Tag Archives: Pregnancy
Let’s go outside and play! Join me, Mahalia Freed ND, for an herb identification and plant story-sharing walk. The medicine we need is in our backyards, in our laneways, and in the green spaces throughout Toronto. Learn how to find it, and what deep healing it offers! From pregnancy tonic to allergy relief, heart medicine to liver support, our city is rich in medicine. This walk will cover plant identification, as well as the medicinal and energetic actions of the plants we find.
Please RSVP to Mahalia to reserve your spot.
By Dr Mahalia Freed, ND
Why do you take a prenatal multivitamin?
Does it have everything you need to stay healthy during pregnancy? (No!)
Does it contain all the nutrients your baby needs for optimal growth? (No!)
Multivitamins are sometimes described as a supplement “insurance policy”. Do you have the right insurance?
People don’t question whether or not to take a prenatal multivitamin. Even those who wouldn’t think to take a vitamin when not pregnant or trying to conceive assume they should take a prenatal. The intention behind this is noble, if somewhat symptomatic of the health concerns I see in practice: when nurturing another life, people are way more responsible than they are for themselves alone. Riding this trend, I encourage you to use the motivation of pregnancy or pregnancy preparation to enhance your own health. I also encourage you to work with a practitioner to determine what nutrients YOUR body needs, and in what dose.
Fact: nutritional needs change during pregnancy. You need more protein, more calories, and more of a variety of specific nutrients (for those of you who like the details, see chart below for an incomplete list of top nutrients).
Continue reading →
You are pregnant – congratulations! Pregnancy is a time of great transition and a myriad of potential emotions as you adjust to the idea of a new family constellation. It can also be a difficult time physically as your body adapts to the needs of your growing baby. For some women, the first trimester is dominated by nausea, extreme fatigue, and great confusion over conflicting prenatal advice or warnings. Later in pregnancy, it may be concerns about high blood pressure, diabetes, or the baby’s position. But, there is no need to worry while you wait for the months to pass!
Reconnect to the joy and magic in pregnancy by joining Drs. Mahalia Freed, ND and Tanya Smith, TCM to learn how to address the following concerns, naturally:
- optimal pregnancy nutrition & supplementation
- nausea
- fatigue
- high blood pressure
- high blood sugar
- low thyroid function
- heartburn, constipation
- hemorrhoid prevention
- breech position
- pain: back, pubic, gastrointestinal
You are pregnant – congratulations! Pregnancy is a time of great transition and a myriad of potential emotions as you adjust to the idea of a new family constellation. It can also be a difficult time physically as your body adapts to the needs of your growing baby. For some women, the first trimester is dominated by nausea, extreme fatigue, and great confusion over conflicting prenatal advice or warnings. Later in pregnancy, it may be concerns about high blood pressure, diabetes, or the baby’s position. But, there is no need to worry while you wait for the months to pass!
Join Drs Tanya Smith, TCM, and Mahalia Freed, ND to learn how to address the following concerns, naturally:
- optimal pregnancy nutrition & supplementation
- nausea
- fatigue
- high blood pressure
- high blood sugar
- low thyroid function
- heartburn, constipation
- hemorrhoid prevention
- breech position
- pain: back, pubic, gastrointestinal
Please Preregister via Whole Foods to Reserve your Spot: 416-944-0500
Trying to conceive? Higher concentrations of Vitamin D in follicular fluid are an independent predictor of the success of IVF treatment. Vitamin D is hypothesized to support ovarian/uterine hormone production.
Pregnant? Women given adequate supplemental Vitamin D during pregnancy are less likely to develop high blood pressure or preeclampsia. Their babies are less likely to develop type I diabetes. Vitamin D helps support healthy immunity, and prevents autoimmune conditions like type I diabetes from developing.
How much do I take? Current Canadian guidelines vary between organizations, and what you need to take will depend on (i) your blood levels; (ii) the amount of sun exposure without sunscreen you get; (iii) your skin colour; and, (iv) the season. Please consult your ND for an individual prescription.
Babies: 400 IU per day, with more (800 – 1200 IU per day) in winter months, and after 1 year (as weight increases, so does necessary dose).
Breast Feeding: Current study recommendations are for supplementing as high as 6400 IU, though common prescriptions are for 2000-4000 IU per day.
Adults, non-pregnant: Recommendations range, as do individual needs. *Get your blood levels checked first. Common supplemental doses range from 2000- 5000 IU per day, although some people do not require supplementation.
(Study References Available Upon Request)
Optimizing Nutrition and Addressing Fatigue, Nausea, and other Common Concerns of Pregnancy
You are pregnant! Congratulations! 
The first trimester is a time of great transition and a myriad of potential emotions as you adjust to the idea of a new family constellation. It can also be a difficult time physically, with profound physiological changes as your body adapts to the needs of the growing fetus. For some women, the first trimester is dominated by nausea, extreme fatigue, and great confusion over conflicting prenatal advice or warnings. But, there is no need to suffer while you wait for the months to pass! Continue reading →
Let’s go outside and play! Join me, Mahalia Freed ND, for an herb identification and plant story-sharing walk. The medicine we need is in our backyards, in our laneways, and in the green spaces throughout Toronto. Learn how to find it, and what deep healing it offers! From pregnancy tonic to allergy relief, heart medicine to liver support, our city is rich in medicine. This walk will cover plant identification, as well as the medicinal and energetic actions of the plants we find.
