The Natal Naturopath

7 reasons why your iron levels aren’t improving

If you are someone who is taking an iron supplement, but finding after months of diligently taking it, your ferritin has barely increased - this is the episode for you. There is almost always an answer as to why you ferritin isn't increasing, and you just need to figure out which one it is (or we can for you within an appointment). Mentioned:Forms of iron; poorly absorbed vs highly absorbedProducts that hinder iron absorptionHepcidin and how to maximise iron absorption by alternate day dosingGut absorption issues, gut inflammationUnder-active thyroidHow copper and vitamin A play a role in absorption and transport of ironCheck out IronBiotic here; it contains iron bisglycinate, activated B's, a probiotic strain, copper and beta-carotene. We know, it's amazing.Click here to learn more about The Natal Naturopath and to sign up to the weekly newsletter. Don’t worry we won’t spam you! And for those who sign up to the newsletter you will get 10% off your first purchase.Are we insta friends? If not, come over and say hi @thenatalnaturopathThank you for listening! I would loveeeee if you could give my podcast a rating and a review. It's important as it helps get this podcast into the ears of other women who need it. 

Histamine intolerance, PMS, period flu with naturopath Steven Judge

Melanie interviews Steven Judge, clinical naturopath in Sydney (NSW, Australia) specialising in chronic digestive disorders and mental health. After 8 years in private practice working alongside medical practitioners as a director at the first integrative and holistic medical centre in Australia, Steven has gained a vast amount of knowledge and experience in empowering his clients to understand the underlying causes of their symptoms, and how to engage as an active participant in their healing journey as they learn to thrive and trust the inherent wisdom of their body. He evaluates the interactions among genetic, environmental, biochemical, emotional, spiritual and lifestyle factors that influence human health and chronic disease.He wants his clients to experience true health-care, rather than simply disease management. And today we are lucky enough to get a glimpse into Steven’s wisdom on the topic of histamine intolerance and how it might be the answer into unusual menstrual related symptoms, that a lot of women are searching for. Mentioned in the podcast:Melanie's experience of period flu and how Steven helped her with thisWhat histamine intolerance is and what symptoms at certain points in the menstrual cycle women should be on the look out for that would give clues that it could be histamine; anxious,  insomnia, unexplained nausea, vertigo, period migraines/headaches, joint pain, low blood pressureHow to confirm if histamine intolerance is the answer, and what high-histamine foods to avoid (the cheese platter has to go!)How oestrogen and histamine intertwine in the menstrual cyclePeriod flu and what exactly is driving itWhat even is the oestrogen detoxification pathway and why does it matter?What does pooing daily have to do with healthy hormonesSIBO, leaky gut, bacterial overgrowth and their contribution to histamine problemsWhat our favourite magnesium supplement isYou can connect with Steven over on instagram @stevenjudgenaturopath or www.stevenjudge.com.auClick here to learn more about The Natal Naturopath and to sign up to the weekly newsletter. Don’t worry we won’t spam you! And for those who sign up to the newsletter you will get 10% off your first purchase.Are we insta friends? If not, come over and say hi @thenatalnaturopathThank you for listening! I would loveeeee if you could give my podcast a rating and a review. It's important as it helps get this podcast into the ears of other women who need it. 

Iron Infusions In Pregnancy

I get asked a lot over on Instagram, “what do you think of iron infusions, should I be getting one?” and it’s a lengthy topic with many things to consider - so here is an episode entirely dedicated to the topic! The purpose of this episode is to help arm you with information so you can make your own informed decisions that feel right for you. In this episode, I go over..what the current guidelines and recommendations are in Australia for iron infusions in pregnancy, and what is the cut offs for diagnosing anaemia in pregnancyWhat the risks of infusions outlining maternal and neonatal outcomesWhat the difference is between iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemiaWhen are iron infusions not recommendedWhat too little, and on the other end, too much iron could do in pregnancyWhat is the solution to preventing iron deficient anaemia in the first placeAs always, please make sure you have an informed discussion regarding the risks with your primary health care provider as this episode is not designed to replace medical advice.Click here to learn more about The Natal Naturopath and to sign up to the weekly newsletter. Don’t worry we won’t spam you! And for those who sign up to the newsletter you will get 10% off your first purchase.Are we insta friends? If not, come over and say hi @thenatalnaturopathThank you for listening! I would loveeeee if you could give my podcast a rating and a review. It's important as it helps get this podcast into the ears of other women who need it. References: Seeho SKM & Morris JM. 2018. Intravenous iron use in pregnancy: Ironing out the issues and evidence. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 58, 145–147.https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2019/march/anaemia-in-pregnancyKhalafallah A, Dennis A, Bates J, et al. A prospective randomized, controlled trial of intravenous versus oral iron for moderate iron deficiency anaemia of pregnancy. J Intern Med 2010;268(3):286–95. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02251.xBreymann C. Iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy. Semin Hematol 2015;52(4):339–47. doi: 10.1053/j.seminhematol.2015.07.003.Lee AI, Okam MM. Anemia in pregnancy. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2011;25(2):241–59. doi: 10.1016/j.hoc.2011.02.001. Reveiz L, Gyte GM, Cuervo LG, Casasbuenas A. Treatments for iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011;(10):CD003094. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003094.pub3Qassim A, Mol BW, Grivell RM, Grzeskowiak LE. Safety and efficacy of intravenous iron polymaltose, iron sucrose and ferric carboxymaltose in pregnancy: A systematic review. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2018;58(1):22–39. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12695.

Twin pregnancy; my experience with my identical twin girls (DCDA)

In 2018 was the year of my growing and birthing my twins - identical girls Hunter and River, and what a wild and tough pregnancy it was. I carried them to 36 weeks, 6 days - and they were huuuuuge healthy babies at 3.15kg and 3.69kgs. They both had their own placentas, and were still identical which is quite rare! In this episode I go through the entire pregnancy from start to finish, what struggles I had, what I did for my health, what health concerns I had, how labour started, what supplements I took, and what things I couldn't live without. The book that I reference in the episode is "When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads"  by Dr Barbara Luke. 

Unexpected weight gain; 5 causes that have nothing to do with calories or exercise

This episode is the one that fitness guru's on instagram won't want you to be listening to, and they certainly aren't talking about. I’m really sick of seeing weight loss experts reporting weight loss is simplyLESS CALORIES + MORE EXERCISE. It perpetuates the entire toxic diet culture.This is setting people up for complete disappointment, not to mention feeling likewhilst you are starving yourself and running yourself into the ground with exercise!Yes for some, it really can come down to over-eating or not moving their body enough, but for so many of you - you do these things... and you lose ZERO weight. And you're like huh?! I thought I needed to just eat less and exercise more. Why aren't I losing weight?Losing weight can be MUCH more complex with lots of things to consider; and we must remember to have compassion for our bodies as we are all biochemically different.Click here to learn more about The Natal Naturopath and to sign up to the weekly newsletter. Don’t worry we won’t spam you! And for those who sign up to the newsletter you will get 10% off your first purchase.If you would like to share this episode on your socials, be sure to tag @thenatalnaturopath. We love to know what you think of the podcast.

We aren’t spending $50k+ on our wedding (and if we have a baby; what I’d spend it on instead).

Scott and I are getting married in a few weeks, soooo excited! But also, deep within the budgeting and finances of organising a wedding. Luckily, we were on the same page from the start about our budget which is considerably lower than what the average Australian wedding costs in 2023. I go through all the things I would rather the spend the money on, when/if we have a baby together, as that's what we agreed would be a more important place for US to put all that money. This may help highlight a few areas of extra support you would like to set up for your postpartum also. 

Recurrent miscarriages; what are the causes?

Recurrent miscarrying is traumatic, devastating and almost always, preventable. If someone has had two miscarriages in a row, I believe it's time to dig a bit deeper starting with very thorough blood tests and a trained set of eyes.Recurrent miscarrying is a sign that something deeper is going on. More often than not, something comes up that can be worked on.⁠ In this episode, I go through all of the most common causes of recurrent miscarriages so that you are informed and able to investigate whether if any are relevant to you. If you are wanting to see one of the practitioners within my team - you can book an appointment with us at www.thenatalnaturopath.com.au/book-now. Click here to learn more about The Natal Naturopath and to sign up to the weekly newsletter. Don’t worry we won’t spam you! And for those who sign up to the newsletter you will get 10% off your first purchase.If you would like to share this episode on your socials, be sure to tag @thenatalnaturopath. We love to know what you think of the podcast.

Burnout, exhausted and overwhelmed; my own experience and practical tips

Are you exhausted with a dash of overwhelm? Is your mind always racing? Going to bed wired but tired, and waking up exhausted? A constant mental load that never lessens? Go-go-go all day long? If a handful of these are true for you - there's no doubt you are sick of feeling like this. In this first episode of the new season, I go through why I paused the podcast last year, and how I was teetering on the edge of burnout. I also needed to reassess why I was always so goddamn busy. Like who is this serving? Certainly not me or my family. My life was so busy it was passing by me. I talk about how I felt I was being spread so thin between both my mothering and my business, and how putting in better boundaries and cutting down on work aided this - but I go through my most important practical tips that you can implement tomorrow to shift you out of that overwhelmed and exhausted state that so many women are in. Click here to learn more about The Natal Naturopath and to sign up to the weekly newsletter. Don’t worry we won’t spam you! And for those who sign up to the newsletter you will get 10% off your first purchase.Are we insta friends? If not, come over and say hi @thenatalnaturopathThank you for listening! I would loveeeee if you could give my podcast a rating and a review. It's important as it helps get this podcast into the ears of other women who need it. 

Folic Acid Vs. Methyl-folate

The episode that EVERY soon to be conceiving, or pregnant mama should be listening to. What exactly are the differences between folic acid and methyl-folate? What does your body have to do to both of them?Why do some supplements use folic acid, and others methyl-folate?And why methyl-folate comes out as Queen in this debate, each and every time. Remember to give my podcast a 5-star review if you are loving it and share it with a friend of family member who is looking to get pregnant, or is currently pregnant, so that they can learn why they need methyl-folate. Click here to learn more about The Natal Naturopath and to sign up to the weekly newsletter. Don’t worry we won’t spam you! And for those who sign up to the newsletter you will get 10% off your first purchase.If you would like to share this episode on your socials, be sure to tag @thenatalnaturopath. We love to know what you think of the podcast.

Post-Pill Acne

Post-pill acne is the flare-up of acne about 3-6 months after stopping the pill. It is the result of a temporary surge in androgens (testosterone). And it's bloody frustrating. In this episode, Melanie discusses post-pill acne, post-pill PCOS, why pills like Yasmin are the hardest to come off, how does coming off the pill often cause acne, why establishing regular ovulation is key, and natural treatments such as zinc, inositol and the connection to dairy.