Healthy Chicks

Hello beauties! I can’t believe we’re already approaching the end of summer. Time is flying and we’re about two months away from meeting Baby Boy!

It’s time for this month’s spotlight on Healthy Chicks in the Community, a monthly series highlighting rockstar Girl Bosses doing their thang in the wellness world & beyond. I’m thrilled to feature Dietitian & Nutritionist Lily Nichols, who’s is all about educating women on real food and nutrition during pregnancy.

I first discovered Lily through her book Real Food for Pregnancy, which I thoroughly soaked up during my pregnancy with Isabella. I especially loved her approach on postpartum nutrition, and the importance of incorporating nurturing, healing foods during the transition. Truly, it couldn’t be more important and I know it’ll be a key part of my recovery this fall as well.

In this inspiring interview, we chat with Lily about a day in the life of an RDN, her go-to foods (and why she’s not afraid of fat), and the number one message she wants to share with mamas-to-be on their pregnancy journey.

NAME:

Lily Nichols

WHERE DO YOU LIVE:

Washington state, but I’ve lived all over the country.

GIVE US A SNAPSHOT INTO

… Read More!

{UPDATE: I diligently tested my blood sugars at home 4x a day with the glucometer and my numbers were perfect. I was officially cleared by my doc to stop testing. The diagnosis may have been a fluke after all — my inkling is that my body just couldn’t handle that crazy amount of sugar.}

“We’ll only call you if it’s bad news,” the midwife said after the dreaded one-hour glucose test.

Sure enough, I get a phone call yesterday afternoon — it was the OB office. “Hi Rachel, we’re calling regarding your glucose test…” I knew what was coming. “Unfortunately you did not pass.”

And then what I never expected to hear: “Your results were above the limit. You have gestational diabetes.”

My stomach dropped. I was in complete shock. “But how? I eat healthy! I don’t even like sweets!” I said through the headache I still had from yesterday’s forced sugar rush. The nurse explained to me that sometimes the healthiest women develop gestational diabetes, and it doesn’t necessarily have to do with WHAT I was eating but HOW my body processes the sugars in my food.

What came next was a blur but … Read More!

I don’t know about you, but this time of year has me feeling all warm and cozy inside. It’s time for fuzzy slippers, hearty chili and lazy Football Sundays — and I’m here for it all.

Alrighty, it’s time for this month’s feature on Healthy Chicks in the Community, a monthly series highlighting rockstar Girl Bosses doing their thang in the wellness world. This month, we have the pleasure of connecting with HeHe Stewart of Tranqulity by HeHe…and I couldn’t be more excited!

As the creator of The Birth Lounge and The Birth Lounge Podcast, this rockstar empowers women to navigate the woes of pregnancy and “Birth like a Queen” — without fear & anxiety — through her one-of-a-kind maternity concierge services. I’m so grateful there are women like HeHe in the world, as I know firsthand how monumental it is to have support throughout pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum journey.

In this inspiring interview, we chat about her evidence-based approach, bridging the gap between healthcare providers and doulas, and why Meghan Markle is her forever #girlcrush.

Don’t miss her FREE live masterclass on 11/6 on how to avoid a cesarean birth. BONUS: The Healthy Chicks tribe gets $5 … Read More!

As you know by now, I’m pretty much an open book when it comes to sharing our pregnancy journey, my early miscarriage and the ins and outs of life as a new mom. To be honest, I truly enjoy writing about my journey and the number of messages I get from you guys — letting me know I gave you hope or made you feel not so alone — makes it all the more worthwhile.

Below I’m sharing a candid Q & A of the most frequent questions I’m asked, including some sent to me directly on my instagram stories recently. Feel free to add any other questions in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to answer them!

Any recommendations for holistic fertility treatments?

I recommend finding a functional medicine doctor to get to the root cause of any health stuff that may be going on. When we started trying to get pregnant, I joined Parsley Health, which I highly recommend if you’re looking for a holistic, individualized approach. Aimee Raupp, acupuncturist and author of Yes You Can Get Pregnant, is also an incredible inspiration, sharing great tips on fertility and nourishing your … Read More!