− How a Holistic Nutritionist Can Support You −

As you can imagine, I’m passionate about nutrition for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Providing women with the tools and tips they need to properly feed themselves, and in turn feed their growing baby is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time. A lot of ideas have been swirling around in my head, and I’ve finally found some time to share them with you all by starting Terra Firma Wellness.

Before I became pregnant with my son, I sought the help of a naturopathic doctor to ensure my body and my mind were in the best possible health. At the time I was studying to be a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (R.H.N.) at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in Vancouver, BC. I have a pre-existing health condition (more on that in another post) that I was concerned about affecting my pregnancy and the growth of my future child, so I sought the help of a healthcare professional. I also knew I was learning the tools I needed to feed myself and baby properly through my courses at school. Coincidently, that same doctor was my teacher for my pediatric nutrition course (nutrition for pre-conception to childhood). Needless to say, I felt armed with a lot of knowledge, resources and support. Most pregnant women, however, are not in the same situation. A lot of women are without a doctor (or at least not one they can easily contact when they have questions), or without much nutrition based knowledge.

Ideally, every woman who wants to fall pregnant will spend at least a few months preparing her body. There are several health care professionals who can help you, including (but not limited to): physicians, naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, physiotherapists, osteopaths, and holistic nutritionists. Along side my naturopathic doctor, my nutrition education helped me immensely. Now I am here to share that info and help other women.

Pregnant women and new moms are so vulnerable. There are so many people who have opinions on what you should and shouldn’t eat and drink throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. Can I drink coffee? Is a glass of wine ok? What’s all the fuss about soft cheese and mayonnaise? How can I function with so much nausea? How do I change my diet due to gestational diabetes?

On top of that, pregnancy and breastfeeding comes with a lot of ups and downs – hormones are constantly changing and causing all kinds of physical, mental and emotional challenges. The stress of eating “right”, eating enough and not eating too much leaves a lot of women spending far too much time seeking answers on the internet. The issue with this is that there is a LOT of conflicting advice, and often the advice isn’t from a reputable source; frequently women will also find it doesn’t translate into something feasible in her specific life. Its fine for someone to tell you that you should be getting 8+ hours of sleep every night but if that’s not possible for you because you have a toddler who wakes you up several times in a night, then you need advice and tips tailored to your situation. Reading all about how eggs and some meat are so nutritious for you during pregnancy is great, but what about the women who choose not to consume those foods? What can they do to get the same nutrients?

The idea for this business stems from the fact that even though there is plenty of information out there regarding pregnancy and nutrition, everyone is unique and a lot of advice isn’t a “one size fits all” solution. From working with previous clients, I have found that the hardest part for most women is not understanding WHAT they need to eat, but more so figuring out HOW to include the foods in their busy lives. That’s where I can help. We can work together to address your nutritional concerns with your whole life in mind (hence “holistic”!). We won’t just focus on general pregnancy recommendations for diet and supplements, we will use your lifestyle as a guide for specific, individualized recommendations to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy and postpartum. Feel free to reach out if this sounds like something that could benefit you as you navigate your way through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

♥ Erin