuse or misinterpretation.

Music Credit: “Heroes Approaching – Extended” by tunes2go