The Women's Health Nutritionist

09/07/2024

After yesterday’s post about pregnancy and body image, I received these beautiful pictures from our maternity shoot with the talented . 📸

She perfectly captured the excitement Dean and I feel about our upcoming arrival, as well as the beauty of a pregnant body nurturing new life. I’m so glad I chose to set aside any body image concerns and do a maternity photoshoot to preserve these special moments.

A little poem as a reminder to all those expectant mothers out there:

Chant of the Pregnant Goddess 
by Jana McCarthy 

I am the mother of the moon 
sister of the stars 
child of the light in your eyes. 

I am powerful. 
  
The geometry of my shape shifts 
from gently curved lines 
to expanding circles: earth, moon, sun. 
 
I am powerful. 
I am strong. 
 
The tempo of my vibration quickens, 
increasing from 
butterfly wings, to floundering fish, 
to beating drum, 
erupting volcano, 
the rhythm as old and constant as 
the cycles of the sun 
and the turn of the tides. 
 
I am powerful. 
I am strong. 
I am beautiful. 

I hold the hope of my ancestors 
the knowledge of my time 
the fate of my future. 

I am powerful. 
I am strong. 
I am beautiful. 
I am mother.

08/07/2024

**🌟 Embracing Body Neutrality During Pregnancy 🌟**

📸 Featuring a photo that I don’t particularly like of myself but I’m sure I’ll love and be happy I kept in several years time.

Pregnancy has taken my body image on a rollercoaster ride. Some days, I feel body positive, loving my amazing body and proudly showing off my big bump. Other days, I lean into body neutrality, reminding myself that my body is changing for a purpose. Instead of striving to always feel great about my appearance, I focus on radically accepting that my body is different—neither good nor bad, just different.

One powerful exercise is to observe and reframe negative body thoughts with grace and compassion:

💭 **Negative Thought**: I hate that other parts of my body, not just my belly, have filled out during pregnancy.
🔄 **Reframe**: I’m thankful that my body was able to stretch, change, and build up reserves to carry and nurture my baby.

I don’t love all the photos I’ve taken during this pregnancy journey. However, I’m trying to embrace them and not delete them, knowing that one day I’ll look back fondly and be in awe of everything my body did to grow our little girl. This is a gentle reminder to take the pictures and not miss out on life’s moments because of concerns about how you and your body look at that moment.

Let’s be kind to ourselves and honor our bodies for the incredible journey they’re on. 💕✨

15/05/2024

Hi everyone 🌻🌼🌷
To celebrate my new website launch I will be offering 30% off any nutrition consultations booked in the month of May 🏷️
Use the code NEW30. Link in bio!
🌷🌼🌻

29/04/2024

Who knew pregnancy would come with such a wild ride of unexpected symptoms? 🎢 many of these I expected but only in the 3rd trimester, as a hormone specialist I feel a bit silly for not knowing that the extreme hormone shifts in the first trimester would bring on these wacky symptoms. From early morning insomnia to feeling like a professional pee-er, here are some curveballs I’ve faced during my pregnancy journey! And yes, let’s get real about the less glamorous stuff too:

1st trimester:
- Mastering the art of early morning insomnia
- Peeing more frequently than a racehorse (particularly in the middle of the night)
- Getting breathless just from folding laundry
- Embracing fizzy drinks as my morning sickness saviors
- Wrestling with overwhelming anxiety for baby’s well-being
- Dealing with a bloating and gas situation of epic proportions
- Feelings of extreme loneliness during the ‘secret’ phase (not my favorite part, for sure)

2nd trimester:
- Still struggling with insomnia and breathlessness
- Nightly bathroom trips like a pro athlete
- Battling perpetually stuffy sinuses
- Enduring the pain of cold-induced ni**le sensitivity
- Experiencing extreme fatigue equivalent to the feeling of a terrible hangover after a night of ‘partying’ (aka staying up past 11pm)

What were your weirdest pregnancy symptoms? Share below! ”

25/03/2024

I might have a bit of an obsession with books on periods, fertility, pregnancy, and babies. These are some of my favourite ones, however, it’s important to understand that while they’ve been incredibly informative on my journey, it’s crucial to take their content with a grain of salt. Not everything in every book aligns with my views, as authors often can’t help but inject their own personal bias. However, they are definitely all worth a read.

24/03/2024

https://www.womensnutritionist.com/post/navigating-pcos-a-journey-to-fertility-and-motherhood?fbclid=PAAabBgB48UdD0aTpOLh99q52X4ATabFSM8OLEyCo6cmh0ApqQGbSlnHVjmTA_aem_AUMauN2FasPj5rWf_dkXFHFYXmZxG4acpUoH_Gu9KGzqABqNKUoBh_Nlm5JVHhvXN3Q

Trigger Warning: Disordered Eating and Fertility DiscussionA Beacon of Hope: PCOS and FertilityI have decided to share my journey from PCOS diagnosis to pregnancy is my attempt to offer a ray of hope amidst the overwhelming darkness of infertility fears that often accompany such a diagnosis. I count...

24/03/2024

Sharing a bit of joyful news with all of you: Dean and I are over the moon to announce that we’re expecting our little girl in September 2024! We feel incredibly grateful and can hardly contain our excitement to welcome her into our lives.

As a fertility nutritionist, I understand the complexities of this journey firsthand. I debated sharing our news, knowing it might bring sadness to some still navigating their path to parenthood. Yet, I believe it’s important to share our journey here—it’s not just a personal milestone on my own PCOS journey, but is extremely relevant to the work I do.

To those still on their fertility journey, I empathise deeply with your struggles. While I’ll be sharing more about my own PCOS journey and pregnancy, I understand if you need to step back for a while.

My hope is that through sharing my story, I can offer a glimmer of hope and support to others facing similar challenges. Sending love, hope, and strength to each and every one of you. ❤️

14/03/2024

https://www.womensnutritionist.com/post/find-your-fitness-groove-how-exercise-impacts-hormones-at-every-stage

14/03/2024

https://www.womensnutritionist.com/post/find-your-fitness-groove-how-exercise-impacts-hormones-at-every-stage

Hey strong ladies! Let's delve into the fascinating world of hormones – those chemical messengers that orchestrate everything from our menstrual cycles to our energy levels. But sometimes, hormones can get a little out of whack. Enter exercise – our amazing ally in hormonal health!The Science of...

14/03/2024

https://www.womensnutritionist.com/post/fertility-nutrition-nourishing-your-journey-to-parenthood

14/03/2024

https://www.womensnutritionist.com/post/eating-to-heal-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos

Polycystic O***y Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder affecting millions of women worldwide. Characterised by irregular periods, ovarian cysts, and hormonal imbalances, PCOS can lead to a range of symptoms, including infertility, weight gain, and insulin resistance. While there is no cure f...