In this Calling in Sick x Ask Alex, I’m joined by Cortney Gensemer, PhD - scientist, chronic illness patient and mom - to talk about the questions so many of us with chronic illness are quietly worried about. Motherhood. And obviously, as someone who is newly pregnant, I had a LOT of questions for Cort!!

So this week, we're diving into:

🤰 What pregnancy actually looked like with hEDS, POTS & MCAS

🏥 Why MFM appointments are every chronic illness woman’s favorite appointment ever

👶 The genetic question everyone is afraid to ask: will my child have my chronic illness?

💼 How Cortney found a sustainable balance for work, health and motherhood

🩺 How chronic illness actually prepares you to be an incredible mother

And we also answer YOUR questions! Including:

🤍 How to manage burnout as a parent with CFS

🤍 What a genetic mutation in COL5A1 or COL5A2 actually means for cEDS

🤍 How to ask for help when your body just can't keep up

xx,

Alex

💬 Comment: What's the one question about chronic illness and motherhood you've been afraid to ask?

TIMESTAMPS

Intro:

00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick’s Ask Alex!

Motherhood and Chronic Illness:

00:02:29 Courtney's motherhood & postpartum journey

00:08:00 Why chronic illness patients love their Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists

00:14:15 What sharing our pregnancies publicly was like

00:17:15 The concerns about passing down chronic illness conditions

00:23:42 How pregnancy has shifted our mindsets towards life with chronic illness

00:25:29 Chronic illness parenting hacks

00:31:12 What navigating a medical crisis for your child is like, while YOU are managing YOUR chronic illness

00:39:20 How Cortney has juggled her career, motherhood and chronic illness

Audience Q&A:

00:43:25 Chronic Illness Burnout Tips

00:48:22 Pain medication and juggling the long-term risks

00:50:33 MFM and Preconception Planning

00:56:06 Genetics and EDS

Conclusion:

01:00:11 Thank you for listening!

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Stay connected and follow us on socials for more!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/

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Connect with our guest: Cortney Gensemer!

• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cortdoesscience/

• Substack - https://cortneygensemer.substack.com/

• Website - cortneygensemer.com

🔗 If you have a complex chronic illness, check out Chronicle Connect and patient participation opportunities at chroniclebio.com

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Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/

Alex’s Picks of the Week:

Things that have been helping my chronic illness — and now my first trimester too!!

✨Salonpas Lidocaine Pain Patches — https://amzn.to/3P6rAON

✨Momcozy Pregnancy Pillow — https://amzn.to/4nEIlgZ

#ChronicIllnessResearch #hEDS #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #POTS #MCAS #MastCellActivation #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #AutoimmuneDisease #PatientAdvocacy #CortDoesScience #ChronicleBio #ChronicIllnessCommunity #MedicalGaslighting #PatientScientist #Omics #ChronicPain #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson

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