GDM, PCOS & HA
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ALLLL of the acronyms. Women's Health Nutrition is a bit of broad category. I primarily focus on Gestational Diabetes (GDM), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA) in my practice.
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Gestational Diabetes
Hey mama! When you receive a gestational diabetes diagnosis, many feelings can pop up. Every parent wants the best for their baby, but our medical system can sometimes forget that there is a beautiful human growing that baby involved. Strict rules and fear mongering don't typically help aide in change. Your social and mental wellbeing are equally important to you AND your baby's health. There are a lot of rules and advice out there around carbs, exercise and weight when you have GDM and it can be difficult to navigate.
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My goal is to empower you not just with education, but to create a plan that feels sustainable in your life. We work on strategies to pair certain foods to stabilize blood sugars vs. taking away foods. We may explore movement that you enjoy vs. a prescription to move a certain amount every day. We take a flexible approach with the timing of your meals and snacks to support nourishing your baby & body vs. a strict meal plan.
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You deserve to feel at peace with food while growing your new addition.
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PCOS
Maybe this diagnosis caught you by surprise, or maybe it now makes all of your symptoms make sense. However your journey was to arrive to this diagnosis, it typically ends with a Dr.'s textbook recommendation to lose weight & "eat healthier" to improve your health &/or fertility. Many find these one-size fits all recommendations don't help. You try to lose weight, but regain it back. You try to "eat healthier", but end up feeling a loss of control when they're around certain foods. You end up having intense cravings and feel hopeless. It's not your fault! Dieting often does more harm than good. It's not a willpower issue, it's your human biology trying to protect you. Not only that, but people with PCOS are more likely to develop an eating disorder.
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Together, we work on strategies to stabilize blood sugars without restriction. We will utilize evidence-based food and supplements that fit with your symptoms & life. Learn to nourish and live a healthy life, no matter your size.
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HA
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Oh Hypothalamic Amenorrhea, how I wish you were talked about more. In my gut, I knew this was what was going on. I was a runner, never intentional about refueling, and every time I went off birth control I would never have a period, like for multiple years. Then, I'd get back on birth control and think well I guess that fixes it. It didn't. It was a band-aid, but actually not really, because I was still putting my bones at risk of osteopenia and experiencing other symptoms of Relative Energy Deficiency Syndrome (RED-S). My OB told me twice, "You're not emancipated, so you're fine. Endurance athletes often have irregular periods." Both statements true, but very unhealthy, harmful and invalidating. Endurance athletes SHOULD have regular periods if they are fueling properly. If they're not menstruating monthly, it's a cause of concern that should be treated with proper attention to energy availability and rest. Birth control has showed no impact in the loss of bone density associated with HA. It wasn't until I was ready to start a family that I realized how difficult it was to conceive with HA.
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Low energy availability, psychological & physiological stress, weight fluctuations & genetics all influence HA. We'll work together in our sessions to determine the cause of your HA and this will inform our plan to get your period back!​​​​
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