As a Minnesota family photographer, I spend a lot of time talking with moms.
Sometimes it happens during a newborn session while we’re waiting for baby to settle. Sometimes it happens during a family session while the kids are running circles around us. And sometimes those conversations turn into deeper ones about motherhood, health, and the things we quietly carry while raising kids.
Over the past few years, I kept hearing the same thing from moms.
“I feel like something is off, but my labs say everything is normal.”
“I’m exhausted but I’m told it’s just part of being a mom.”
“I wish someone would actually explain what’s going on in my body.”
I’ve also been the one asking these questions myself.
That’s one of the reasons I started my Made for Minnesota Moms YouTube series. I wanted real conversations with Minnesota women who support pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Women who are actually helping moms feel better.
One of those women is functional medicine practioner, Hannah Lewis.
Our conversation covered everything from postpartum depletion to thyroid health to why so many moms feel dismissed when they’re searching for answers.
Meet Hannah Lewis NP
Hannah Lewis is a functional medicine and family nurse practitioner at Radiant Health Collective, where she co-founded the clinic with another nurse practitioner. They offer both in-person care and virtual appointments..
She focuses on a root-cause approach to care. Her work blends conventional medicine with nutrition, lifestyle changes, and advanced testing.
She supports patients through many stages of life, including:
- Fertility and conception
- Pregnancy care
- Postpartum recovery
- Thyroid and hormone health
- Perimenopause and menopause
When I planned this interview for my Made for Minnesota Moms series, Hannah was someone I immediately wanted to include.
Because so many moms are looking for answers. And so many don’t realize that a functional medicine practitioner could be part of that path.
What Is Functional Medicine?
Before we dive into the Q&A from the interview, let’s talk about something many moms are curious about.
What even is functional medicine?
If you’ve ever wondered what functional medicine is, you’re not alone. Many moms I talk to have heard the term but aren’t totally sure what it means.
A functional medicine practitioner takes a root-cause approach to health. Instead of only treating symptoms, they try to understand why those symptoms are happening in the first place (sounds refreshing right?).
That might mean looking at things like:
- Hormone balance
- Thyroid health
- Gut health
- Nutrient levels
- Stress and lifestyle factors
A functional medicine practitioner often spends more time digging into patterns and connections across the body. Because the truth is, our bodies don’t operate in isolated systems. Hormones affect energy. Gut health affects mood. Nutrient levels affect everything.
For many moms, this approach can feel like a completely different experience compared to traditional appointments.
Instead of hearing “everything looks normal,” they finally get someone walking through the numbers with them.
As Hannah explained during our conversation, many women come to her after being told their labs are fine but they still feel awful.
She told me:
“Someone might say their labs were ‘fine,’ but they feel exhausted, are gaining weight in their midsection, and feel irritable. Many moms describe it as trying to get back to themselves postpartum.”
That moment of validation can be huge.
Why Moms Often Look for a Functional Medicine Practitioner
Many moms don’t start their search for a functional medicine practitioner because they want something trendy or alternative.
They start because something doesn’t feel right.
Maybe it’s persistent fatigue. Brain fog. Hormone shifts after pregnancy. Thyroid concerns. Fertility struggles. Or symptoms that keep getting brushed off.
Hannah explained that a lot of her patients arrive after being passed between different specialists.
GI sends them to endocrinology.
Endocrinology sends them to rheumatology.
And no one is looking at the full picture.
A functional medicine practitioner often works differently by stepping back and asking how everything connects.
Hannah said it well during our interview:
“Functional medicine often thrives in that space because we don’t immediately send someone to multiple specialists unless it’s required. We can look at the whole body and the whole individual to connect the dots.”
For moms in particular, that approach can make a big difference during pregnancy and postpartum.
Because pregnancy and postpartum bring huge changes to the body.
Hormones shift. Nutrients are depleted. Sleep disappears.
And yet moms are often expected to just power through.
One thing Hannah talks about a lot with her patients is postpartum depletion.
“You lose so many nutrients creating this wonderful being, and even more nutrients if you choose to breastfeed. That isn’t talked about much in the western medicine space.”
That idea alone made so many things click for me.
Watch the Full Interview
Before I break down the Q&A from our conversation, I want to share the full interview.
If you prefer listening and watching conversations unfold naturally, you can press play below and hear everything directly from Hannah. Sometimes tone and nuance matter, and hearing her explain things in her own words adds a lot of context.
If you’d rather skim and read the highlights, keep scrolling. I pulled out the questions I asked and some of the takeaways that stuck with me the most.
Q&A with Hannah Lewis
1. Can you share what you do and what led you into becoming a functional medicine practitioner?
Hannah explained that she works as a nurse practitioner, but her approach focuses on root causes.
“I am a nurse practitioner similar to what you would see at an urgent care clinic. The difference is that my scope focuses on root causes.”
She explained that her work often centers around things like thyroid health, hormones, fertility, and gut health.
Her introduction to functional medicine came through her grandmother’s cancer journey, which opened her eyes to additional ways to support health beyond medications alone.
That experience ultimately shifted her career path toward prevention and deeper investigation into patient symptoms.
2. What does a functional medicine provider focus on during pregnancy and postpartum?
Many people don’t realize a functional medicine practitioner can work alongside OBs and midwives during pregnancy.
Hannah often runs early labs when someone becomes pregnant. These can include thyroid panels, ferritin levels, vitamin D, and progesterone.
“The moment someone tells me they’re pregnant, we run those labs. Then we talk about how to help both mom and baby be as healthy as possible throughout pregnancy.”
She also helps patients navigate things like gestational diabetes testing options, progesterone support, and common pregnancy symptoms like nausea or constipation.
Later in pregnancy, she often talks with families about postpartum mental health and hormone shifts.
“Hormone shifts after birth are intense, and some women benefit from progesterone support during that postpartum phase without affecting milk supply.”
3. What tends to surprise new moms once they start working with a functional medicine provider?
One of the biggest surprises is how often “normal labs” don’t tell the full story.
Many moms come to a functional medicine practitioner after being told everything looks “fine”.
But when the numbers are reviewed more closely, patterns start to appear.
Hannah explained:
“Often they get their labs back and everything says it’s in the normal range. Then we walk through the results and realize parts of it aren’t actually optimal.”
That deeper explanation can be validating for women who have felt dismissed.
4. How long do postpartum moms usually continue to see a functional medicine provider?
The timeline varies depending on the patient.
Hannah usually checks in with postpartum patients around six to eight weeks.
This visit often includes labs, discussions about breastfeeding, and conversations about recovery.
She also highlighted something many moms find surprising.
“It frustrates me that baby has usually been seen three times before that six-week check-in and mom has only been seen once.”
After that initial postpartum visit, follow-ups might happen at six months, when cycles return, or whenever symptoms appear.
5. What inspired you to support women through pregnancy and postpartum?
Hannah shared that part of her passion comes from being in this stage of life herself.
She has a young baby and a toddler.
During her first pregnancy, she discovered some of the gaps in support firsthand.
She told me that addressing a fungal overgrowth after hormone shifts dramatically improved her memory and brain fog.
“I could suddenly remember small details again instead of assuming it was ‘mom brain,’ anxiety, or stress.”
Experiences like that deepened her desire to support other moms.
6. Are there misconceptions about working with a functional medicine practitioner?
One misconception is that functional medicine isn’t based in real science.
Hannah said she spends a significant amount of time reading research and continuing education to stay current.
“Many people think it isn’t real medicine or that there’s no literature supporting it.”
She also emphasized that functional medicine doesn’t reject conventional medicine. Instead, it often works alongside it.
7. Can you share one powerful moment from your work?
When I asked Hannah this question, she paused and smiled.
“Oh, there are too many.”
One of the moments that impacts her the most is receiving messages from patients who finally become pregnant.
“I cry every time I get a message saying, ‘I’m finally pregnant.’ That is the biggest joy.”
But the big milestones aren’t the only wins she celebrates.
She told me about a patient who recently had her third baby and said:
“I’ve never felt this good postpartum, and I really think it’s because of all the work you helped support me with, not only during the pregnancy but between my second child and my third.”
Sometimes the victories are the everyday ones parents know well.
“I love hearing things like, ‘My baby pooped,’ or ‘My baby slept through the night,’ or that they’re doing better with latching or nursing. Those are huge wins.”
She also shared a story about a patient who had gone through two rounds of IVF and felt like one final round might be her last chance.
When Hannah reviewed her labs, she realized a full thyroid panel had never been run. Testing revealed Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune thyroid condition that can affect fertility.
After starting treatment with low-dose naltrexone, the patient conceived naturally within two cycles.
“She had a fantastic pregnancy and an amazing birth. If we hadn’t run those labs and started treatment, that baby might not have come for them.”
Moments like these are what make the work meaningful to her.
“I love helping people. I feel like that’s what God’s calling has been for my life.”
Where to Find Hannah
Hannah Lewis is one of the founders of Radiant Health Collective.
Her clinic offers both in-person and virtual appointments, which can be especially helpful during pregnancy or postpartum when leaving the house isn’t always easy.
You can learn more or book an appointment here.
You can also find her on Instagram here.
Their clinic is based in Minnesota and serves patients across several states through virtual care.
A Personal Note from Me
One of the reasons I started the Made for Minnesota Moms series is because I believe moms deserve access to real resources and real conversations.
Whether that’s finding a provider who listens, learning about options like a functional medicine practitioner, or simply hearing another mom say “you’re not crazy for feeling this way.”
As a Minnesota family photographer, I spend my days documenting the beautiful chaos of family life. But behind every photo is a real mom navigating pregnancy, postpartum, and all the transitions that come with raising kids. Supporting moms goes beyond photos for me. I want you to have resources that actually help.
If you’re in the postpartum season, I created something that might be helpful. You can read my Postpartum Care Kit where I share simple things that can make those early weeks feel a little more supported.
If you’re still pregnant and preparing for baby, you can also grab my free Minneapolis pregnancy guide here. It’s full of local resources and ideas that can help you feel a little more ready for what’s ahead.
And if you like conversations like this and want more resources for motherhood, pregnancy, and family life, you can join my newsletter here. I share helpful tips, local resources, and updates from my Made for Minnesota Moms series.
Because at the end of the day, motherhood isn’t meant to be figured out alone.
And if you’re ever ready to document this season of your family’s story, I’d love to connect with you too.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek advice from your physician, midwife, or other qualified healthcare provider with questions about pregnancy, labor, postpartum, or your health.
comments +