This post is for general information only and does not provide medical advice. We recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.
Morning sickness (truthfully, more like all-day sickness) was definitely something both Gab and I struggled with in the first trimester in all of our pregnancies. Although I was very grateful and appreciative of each pregnancy, the toll it took on my body was definitely a shock especially the first time around. I spent my days trying to keep the nausea at bay by forcing myself to eat whatever I could stomach (a mix of random food including things like Premium Plus crackers, watermelon, French Vanillas from Tim Hortons, and Eggos). My sleep was all over the place—I was sleeping 12 hours a night in my first trimester but then waking up at 3:00 a.m., having a hard time falling back to sleep, near the end of my pregnancy.
I remember thinking I wanted to know more about how these hormones were affecting my body and thought other moms might feel the same. With this in mind, I reached out to Dr. Emma Pollon-MacLeod, Naturopathic Doctor, for some insight!
I met Emma in high school through a mutual friend (who we are both very close with!). I know that she has always been passionate about health and wellness and have heard bits and pieces of her journey to becoming a naturopathic doctor over the years. It is no surprise that she is now actively working to support women with their health!
Read below to learn what Dr. Pollon-MacLeod has to say about hormones during pregnancy and how it can affect your sleep and other aspects of your life (spoiler: she tested her own hormones during pregnancy and saw first-hand how intensely they can fluctuate!).
Can you please tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
Women’s health and hormones have always been my passion. I have been practicing as a Naturopathic Doctor supporting women on their health journeys for the last seven years. My husband is a pharmacist and so I really value having a balanced approach to healthcare—one that is more integrative and less polarized. To me it's all about supporting what works best for each individual. Having a background in Biochemistry allows me to understand the complex changes that our bodies undergo as we age but my own personal experience allows me to have perspective.
Since my own postpartum journeys, I really have become even more of an advocate for educating women on postpartum and hormonal health.
I have two little guys at home (4.5 and 1.5 years old), and a Boston terrier pooch, Gus, so I’m the Queen bee of the house at the moment.
What types of services do you offer that can be beneficial to postpartum women? Are there any supplements you would recommend for postpartum women to take or to avoid?
I have a private clinical practice where I see patients both virtually and in-person. When I talk to women in their early postpartum days, it really is about supporting the basics—getting enough protein, electrolytes, and staying hydrated. Our normal hunger cues are often suppressed in the early postpartum period. Instead of hunger we can feel weak, shaky, anxious, exhausted—not realizing that our body needs nourishment.
Often when I ask moms to recall their diet, their response is that they are too busy for breakfast; they might eat some of their kids' snacks for lunch, and drink coffee all morning. No judgement here whatsoever—I’ve been there—but that is a recipe to feeling agitated and wired.
Ensuring you are getting enough protein—at least 20-25mg—at each meal is critical to give your body the nourishment it needs to handle some of the other stressors of the postpartum stages. Sipping on electrolytes replacements throughout the day can work wonders as well for energy and stamina. If a woman is nursing, then choline supplementation may be really important in the first three months, especially if eggs aren’t a staple in the diet.
Hormones can fluctuate quite a bit during pregnancy and postpartum. Does this affect our sleep?
I think every woman who has gone through the pregnancy/postpartum journey can attest to the fact that hormones have an impact on sleep. I love to bring up my hormonal numbers to put things into perspective because I find it so mind boggling.
Because I find the human body so incredibly amazing, I tested my estrogen levels throughout my pregnancy journey. To put things into perspective—Estradiol levels, on average, in a normal menstrual cycle usually range from 300-900 picomoles per litre (pmol/L).
At 6 weeks pregnant, my levels were at 5587 pmol/L, at 20 weeks 16,907pmol/L, and 30 weeks at 21,084pmol/L!
At 6 weeks postpartum they were back down to 1200pmol/L. This just goes to show you how extreme the fluctuations are. The postpartum drop in estrogen has a huge impact on sleep disruption. It can lead to mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, vaginal dryness/sensation loss (no one talks about this one), hair loss. It is very similar to perimenopause symptoms but more extreme for a shorter period of time. A classic sign of hormonal sleep disruption is waking at 2:00-3:00 a.m. with racing thoughts and anxiety.
What are your thoughts on sleep training and how does it affect maternal mental health?
I am all for sleep training—when done properly. I love the concept of having professionals to support and guide women through this because it can be SO challenging. I think there are so many misconceptions around sleep training which is super unfortunate. My life changed when my first started having bigger chunks of sleep —I felt I was able to be more present and be a better mom when I could get rest.
How can a lack of sleep affect our mental health?
Sleep deprivation can shorten our threshold for handling things. It can make even the simplest task seem daunting. It can make the most minute decision seem overwhelming. It can make the most trivial issue seem critical. It's very hard to think logically when so deprived of sleep. On the other hand, everything is a season with kids. The first 4-5 months sleep deprivation is part of the journey—but it comes and goes and with proper guidance on training you can definitely see the light at the end of the sleep tunnel.
Where can people find you?
Website: nutrichemclinic.com
Instagram: @dr.emmapm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EEPMND
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