Building a Healthy Iron Supply
Pregnancy anemia occurs when your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to deliver oxygen efficiently to you and your growing baby. It’s especially common during pregnancy because your blood volume increases by nearly 50%, creating a greater demand for iron to produce the red blood cells needed to support this increased circulation.
Pregnancy Heartburn
If you’re pregnant and experiencing heartburn, you’ve probably heard all the usual advice: eat smaller meals and avoid spicy foods. But if you’re still feeling the fire with every meal, there may be a few other things worth trying.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational Diabetes (GDM) is the most common pregnancy complication. It can lead to excess fetal growth, birth complications/trauma, birth defects, and a higher instance of cesarean deliveries. It can also lead to blood sugar instability for the newborn (which comes with it’s own risks), type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the mother.
The Importance of Birth Education
Taking a birth education class is crucial for expecting parents. It can literally make the difference in the type of birth you have and how you experience it.
Mentally Preparing for Birth
When it comes to preparing for birth, there is so much focus on the physical aspects- what to eat or not eat, prenatal vitamins, stretches, exercises, and birth positions- but the mental side of birth is just as crucial. I would even argue that mentally preparing for birth is far more important.
Medical Induction
A medical induction is the artificial starting of labor. One of the most difficult things about birth is the unknown. When and how it will start is a top question that families often think about, especially as they near the end of pregnancy. Let’s discuss what the options are if an induction needs to be…
5 Postpartum Essentials
If you have been around for any amount of time, you know I am super passionate about preparing for birth. And while preparing is paramount for your birth experience, we can’t forget to prepare for postpartum, too. Let’s check out my 5 postpartum essentials that every family needs.
Earthside Birth Pool Rental
Are you planning to have your baby at home and want to give birth in the most beautiful tub? Look no further! The Earthside birth pool is the most luxurious and practical pool on the market. It was designed by mothers, just like you. It’s the perfect size, shape, and sturdiness for a home birth…
Eye ointment – Newborn Procedures
You’ve just given birth to your precious baby, and your care provider suggests two routine procedures right away, the Vitamin K injection and erythromycin eye ointment. How do you know if this is right for your baby? Ophthalmia Neonatorum (ON) is the infection and inflammation of the thin layer of tissue that covers the inner…
I’m Pregnant! Now What?
Yay! You are pregnant. Now what? Do you feel a little overwhelmed with what you are supposed to do after you pee on that stick? Let me help you get started with three important things to focus on. Nourishment Vision Team While I believe nourishment should be a priority before a positive pregnancy test, most…
Vitamin K – Newborn Procedures
One of the most common questions I get is about newborn Vitamin K. Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding, or VKDB, occurs when a baby cannot stop an internal bleed because they lack the Vitamin K needed to form clots. Most commonly, this internal bleeding would be found in the baby’s brain (this instance may increase with…
Preconception support
When a family is beginning to think about preconception, there are a few important considerations that should be made. Both mom and dad’s DNA come together to produce a baby, and it's imperative that they both are as healthy as possible. The baby’s genes will be formed by this DNA (both good and bad) and…
Get this Baby Out!
One of the top questions I get asked happens around 39 weeks. The question sometimes comes even earlier, as the last month of pregnancy can feel like it lasts for a million days. And sometimes the question is later when the baby has been given an official eviction notice, also known as an induction date. Either way…
My Favorite Organ
According to the National Institute of Health, the placenta is the least understood and the least studied organ in the human body. But if you hang out with any birth workers for even a short amount of time, you’ll quickly learn its definitely one of the coolest and most amazing organs. To start, one day…
Taking Care of Yourself
What a fitting key for me! This was my locker key from a spa day a few months back with some girlfriends. “What are you doing for yourself?” A friend recently asked me this question when I was feeling like the weight of motherhood was swallowing me whole. For me, I love being able to…
Nausea Tips from a Survivor
If you know anything about my own personal journey into becoming a mama, you know my pregnancies weren’t glamorous. In fact, one of the reasons I wanted my births to be so redemptive is because of how difficult those months were. I’ve recently had a few friends struggle with “morning” sickness, and it brought back…
The Beginning of the Journey
Sometimes infertility can feel lonely, shameful, and full of darkness. Actually, it always felt like that. I can remember feeling like I had a big scarlet letter painted on chest, even though no one could see or feel my pain. “I,” for “infertile.” It’s like that word, that letter, seemed to identify me. Seemed to…