Pregnancy Care
From preconception through to birth, your body is doing an enormous amount of work - and the right nutritional and lifestyle support can make a real difference to how you feel and how your pregnancy progresses. As a Geelong-based naturopath specialising in women’s health and fertility, I support women through every stage of pregnancy care: getting your body ready to conceive, managing the changes that come up along the way, and working alongside your GP, obstetrician or midwife - not instead of them. Whether you’re actively trying to conceive, newly pregnant, or managing a specific concern like iron deficiency or gestational diabetes, your plan is built around your individual pathology results, symptoms and stage of pregnancy, not a one-size-fits-all prenatal multivitamin.
Preconception Care
The three to six months before you start trying to conceive are one of the most valuable windows for naturopathic support. I run targeted pathology screening to check the nutrients and markers that matter most for conception and a healthy pregnancy - iron, B12 and folate status, vitamin D, thyroid function and more, then build a plan around diet, lifestyle and, where it’s needed, supplementation. The goal is to go into pregnancy with your body as well-prepared as possible, rather than trying to catch up once you’re already pregnant.
Support During Pregnancy
Pregnancy brings its own set of changes, and I work alongside your GP, obstetrician or midwife to support you through the ones that come up most often:
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Iron deficiency is common in pregnancy and can leave you feeling exhausted well beyond the usual first-trimester tiredness. I look at your iron studies alongside diet and absorption factors to help get your levels moving in the right direction.
Gestational diabetes - whether you’re hoping to reduce your risk or you’ve already been diagnosed, responds well to the right dietary approach. I work with your blood glucose monitoring and GP or endocrinologist to put together an eating plan that supports stable blood sugar.
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Gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia risk can also be supported nutritionally alongside your required medical monitoring, with a focus on the dietary and lifestyle factors that play a role.
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Sleep and digestive complaints are two of the most common things women don’t realise they can get support for in pregnancy. Reflux, constipation and disrupted sleep are all incredibly common as pregnancy progresses, and often there’s more that can be done than just “pushing through it”, from dietary adjustments to gentle, pregnancy-safe lifestyle changes that ease these symptoms.
How I Work With You
I see myself as part of your pregnancy care team, not a replacement for it. Everything I recommend is designed to sit alongside the monitoring and care you’re already receiving from your GP, obstetrician or midwife, and I’m always happy to communicate directly with your other providers if that’s useful for you.
FAQ
Is it safe to see a naturopath during pregnancy?
Yes. I take a conservative, evidence-informed approach to supplementation and treatment in pregnancy, and I work alongside your GP or obstetrician rather than independently of them.
When should I start preconception care?
Ideally three to six months before you start trying to conceive, to give nutrient optimisation enough time to make a difference, but it’s never too late to start, even if you’re already pregnant.
Do you work alongside my obstetrician or midwife?
Yes. I take a collaborative, open-book approach with your whole care team and can liaise directly with them if helpful.
Can you help if I’ve already been diagnosed with gestational diabetes or iron deficiency?
Yes. A lot of my pregnancy work is supporting women who’ve already had a diagnosis, alongside the monitoring and management your GP or specialist has in place.
What if I’m already pregnant and haven’t done any preconception prep?
That’s completely normal, and there’s still plenty we can work on together for the rest of your pregnancy.