The Link Between Gut Health, Overall Health and Fertility

Your gut is full of trillion of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Collectively, these microorganisms are known as the microbiome. The microbiome is responsible for a multitude of functions within the body, including breaking down food, metabolizing nutrients, serving as a protective barrier against infection and producing vitamin K.

When you have more bad than good bacteria in your gut—your whole body suffers. These imbalances impact both mental and physical health, and can show up as mood swings, depression, anxiety, stomach aches, headaches, fatigue, lack of motivation or interest, recurring illnesses, digestive challenges, fertility challenges, irregular menses, painful menses, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian disease, autoimmune issues and much more.

Detoxifying and restoring balance to the gut is essential to a person’s overall mental, physical, and hormonal health. For women thinking about conceiving or experiencing fertility challenges, it is important to know that a baby’s gut biome begins developing even before they are born. And it can be impacted by how the baby’s mother cared for herself prior to and during her pregnancy, genetic predispositions, the health of the mother’s own gut biome, and the impact of environmental stressors during the mother’s pregnancy. 

At TheraKneads Wellness Center, we provide transformational health coaching to support and enhance women’s nutritional, lifestyle and fertility journeys. Digestive Massage is often a treatment performed in conjunction with health coaching sessions to further support the rebalancing of gut biome and optimization of overall health.

Once the nutritional, mental, emotional and environmental stressors creating these imbalances in the body are addressed with customized health coaching and wellness treatments—health and vitality can be restored. This new foundation sets the precedent for a meaningful and fulfilling life in which you are thriving, not just surviving.

To find out more about how health coaching or digestive massage can lead to an increase of overall health or fertility, call 410-549-7711 or book online at therakneads.com to set up a free 30-minute consultation to determine how we can help support you.

Postpartum Motherhood

Michele Pedersen, LMT

When I became pregnant, I had no idea that I would be stripped bare to my core. This journey is not for the faint of heart. This journey will connect you with what you are really made of. You may be surprised at the strength, courage, resilience, fortitude, and love you carry!

I have been on a deep, spiritual journey, since I was in my late teens. I have been down a hard road and taken many risks. I was fearless growing up and thought I knew my strength. Nothing rocked my world or shook my foundation more than becoming a mother. This became my spiritual practice. Having to face all of my shadows, while annihilating into the love that overtook me. I would do anything for this being. There was nothing left of me after she was born, but pure love, vulnerability, and a fatigue I didn't know existed.

Support? What Support? I had little to no support following the birth of my daughter, yet I had to be her entire support; her life and well-being depended on it. I wouldn't wish that on any mother. I discovered myself in a whole new place, in this new role. It asked EVERYTHING of me and then some, 24/7. I was a single mother, living 2500 miles from family and friends. It was my baby and me and I had to figure it out and I did, somehow.

This experience would be unheard of in many other cultures where The new mother takes priority, as her health and wellbeing are necessary to care for her family and community. She is cared for through pregnancy and postpartum, fed warming nourishing meals, teas, given massages, and support following the birth of her child.

This did not happen in my experiences (times 3). I had no idea how important it would be to my health, wellbeing, and healing going forward to create a postpartum support network for myself. The experiences that stood out most were the angels along the way that showed up randomly and offered support here and there. My midwife who carried so much wisdom shared inspiring birth stories with me. She made sure when my daughter was coming out with her head and shoulder she kept me from tearing. My chiropractor that acted as my doula, supported me during the last few weeks of my pregnancy, during birth, and following birth. She treated my daughter, as well during the first 2 years of her life. She brought me crampbark tea and nettle tea to help with my postpartum healing. She was a networker in the community and held gatherings in her office and home that she made me feel apart of. One of my roommates made me a meal or 2, I don't recall; otherwise I would have gone hungry, while saturated in baby bliss. I was completely unprepared for my postpartum time and what I would need. When my daughter couldn't latch and was screaming for hours, my dear friend who lived on the East coast called local hospitals and La Leche League to have someone assist me in breastfeeding because she knew how important this was for me. Once I received the right support, my daughter successfully latched and didn't let go!! Our loving actions have a ripple affect and we have no idea the depths these acts reach or the impact they make.

When I treat a mom, I am not only treating her, but her baby and whole family, because we are all connected. No act is too small, when we are coming from a place of loving kindness.

Michele Pedersen, LMT