Pregnancy is often portrayed as a time of glowing skin, growing bellies, and anticipation—but what comes after can be far more complicated, especially when it comes to a mother’s relationship with her body and food.

For many women, the postpartum period brings emotional upheaval, hormonal shifts, and an entirely new identity. It’s a time of physical recovery, sleep deprivation, and learning how to care for a newborn—yet few people talk about how all of this can interact with something even deeper: disordered eating.

Sleep is a cornerstone of overall health, impacting everything from metabolic function to mental clarity. One of the clearest examples is the role sleep plays in regulating hunger hormones, like ghrelin and leptin. Sleep deprivation throws these hormones out of balance, often leading to increased appetite and cravings. It’s not just about feeling groggy or sluggish after a bad night’s sleep; sleep disruptions can alter your metabolism and affect overall health.

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number that must tell us a great deal about our health, right? After all, it’s printed at the top of the page, right next to your name and DOB on most medical records, so it must be important!

But what does it really tell us? At its core, BMI only reflects two things: a person’s weight relative to their height. Yet, for reasons that are more historical than scientific, this simplistic metric is widely used by healthcare systems to define health.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, also known as PCOS, falls under the umbrella of women’s health, but what does being diagnosed with PCOS really mean? Learn more about how we approach and treat PCOS at Collaborative Counseling and Nutrition.