It takes a village to raise a child, as they say. It also takes a village to support new mothers as they bond with and feed their growing baby. A village is a real network made up of familiar people and places that support you and put you at ease. Many people today...

By Sara Russell, Ph.D., FNTP What does sugar have to do with fertility? If you are struggling with infertility or have a history of miscarriage, it’s a good idea to take an honest look at how much sugar you’re consuming. Sugar, along with refined starches that break...

Establishing and maintaining milk production is an important and sometimes elusive goal for most new mothers. The positive public health implications of successful breastfeeding are unquantifiable. We measure the effects not just in terms of maternal and child health...

By Sara Russell, Ph.D., FNTP This post focuses on the impact of thyroid health on fertility and pregnancy. Autoimmune hypothyroidism is one of the most common causes of infertility and miscarriage that I see in my nutritional therapy practice. As I noted in an earlier...

One of the most common concerns among new mothers is successful breastfeeding. We all want to give our babies the very best start in life, and breast milk is by far the top choice for babies. Feeding your baby helps form a bond of trust, warmth and nurturance. Of...

The best way to solve a problem is to find out what’s causing it. Infertility and miscarriage are no exception. I can’t even begin to count the number of women I know whose “miracle babies” are living proof that no doctor should ever say, “you’ll never be able to have...

What are the top foods to support the body as we prepare for conception, as we go through pregnancy and as we nurse our babies? Of course, we each have unique nutritional needs, and some of us have allergies or intolerances. Nonetheless, this post covers some of the...

By Sara Russell, Ph.D., FNTP Phthalates are potent endocrine disruptors that reduce fertility in both men and women. Like many compounds found in plastics, they contain estrogen-mimicking substances that upset the balance of sex hormones over our lifetimes....

By Sara Russell, Ph.D., FNTP A largely overlooked area of health is the balance of our gut microbiota. Important throughout life, it is crucial during preconception and pregnancy. In fact, rebalancing the gut microbiota at this stage of life leads to a healthier...