Pursuing Health

Pregnancy was an incredible learning experience, and nothing made me dive deeper into the research than going through it myself.

I’m sharing the eight areas I focused on during pregnancy that I found most helpful: movement, nutrition, hydration, supplementation, sleep, mindset and nervous system, body work, and choosing my birth team and environment.

I also share one of the most important lessons I learned along the way: aim for an A-, not an A+. Pregnancy doesn’t have to be perfect, and trying to optimize every detail can create unnecessary stress.

This is a personal reflection on my experience—not medical advice—and I hope it gives you a helpful starting point for your own research and conversations with your healthcare team.

Resources:

Empower by Dottir

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

Birthing from Within

Hypnobirthing: A Natural Approach To A Safe, Easier, More Comfortable Birthing

The First Forty Days

Spinning Babies

WeNatal

Seen Nutrition Calcium Chews

https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13765/

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn5421?utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=sugar_restriction

https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/healthy-eating-during-pregnancy

https://www.dsm-firmenich.com/en/businesses/health-nutrition-care/news/talking-nutrition/highlights-from-acog.html

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21857221/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5524288/

https://www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD005123_antenatal-perineal-massage-reducing-perineal-trauma

https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/

https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/02/approaches-to-limit-intervention-during-labor-and-birth

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6491161/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23857334/

Related Episodes:

Ep 314 - The Fertility Crisis + Support for Couples

Ep 335 - Empowered Motherhood with Annie Thorisdottir + Katrin Davidsdottir

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

In this compilation episode, I’m bringing together insights from four experts to explore pelvic floor health during pregnancy and postpartum.

Pelvic floor physical therapist Julie Wiebe, DPT shares a broader perspective on how the pelvic floor works as part of the entire movement system and why pressure management matters for athletes, both male and female, at every stage of life.

Dr. Alexis Morgan and Dr. Christina Prevett discuss what current research says about CrossFit, exercise, and pelvic floor function during pregnancy, helping separate evidence from common misconceptions.

Lisa Kozian Ryan offers practical guidance on training during pregnancy, recovering postpartum, and healing diastasis recti while building strength and confidence along the way.

Together, these conversations provide evidence-based education and empowering strategies to help women stay active, resilient, and informed throughout pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and beyond.

Related Episodes:

Ep 83 - Pelvic Floor Health for Athletes: Dr. Julie Wiebe

Ep. 285 - What the research says about CrossFit + pregnancy: Dr. Alexis Morgan + Dr. Christina Prevett

Ep 82 - Training During Pregnancy and Healing Diastasis Recti: Lisa Kozian Ryan

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Today, I’m joined by two of the most accomplished athletes in CrossFit history, Annie Thorisdottir and Katrin Davidsdottir, both two-time CrossFit Games champions who have been an absolute joy to compete alongside.  Now that we've all retired from elite competition, we’re discussing embracing new chapters of life, including motherhood, pregnancy, staying active through life’s transitions, and how our identities have evolved beyond the competition floor.

 

You can follow Annie @anniethorisdottir, Katrin @katrintanja, learn about their EMPOWER community at https://empowerbydottir.com/, Drink Dottir at https://drinkdottir.com/, and pre-order Annie’s book, Iceland Annie, on Amazon.  You can connect with Brianna Battles at https://briannabattles.com/.

Related Episodes:

Ep 83 - Pelvic Floor Health for Athletes with Dr. Julie Wiebe

Ep 141 - From the CrossFit Games to Pregnancy with Annie Thorisdottir and Camille Leblanc-Bazinet

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Dr. Bill Chun is a board-certified OB/GYN who trained and has spent his entire career in Boston, where he has practiced solo for the past two decades. He is the founder of Empowering Pregnancy and Doula Unbound, and the host of Sunday with Chun. A Korean immigrant and U.S. Navy veteran, he is currently writing a literary memoir, The Accidental Obstetrician.

 

Follow Dr. Chun via his website drbillchun.com, and Instagram @dr.billchun

 

Related Episodes:

Ep 291 - Nutrition for Pregnancy with Brigid Titgemeier

Ep 333 - Life Update: We’re Pregnant! With Julie Foucher Brown

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

In this special solo episode, I’m sharing a personal update on the experiences that have shaped my life over the past several years. From the inner work that transformed my approach to relationships and personal growth, to meeting my husband, building a family with our adopted son, and finding a deeper sense of joy and connection, this chapter has been full of unexpected blessings. I also open up about my fertility journey, the challenges we faced along the way, and the incredible surprise of becoming pregnant shortly after our wedding. As we prepare to welcome a baby boy into the world, I’m excited to share what’s ahead for our family and for the next chapter of Pursuing Health. Thank you for being part of this journey and for your support through every season of the podcast.

 

Please share your thoughts with info@pursuing-health.com, or connect with me on Instagram @JulieFoucher.

Related Episodes:

Ep 321 - Visualization: A Simple Tool to Show Up Fully

 

Ep 309 - How I Created My Life Plan

 

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.