Chemical exposure during pregnancy is a hot topic, as parents and care-providers become increasingly aware of how chemicals in the environment and food supply can affect fetal development. In a previous blog post, I focused on phthalate exposure from leave-on personal care products like lotions...

Hyperemesis gravidum (HG) is severe and continual nausea and vomiting in pregnancy – resulting in dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition. It is both debilitating and incredibly frustrating for pregnant mothers. In past posts (here, here and here), I have shared evidence behind using B6, ginger and an acupuncture...

Identifying and treating thyroid disease in my fertility and pregnant patients has been a passion since I was a naturopathic student in Vancouver, where I saw one of my patients complete a healthy pregnancy after recurrent miscarriages due to previously undertreated thyroid issues. Now...

Vitamin D is a super nutrient that serves a remarkably broad range of biological functions. The diversity of its benefits make it an important part of a woman’s health, during pregnancy and otherwise. I have dedicated many blog posts to Vitamin D’s role in...

Working in fertility means working with male and female partners to identify potential causes of infertility, and finding opportunities to optimize fertility in all partners. Cannabis use by male partners is something I have been asked a lot about since it was legalized in...

Managing stress in pregnancy is a priority for a number of different reasons – from future behavioural issues to risk of developing diabetes – as I discuss further in this post, and in my online program where I devote an entire module to managing stress...

Exercising in the pool has long been a favourite of pregnant women, as the buoyancy of the water takes the weight of tired hips and knees, resulting in a rare and relieving feeling of weightlessness. In addition to the cardiovascular benefits of swimming and...

Living in the Yukon, where the seasonal variations in light are drastic, my patients and I are very aware of the extent to which light exposure affects melatonin concentrations and sleep quality. Melatonin is the biological response to darkness – levels increase at night,...

In my last post I flagged promising new research linking decreased fatty liver in adult males to their mothers’ consumption of fish oil during pregnancy. Now a second study focuses on supporting mom’s long-term liver health – through her breastfeeding. Based on their work with...

Supplementing a pregnant mother’s diet with essential fatty acids – particularly DHA – holds a host of benefits for the developing fetus, such as brain and eye development, and even reducing neural tube defects, as I’ve mentioned before in this post. New research from Spain’s Universidad...