Episode 26 - Anemia in Pregnancy: How to Prevent Deficiencies and Protect Your Baby with Sarah Thompson, Author of Functional Maternity

Pregnancy can bring moments that feel heavier than expected — waking up tired, running out of breath after simple tasks, but at what point is it beyond normal pregnancy? Excessive fatigue that rest alone doesn’t fix can be a sign of anemia and addressing this early can have a massive impact on pregnancy outcomes.In this episode, Dr. Miranda Naylor is joined by Sarah Thompson, a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, doula, and functional medicine practitioner specializing in maternity care. With nearly 20 years of experience, Sarah shares how nutrition, lab patterns, and functional insights can work together to reveal what conventional care often overlooks. She highlights practical ways to restore energy, strengthen resilience, and create balance — supporting a healthier pregnancy and a smoother path to birth.We cover:✔️ How functional medicine offers deeper insight into pregnancy care✔️ Why anemia is one of the most common complications during pregnancy✔️ The symptoms that signal more than “normal pregnancy fatigue”✔️ What functional testing can uncover about anemia✔️ How to prepare iron and nutrient levels before conception✔️ Practical strategies to improve absorption and restore energyIf you’ve ever wondered how to approach pregnancy with more clarity, this conversation is your roadmap. It’s not about guessing or taking generic supplements — it’s about understanding your body’s needs, making informed adjustments, and building resilience for you and your baby.🎧 Hit Subscribe or Follow so you never miss an episode. And if you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave a positive review to help us reach other women on a journey to wellness!______Sarah Thompson is a certified functional medicine practitioner, licensed acupuncturist, board-certified herbalist, birth doula, and educator with nearly 20 years of experience supporting women through pregnancy and beyond. She is the author of Functional Maternity: Using Functional Medicine and Nutrition to Improve Pregnancy and Childbirth Outcomes and Beyond Results: A Practitioner’s Guidebook to Functional Lab Analysis in Pregnancy, and is passionate about combining research-driven nutrition, functional medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine to help mothers and babies thrive.Website: https://www.functionalmaternity.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/functional.maternity ______Looking for personalized insight into your hormone health or fertility? Schedule a free clarity call with Dr. Naylor.For 10% off professional-grade supplements, visit our Fullscript supplement shop. https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/naylor/signupLet’s connect:Follow Dr. Naylor on InstagramSchedule a free clarity callVisit my websiteGrab a copy of Dr. Naylor’s free Fertility Nutrition Blueprint