Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
Episode: How to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy and Enjoy Motherhood | Alexandra Radway
Release Date: April 8, 2025
Host: Alex Clark
Guest: Alexandra Radway, Founder of Holistic Pregnancy Prep and Creator of the Baby Ready Body Program
Introduction
In this enlightening episode of Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark, host Alex Clark welcomes Alexandra Radway, a high-achieving MIT graduate who transformed her career to help women prepare their bodies for pregnancy and embrace motherhood with joy. Alexandra shares her deeply personal journey, insights from her traumatic first birth experience, and the holistic methods she developed to support women in achieving healthy and fulfilling pregnancies.
Alexandra’s Personal Journey and Calling
[00:00]
Alexandra opens up about her traumatic first birth experience:
"My birth ended up being traumatic. His heart rate decelled. They had to do an emergency episiotomy and basically pull him out. He wasn't breathing. They tried to resuscitate him. They failed."
She reflects on the lack of preparation that contributed to this ordeal and how it ignited her mission to help other women prepare holistically for pregnancy.
[02:02]
Alexandra recounts a pivotal moment during her time at MIT:
"There was this girl and she asked the Dalai Lama what is your advice for young women today?... he told me, 'Your purpose in life is to be a mother.'"
This experience, combined with meeting her husband shortly after, solidified her path towards motherhood and her dedication to supporting other women.
The Importance of Holistic Pregnancy Preparation
[07:51]
Alex points out that despite Alexandra’s efforts, something was missing:
“But what happened, what was missing is I wasn't prepared.”
Alexandra elaborates, emphasizing that pregnancy requires intentional preparation akin to training for a marathon:
"The metabolic output, the energy output it takes to go through nine months of pregnancy is the equivalent to running a marathon every single day for nine months."
She highlights how proper preparation can prevent complications and enhance the pregnancy experience.
Key Components of Effective Pregnancy Prep
6 Months to Two Years Before Conception
Alexandra outlines the critical period for preparing the body, stating:
"Prepare your body for pregnancy two years in advance involves simple yet essential habits like electrolytes, morning sunshine, protein first, and more."
She emphasizes the significance of a balanced circadian rhythm and gut health in reducing risks such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes.
[10:45]
Alexandra describes the ideal prepared woman:
"The woman that's prepped for pregnancy is just a healthy woman. She has pain-free periods, her skin's glowing, her hair's thick, she's got a high libido, she's enjoying her husband."
Overcoming Common Pregnancy Challenges
[35:32]
Alexandra addresses the misconception of morning sickness:
"Your bile's not flowing. This is the key of everything. I call this the mother of all problems in the baby Ready Body Method."
She explains the role of bile in digestion and toxin elimination, linking sluggish bile flow to symptoms like nausea and fatigue.
[38:59]
Solutions include:
- Supplementation: Using ox bile or stomach acid supplements.
- Hydration: Ensuring proper electrolyte balance and clean water intake.
- Circadian Rhythm: Aligning sleep patterns with natural light cycles to enhance hormone production and overall health.
Transformative Practices for a Healthy Pregnancy
[21:18]
One of Alexandra’s transformative practices includes brushing teeth outside to absorb morning sunlight:
"I brush my teeth outside facing the mountains. This changed my life because it exposed me to natural light instead of artificial blue light."
She emphasizes the importance of early morning sunlight in stimulating mitochondrial function and antioxidant production.
[28:26]
Alexandra discusses training the body’s innate intelligence rather than relying on discipline:
"It's not about discipline. It's about intuition training. Your body's innate intelligence wants you to thrive."
This approach helps women naturally crave healthy habits, reducing the reliance on forced discipline.
Successful Outcomes and Personal Experiences
[49:00]
Alexandra shares her journey to optimal thyroid health through emotional and physical cleansing:
"After a colon hydrotherapy session, my thyroid labs improved dramatically overnight."
She underscores the interconnectedness of gut health and overall well-being, advocating for holistic approaches over conventional medical treatments.
[52:48]
Reflecting on her second birth experience, Alexandra highlights the positive impact of her preparation:
"With proper prep, my second birth was completely intervention-free and pain-free. My baby was never at risk, and my body was fully capable of a natural birth."
She contrasts this with her first traumatic experience, emphasizing the critical role of preparation.
Advocacy for Pro-Life and Enjoyable Motherhood
[62:04]
Alexandra discusses her pro-life stance rooted in her faith and personal experiences:
"I'm pro-life primarily because I love Jesus and He loves babies. Life begins at conception, and we shouldn't intentionally end life."
She advocates for viewing motherhood as a blessing and emphasizes the importance of women equipping themselves to enjoy motherhood fully.
[69:09]
Offering a remedy to heal a sick culture, Alexandra states:
"It's not about feeling good. It's about getting really good at feeling. We need to embrace our capacity to experience both grief and joy."
She stresses the importance of emotional resilience and genuine engagement with life's experiences.
Conclusion and Final Insights
Alexandra concludes by sharing her mission to transform how women experience pregnancy and motherhood through holistic preparation. She encourages women to set intentional, attainable goals to create healthy, joyful pregnancies and lives.
Notable Quotes
- Alexandra Radway [00:00]: "My birth ended up being traumatic... I never saw him take his first breath."
- Alexandra Radway [03:26]: "It was the look on that young girl's face... I felt God calling me, like, very clearly, like, your purpose in life is to be a mother."
- Alexandra Radway [10:45]: "The woman that's prepped for pregnancy is just a healthy woman... it's all good things we want now anyway."
- Alexandra Radway [35:32]: "Your bile's not flowing. This is the key."
- Alexandra Radway [62:04]: "I'm pro-life primarily because I love Jesus and He loves babies."
Final Thoughts
This episode provides a profound exploration of the holistic approaches necessary for preparing the body for pregnancy and embracing motherhood with vitality and joy. Alexandra Radway's personal experiences and expert insights offer valuable guidance for women seeking to navigate pregnancy healthily and spiritually.