Fertility—Why Holistic is Better

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Fertility

Holistic: relating to or concerned with complete systems rather than with individual parts. Prior to the birth of my son I embarked on a year long journey to improve my health. I jokingly called it getting “pre-baby body ready.” My journey included optimizing nutrition, healing my gut, tending to my mental and emotional wellbeing, and facilitating my body’s ability to …

Birth Control — What Doctors Don’t Say About Birth Control Effects

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Birth Control Leave a Comment

Worldwide, 100 million use some form of birth control… Without knowing how it actually works and the possible damage it can do to their bodies. Are you aware that most women, at some point in their life, have been recommended the birth control pill by their doctor? The CDC estimates 10.6 million women use oral contraception in the U.S. alone. …

How Does Breastfeeding Shape Baby’s Immune System & Gut Health

Dr. Jolene BrightenPublished: Pregnancy Leave a Comment

The intricacies of the human body are vast. It’s only recently that we’re beginning to understand the true makeup of our microbiome and what these tens of trillions of microorganisms are capable of. This blog is going to examine the connections between breastfeeding, baby immune system health, and gut health. Gut bacteria helps to shape and strengthen our immune systems over …

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 …