This article explores the multifaceted journey of Morgan Adams, encompassing her experiences with weight management, gestational diabetes, childbirth, and ultimately, her transformation into a holistic sleep coach. Her story underscores the importance of education, self-advocacy, and a holistic approach to health and well-being.
Overcoming Weight Challenges: A Personal Resolution
Morgan's journey with weight loss began with a stark realization. Weighing 343 pounds, she recognized the health risks and emotional toll of her weight. "I thought it was ridiculous, unhealthy, dangerous and embarrassing just to know that I weighed that much,” Morgan, of Edmond, said. This prompted her to take action, starting with workouts at a fitness center and dietary changes aimed at preventing further weight gain. Morgan's initial efforts led to a significant drop to 306 pounds.
However, maintaining this progress proved challenging. When winter arrived, her workout and diet regimen diminished, and she gained six pounds in December. Determined to regain control, Morgan made a New Year's resolution to recommit to her health goals. She incorporated cardiovascular exercises four days a week, demonstrating her commitment to a healthier lifestyle.
Morgan's story is a testament to the cyclical nature of weight management and the importance of perseverance. Her experience resonates with many who find it challenging to maintain consistency in their health routines, especially during seasonal changes.
Navigating Pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes
Morgan's journey took another turn with pregnancy, bringing new challenges and learning opportunities. She was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at the first screening. Fortunately, she was able to manage it effectively through dietary changes. She learned you should eat your protein and greens before you eat your carbs. This dietary adjustment highlights the importance of understanding how food choices impact blood sugar levels, a crucial aspect of managing gestational diabetes.
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Her overall pregnancy experience was mostly uneventful except for more pelvic pressure and gestational diabetes. Her increase in blood pressure led to having an induction.
Furthermore, Morgan's experience highlights the importance of patient-provider communication and informed decision-making during pregnancy. Morgan shared her concerns with her provider about him inducing her for her first pregnancy. He responded "I'm so sorry you felt pressured. I really want you to know that it is an option for you to decline it. I will let you know if there's not an option. Like it's very dangerous if you don't get induced. I don't foresee that, you've done great. Your weight is healthy. You're exercising. This exchange underscores the importance of open dialogue between patients and healthcare providers, ensuring that patients feel empowered to make informed choices about their care.
Embracing Education and Empowerment in Childbirth
Morgan's perspective on childbirth evolved significantly throughout her journey. "My take on giving birth with my oldest was that you don't need a birth course. Who needs a birth course? Everybody does this. Whenever your time comes, you just figure out how to have the baby. Your doctor helps you and tells you what to do. But then my thinking changed. I don't know what changed it, but out of nowhere I was like, you know what? Back in the day, you had your mom, you were in there watching her give birth to your siblings or your grandma was there and she told you everything. Your aunts, your cousins, your sisters, like everybody was together because they lived multi-generationally, and all the women were there to take care of each other. I've never seen anybody give birth. Even like learning the different stations of the baby can really help you. I think there is the importance of taking a course and feeling prepared, having all of that knowledge. This realization led her to recognize the value of childbirth education in preparing for the birthing experience.
She emphasizes the importance of feeling prepared and having knowledge about the birthing process.
Morgan walks through her experience from contraction to birth. Her water broke before she started feeling any contractions. During early contractions, Morgan called her husband to head home and starts timing them by texting him. As the contractions spaced out, she prepared for a potentially long night, packing bags and getting ready for an upcoming wedding. They decided to go to a hotel near the hospital as a precaution, and informed her doula and birth photographer. When she got to the hospital, she was quickly admitted due to advanced labor. She prepared to push and delivered her baby just 15 minutes after arriving, with minimal intervention. She did have low-grade hemorrhaging but no tearing.
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Morgan describes her contractions. The closest they got were about five minutes apart. The, the cramping did get a little more intense, but it never got super strong. She did not have any back labor for her second pregnancy, just, just the mild cramping. It would wrap around her tummy. She would sit there, pause, breathe through it and did large, deep breaths.
How did she feel about her contractions with Pitocin? "Contractions with Pitocin were brutal. I did not like those contractions. I had the back labor, and with the Pitocin, I just felt like everything was just so forced. Even though I did take things like the Red Raspberry Leaf Tea and those things, I feel like my body knew what to do with that birth, but my body just really wasn't prepared because it wasn't time for me to have the baby. And so I just, I really think my personal opinion and experience is that contractions are not as pleasant with Pitocin. " I definitely think it is so important to educate yourself. Educate yourself, educate yourself on your birth plan or birth map so if for some reason something happens, there's a detour, make sure you know your options well because you want to be confident in what you're going to be going into. You don't want to just be like, 'Well, I'll just leave it up to the professionals.' I hate to say this because it's not the same in every place, but my experience with the hospital birth, they're going to probably take the route that's easier for them. Especially if they have a lot of other moms that are in labor and delivery, they're going to do what they can to make their jobs a little bit easier. Not saying that that's going to take away from your experience. "Dads, I think you just really need to be there. Give that affirmation, remind your significant other 'Hey, like you can do this. Hard things are possible. Each contraction is getting you closer to baby.' All of those great things. I think it's just so important for you to be encouraging to your wife.
Morgan's husband has had an extensive amount of surgeries and felt very queasy in hospitals. However, he was extremely supportive emotionally and would reassure Morgan with affirmations.
Becoming a Holistic Sleep Coach: Reclaiming Rest and Health
Morgan's journey took an unexpected but fulfilling turn as she transitioned into a holistic sleep coach. Her personal experiences with sleep struggles, including insomnia and reliance on sleeping pills, fueled her passion for helping other women reclaim their rest and health. She is now a double-certified holistic sleep coach.
The challenges of modern life, particularly for women in perimenopause and beyond, often lead to disrupted sleep patterns. Morgan works with women in perimenopause and beyond, and 3am seems to be the most common time they’re waking up-and staying up. A few possible culprits: Hormonal fluctuations (especially drops in estrogen), Blood sugar crashes overnight, Heightened stress and cortisol levels and An overstimulated nervous system that hasn’t had a chance to wind down.
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Morgan emphasizes that poor sleep isn’t just a nighttime problem-it’s a whole-day issue. And solving it often means zooming out to look at how your body is supported (or not) throughout the day. Instead of blaming the wakeup itself, Morgan recommends looking at how you respond. Getting frustrated, checking the clock, or ruminating about the day ahead tends to keep you awake far longer than the original disruption.
Morgan points out that many women treat sleep like another task to optimize, and in doing so, they actually apply more pressure, not less. Sleep isn’t something you can force. And trying to control every variable can backfire by increasing anxiety and tension around bedtime.
Morgan often sees women waking up feeling okay, only to check their device and see they had “bad sleep.” That disconnect can lead to a negative mindset, more stress, and even worse sleep the next night. If your sleep tracker is making you feel worse or leading you to doubt your own experience, it may be time to take a break from tracking altogether.
One of the most powerful shifts Morgan recommends is letting go of the identity of being a “bad sleeper.” When you repeatedly tell yourself that you’re broken or that sleep is something you’re bad at, it shapes how you approach everything-from the routines you try to the frustration you feel when they don’t work. That identity creates pressure, and pressure makes sleep harder. Shifting that internal narrative can make a meaningful difference, even before you change any habits.
She offers valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of sleep and its impact on overall well-being. She shared a few simple, effective strategies that often get overlooked: Eat enough throughout the day, including complex carbs and healthy fats at dinner, to avoid blood sugar crashes at night. Create a wind-down routine that focuses on true relaxation-not productivity or perfection. If you wake up and can’t fall back asleep, get out of bed and do something calming in dim light until you feel drowsy again. Focus on regulating your nervous system during the day-because if you’re keyed up all day, your body doesn’t automatically switch off at night.
Morgan's approach to sleep coaching is holistic, addressing the root causes of sleep issues rather than simply masking the symptoms. "I was interested in sleep coaching with Morgan after many years of trying everything-I mean EVERYTHING-to get my sleep in check. While my sleep is not perfect, I can say that it is not something that consumes my days anymore. With all of the different tips and tricks, I have learned how to cope with a bad night of sleep. It no longer sends me into a downward spiral of despair as it once did. "Morgan provided me the latest research, helped me reframe my challenges to get me unstuck, and encouraged me to make informed decisions. "One of the biggest things I loved about working with Morgan was that she helped me have confidence in myself. I was desperate to get a good night’s sleep after an unexpected crisis rocked my world in my mid-thirties. As a pharmaceutical sales rep, I didn’t have the luxury of “sleeping in” after staring at the clock all night. I didn’t know that sleeping pills inhibit your ability to experience restorative sleep. I would wake up groggy, oftentimes to an empty box of cookies I didn’t remember eating, and trudge through the morning until last night’s pill would wear off. My mission is to lead you to the land of better, bountiful sleep and provide personalized coaching that addresses the root of your sleep issues. I’ve been fortunate to share my subject matter expertise and personal journey with all things sleep, wellness, and beating breast cancer (twice). I know I don’t feel that great, but is sleep really that big a deal? I’ve tried everything. My chaotic lifestyle makes it impossible to sleep well. I’m taking sleeping pills. Just click the button below to schedule a 20 minute consultation with me. I’ll learn more about you and you’ll learn more about my approach to see if there’s a fit. Promise: no sales pitches! Like you, my time is precious.