Why I Advocate for Better Postpartum Care

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Postpartum Leave a Comment

Many of you know that I am a postpartum care advocate. (Yeah, I’ve only been talking about it since the birth of my son 4 years ago!) It was through my experiences as a doctor and a mother that I came to recognize the lack of care provided to new mothers. Before I ever had my son, I spent time …

Glutened? Recover with these 5 steps.

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid & Hormone Balance Leave a Comment

With the holidays upon us, celiac disease and gluten exposure has been on my mind and many of my patient’s minds too. When you are traveling or at the mercy of other people’s cooking, it can be hard to tell if you are getting “glutened.” Many people feel that eating gluten isn’t a big deal unless you have celiac disease. But there …

Hashimoto’s Autoimmune Thyroiditis: Fertility to Postpartum

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Thyroid & Hormone Balance Leave a Comment

Autoimmune thyroiditis, also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, affects over 20 million of Americans, the majority of which are women. Thyroid conditions have a direct impact on our fertility, pregnancy, birth outcomes and can have a large influence on our postpartum period. But for some women, childbirth is the triggering event that leads to postpartum thyroiditis. Bridgit Danner, LAc and I …

Hashimoto's Autism | Dr. Jolene Brighten | DrBrighten.com

The Hashimoto’s and Autism Connection

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Digestion Leave a Comment

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition that primarily affects the thyroid gland and has been correlated with autism in the offspring of mothers with the condition. Without intervention, the result is immune destruction to the mother’s thyroid, often with a need for medication. There is somewhat of a “myth” in mainstream medicine that leads some doctors to the conclusion that once …

5 Tips For Enjoying the Holidays With Food Sensitivities

MalloryPublished: Food Leave a Comment

Dr. Brighten here – When you’ve got food sensitivities it can feel like surviving the holidays is impossible. But not to fear! My staff nutritionist, Mallory, shared with use her top 5 tips for surviving the holidays with food sensitivities.  Wishing you Happy Holidays!!! Dr. Jolene Brighten The other night, I went to a small event at a beautiful shop …

Celiac Disease— More Than Just a Tummy Ache

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Digestion Leave a Comment

Awhile back, I attended a school event with my son and through a series of events I came to realize there’s a whole lot people do not understand about celiac disease. I’ve written about my son’s food sensitivities before (there’s a long list here), but it just so happens that there is girl in his class that shares the big …

Seven Mind-Body Practices for a Better Mood

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Wellbeing Leave a Comment

Mind-body healing techniques can be defined as incorporating mindfulness/meditation and movement into our healthcare routine in order to tap into our bodies’ natural healing abilities and cope with stressors. These techniques have been used for centuries to heal and strengthen our bodies and minds, but it’s only recently that these techniques have been recognized by the scientific and medical communities. …

Healthy Gut | Pregnancy | DrBrighten.com

The Importance of a Healthy Gut in Pregnancy

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Pregnancy Leave a Comment

Many of my patients ask me what they can do to prepare for pregnancy. Surely there’s more to prepping your body than a simple prenatal vitamin? One area that can almost always use improvement (not just in aspiring mothers, but in most of the U.S. population), is a healthy gut. Age, antibiotics, stress, and diet can do a number on our …