Any vaginal infection in pregnancy is concerning, and bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnancy puts women at particularly increased risk for premature rupture of membranes (when the bag of waters breaks earlier than is optimal), chorioamnionitis (intra-amniotic infection), spontaneous preterm birth (baby being delivered before 37...

To the cheers of many health practitioners, Canada’s new and much improved Food Guide boldly recommends that Canadians of all ages and stages “replace sugary drinks with water” as their “drink of choice.” Of course, the health benefits of such a shift are clear...

A few weeks ago I wrote this post on the importance of supplementing smoking-exposed pregnant women with methylated folate (B9) and B12 to reduce the risk of recurrent miscarriage, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. Now, research from the Oregon Health and Science University has highlighted another important...

Optimal weight gain in pregnancy is a hot topic – arguments abound on risks of gaining too little in pregnancy, and conversely on the risks of gaining too much. I generally encourage my pregnant patients to follow a whole-foods, low-glycemic diet during pregnancy – and...

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a devastating experience that can leave women seeking answers to identify the cause of their miscarriages. While endocrine factors such as thyroid and progesterone levels are increasingly being recognized as important factors in RPL (as I address in this blog...

The 2019 Canadian Exercise Guidelines are just out, and as expected they are highly supportive of exercising throughout pregnancy – including aerobic exercise, strength training, and pelvic floor training.  Some important highlights from this year’s consensus statement by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada:...

The research on cigarette smoking in pregnancy is loud and clear: smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of pre-term delivery, low-birth-weight babies and stillbirth, amongst other complications. However, the addiction to nicotine can be powerful – and many women, even if they are able...

Thyroid function is a recurring theme in women’s health that is thankfully becoming better understood, especially in the pregnancy and post-partum periods. I’ve discussed its role in both miscarriage prevention and early child development in a previous post – and now, new research has linked elevated...

Regaining libido in the post-partum period is certainly a hot topic – whether or not it’s openly discussed between partners or with their care providers. Resuming physical intimacy is not typically achieved at the magical “6-week check-in,” but more often lags throughout the first...

Living in Northern Canada, I feel like I am constantly talking about Vitamin D. The importance of this super vitamin, however, is not limited simply to women who are living above the 60th parallel! From improving infant immune function (including decreased asthma risk) and...