Probiotics are live bacteria that benefit their hosts (that is, us!) in seemingly countless ways. Throughout pregnancy the gut microbiome undergoes significant changes, and probiotic supplementation during pregnancy has been shown to lower rates of infant eczema and allergies, pre-term birth, and rates of urinary...

Avoiding refined grains, including white flour and white rice, is something I recommend to my patients during pregnancy, due to their impact on maternal blood sugar levels. As I share in-depth as part of the nutrition module in my online pregnancy coaching program, a...

50% of pregnant women will experience back pain during pregnancy. Many women forego treatment out of concern about prescription drug use and overuse of Tylenol (see this weekly tip for more information). However, chronic, severe pain is associated with hypertension, anxiety and depression, and needs to...

Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) affects 10% of pregnancies in the United States and is a major cause of death in pregnant women and newborns worldwide. These hypertensive disorders include chronic hypertension (elevated blood pressure at less than 20 weeks pregnant or persisting beyond 12...

Gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy) is a growing concern around the world. It’s something my patients and participants in my online pregnancy program are motivated to prevent. In my program, I devote a full module to this topic, including...

Red raspberry leaf tea (Rubus idaeus) is one of my favourite herbs in pregnancy. It has a proven safety record (considered Category A meaning that human pregnancy studies have demonstrated its safety), and has a number of wonderful effects during pregnancy. Red raspberry leaf is...

We know that Vitamin D is important for strong bones and healthy immune systems. In Northern countries like Canada, Vitamin D supplementation is widespread as awareness grows about its crucial role. What is less known, however, is the importance of adequate Vitamin D stores...

In previous weeks I’ve talked about the use of acupressure at PC-6, and Vitamin B6, for treating nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Another great option is ginger, which has been shown in clinical trials to decrease the severity of both nausea and vomiting during...

As a BC-licensed Naturopathic Physician with full prescribing rights, my scope of practice allows for treating naturally with acupuncture, nutrition/supplements and herbal medicine, while also prescribing antibiotics and other medications when needed. This full scope and training is one of the things that attracted...

With all of the research out there on the importance of reducing sugar intake during pregnancy, many women are turning to artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) as a “healthy alternative” to sugar-sweetened soft drinks in their pregnancies. Over the years a number of concerns have...