A Holistic Approach to Managing Perimenopause/Menopause: Beyond Symptom Relief

Pregnancy is one of the most transformative journeys of a woman’s life. It’s beautiful, powerful, and at times overwhelming. Many families find themselves asking: Who will walk alongside us, not only for the birth itself but for the preparation and the postpartum days that follow?

As a naturopathic doctor and doula based in Chilliwack, BC, I offer care that blends the best of both worlds — the emotional and physical support of a doula, combined with the medical knowledge and holistic guidance of naturopathic medicine. My approach is designed to support you, your baby, and your partner through every stage of this journey.

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Why Choose a Doula?

Research consistently shows that doula support improves birth outcomes:

• Birthing parents supported by a doula are 50% less likely to need a C-section.
  
• Families report greater satisfaction with their birth experience when a doula is present.
  
  

Birth can sometimes feel overwhelming or even traumatic, especially when unexpected interventions arise. Having continuous support — and the opportunity for postpartum debriefing — helps parents feel empowered, less traumatized, and more at peace with their birth story. Many clients share that their memories of labour feel calmer, more positive, and more meaningful when they had a doula walking alongside them.

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How Naturopathic Doula Care is Different

As both a naturopathic doctor and a doula, I am able to offer a unique level of care:

• Prenatal naturopathic intake & coaching — supporting you with nutrition, supplements, and personalized guidance for your pregnancy.
  
• Birth preparation planning — including labour positions, coping strategies, and partner involvement.
  
• Acupuncture for labour preparation or augmentation if desired.
  
• Herbal and supplement guidance for pregnancy, labour, and postpartum recovery.
  
• Postpartum visits that include feeding support, emotional processing, and recovery strategies.
  
• Secure direct messaging support throughout your care via the Jane App.
  
  

My role is never to replace your midwife or doctor, but to work alongside them — ensuring that you feel supported medically, emotionally, and holistically.

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Pre-Birth Acupuncture: Gentle Support for Labour

Many families are surprised to learn that acupuncture can be part of birth preparation. Research shows that acupuncture in the final weeks of pregnancy may help:

• Ripen the cervix and prepare the body for labour
  
• Reduce the need for medical induction
  
• Support a smoother labour progression
  
  

This is a natural, gentle way to encourage your body’s readiness while lowering stress and promoting calm in the final stretch of pregnancy.

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Stories from Fraser Valley Families

“I had Dr. Vanessa as my doula and I couldn’t have had anyone better! She helped me so much through my labour and gave me the support I definitely needed — including hours of compression to relieve contractions. I wouldn’t have been able to make it through without her. She has been awesome for postpartum care and giving me helpful information for me and my baby. She made it a beautiful experience. She is a very intelligent, sweet woman and I would 100% choose her again in the future!”

Another Fraser Valley mom shared:

“I was supported by Dr. Vanessa during prenatal appointments and with her full doula package. I was able to use my naturopathic benefits to pay for the package, which was a huge bonus! She guided us through the stages of labour, intervention preferences, postpartum care, and breastfeeding. She was there at my home when labour began, helping with positions, counter-pressure, and reminding me of my birth plan when I was ready to abandon it all. She supported not only me but also my husband in ways that helped us both feel grounded. When I reflect on my son’s birth, I feel beyond grateful she was there.”

These stories reflect what I believe deeply: birth is not just about the outcome — it’s about how you feel along the way.

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Postpartum Support: A Vital Part of the Journey

The birth doesn’t end when your baby arrives. In many ways, it’s just the beginning. That’s why postpartum support is such a central part of my doula care.

Your postpartum visit includes:

• A birth review and space to process your experience
  
• Feeding support and troubleshooting
  
• Recovery strategies for both vaginal and cesarean births (including scar-tissue acupuncture when appropriate)
  
• Partner support, debriefing, and guidance on how to best care for mom and baby
  
  

Families often tell me this visit is where they feel most cared for — when the initial rush of birth has passed, and the real work of healing and adjusting begins.

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Rooted in the Fraser Valley

Based in Chilliwack, BC, I serve families throughout the Fraser Valley — including Abbotsford, Agassiz, and Hope. I feel honoured to be part of this community and to walk alongside families as they welcome new life into the world.

Do you feel drained, even after a full night’s sleep? Fatigue is one of the most common concerns we see in our practice here at Seek Optimal Wellbeing in the Fraser Valley in downtown Chilliwack, BC. While lifestyle factors like poor sleep, stress, and overwork often contribute, one frequently overlooked cause is nutrient deficiencies.

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Understanding Fatigue

Fatigue is more than feeling tired—it’s a lack of mental and physical energy that can affect your ability to focus, exercise, and enjoy life. While lifestyle changes can help in some cases, persistent fatigue may indicate an underlying nutritional or medical issue, such as thyroid problems, anemia, or chronic disease.

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Nutritional Insufficiencies: A Hidden Culprit

Even in developed countries, many people consume enough food to avoid obvious illness but not enough to support optimal energy production and long-term health. Put simply, we are often overfed and undernourished. This forces the body to prioritize short-term survival over vibrant health, leaving you feeling tired and unmotivated.

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Optimizing Your Nutrition

The first step to improving energy is eating a nutrient-dense diet:

• Plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, eggs, and dairy (if tolerated)
  
  
• Focus on foods rich in B vitamins, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and zinc
  
  

When diet alone isn’t enough, supplements or IV nutrient therapy can help fill the gaps efficiently, providing the nutrients your body needs for energy, mental clarity, and overall wellness.

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The Dynamic Dozen

I call these twelve essential nutrients the Dynamic Dozen, critical for supporting your body’s energy production:

• B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B8, B9, B12)
  
  
• Vitamin C
  
  
• Iron, Magnesium, Zinc
  
  

Even a shortfall in one of these nutrients can limit energy production, affect metabolism, and reduce stamina, focus, and motivation.

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Why Mitochondria Matter

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of your cells, responsible for producing the energy your body needs to function, recover, and repair. Nutrient deficiencies, chronic stress, poor sleep, and environmental toxins can all impair mitochondrial function, leaving you fatigued and at higher risk for chronic disease.

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Correcting Nutrient Deficiencies

• Dietary Sources: Leafy greens, fatty fish, legumes, whole grains, eggs, nuts, seeds
  
  
• Supplements & IV Nutrient Therapy: Useful when diet alone isn’t enough, especially for severe deficiencies or immediate energy support
  
  
• Micronutrient Testing: “Test, don’t guess.” Everyone’s needs are different, so personalized testing ensures optimal results
  
  

Key Takeaways

• Fatigue can stem from nutrient deficiencies, even if you eat “enough” food
  
  
• The Dynamic Dozen nutrients are essential for energy, cognitive function, and overall wellness
  
  

Correcting deficiencies through diet, supplements, or IV therapy can restore energy, focus, and vitality

When most people hear the word inflammation, they think of pain, stiffness, or feeling unwell. But inflammation isn’t always bad — in fact, it’s one of the body’s most important defense and healing mechanisms. The key is understanding the difference between healthy inflammation and chronic inflammation.

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At our integrated wellness clinic in the Fraser Valley, our naturopathic doctors, massage therapists, and counsellors often see patients from Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Mission, Langley, Hope, Agassiz, and Harrison Hot Springs struggling with chronic inflammation — sometimes without even realizing it.

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What Is Inflammation?

Inflammation is your body’s protective response to injury, infection, or stress. It’s the immune system’s way of saying: “Something’s wrong — let’s fix it.”

• Acute inflammation → short-term (less than 3 months). It’s the kind of inflammation that helps you heal after a cut, injury, or cold.
  
  
• Chronic inflammation → long-term (3+ months). This type lingers, stresses your system, and is linked to conditions like autoimmune disease, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease.
  
  

The problem isn’t inflammation itself — it’s when your body can’t “turn it off.”

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The 4 Rs of Inflammation

For inflammation to resolve properly, your body needs to go through four key phases (we call them the 4 Rs):

1. Recognize → Your immune system identifies an injury, infection, or imbalance.
   
   
2. Recruit → Immune cells (like neutrophils) rush to the site.
   
   
3. Remove → Microbes or damaged tissue are cleared out.
   
   
4. Resolve → The inflammation stops, and your body returns to balance.
   
   

When inflammation doesn’t resolve, it can spiral into chronic inflammation — which silently damages your body over time.

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What Triggers Chronic Inflammation?

A number of modern lifestyle factors can tip your body out of balance and keep it “stuck” in inflammation mode:

• Diet high in processed foods and low in nutrients
  
• Sedentary lifestyle and lack of regular movement
  
• Ongoing stress and poor sleep
  
• Obesity or metabolic dysfunction
  
• Environmental toxins and allergens
  
• Aging and reduced resilience
  
  

This is sometimes called “meta-inflammation” (metabolically triggered inflammation). It develops when poor nutrition, stress, and inactivity disrupt your body’s natural set-point (homeostasis) — like resetting a thermostat to the wrong temperature.

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Why Not All Inflammation Is Bad

It’s important to note: inflammation itself is not the enemy.

✅ Healthy inflammation → helps you heal, fight infections, and keep your body strong.

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❌ Unresolved chronic inflammation → contributes to pain, fatigue, autoimmune conditions, and long-term disease.

The goal isn’t to “shut off” inflammation entirely, but to support healthy inflammation and reduce the triggers that make it chronic.

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Supporting Healthy Inflammation in the Fraser Valley

At our integrated health clinic in Chilliwack, BC, we take a holistic approach to inflammation. Our naturopathic doctors, massage therapists, and counsellors work together to help patients:

• Reduce triggers of chronic inflammation
  
  
• Support the body’s ability to resolve acute inflammation
  
  
• Improve diet, stress management, and movement patterns
  
  
• Restore balance through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and natural therapies