While the importance of taking a prenatal during pregnancy is preached throughout the medical community, taking supplements after giving birth is just as essential to your health and even your baby's health if you are breastfeeding.   While you may be given iron supplements and stool softeners right after birth, there are plenty more vitamins and minerals that your body needs in order to recover properly. But what vitamins should you take during postpartum?  Well, it depends. The answer isn't so cut and dry. (Read on to find out why) However, there are some main vitamins and ..read more

You've been waiting 9 months (possibly way longer!) to be a mama and to finally hold your baby in your arms. Maybe you've thought oh, life is going to be perfect once you have your baby. Yeah, there will be sleepless nights, but it'll all be worth it.  But the time has come. Your baby is finally here, and you have the little nugget wrapped in your arms! Yet..you don’t feel the way you’d expect.  Don't get me wrong…you are happy and can't imagine your life without this baby. But you're experiencing thoughts and emotions that you never thought you would - loneliness, anger, frustrati ..read more

You've read all the books, read all the articles, and heard all the advice about how breastfeeding is best. Like all us mamas, you want to do what is best for your little one. You decide to embark on this new breastfeeding journey…. But there's just one tiny (or big) problem.  Your milk supply is low.  If that's the case, you're likely wondering, "Is my baby getting enough calories?", "Should I just switch to formula?", or "Why is my milk supply so low?". You might Google "how to increase milk supply" and get answers that suggest drinking certain lactation teas or lactation cookie ..read more

After we give birth, our body goes through a drastic change. After 9 months of carrying our little nugget, they are finally here. Our body that has gotten used to caring for this new human, now has to transition into how it can sustain the baby's life when it's outside the womb. There's no more baby in there or placenta needing nutrients and nutrition. I wouldn't say our body's needs are less per se, but they are just different now after you've given birth. For example, breastfeeding takes a lot from a mama and requires the body to do new, incredible things.  How does it do these new th ..read more

Is your postpartum journey not what you expected? You might be experiencing some postpartum symptoms that you weren't quite ready for. Maybe you’re wondering, “Are my postpartum symptoms normal?”. I wanted to take the time to explain why your body might experience these normal symptoms, and what to do for them. Whether you are about to give birth, or already gave birth, it’s important to prepare yourself for this postpartum chapter. There are some aspects that you’ll never be quite prepared for, but I’ll do my best to inform you of common symptoms.  Postpartum Hot Flashes After giving bi ..read more

Throughout your pregnancy, you tried your best to incorporate nutrient rich foods into your diet. You knew that growing a baby required a lot of calories and energy, so that extra serving of your delicious dinner was acceptable, right? But now that your little peanut is here, you’re wanting to get your body back, so you don’t grab for that extra serving of food.  But maybe you should!  Did you know that your nutrient needs are HIGHER postpartum than they are during pregnancy? You’ve been giving your body this extra love throughout the course of your pregnancy, and now isn’t the tim ..read more

If you’re like me (and majority of other mamas out there), I’m sure you’ve noticed that you are occasionally walking around in a fog and that time seems to go by in a flash? Simple tasks that used to take you only minutes to complete are now taking hours? Misplacing EVERYTHING… only to later find your car keys stashed in the freezer with the breast milk? No you are not going crazy or losing your mind! There is no exact scientific conclusion on what baby brain is (and research on the topic is extremely limited). But there is definitely a general understanding of what is actually happening to ma ..read more

It’s no surprise that having a baby affects multiple body different body systems. One system specifically tends to be forgotten about. We spend a lot of time in the postpartum period paying attention to baby (which is obviously important) but we tend to forget about paying attention to mama. When we do, we often focus a lot on the body’s physical healing (definitely important) and on ensuring there are no concerns with mother’s mental health (also important!). But one major body system that is typically forgotten about is the immune system! A mother’s immune system is naturally suppressed dur ..read more

YES, IT'S TRUE. YOUR GUT IS CONSIDERED YOUR "SECOND BRAIN." THERE IS NO DENYING IT ANYMORE. And because of the new scientific discoveries about the vagus nerve, the enteric nervous system, and the amazing influence your gut microbes can have, it's no wonder what you eat feeds not only your body but can directly affect your brain. I find it amazing (but not too surprising). What Exactly Is The "Gut-Brain Connection."? Well, it’s very complex, and to be honest, we’re still learning lots about it! There seem to be multiple things working together.  The vagus nerve that links the gut directly to t ..read more

More and more frequently the conversation of stress and our stress hormone, cortisol, comes up with patients. Patients are concerned about the effects of stress on their every day lives, and as their naturopathic doctor, I am concerned about the effects cortisol is having on their health and future health. Your body is hard wired to react to stress to protect you against threats from predators (ie. lions, tigers and bears!). These threats are super rate today, but that doesn't mean that life is free of stress. Each day we face multiple stressors (ie. trying to get your toddler to eat their bre ..read more