Ottawa Pregnancy & Postpartum

Bringing a new little human into this world is such a beautiful thing and it can be accompanied by many challenges. It is a time of transition in all aspects of your life which often impacts your relationship with food and body, as well as your mental health.

At The Balanced Practice, we are here to support you through your conception, pregnancy, and your postpartum journey. We believe in a collaborative, weight inclusive and compassionate approach to your care. This season of life can be so transformative, and we want to empower you along the way.

We understand that the journey to become pregnant, pregnancy and postpartum is CHALLENGING. Contrary to the effortless conception and pregnancy glow we are told by society we will get, for many the experience is much more nuanced and can be accompanied by a lot of fear, anxiety, sadness, and stress.

On top of that, diet culture places a massive amount of pressure on women’s (and pregnant people’s) bodies to look a certain way during pregnancy and postpartum. These societal body ideals can have a major impact on one’s body image and sense of self, especially with the inevitable body changes that come along with pregnancy.

Pregnancy and postpartum can have a significant impact on your relationship with food and body. If you have a history of an eating disorder, it is important to acknowledge this intersection to ensure you receive the support you may need. As pregnancy will inevitably lead to changes in your nutritional needs and your body size, this time in your life may also lead to disordered eating patterns and body image issues. In the postpartum period, similar challenges with food and body may occur or persist, on top of navigating the new routines and responsibilities that come along with parenthood. Accessing support from an eating disorder informed team is vital to ensure you are taking care of your physical and mental wellbeing at this time.

At The Balanced Practice, we believe in supporting you in getting the best care for this exciting and challenging season of life. We work from a person centered and weight inclusive lens to meet you where you are at and offer you the care you deserve.

Therapy can be an important part of this process for you and your partner as you are entering into transformative season. It is normal if you don’t feel overly happy or excited. All of your emotions are valid and together we get to explore how to support your mental health during this season.

Therapy for pregnancy and postpartum at The Balanced Practice is offered by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) or Registered Social Worker (RSW). The first step is to have therapy assessment. In this 75-minute session, your therapist will get to know you, understand your experience with becoming a parent, your current challenges and will start building a roadmap to support you and your family.

After this session, you will connect with your therapist regularly for follow-up sessions where you will continue to work towards your treatment goals together.

At The Balanced Practice, we take an anti-diet, weight inclusive and collaborative approach to support you. There is no one size fits all and our team will meet exactly where you are at.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can be supported through pregnancy and postpartum from an anti-diet and weight inclusive lens, The Balanced Practice is the place for you. Take the first step towards a nourished and empowered pregnancy and postpartum experience by reaching out to us today.