Holistic Pregnancy

Nina Spears, aka The Baby Chick, has spent over a decade supporting moms as a birth doula, postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and massage therapist. She's also the founder of Baby Chick, a digital resource with close to 3,000 free articles for expecting and new parents, and the author of The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy.

In this episode, we talk about the two things that actually move the needle in pregnancy prep: education and support, and why neither one works well without the other. You can fnd Nina at https://www.baby-chick.com/ or connect with her on Instagram or TikTok.

We're covering:

• Why information alone doesn't prepare you for birth, and what actually does
• The social contract, and why you have to invest in your village before you need it
• Why "my husband has two weeks off" is not a postpartum plan
• Practicing positions, comfort techniques, and hard conversations before labor, not during
• Why every birth, including scheduled C-sections and epidurals, benefits from a doula

Grab the book: The Baby Chick Guide to Positive Pregnancy

Want more postpartum prep resources? Check out Blood Bone + Broth!

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*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

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NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

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This month we’re answering your questions with guest cohost Sarah Marie Bilger. We cover everything from protein needs and prolapse to placenta encapsulation, BV options, and what we’d tell our first-time-pregnant selves.

In this episode, we cover:

• How much protein you need during pregnancy, and whether that changes postpartum
• When the umbilical cord around baby’s neck is a concern, and why so many doulas say it’s usually normal
• Whether a fast birth or a fast pushing stage can contribute to prolapse
• Whether placenta encapsulation is worth it
• Your options for treating BV during pregnancy: antibiotics, herbs, or other protocols
• Our thoughts on breastfeeding in public
• What to do when you and your partner disagree about keeping baby’s name a secret until birth
• When to start going back to church postpartum, and whether to stay home in the early weeks
• What we would tell our first-time-pregnant selves

Listen to Sarah on the Entering Motherhood podcast!

Want your question answered in next month’s Q&A? DM us on Instagram at @holisticpregnancy.co or email taylor@holisticpregnancyco.com.

🎉 Birthday special: Take 50% off all courses with code BIRTHDAY at https://holisticpregnancyco.com/courses! Valid thru Thanksgiving (11/26/26!)

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
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*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

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NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

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Informed consent isn't a form you sign at intake, it's an ongoing conversation that should happen before every intervention. This episode is a framework, not a fear tactic, walking through what informed consent actually means and the questions worth asking before you agree to anything in labor.

In this episode:

• What informed consent actually is, beyond signing a form
• The four components: risks, benefits, alternatives, and your right to refuse
• What a real informed consent conversation should sound like from a provider
• A simple framework of questions to use in the moment
• Why true emergencies work differently, and why that doesn't undo the rest of the framework
• Your right to change your mind, even after you've already said yes

Ready to get informed for your own birth? Check out Unshakeable Birth!

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*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

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NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

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Gina Mundy has spent over 23 years as a birth injury attorney, analyzing labor and delivery cases to understand why things go wrong, and how families can prepare before they ever step into a delivery room. She's the author of A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth and host of The Childbirth Attorney Podcast.

In this episode, we talk about the patterns Gina sees over and over in birth injury cases, starting with Pitocin and artificial rupture of membranes. Gina walks through what "slow and steady" actually means with an induction, what the drug manufacturer's own guidelines say about dosing, and why breaking the water is rarely the risk-free intervention it's presented as. She also shares what a Cochrane review of 15,000 deliveries found about doulas and outcomes, and why she recommends one to every family she talks to.

In this episode, we cover:

• The pattern behind most birth injury cases, and why spontaneous vaginal births are rarely involved
• What "slow and steady" means with a Pitocin induction, and what the manufacturer's own guidelines recommend
• Why breaking the water is treated as routine, and what it's actually correlated with in her cases
• How to tell when you're being pressured into an intervention versus given a real medical indication
• What the research says about doulas and C-section, operative delivery, and intervention rates

Connect with Gina at https://GinaMundy.com or on Instagram at @ginamundy.

• Get the book: A Parent's Guide to a Safer Childbirth
• Listen to The Childbirth Attorney Podcast

Ready to get informed for your own birth? Check out Unshakeable Birth!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

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*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

Supplement aisles are overwhelming, and "just take a prenatal" only gets you so far. This episode breaks down what matters when building your prenatal supplement stack, from methylated folate and choline to iron, magnesium, and the difference between a quality label and marketing noise.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why food comes first, and supplements are there to fill the gaps, not replace real food
• What to actually look for in a prenatal multivitamin, including why Needed is the brand I trust and use myself
• Choline, the most under-discussed prenatal nutrient
• Vitamin D, omega-3, iron, magnesium, and probiotics, and how to know what you actually need
• Electrolytes and hydration, including the Just Ingredients electrolytes mentioned in the episode
• How to read a label and spot red flags like proprietary blends and fillers

Brands mentioned:

• Needed (20% off with code HOLISTICPREGNANCY)
• Just Ingredients (10% off with code TAYLORSHAFFER)

And don't forget to grab the free nutrition guide!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

Dr. Laura Brayton is a holistic chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner with more than 20 years of experience helping women optimize fertility, pregnancy, and maternal health through root-cause medicine and holistic lifestyle practices. She's the host of the Well-Adjusted Mama podcast and creator of the documentary Conscious Conception: An Empowered Pregnancy + Birthing Story.

In this episode, we talk about what conscious conception actually means and why it starts well before a positive pregnancy test. Dr. Brayton breaks down how the nervous system affects fertility, why stress can signal the body that it isn't safe to conceive, and how epigenetics means both partners' health, not just the mother's, shapes the pregnancy to come. She also gets into the toxin load hiding in everyday products, the gut-fertility connection, and why she has couples do a preconception cleanse together.

In this episode, we cover:

• What conscious conception means, and why it's relevant even if you're years away from trying
• How a stressed, sympathetic nervous system can work against fertility and conception
• Why 50 percent of baby's genetics and toxin exposure come from the partner, and what that means for preconception prep
• The environmental toxins worth addressing first, and where to find better product alternatives
• How gut health and food sensitivities tie into hormone balance and fertility
• Practical ways to get a reluctant partner on board with preconception changes

Connect with Dr. Brayton at https://www.drlaurabrayton.com or on Instagram at @drlaurabrayton. You can also listen to Well-Adjusted Mama!

Ready to prep for pregnancy? Check out Real Food Prenatal!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

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*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

Third trimester comes with a lot of decisions, all at once. This episode is a full, evidence-based rundown of everything worth doing before baby arrives — GBS testing, pelvic floor prep beyond kegels, finalizing your birth preferences, choosing a pediatrician, and lining up your support team, so nothing gets missed.

In this episode:

• The 12 things to focus on this trimester, and the "why" behind each one
• Pelvic floor prep that goes beyond kegels
• The questions to ask your pediatrician and birth provider
• Building your birth preferences as a decision framework
• Setting up your support team and preparing emotionally, not just physically

Resources mentioned:

• GBS testing handout: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GBS-Handout.pdf
• The Miles Circuit: https://www.milescircuit.com/

Download the third trimester checklist!

Want more holistic postpartum prep resources? Check out Blood Bone + Broth!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

The 5-5-5 rule — 5 days in bed, 5 days on the bed, 5 days around the bed — is one of the better postpartum recovery frameworks out there. This episode walks through what's physiologically happening in your body and mind during each phase, what's normal, and what's not.

In this episode:

• What the 5-5-5 rule is and where it comes from
• What's physically happening in each phase — bleeding, healing, hormones, feeding
• Normal vs. concerning signs at each stage
• Why protecting this time matters more than anything else

💡 Want more holistic postpartum prep resources? Check out our postpartum prep course!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

Most hospital bag lists are overpacked with things you'll never open. This episode breaks down what's truly worth bringing and organized in helpful categories!

In this episode, we cover:

• What you need for labor (and what hospitals already provide)
• Creating a physiologic birth environment: lighting, sound, scent, and comfort
• Coping tools that support labor, and why a doula is worth considering
• What you need for postpartum recovery, baby, and your support person in the first day or two after birth
• Paperwork and documents to have ready
• What to leave at home (aka things you do not actually need)

📚 Download the free hospital bag checklist
💡 Check out Unshakeable Birth for holistic resources and birth prep!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

After a summer away, I'm back and using this episode to catch you up on where I've been, what's changing about the show, and where it's headed this season!

In this episode:

• Recap of my summer (I left Instagram!)
• The shifts I'm making for the show
• NEW! Topic suggestion form
• NEW! Guest application form
• A few sneak peeks at what's coming this season

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

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*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

Hey, welcome! We're talking about my top 3 pregnancy MUST DO's today.. but first, we've got a few announcements!

FIRST..... We're taking a little break! We'll be back in August with fresh content, new guests and plenty of education to go around! In the meantime, this is a great opportunity to binge previous episodes AND/OR join the course community and get to work! Use code PODCAST for an extra 10% off.

Holistic Doula School: If you've been feeling a pull to support mothers through pregnancy, birth and postpartum but aren't sure how or where to start.. send me an email at taylor@holisticpregnancyco.com or join the waitlist here.

Needed: Get high quality prenatal supplements and vitamins using code HOLISTICPREGNANCY for 20% off!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

Today, we are talking with Liz Kohut, a certified peristeam specialist. Liz stumbled upon Vaginal Steaming following a miscarriage in 2018 after her doctor suggested a D&C and she declined. Liz knew there had to be a more natural and non-invasive option. After she saw the positive effects of regular Vaginal Steaming (also known as peri, womb or yoni steaming), she decided to take the Peristeam Facilitator course offered by The Steamy Chick Institute. Her goal is to bring more awareness to this long-standing practice throughout countries all over the world in order to help educate women through the use of Vaginal Steaming with a focus on uterine health for fertility, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, postpartum as well as navigating every stage of life - maiden, mother, crone!

You can find Liz on Instagram @wildwood_wellness_

Shop all of my favorite supplements, electrolytes and protein powders from Just Ingredients! Use code TAYLORSHAFFER for an extra 10% off your order!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

Folate is one of the most talked about nutrients in pregnancy, but also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, we break down what folate actually does, why the form matters, and how it impacts methylation and your baby’s development.

I’m joined by Dr. Eric Ciappio and Lauren Eisen from Balchem, the company behind Optifolin+®. We talk through folate vs. folic acid, what MTHFR actually means, and why so many women feel confused when choosing a prenatal.

We also cover how to think about bioavailable nutrients in real life, including options like Needed, which uses methylated folate and choline in forms your body can actually use. You can check them out in the show notes and use code HOLISTICPREGNANCY for 20% off.

If you’ve ever questioned your prenatal or felt overwhelmed by conflicting information, this episode will give you a more grounded way to approach it.

As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

Choosing where to give birth is about more than picking a location. In this episode, we walk through how hospital, birth center, and homebirth settings differ, what each one is designed for, and how to think through this decision in a way that aligns with your body, your values, and your pregnancy.

We talk about how to think about safety beyond just emergency access, how the hospital model of care influences labor and decision-making, what makes birth centers different, and how homebirth works. We also cover why your provider, preparation, and support system matter just as much as location, along with practical questions to help you decide what is the best fit for you.

Kindred Bravely: Use code NESTEDANDNOURISHED15 for a discount.

If you want deeper support as you prepare for birth, our holistic birth courses walk you through how to understand your options, navigate decisions in real time, and approach your birth feeling grounded and informed. Use code PODCAST for 10% off.

Connect with me on Instagram @holisticpregnancy.co!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

I’m joined by Lizzie Bolliger (known online as @fiercelizzie) for a conversation about what advocacy during labor actually looks like in real life. We talk about why birth education alone isn’t always enough, how institutional momentum shows up during labor, and how preparation before labor can dramatically change the experience in the room.

If you’ve ever wondered how advocacy really works when labor is unfolding in real time, this episode will give you a much clearer picture.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why “just advocate for yourself” often falls apart during labor
• The difference between knowing information and being able to use it in the moment
• How subtle provider pressure shows up in birth settings
• Why saying “no” is rarely as simple as it sounds
• The role of partners in protecting the birth space
• How birth preparation changes the dynamic in the room
• What real advocacy actually looks like during labor

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Kindred Bravely — maternity and postpartum essentials designed for pregnancy, recovery, and breastfeeding. Get 15% off your order with code NESTEDANDNOURISHED15.

For deeper education on birth decisions, advocacy, and preparing for labor conversations, explore Unshakeable Birth inside Holistic Pregnancy School.

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

In this episode, we’re breaking down pregnancy nutrition in simple, practical terms. Instead of focusing on restriction, we’re looking at pregnancy like a construction project — because your body is literally building a baby, a placenta, new blood volume, and preparing for postpartum recovery. All of that requires raw materials, and food is where those materials come from! We’re also talking about why babies can still be born healthy even when nutrition isn’t ideal — and why that often means the mother’s body absorbs the cost.

This episode walks through the five pillars of pregnancy nutrition and how to apply them in real life so you can support both your baby’s development and your own long-term health.

In this episode, we cover:

• Where the “materials” for building a baby actually come from
• What affects baby directly vs. what affects mom (and why both matter)
• Why many women feel depleted after pregnancy
• The 5 pillars of pregnancy nutrition
• Simple ways to support nourishment even if things feel overwhelming

Mentioned in the episode:

☕️ If you’re going to drink coffee during pregnancy, quality matters. Purity Coffee tests for mold, mycotoxins, pesticides, and heavy metals, and uses organic specialty-grade beans roasted to preserve antioxidants. Use code NESTEDANDNOURISHED for 20% off your purchase!

📚 If you want a clear, food-first plan for nourishing yourself during pregnancy — including protein targets, mineral support, trimester adjustments, and practical meal frameworks — that’s exactly what I teach inside Real Food Prenatal. Enroll now to start optimizing your nutrition today!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

We talk a lot about intuition in the pregnancy and birth space. But intuition isn’t something you magically access when labor starts. It’s something you strengthen — and it starts in the body.

In this episode, I sit down with kinesiologist and Pilates specialist Rachael Robertson to explore how embodied movement builds trust, awareness, and nervous system regulation.

We discuss:

• What embodiment actually means (and why so many women feel disconnected)
• How chronic tension, old injuries, and overtraining impact intuition
• The link between nervous system safety and physiological birth
• Why pelvic stability and breathwork matter long before labor begins
• Movement as preparation for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum
• How to stop overriding your body and start listening to it

This conversation is about rebuilding strength without force — and developing the kind of body awareness that carries into labor, motherhood, and everyday life.

Grab my favorite clean, grass-fed beef protein powders from Equip Foods and use code TAYLORSHAFFER for 15% off of your order!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

In this episode, I am sitting down with Jes Reynolds, founder of Born From Her and the world’s only Holistic Root-Cause Hyperemesis Gravidarum Practitioner, to explore hyperemesis gravidarum from a completely different angle.

Rather than accepting HG as random or unavoidable, Jes explains how mineral depletion, nervous system stress, nutritional gaps, and preconception preparation may all play a role.

This conversation covers both prevention and management — without minimizing the very real severity of HG.

You’ll learn:

• What hyperemesis gravidarum actually is
• Why the “it’s just hormones” explanation falls short
• The role of mineral status and depletion
• Nervous system regulation and stress load
• Preconception preparation strategies
• Holistic support tools during pregnancy
• How to think about root cause while still honoring symptom management

Connect with Jes on Instgram at @born_from_her

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Resources mentioned in the episode:

📲 Schedule an HG Prevention & Relief Strategy Call HERE

🌿 For high-quality, bioavailable prenatal support — including powder prenatal options and electrolyte support — visit Needed and use code HOLISTICPREGNANCY for 20% off your order.

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

The Estimated Due Date (EDD) is based on Naegele’s Rule — a 200-year-old formula that assumes a 28-day cycle and ovulation on day 14. In this episode, we unpack why that’s overly simplistic, how ultrasound “dating” plays into it, and how a single date creates unnecessary urgency around induction.

We also cover:

• What’s actually considered a normal gestation range
• How the label “overdue” shifts decision-making
• Absolute vs. relative risk at 39–41+ weeks
• Practical questions to ask your provider
• Mindset shifts to move from a due date to a due window
• Grounded ways to navigate the final weeks without anxiety

If your due date is approaching — or has passed — this episode will help you zoom out, think critically, and prepare for birth based on physiology, not external pressures.

Kindred Bravely — Use this link for 15% off and grab a few comfortable, functional maternity and postpartum essentials!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)

In this episode of the Holistic Pregnancy Podcast, I’m joined by Illie Balaj, CEO and Founder of Live Healthillie, for a grounded and practical conversation about what optimal health really looks like before pregnancy. You can find her on Instagram at @healthillie!

We dive into why true preconception health goes far beyond “just taking a prenatal” and why fertility isn’t only about your cycle. Ili shares her common-sense approach to wellness, focusing on nutrient-dense eating, non-toxic living, and building health from the inside out to support the entire body long before you ever see a positive pregnancy test.

Throughout this conversation, we explore what foundational health actually means, how preconception preparation supports hormones, fertility, and overall well-being, and why starting now, even if pregnancy feels far off, can make a meaningful difference. You’ll walk away with practical, realistic tips you can begin implementing today to support your health, fertility, and future pregnancy more intentionally.

This episode is for anyone who wants to feel empowered and informed about preconception health, fertility, and what it truly means to prepare the body for pregnancy in a holistic, sustainable way.

Just Ingredients- use the code TAYLORSHAFFER to get 10% off your order!

Got a topic you want covered? Fill out this form
Want to be a guest? Apply here

____________________________________________________________________________

*As always, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice.

____________________________________________________________________________

NEXT STEPS:
>> Courses
>> Email list
>> FREE nutrition guide
>> Postpartum cookbooks

Please consider leaving a rating and review to share the love! :)