For some people, pregnancy brings a glow to their skin while others can struggle with worsening acne. 

If you've got questions about skincare in pregnancy, what's safe and what's not; if you're wondering what treatments are available for common skin conditions like acne, perioral dermatitis and melasma then have a listen to our podcast all about skincare in pregnancy with Dr. Bri. 

Are you pregnant, breastfeeding or TTC? Wondering what to do about the COVID 19 vaccine? You're not alone...nor should this be a decision you make alone! 

There is a lot of information out there about the vaccine, some of it reliable, some of it not. And it can be hard to weave through. That's why we are here! 

Dr. Sierra Richards, PharmD, and Dr. Sarah Lea took the time to weave through the evidence and clinical guidelines and summarize the most up to date recommendations to help you guide your decision making. 

They touch on everything from understanding how the vaccine works, explaining its ingredients, a brief overview of the trials, and what the recommendations are for the perinatal population. 

Want more information? Check out these recommendations and consensus statements: 

Academy of Breastfeeding Statement: Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination in Lactation

Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada...

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is defined as Diabetes occurring during pregnancy, that was not present prior to becoming pregnant. In our most recent podcast, we discuss gestational diabetes tips and gestational diabetes diet.  We also review what are the risk factors for gestational diabetes and how your baby can be affected by gestational diabetes.  Here is a quick review of what we cover, but be sure to listen to our podcast to get more information on all of these areas around gestational diabetes in pregnancy. 

If you want to create a birth plan get our free download here! 

The major hormone involved in diabetes is Insulin. 

During pregnancy, our tissues become less sensitive to insulin, which means our body needs to secrete more and more of it to have the same effect.

We don’t understand entirely why this happens in Pregnancy, but it is related to hormones produced by the placenta, and also partly by other...

Did you know that Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects up to 10% of women? 

In our podcast, we review the hormonal issues that cause and result from PCOS and how PCOS affects fertility. 

We discuss how the first-line treatment is diet and exercise in an effort to balance your hormones and manage your insulin and sugar levels.  

By losing 5-10% of your bodyweight many women suffering from irregular cycles due to anovulation can start ovulating again and become fertile? 

Drs. Sarah and Alicia review the signs and symptoms of PCOS and management including both lifestyle and medications to manage this common condition. 

If you are trying to conceive, and feel like you may have PCOS, make sure to reach out to your care provider for help!!!

Krstya, from Cairn Physiotherapy, joins us to discuss the benefits of Pelvic Physiotherapy during pregnancy! 

We discuss the benefits of pelvic physio when it comes to training your pelvic floor for delivery.  Krysta also reviews many of the other topics she talks about with clients including setting up your environment, learning different positions to labour and push in, and how to train for those positions.  

We also discuss pelvic dysfunction and what this can look like in pregnancy, including constipation, urinary leakage and painful sex, and the role pelvic physio has in helping these conditions. 

We briefly touch on the role of pelvic physio in postpartum recovery, and when you should book your appointment to see them after delivery!

We hope you will listen to this week's podcast in full, subscribe and leave a great review! 

Also...don't forget to call your favourite Pelvic Physio!!!

 What happens when your baby ends up in the NICU after delivery, and you don't expect it?  So many questions come to mind!  Will my baby be okay?  How often should I visit my baby in the NICU? Will I be able to breastfeed my baby in the NICU?  How do I know my baby is okay? 

Dr. Jasmina and I both had babies that ended up being in the NICU after our labour and delivery experience, and neither of us expected it! In this podcast we discuss our birth story, and why our babies ended up spending time in the NICU. 

We review our top tips about how to improve communication with your child's care team including nurses, physicians and social workers, and how to ensure you can be involved in your baby's care as much as you are comfortable with. 

We discuss our top tips on how to make sure your milk supply is adequate and so you can supply your baby with their nutritional needs, even if you can't breastfeed your...

Are you pregnant? In the first or early second trimester?

Well we have some tips for you that we wish we had known about in our pregnancies!!!

Pregnancy is such an amazing time in our lives, but sometimes we can feel really gross...so we put together our top 10 fun things to do in early pregnancy...to help focus on those fun things! 

Pregnancy Journal

We often forget what happens to us during certain experiences, and looking back can be so fun and bring back some great memories!  Pregnancy is no different...this is such a special time for many women with many changes occurring! 

Take 5 minutes a day or week to write down things that happened, how you are feeling (good or bad) what are your hopes and worries, and what are you looking forward to!!

You can even work on your gratitude or positivity journaling at the same time, which we know is protective for mental health as well!  

Take some serial pics

Similar to journaling, it is fun to see how...

Did you know that almost half of pregnancies are unplanned? Whether you’re planning a pregnancy, or want to be prepared when the time is right for you, we’ve put together a list of our top ten tips for optimizing your pre-conception health! Check them out below. 

Want to know the top 10 things you NEED to do when you get pregnant? Check out our free guide here! 

Take control of your fertility! 

Some experts call this making your reproductive health plan, others call it family planning. What does this really mean? It means taking a step back and looking at the overall life goals you’ve set for yourself and where, if at all, you see children fitting in with your goals for your education, career, travel etc. Check out this free resource to help guide you here.  And if you’re currently sexually active and NOT wanting to get pregnant talk to your health care provider today about reliable options for preventing pregnancy. Learn about your...

Whether you are struggling with mental health concerns, wanting to avoid them or just a normal human being this blog post is for you!

We are reviewing self-care...what that is...why WE ALL NEED TO DO IT! And how do we put that into practice in our lives!

What is Self Care?

Self Care is the act of making positive changes in your life that will help you cope with stressful periods, and help to treat or prevent depression and anxiety. 

Self Care is often neglected or not prioritized during the pregnant and postpartum period! 

Here is the podcast that accompanies this blog!! 

NESTS Program:

This is a simple acronym that details all the steps to start with your self care routine! 

N - Nutrition

Food is medicine….we all know this...but having healthy meals and snacks ready is a challenge at times, especially when you are adjusting to a time of caring for a newborn and adjusting to your new life as a family! 

Tips to improve your...

Constipation in pregnancy:

As anyone who has been pregnant can tell you..your body changes so much with pregnancy and your bowels are no exception!

We estimate that at least 1/3 of women suffer from constipation during each trimester and in the fourth trimester, which is the 12 weeks post partum…that are a lot of women! This is compared to about 7% of women of the same age who are not pregnant.

So what is constipation?

Constipation is generally described as the infrequent (less than 3 times per week) passage of hard stool that is challenging to pass.  We often describe this based on what is known as the Bristol Stool Chart!  If you look at the chart below we are talking about 1 and 2 type poos!

If you get chronically backed up….the watery stool and the end of the line will start to seep around the hard-packed stools and you can get what we call overflow diarrhea….which then makes the whole problem more...