Dr. Shannon Vander Doelen, ND

PSA : TAKE YOUR PRENATAL WITH FOOD. Seriously, trying to take it without some food is a recipe for nausea or an upset stomach. Plus - some of the vitamins (A, D, E and K specifically) are fat-soluble, meaning they need to be taken alongside a source of fat (like... you know, your food), to be absorbed properly. p.s. if your prenatal makes you nauseous even with food, it might be time to consider a new one! If you're trying to get pregnant, this supplement is a long-term commitment! So let's make sure it works well for you.

New Video: How to Choose a Prenatal Vitamin! The choices online or at your local health food store are endless - so how do you pick the best, or the right one, for you? Click below where you'll find this post and my video that will give you ALL the deets on what to look for.

Wishing my beautiful mama the happiest of birthdays today. We are so lucky to be on the receiving end of your love every single day. You are the best mom and the best grandma, and you deserve all the best today and everyday

What you see: me with hair and makeup done in preparation for being a bridesmaid in a cute matchy matchy outfit with my 3 and a half week old baby. What you don't see: the crippling anxiety I felt. Check in on your mom-friends (even the ones who look like they have it all together, and maybe especially the ones who gave birth during a pandemic). Maternal mental health is a global public health issue. In Canada, nearly 1 in 4 new moms report feelings consistent with depressio...n and/or anxiety. These feelings can start anytime after birth, and can last months, or even years. It's so common that these symptoms get dismissed as the "baby blues" or as "normal for a new mom." I can't tell you the number of times I searched "postpartum depression" and "postpartum anxiety" on google, trying to at least identify WHY I felt the way I felt, to give it a label. I never met the technical diagnostic criteria for these conditions, so I just assumed that something must be wrong with me. News flash - nothing was "wrong with me" - I had just become a mom, which turns out changes everything in your life in an instant (including the fact that your brain ACTUALLY CHANGES structurally and functionally meaning you are quite literally not the same after giving birth). So in the spirit of #BellLetsTalk Day yesterday, let's shed a little light on maternal mental health. Call a friend today and check in on her. See more

Bell Let's Talk Day is about ending the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness. Now more than ever, every action counts. Please go to @BellLetsTalk and watch their official video today. Helping to end the stigma around mental illness can help people seek the help they need and create positive change. One of the biggest hurdles for anyone suffering from mental illness is overcoming the stigma of having a problem and asking for help. It is the number one reaso...n why two-thirds of those living with a mental illness do not seek help. Developed in partnership with Dr. Heather Stuart, the Bell Canada Mental Health and Anti-stigma Research Chair at Queen’s University, here are 5 simple ways to help end the stigma that keeps too many who struggle with mental illness from seeking the help they need: 1. Language matters: the words you use can make all the difference. 2. Educate yourself: knowing the facts and myths about mental illness can be a great way to help end the stigma. 3. Be kind: simple acts of kindness can help open up the conversation and let someone know you are there for them. 4. Listen and ask: being a good listener and asking how you can help can be the first step in recovery. 5. Talk about it: mental illness touches us all in some way directly or through a friend, family member or colleague. Most people with mental health issues can and do recover, just by talking about it. I am here for you. Let's Talk.

Confession: I kinda love the day after labour day. Don't get me wrong, I love the long, lazy summer days too, but something about the Tuesday after labour day gets me. As a kid, I looked forward to the first day of school - it always felt like a fresh start. With the unofficial end of summer behind us, embrace this fresh start with me, won't you? I'm here for you to get back on track with your health goals, to prepare your body for pregnancy, or to sort out any new concerns that developed this summer. If you haven't worked with me before, book yourself in for a complimentary 15 minute meet and greet so we can make sure we're the right fit. If you're a current or past patient, shoot me a DM or email and I'll direct you to the best way to book! buff.ly/2Opmwjp

I hope you got both this long weekend

Pregnant or Trying To Conceive? Wondering about detoxing this spring? Watch this first!

Sperm counts in the Western world are in rapid decline. But nobody knows why

This is a great video to explain how Natural Conception and IVF work!