Prenatal Archives - Lily Nichols RDN

Real Food for Pregnancy 5 year anniversary: 10 recently published studies

It’s hard to believe it’s been five years since I published Real Food for Pregnancy! I never could have expected that this book would impact so many lives. This project was an undertaking to say the least. I often joke that a lot of blood, … continue reading

Preeclampsia: 5 ways nutrition supports blood pressure in pregnancy

If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, your OB/GYN or other practitioners may have warned you about preeclampsia, a common pregnancy complication. Preeclampsia is a gestational hypertensive disorder that is more severe than gestational high blood pressure, but not as severe as eclampsia (seizures in … continue reading

Electrolytes & Pregnancy: Why these minerals are crucial and how to get enough

You’ve probably heard about electrolytes from advertisements for popular sports drinks. And it’s true – high performing athletes do lose electrolytes during activity that need to be replaced. But electrolytes are important for all of us, athletes or not. From a nutrition standpoint, electrolytes are … continue reading

Tips to Reduce Heartburn & Acid Reflux in Pregnancy

Oh, the woes of pregnancy! Heartburn and acid reflux can occur at any point during pregnancy, but they most often show up in the second and third trimesters. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may feel a burning-like sensation behind the breastbone, in the … continue reading

Does eating dates during pregnancy improve labor?

Whether you’re pregnant for the first time or you’ve given birth before, you may be feeling anxious during the last few weeks of pregnancy when you don’t know how your labor and delivery will play out. Everyone dreams of a quick, smooth delivery, so it’s … continue reading

Shellfish: Why these nutrient-dense foods are beneficial during pregnancy

Recently, I posted an in-depth review of the benefits of consuming organ meats like liver to not only support prenatal health and fetal development but also to encourage nose-to-tail eating as a means of sustainable food consumption. Today, I want to shift the focus to … continue reading

It’s OK for your body to get soft during pregnancy

It’s OK for your body to get soft during pregnancy. In fact, it’s supposed to. Pregnancy is a time of expansion & creation, of growing & softening, of surrendering & slowing down. Yes, it’s important to nourish ourselves & move our bodies (as I outline … continue reading

Liver and Organ Meat: Nutritional benefits & how to make it palatable

If you are familiar with my work, you know that I am an advocate of eating a “nose-to-tail” omnivorous diet for optimal fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and postpartum recovery. That means not only consuming muscle meats, like steak and chicken breast, but consuming all parts of … continue reading

Budget-Friendly Prenatal Nutrition Following Real Food for Pregnancy Principles

Budget Friendly Prenatal Nutrition Real Food for Pregnancy principles

I recently had the pleasure of speaking at an Indiana WIC organization about budget-friendly prenatal nutrition following Real Food for Pregnancy principles. Aside from covering the many misconceptions and areas for improvement in conventional prenatal nutrition guidelines, we spent the majority of the conversation around … continue reading

Protein Requirements in Pregnancy are Higher Than Previously Thought

Lately, I’ve been reading more and more about protein, how our guidelines were set for it, and specific amino acids and their roles in health (especially during pregnancy and early childhood). Proteins are quite literally the building blocks of human life. Every cell in your … continue reading