Creating Healthy Babies

05/05/2026

Did you know choline is just as important as folic acid during pregnancy?

Emerging research shows that choline may play a key role in early brain development and could help reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs)—especially when taken alongside folic acid. This is likely due to its role in DNA methylation and supporting healthy gene expression during early pregnancy.

A meta-analysis found that women with lower choline intake had a higher risk of NTDs, while those with higher intakes (around 200–1000 mg/day, with many benefits seen above 500 mg/day) had a lower risk—particularly when combined with adequate folic acid.

Choline has also been linked to long-term cognitive benefits in children, including improved attention and faster information processing.

Despite this, many women still aren’t getting enough choline during pregnancy.

Learn more here:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ (search: choline pregnancy neural tube defects)

PubMed® comprises more than 40 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites.

30/04/2026

Interesting article on the benefits of men eating nuts to improve s***m Health

Diet plays a vital role in reproductive health, with new research linking nut consumption to improved s***m quality and male fertility.

20/03/2023

The latest Weekend Australian recommends this book for couples experiencing miscarriage: "Hard to Bear: Investigating the Science and Silence of Miscarriage" by Isabelle Oderberg. It's a book that explores the complex and often neglected topic of miscarriage. The book sheds light on the experiences of those who have suffered from miscarriage and aims to break the silence and stigma surrounding this issue. Here are some of the main points and messages from the book:

Miscarriage is more common than people realize: The book highlights that miscarriage is a relatively common occurrence, with one in four pregnancies ending in miscarriage. Despite its prevalence, it is still often considered a taboo subject, and many people feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about it.

The emotional impact of miscarriage: The book examines the emotional toll of miscarriage, including feelings of grief, loss, guilt, and shame. The author also discusses the challenges of coping with miscarriage, including the fear of future pregnancies and the impact on relationships.

The lack of scientific understanding: Despite its prevalence, there is still much that is not known about miscarriage. The book explores the current scientific understanding of miscarriage and highlights the need for further research into the causes and prevention of this condition.

The importance of support and community: The author emphasizes the importance of support and community for those who have experienced miscarriage. The book highlights the benefits of talking openly about the experience and finding support through organizations and online communities.

Breaking the silence: One of the main messages of the book is the need to break the silence surrounding miscarriage. The author argues that talking openly about the experience can help to reduce the stigma and provide much-needed support to those who have suffered from miscarriage.

Overall, "Hard to Bear" is a powerful and insightful book that sheds light on the often-neglected topic of miscarriage. The book highlights the emotional impact of miscarriage, the lack of scientific understanding, and the importance of support and community. Above all, the book advocates for breaking the silence and stigma surrounding this important issue.

If you have suffered miscarriage, reach out for a complimentary consult and I'll work thru' a program to understand and address the most common reasons for miscarriage, and increase the likelihood of a successful full term pregnancy:https://holistic-health-pty-ltd.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

14/08/2022

Reducing the levels of toxins in our body is an important step when preparing for a healthy baby.
Read my new blog on the impact of plastics and what you can do to compensate for and reduce your exposure.
What do you do to reduce your exposure??

We live in a world full of chemicals and toxins. I believe that one of the reasons there is an epidemic of obesity and fertility issues is due to the chronic exposure to toxins from our food, water, personal care products and the air we breathe. Plastic is not only a global environmental concern but...

25/06/2022

Endometriosis is a common condition affecting approximately 5–10% of women of reproductive age. It is where endometrium-like tissue grows outside the uterine cavity. Symptoms include painful periods, painful s*x and urination, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue and subfertility. To date, the exact cause is unclear.
This paper published last week suggests 'Avoiding or limiting a wide range of nutrients including gluten, dairy, soy, sugar and coffee was helpful in alleviating their symptoms as well as adding vegetables, ginger or fruit (Krabbenborg et al. 2021).
Dietary changes are an important strategy in my treatment of endometriosis, as well as pain management and addressing gut health & hormone balance.
You are welcome to make a time for a complimentary 15 minute consult to see how I can help you
holistic-health-pty-ltd.au1.cliniko.com/bookings

Endometriosis is the most prevalent benign gynaecologic disease with invalidating effects on the quality of life and decreased economic productivity. As pharmacologic and surgical treatment are only partially effective, women look for self-management strategies in order to control their symptoms. Ma...

11/05/2022

Special offer - $295 including hair test + consult with interpretation. If you'd like your partner to be tested as well, add an extra $250

11/04/2022

Can garlic help with endometriosis?

On the basis that endometriosis is a common chronic inflammatory disease, and garlic contains components that have antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects, a randomised, placebo-controlled, triple blind clinical trial aimed to answer this question. Sixty women with endometriosis were randomly allocated into two groups. The intervention group received usual care supplemented with one 400 mg garlic tablet a day; the placebo group received the same care and an identical placebo tablet. Each garlic tablet contained 400 mg of dried garlic powder (delivering 1.1 mg of allicin). A four-part Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure the severity of pain on four occasions (before the intervention and on one-, two-, and three-month follow-ups).

The overall severity of pain reduced from 6.51 ± 0.86 to 1.83 ± 1.25 in the garlic group (p < 0.05) and increased from 6.41 ± 1.12 to 6.65 ± 1.37 in the control group (p = 0.02). These changes were also significant between the garlic and control groups (p < 0.001). The authors proposed that garlic can reduce pelvic and back pain, dysmenorrhoea and dyspareunia, which are important symptoms of endometriosis.

For more information see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34335819/

23/10/2021

Very excited to be discussing preconception principles to an International group of Bowen Therapists tomorrow afternoon! Wish me luck with no technical hitches!

25/09/2021

Let's talk about s*x! A healthy s*x life is important for longevity and overall health and ideally be fun and enjoyable.
This Dr speaks about the benefits, and ways to improve your s*x life! Enjoy :)

‎Show The Mindvalley Podcast with Vishen, Ep How To Have Amazing S*x For The Rest Of Your Life - Amy Killen - 24 Sept 2021

21/07/2021

Getting to a healthy BMI is an important step towards a healthy conception and pregnancy. Here's a blog about ketogenic eating. is an effective weight loss option if you need support to get to a healthy weight.

Here’s a look into the potential benefits a keto diet can play in fertility, conceiving and carrying a healthy baby.

23/05/2021

Having a healthy child and being a healthy mother sounds amazing, doesn't it?!🥰

Well, no need to worry right now!

"Creating Healthy Babies" is an Online Holistic Fertility Course to maximize your chances of conceiving naturally, having a healthy birth and baby and reduce your risk of miscarriage.

Send me an e-mail at doreen@holistichealth.com.au

or leave a message at https://www.creatinghealthybabies.com.au/contact-me and I will help you achieve and conceive the healthiest baby possible!

22/05/2021

1. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭: On waking – focus your attention on something positive – the sky, your garden, your gorgeous partner or baby. Daily appreciation for the numerous things we can easily take for granted can change our mindset to be more aware of positive things we encounter daily.

2. 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭/𝐬 like some deep breaths, a meditation session, or journaling. Exercise helps reduce stress, makes us feel better, improves heart health and weight management, and produces new brain cells.

3. 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐜𝐞 𝗪𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
You could start simply by ending your shower with cold water, working up to having an entire cold shower; swimming in cold water; placing your hand into a bucket of ice water and keeping it there.

4. 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬
Standing with your legs hip width apart, hand on your hips, elbow back, chest up and head slightly elevated.

5. 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠
Art therapy and other techniques to help you learn how to tap into brainpower and retrain the brain to manage stress and break free of old habits.

6. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞 – consider sharing 3 ‘wins’ for the day with your partner, family or friend over dinner.

7. 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫
Sugar activated the reptilian brain and acts on similar addiction pathways in the brain to ni****ne in ci******es and alcohol. It is also the main factor implicated in becoming overweight as sugar gets stored as fat if not burnt up as energy.