ADHD in Motherhood: How Hormones, Pregnancy & Postpartum Affect Your Brain with Dr. Carrie McMillin | #181
Healthy As A MotherShow Notes
ADHD can look very different in women and motherhood: hormonal shifts, pregnancy, and postpartum can dramatically change how those symptoms show up. In this episode, we’re joined by integrative ADHD specialist Dr. Carrie McMillin to unpack the ADHD brain, including executive function, task initiation, working memory, hyperfocus, dopamine, and emotional regulation.
We dive into how estrogen and progesterone interact with dopamine throughout the menstrual cycle, why some women notice more ADHD symptoms during the luteal phase, and what can happen during pregnancy and postpartum. Dr. McMillin explains why the postpartum period can be especially challenging, including the effects of the dramatic estrogen drop, prolactin, breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, and the increased demands of caring for a baby.
We also discuss how to distinguish ADHD from normal motherhood overwhelm, anxiety, and sleep deprivation; how ADHD is diagnosed in adults; medications and supplements; iron, B vitamins, L-tyrosine, and other potential supports; the importance of building systems around your individual executive-function struggles; and why small sources of genuine joy can be an important part of supporting your brain.
Finally, we talk about perimenopause, irritability and PMDD, caffeine, screen time, and practical ways women with ADHD can work with their brains instead of constantly fighting against them. The biggest takeaway? Understanding what's happening in your brain can replace shame with self-compassion and help you build systems that actually work for you.
00:00 —Trailer & Introduction 03:06 —The ADHD Brain Isn't Broken 06:15 —The 3 Types of ADHD 11:02 —Task Initiation, Motivation & Executive Function 12:06 —Hyperfocus & Dopamine 14:57 —Why ADHD Affects Working Memory 19:29 —Why Motherhood Can Amplify ADHD Symptoms 21:00 —How ADHD Is Diagnosed in Adults 24:20 —ADHD & the Menstrual Cycle 27:26 —Estrogen, Progesterone & Dopamine 34:17 —ADHD During Pregnancy 35:35 —Why Sleep Deprivation Can Mimic ADHD 40:36 —How Pregnancy Changes the Brain 42:01 —The Postpartum ADHD Crash 44:36 —ADHD, Breastfeeding & Prolactin 45:45 —Supporting ADHD Postpartum 50:19 —ADHD-Friendly Systems That Actually Help 52:21 —Finding Joy When You're Overwhelmed 55:43 —Is It ADHD or Just Motherhood Overload? 58:25 —ADHD Medication: When Is It Worth Considering? 60:40 —Supplements & Natural ADHD Support 65:24 —ADHD, Irritability & PMDD 66:36 —ADHD & Perimenopause 67:17 —Building Systems Around Your Brain 70:08 —Caffeine & ADHD 71:47 —Screens, Dopamine & ADHD 75:17 —The Biggest Takeaway for Moms With ADHD
Resources From This Episode: Dr. Carrie's Website- adhdetails.com Dr. Carrie's Instagram- www.instagram.com/adhdetails Smart but Scattered book- https://amzn.to/3RtakE8 The Radical Guide for Women with ADHD book- https://amzn.to/3PUJdS0 Your Brain Is Not Broken book- https://amzn.to/4dYcYdI Do Less book- https://amzn.to/49YznFl Finch app- https://finchcare.com/mobile Trello app- https://trello.com/ ClickUp app- https://try.web.clickup.com/qcca0vh17mp2 Skylight calendar- https://tidd.ly/4s8VJe9 Get some of the supplements(creatine, L-tyrosine, pharmaGABA, L-theanine, lion's mane)recommended for 15% off on Fullscript- https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/mmacdermott/store-start Use code HEALTHYMOTHER to get a discount on Needed Stress Support- https://www.thisisneeded.com/discount/HEALTHYMOTHER
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