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Achieving a healthy pregnancy naturally

This is a story of how I was able to support a client of mine in achieving a healthy pregnancy naturally through the functional medicine lens. She approached me after two miscarriages, a uterine fibroid surgery as well as hypothyroid diagnose. You may want to read her review here.

  • Achieving a healthy pregnancy
    Achieving a healthy pregnancy with a help of functional medicine.

Seemingly unrelated health problems indeed played a role in this client’s interrupted pregnancies before our mutual work.

The functional medicine compels us to look at how our choices are not only informing our genetic activation but also our biochemistry. And this is particularly true of an endocrine function in the body. We can’t look at hormones separately. We need to understand what is driving the body to have a certain activation, a certain pattern of hormone status.

In preparation for this client’s Initial Comprehensive Health Assessment appointment I reviewed this client’s lab work and it was clear that she was suffering from some subclinical hypothyroidism for several years.

According to this study women with TSH greater than 2.5 mU/L in the first trimester have an increased risk of miscarriages compared with women with TSH 0.2-2.5 mU/L. The risk of miscarriages is increased in women with TSH 4.51-10 mU.L. Therefore, suboptimal or subclinical thyroid function may have an adverse pregnancy outcomes including an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, gestational hypertension, placental abruption, and postpartum hemorrhage as well as impaired neurological development in the offspring.

As I’ve mentioned, we can’t look at hormones separately. We need to understand an upstream drivers for that imbalance which precipitate a logical biochemical skewing downstream.

One of this client’s health concerns was also a diarrhea, which often was green in color. Diarrhea may be a symptom of many diseases. A growing body of evidence shows that imbalance of the gut microbiome increases susceptibility to various pathogens and causes many diseases, including diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), allergies, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Diarrhea is a clinical manifestation of barrier damage, leading to electrolyte loss and malabsorption. We need nutrients to run our biochemistry and we need building blocks/nutrients to provide growth for the fetus. So, at first seemingly unrelated digestive issue had a clear impact on this client’s interrupted pregnancy. During pregnancy, the maternal body undergoes dramatic physiological changes to support the growth of fetus-placenta.

An imbalance of the gut microbiome may adversely affect pregnancy outcome and lead to pregnancy complications, per this study. Microbiota influence the uptake of minerals relevant to the thyroid. Therefore, an imbalance in the gut microbiome and diarrhea can lead to thyroid dysfunction. I hope that now you can see the interconnectedness between how GI health can affect thyroid function and how both are affecting pregnancy.

 

Sporadic miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy. Research shows that environmental exposure, in particular to endocrine-disrupting chemicals have the potential to interfere with endogenous hormone action.

These effects can be deleterious, especially in early pregnancy which can lead to implications and miscarriages.

Achieving a healthy pregnancy naturally.

 

Epidemiological studies show that endocrine-disrupting chemicals effect prenatal growth, thyroid function, glucose metabolism and obesity, puberty, fertility and carcinogenesis.

As a functional medicine practitioner I have an affiliation with the Vibrant America wellness lab testing company. And after running a Comprehensive Food Sensitivity and Additive panel we were able to see that this client had high levels of BPA as well as other chemicals (you can see a screenshot of that test) to which her immune system was aggressively reacting to. This is another link as to why she had miscarriages. Her body was too busy fighting chemicals and defending itself. It didn’t feel safe to maintain pregnancy at that time.

BPA is an endocrine disrupters which is a potent estrogen mimicker. Research shows that endocrine-disrupting chemicals have estrogen potentiating effect and are also linked to fibroid pathogenesis. The female hormone estrogen is increasingly prevalent in our food and in our environments that affects both women, men and children. Exposure to BPA can have effects on the brain and prostate gland in developing fetuses and infants. It can also affect children’s behavior.

This client also suffered from numerous other symptoms such as:

  • Eczema
  • Tinnitus
  • Dry skin
  • Allergies
  • Low energy, lethargy
  • Hair loss

 

  • Achieving healthy pregnancy
    Sustaining a healthy pregnancy after 2 miscarriages.

As a functional medicine practitioner I was able to help this client to get to the root causes of her imbalances and dysfunctions that were precipitating miscarriages in the past.

She got pregnant few weeks into my 3 months Functional Medicine program. 8 months later she posted a beautiful, heart-warming review.

Pregnancy is a miracle on its own!

I feel very blessed to have been part of this miracle.

Just yesterday my client sent me a picture of her beautiful baby and noted that she had a natural birth and perfectly fine breast milk supply. She thanked me for my hard work and said that their dream has come true.

My heart is filled with love and happiness for this family!

 

Please note that this was a very complex and rich case which had many more chains of interconnectedness that I did not lay out in this blog.

Functional medicine is evidence and science based. It assess and treats underlying causes of disease, using individually-tailored therapies. Functional medicine emphasis that a healthy GI tract is a critical foundation for health, thus many chronic complaints are linked to a compromised GI tract. As a result it helps to  restore health and improve body’s normal function.

This client is a great example of how her dysfunctions, including 2 prior miscarriages and hypothyroidism were linked to her GI health. 

As a certified functional medicine practitioner I can help you to find answers to your dis-ease dynamics and reverse them by getting to the root causes of imbalances. Don’t wait until your symptoms get severe enough to be diagnosable. Dis-ease or imbalance in the body (when sustained) precipitates disease. Start your health journey by scheduling a Comprehensive Health Assessment appointment via this link.

  • Boston’s Best Facial
    Functional Medicine Practitioner and Boston’s Best Facial

 

I work remotely all over the world helping people with autoimmune diseases, skin diseases (psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, rosacea, vitiligo, acne, ichthyosis), gastrointestinal, SIBO, asthma/allergies, type 2 diabetes and metabolic disease, hormone, PCOS, thyroid,  detoxification, hypertention, fertility issues.

 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Functional Medicine services are designed for educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from your healthcare professional.

I am not acting in the capacity of a doctor, licensed dietitian-nutritionist, therapist, or psychologist and will not diagnose, treat or cure any disease, condition or other physical or mental ailment of the human body.

Rather I serve as a mentor and guide who helps a client to reach her/his own health and wellness goals through implementing incremental, positive, healthy, sustainable lifestyle changes that help the client to live and thrive using simple methods.

 

 

 

 

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Uncategorized, Functional Medicine

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At my own will, I give a permission to request Natalie Maibenko, Unique Verve, Inc to order wellness test(s) through Vibrant America.

I hereby acknowledge and agree that the test(s) need to be pre-paid in full. I understand and agree that the test(s) is/are not refundable.

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I hereby acknowledge and agree that the Vibrant America test(s) ordered/purchased through Natalie Maibenko, Unique Verve Inc is/are designed for educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

The Client is encouraged to continue to visit and to be treated by his/her healthcare professionals, including, without limitation, a physician. The Client understands that the Functional Medicine Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko is not acting in the capacity of a doctor, licensed dietitian-nutritionist, therapist, psychologist or other licensed or registered healthcare professional. Accordingly, the client understands that Natalie Maibenko is not providing health care, medical or nutrition therapy services and will not diagnose, treat or cure any disease, condition or other physical or mental ailment of the human body. Rather, the Functional Medicine Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko serves as a mentor and guide who helps a client to reach her/his own health and wellness goals through implementing incremental, positive, healthy, sustainable lifestyle changes that help the client to live and thrive using simple methods.

Nutritional, supplemental, fitness, and wellness information provided by the Functional Medicine Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko, Unique Verve Inc is designed for educational purposes only. If the Client has any concerns or questions about her/his health, the Client should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from the healthcare professional.

Any claims made with respect to dietary supplements, including those made with respect to supplements available at Unique Verve, have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and is not necessarily based on scientific evidence from any source. Dietary supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent medical conditions or disease. You should consult with a healthcare provider before beginning any dietary supplement program.

The Client understands that any therapies that the client undertakes at Unique Verve, Inc are undertaken of the client’s own free will. The Client accept that the ultimate responsibility for her/his health care is her/his own and that Functional Medicine Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko, Unique Verve Inc is here to support the client in this. The client hereby agrees to assume full responsibility for any manner of loss, injury, claim or damage whatsoever, known or unknown, incurred as a result of same and the Client, her/his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns for any loss, injury, claim or damage sustained as a result of the Client’s attendance and/or participation.

The Client have read the above release and waiver of liability, and fully understands its contents and voluntarily agrees to the terms and conditions stated.

SKIN WELLNESS AND/OR DETOX PROGRAM:

  1. I hereby request and consent to the performance of all aspects of the Detox and/or Skin Wellness program provided by Unique Verve, Inc, Functional Medicine and Skincare Practitioner Natalie Maibenko.
  1. I am consenting to submit to participate in the Detox and/or Skin Wellness program of my own free will, that I will accept any and all responsibility for any undesirable consequences that may occur. I understands that it is my sole responsibility to consult with my physician prior implementing the Detox and/or Skin Wellness program.
  2. I understands that method of the Detox and/or Skin Wellness program involves taking nutritional supplements, recommendation for lifestyle and nutritional changes.
  3. I understand that the Detox program is a private outpatient program that is non-refundable.
  4. I certify that I am here on this and on any subsequent visit or contact, whether by mail, telephone, or in person solely on my own behalf and not as an agent or representative of any federal, state, county, or local government or private agency on a mission of entrapment or investigation.
  5. I understand that due to the nature of the Detox and/or Skin Wellness program, it might involve cleansing reactions in the form of fatigue, headache, or other symptoms. These symptoms will abate with time. Because all individuals are unique, Unique Verve, Inc and a Functional Medicine Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko can not gauge or guess client’s reaction(s) to the Detox and/or Skin Wellness program.
  6. DISCLAIMER and CONDITIONS: Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko encourages the Client to continue to visit and to be treated by his/her healthcare professionals, including, without limitation, a physician. The client understands that Natalie Maibenko is not acting in the capacity of a doctor, licensed dietitian-nutritionist, therapist, psychologist or other licensed or registered professional. Accordingly, the client understands that the Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist Natalie Maibenko is not providing health care, medical or nutrition therapy services and will not diagnose, treat or cure any disease, condition or other physical or mental ailment of the human body. Rather, Functional Medicine and Skincare  Therapist Natalie Maibenko serves as a coach, mentor and guide who helps a client to reach her/his own health and wellness goals through implementing incremental, positive, healthy, sustainable lifestyle changes that help the client to live and thrive using simple methods. The Client has chosen to work with the Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist Natalie Maibenko and understands that the information received should not be seen as a medical or nursing advice and is not meant to take the place of the client seeing licensed health professionals. Nutritional, fitness, and wellness information provided by Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist Natalie Maibenko, Unique Verve Inc is designed for educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from your healthcare professional.
  1. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RELEASE OF HEALTH CARE RELATED CLAIMS

The Client acknowledges that the Client takes full responsibility for the Client’s life and well-being, as well as the lives and well-being of the Client’s family and children (where applicable), and all decisions made during and after this program. The Client expressly assumes the risks of the Program, whether or not such risks were created or exacerbated by the provider. The Client releases the Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist Natalie Maibenko, his/her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, its officers, directors, shareholders, employees, teachers, lecturers, agents, health counselors and staff (collectively, the Releases) from any and all liability, damages, causes of action, allegations, suits, sums of money, claims and demands whatsoever, in law, admiralty or equity, which against the Releases, the Client ever had, now has or will have in the future against the Releases, arising from the Client’s past or future participation in, or otherwise with respect to, the Program. Unique Verve, Inc and the Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko is in no way liable for client’s health or safety.

  1. The Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko, is not a licensed Dietitian, Naturopathic Doctor or Medical Physician or Doctor and does not diagnose diseases, disorders or conditions.
  2. Nutritional, fitness, and wellness information provided by the Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist Natalie Maibenko, Unique Verve Inc is designed for educational purposes only. This information is not a substitute for, nor does it replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health-related advice from your healthcare professional.
  3. Any claims made with respect to dietary supplements, including those made with respect to supplements available at Unique Verve Inc by the Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist Natalie Maibenko, have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and is not necessarily based on scientific evidence from any source. Dietary supplements are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent medical conditions or disease. The client should consult with a healthcare provider before beginning any dietary supplement program.
  4. In providing wellness program to the client, the Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko, is relying upon the truth, accuracy and completeness of all information the client have provided to her. Any recommendations the client follows for changes in diet, including the use of nutritional supplements, are entirely client’s responsibility.
  5. NO GUARANTEES
    The role of the program is to support and assist the client in reaching the goals, but the success depends primarily on the client’s own effort, motivation, dedication, desire commitment and follow-through.
    The Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist, Natalie Maibenko does not guarantee that the client will attain a particular result, and the client understands that results differ by each individual. As with any health-related program or service, the results may vary, and will be based on many variables, including but not limited to, client’s individual capacity, life experience, unique health and genetic profile, starting point, expertise and level of commitment.
  6. The client understand that any therapies that she/he undertakes at Unique Verve, Inc are undertaken of her/his own free will.

The client accepts that the ultimate responsibility for her/his health care is the client’s own and that the Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist Natalie Maibenko, Unique Verve Inc is here to support the client in this.

The client hereby agrees to assume full responsibility for any manner of loss, injury, claim or damage whatsoever, known or unknown, incurred as a result of same and the client, her/his heirs, executors, administrators or assigns for any loss, injury, claim or damage sustained as a result of the client’s attendance and/or participation.
The client has read the above release and waiver of liability, and fully understands its contents and voluntarily agrees to the terms and conditions stated.

 I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREE TO THE TERMS OUTLINED ABOVE. I UNDERSTAND THIS AGREEMENT TO BE A FULL AND FINAL RELEASE OF ALL COSTS, CLAIMS, CAUSES OF ACTION AND DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE  WELLNESS PROGRAM offered by the Functional Medicine and Skincare Therapist Natalie Maibenko, Unique Verve, Inc.