Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Integrative Nutrition through the Childbearing Stages

Learn to coach women pre through post-natal to use food as medicine!

In this course, we explore optimal dietary and nutritional support throughout the phases of childbearing: from preconception through postpartum and lactation. We also review the physical and physiological processes that take place through each phase. The health of both parents during this life stage have profound impacts on embryonic and fetal development and on the health of the child for its lifetime.

This 4 week course covers:

• The five stages of childbearing and the mother’s nutritional needs in each.
• Applying the principle of building during the childbearing years.
• The specific nutrient needs for each stage.
• Nutrition and lifestyle management of specific conditions in pregnancy (i.e. iron deficiency anemia, hyperemesis gravidarum, gestational diabetes, hypertension, etc.).
• Clinical applications.

Taught mostly via Zoom, weeks 1-3 are a combination of didactic, application, and integration of what has been covered. The fourth week is dedicated to clinical application; questions and case scenarios are welcome! Each week also includes an hour of asynchronous content to help you prepare for the live class.

12-hour program

Maternal health profoundly impacts embryonic and fetal development, and the lifelong health of a child. Ensuring optimal nutritional support during pregnancy, birth, and lactation is essential for both mother and child. Gain strategies to support all childbearing stages and early mothering.

Maternal health profoundly impacts embryonic and fetal development, and the lifelong health of a child. Ensuring optimal nutritional support during pregnancy, birth, and lactation is essential for both mother and child.

This course is designed for doulas, midwives, nutritionists, nurses, and NDs. Participants will learn targeted nutrition support across the childbearing stages and gain new skills. 

Join this practice-based training and learn to design bio-individualized nutrition plans in your practice.

Meet the Instructor

Vileka Fisher, ND, MS, is a board certified naturopathic midwife. In addition to her doctorate, Dr. Fisher has a Master of Science in Nutrition from NUNM and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Corban University. Today, she practices at Amenda Clinic and Haven Health & Wellness and serves as adjunct faculty at PCC and adjunct clinical faculty at NUNM.