It’s ok to feel your feelings, they are yours and they are real. As a society, we have not always done the best job of attending to our emotional intelligence. For some, it seems to come naturally that they are always in tune with what they feel. Others are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to understanding the emotions they experience or that their loved ones experience. It can create a real barrier between you and the people you love if you cannot authentically share your emotions.

When we’re pregnant we are constantly preparing for the baby, but the baby isn’t the only thing we should focus on. I have yet to meet a woman who stops to think about “what do I need?” and when we miss this step, we begin to tumble down a rabbit hole. Once we hit the postpartum stage, our entire focus is on this beautiful little human we carried in our womb for nine months and we just naturally allow ourselves to fade.

Your body speaks a different language than you do. Your body responds to a stressful situation through a flight or fight response, which is essentially a quick release of hormones. Your body completes the stress cycle by – literally – working it out. Run, bike, swim, or dance. Any kind of physical activity that makes you move and deepens your breathing will signal to your brain that the threat has passed. Try it for 20-60 minutes a day, every day if possible. After all, most humans experience stress on a daily basis.

When imbalances occur in your body, like chronic pain or disease, it can be the result of many factors. Genetics clearly play a role, as can lifestyle choices like inactivity, poor nutrition, smoking, or overindulging in alcohol. Yet, there is a third factor that is less obvious and potentially far more impactful: stress.

As many as one in ten women are affected by endometriosis. It causes pelvic pain – often severe – and discomfort and can impact sexual activity and fertility. Unfortunately, one of the biggest barriers to finding relief for endometriosis symptoms is that, all too often, it goes undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, or mistreated.

Postpartum is a big time for a mama. She’s learning or relearning how to care for a brand new baby while experiencing crucial changes to her mental and physical self. Even though postpartum moms have just experienced one of the biggest changes a person can go through, they often neglect taking care of themselves. It’s extremely important for women to centre their postpartum recovery—it should be a time of healing, adaptation, and baby snuggles. Through her own postpartum experiences and continuing education becoming a postpartum Doula, Victoria knows the importance of making mamas feel heard and taken care of.

You might have heard of Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine” vitamin at some point in your health journey. Dr. Madolyn Linka discusses some facts about the importance of vitamin D as it pertains to our wellness, especially as we navigate some of the longest nights and shortest days of the year leading up to the winter solstice (December 21).