This page is composed of research by Lily Nichols, compiled from various podcasts and other published content. All of the nutrition information on this site is based off of her groundbreaking research and recommendations, and the Women's Health Nutrition Academy. This page will be updated as future publications are released.
Read more: Pregnancy Nutrition - Free Resources (Audible & Print)Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, of which I'll earn a small commission if you purchase, but at no additional cost to you. I appreciate your support!
Table of Contents
- Intro
- Lily Nichols
- Podcasts
- Gestational Diabetes
- Free Course
- Yoga Birth Babies - Comprehensive Discussion of Gestational Diabetes
- Induction Evidence/Statistics for Big Babies
- Food Heaven Podcast - Outdated guidelines, childhood obesity and nutrients during pregnancy
- Fertility
- Pregnancy Nutrition
- Keto Pregnancy
- Toxins in Pregnancy
- Postpartum Nutrition
- Gestational Diabetes
- Health Professionals
Intro
Pregnancy nutrition isn't an in-depth topic of discussion during doctor visits, but it directly affects Baby's development. Nutrition during your pregnancy has the most impact on Baby's health throughout their life, as well as your grandchild's health! Incredible, right?! So why aren't we discussing pregnancy nutrition guidelines? Well, despite the fact that they're outdated, focus is normally put on intervention and not prevention.
Pregnancy nutrition doesn't have to be as structured as having a pregnancy nutrition plan. It can just be knowing the importance of nutrition during pregnancy and working on it daily. This is the path that Lily Nichols is pioneering for all pregnancies!
Who Is Lily Nichols?
Lily Nichols, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, has cemented her name in the prenatal nutrition circuit by breaking from traditional nutrition recommendations and paving a new path based on evidence and eating real food. Her name is almost synonymous with gestational diabetes, and you'll often see moms recommend her books: Real Food for Pregnancy and "Real Food for Gestational Diabetes" (exclusively at Amazon and available on Kindle). If you don't want to buy the book, the information below is perfect for you!
Free Chapter
Realfoodforpregnancy.com is a site dedicated to the book. There you can find the first chapter of the Real Food for Pregnancy book for free!
If you're more of a listener, I've linked some podcast interviews below.
Where to Find Lily
Lily is active on her Instagram, FaceBook and Twitter. She sprinkles out easy to remember and implement nutrition tidbits. If you follow "#gestationaldiabetes" on Instagram, she's sure to pop up with meal suggestions and cooking tips! You'll also get to see what other moms are eating.
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Podcasts
Gestational Diabetes
Lily has worked extensively with gestational diabetes mothers and tracked their progress.
Free Course
Realfoodforgd.com is the dedicated site for her Real Food for Gestational Diabetes book. Aside from the book, Lily offers a FREE course for gestational diabetes on this site! Follow the link to connect.
Yoga Birth Babies
While Lily has multiple podcast interviews, this is currently the most recent and very comprehensive about gestational diabetes (Oct 2018).
https://prenatalyogacenter.com/blog/gestational-diabetes/
- 6:40 - Difference between conventional pregnancy nutrition and Lily's evidence-based nutrition
- 10:20 - Difference between gestational diabetes, pre-diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2
- 15:40 - How blood sugar changes during all pregnancies
- 17:40 - Risks and preventative measures
- 19:55 - Symptoms
- 21:15 - Getting tested, the controversy and alternatives
- 28:40 - How gestational diabetes affects you and baby
- 31:55 - Lifelong issues with baby when blood sugar isn't managed
- 38:00 - How it's managed by diet and strategies
- 46:10 - Foods to avoid
- 47:40 - Common mistakes
- 51:20 - Chances of gestational diabetes in another pregnancy
Induction Evidence/Statistics for Big Babies
Jam-packed with eye-opening info in just 20 mins. Best to listen in iTunes or Stitcher.
http://evidencebasedbirth.libsyn.com/what-are-the-birth-implications-for-a-suspected-big-baby
- 2:10 - Macrosomia defined
- 2:38 - U.S. statistics & reasons why
- 4:21 - 5 major assumptions why doctors suggest inducing
- 5:27 - Shoulder dystocia statistics
- 7:09 - Health problems for mom & baby if baby is big
- 8:22 - How your doctor's perspective changes
- 8:55 - Labor intervention statistics
- 10:08 - Predicting if baby will be big
- 11:18 - Accuracy if you have diabetes
- 13:00 - Small babies can have labor complications
- 15:50 - C-section vs vaginal birth
- 17:00 - Gestational diabetes
- 15:15 - Summary
Food Heaven Podcast
https://soundcloud.com/food-heaven-podcast/real-food-for-pregnancy-with-lily-nichols
- 8:15 - Maternal blood sugar related to childhood obesity
- 11:55 - Outdated & non evidenced based prenatal nutrition guidelines
- 17:35 - Carb and protein needs; deficient nutrients
- 21:40 - Plant-based diet while pregnant
- 25:00 - How nutrients work together for purpose
- 28:25 - Should you take a prenatal vitamin
- 34:35 - Intuitive eating
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Fertility
Fertility Friday Radio
- 30:00 - Fertility talk starts
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Pregnancy Nutrition
Lily's website lilynicholsrdn.com (recently replaced pilatesnutritionist.com) has a blog with fantastic information and cool freebies! All of her appearances, guest writings, other sites, books and courses are linked from the site. The blog is filled with info like myth busters, how to handle nausea naturally, pregnancy and special diets, postpartum recovery and so much more! I especially love the Why Prenatal Nutrition Guidelines Need to be Updated post. So if you're a reader, head over to Lily's site and spend a little time.
Healthy in Real Life - The Fitnessista Podcast
fitnessista.com/podcast Episode 19
- 4:10 - Foods to emphasize and avoid during pregnancy
- 14:00 - Vegan or Vegetarian during pregnancy
- 18:30 - What to do when craving everything bad or can't eat
- 24:45 - Protein powder
- 29:25 - Weight gain
- 35:45 - The content of her books
- 39:00 - Gestational Diabetes testing
- 45:50 - Tips to take care of self during pregnancy and avoiding toxins
- 52:20 - Living healthy everyday
Robb Wolf: Revolutionary Solutions to Modern Life
https://robbwolf.com/2018/03/06/episode-384-lily-nichols-rdn-real-food-for-pregnancy/
- 16:42 - Nutrient deficiencies
- 19:47 - Low carb diets and birth defects
- 26:02 - Obesity and insulin sensitivity
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Keto Pregnancy
Healthful Pursuit
https://www.healthfulpursuit.com/podcast/e21/
- 13:30 - Amenorrhea and boosting fertility with a low carb diet
- 17:55 - Blood sugar and miscarriage and birth defects
- 20:00 - Eating low carb in pregnancy and when to switch
- 26:55 - Mindful eating and breaking the rules
- 31:05 - Eating well before pregnancy and nutrient stores
- 35:20 - How low carb can I go? Does the baby need carbs?
- 39:15 - How your body makes glucose, how it affects baby's brain and natural ketosis in pregnancy
- 45:00 - Fasting during pregnancy
- 48:19 - Breastfeeding nutrients
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Toxins in Pregnancy
Boston Functional Nutrition
https://bostonfunctionalnutrition.com/real-food-radio-episode-032-toxins-in-pregnancy/
- 4:30 - Why talk about toxins
- 9:20 - Toxins defined
- 11:45 - Avoiding toxins during preconception
- 13:30 - Detoxing and avoiding toxins during pregnancy
- 14:40 - Cholrella usage during pregnancy
- 16:00 - Using plastic containers; BPA and its harmful effects to you and baby
- 18:40 - Phthalates and its harmful effects to you an baby; sources
- 21:00 - Receipts
- 26:15 - BPA sources and easy ways to avoid BPA
- 29:38 - Phthalate sources and easy ways to avoid Phthalates
- 35:00 - Organic and pesticides and how they affect reproduction
- 43:50 - GMO (Genetically Modified)
- 51:25 - What foods to buy organic
- 53:10 - Coffee and pesticides
- 54:00 - Mercury and eating fish
- 1:07:40 - What to do: takeaways
Boston Functional Nutrition has listed safe, everyday products that affect reproduction and you can access it here.
Is Cooking with Aluminum Foil Toxic? Yes!
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Postpartum Nutrition
The Modern Mamas Podcast Episode 39
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-modern-mamas-podcast/e/53597243
- 2:58 - Nuts and how to make them easier on your stomach. Why you crave nut butter at night
- 13:25 - Eating for breastfeeding. Are marketed cookies and teas good?
- 31:00 - Postpartum sugar cravings
- 36:37 - Sleep deprivation and lack of energy; postpartum thyroid conditions; tissue recovery and healing
- 45:04 - Postpartum meal ideas
- 51:40 - Fasting postpartum while breastfeeding
- 55:25 - Balancing nutrition for yourself, breastfeeding and gearing up for another baby. Detoxing and weight loss
- 1:05:00 - Eating after baby is weaned
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Women's Health Professionals
If you're a health professional of sorts, you can enroll in one of the Women's Health Nutrition Academy's (very affordable) courses and receive continuing education credits!