Bend Health Guide Summer Issue 2017 Bend Health Guide | Page 5

Pregnancy
& the Microbiome
Hannah Renzi, Certified Nurse Midwife
Pregnancy motivates women to evaluate their lifestyles
and make healthy choices. Most expecting women look-
ing to improve their health, begin with their diet. Healthy
food is medicine. Growing attention is placed on fer-
mented foods as part of a healthy diet. Cultures around
the world have been fermenting foods for thousands of
years. system reacting to her placenta with serious implica-
tions. A study from Netherlands found first time mothers
who consumed fermented milk products had 20-30% de-
creased risks of preeclampsia (Brantsaeter). I encourage
sour fermented friends: yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauer-
kraut. A variety of options are found at your grocery
stores or make your own.
The first probiotics humans ingested were from bacteria-
rich foods like yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut. Bac-
teria help keep our intestinal tract healthy and support
resident bacteria already living there. This community of
bacteria is called the microbiome. Our microbiome as-
sists with the breakdown of food and health of our im-
mune system. Initially we inherit bacteria that make up
our microbiome from birth. There are many ways to
boost the health of the microbiome: Excellent recipe sources are Sandor Ellix Katz’s The Art
of Fermentation, blogs, and online. Research supports
choosing food as best source of probiotics so visit a local
farm, join a CSA, buy local, buy organic, plant a garden
(get your hands in the dirt and walk barefoot). Cook at
home. Eat slowly with people you love. Create peace in
your belly, in your home, and in your world one meal at a
time. Nourish yourself in order to nourish those power-
ful bacteria we call our microbiome. Read more of Han-
nah’s fascinating story of Microbiomes @
bendhealthguide.com.
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Eat a diet focused on fresh, local, organic food
Eat fermented foods regularly
Avoid processed food (anything that comes in a package)
Intimacy with loved ones
Grow houseplants
Consider getting a dog
Explore stress management techniques like exercise and
meditation
Spend time in nature
Hannah Renzi is a certified nurse midwife, graduated University of
Washington 2012. Hannah specializes in healthy pregnancy, well-
woman care, teen health, birth control and common women’s health
issues. She values women-centered, accessible, holistic care. Hannah’s
focus is on empowering women though education. Hannah moved
from Seattle to Bend in 2014. She feels blessed to live and work in
such a vibrant community. On days off she enjoys cooking with her
family, organic gardening, beekeeping, snowboarding, and enjoying
the great outdoors. Hannah Renzi works at St. Charles Center for
Women’s Health in Redmond, OR. www.stcharleshealthcare.org
Researchers studied connections between pregnancy
related disorders, such as preeclampsia and gestational
diabetes with health of microbiome. Preeclampsia is a
multi-systems disorder related to a mother’s immune
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