The ever-inspiring Healthful Hanna, as she is called on Instagram, is a first-time new mom thriving in a holistic lifestyle. I reached out to pick Hanna’s brain for the new and future moms. And for the rest of us, there is still plenty of inspiration!
First off, a huge congratulations on your beautiful baby girl! How has it been
these first few months?
Aww thank you Riane, I feel so stoked to be interviewed on your blog! I can’t
believe we’ve been connecting for a couple years now and throughout that time
I’ve been able to watch HerHealthyLifestyle evolve! I’ve always loved everything you
share and my partner Kyle and I are still obsessed with all the Chicago foodie recs
you sent us back in 2021 haha 🙂
The first few months of motherhood have been beautiful, but also challenging at
times. We’ve already taken three trips with our baby girl – Twice to Lake Tahoe and
once to Yosemite, both places hold a very special place in our hearts and we
couldn’t wait to take Coco! These trips have made this new chapter of life feel
even more beautiful.
Don’t get me wrong though, there’s also been many challenging moments as new
parents – less self-care time, less sleep (in the earlier stages), less time to
accomplish tasks/goals, and so many new things to learn. But everything is
getting easier and easier as we’ve developed more flow and rhythm with our new
baby girl.
You had a natural birth. How did it go?
Giving birth naturally was by far one of the most transformative, sacred, &
empowering experiences of my life. I never realized how spiritual giving birth
could be until I did it. It’s a true right of passage and I am grateful for my mind &
bodies ability to have birthed from within. It’s not only transformed me, but it’s
empowered me and has made me feel capable of doing anything I set my mind to.
Going unmedicated is no joke, and I certainly had some negative thoughts creep
in when I was in the early stages of labor… wondering how long I’d be laboring for
and if I could really do this unmedicated. I remember feeling like I wanted to go to
the hospital already and get an epidural. Thank god for my Doula Maliya
(@riverbluebirth) who helped me move through those surges and labor at home
with ease and reminded me that my baby and I were working as a team.
Highlight of my birth story…
My labor was quick and lasted about 9 hours!
When I began feeling sensations around 10pm on 6.29.23 I knew our baby girl was
gonna arrive very soon. Our doula Maliya (@riverbluebirth) arrived around 12pm
midnight & things moved QUICKLY! Within a few hours we were off to the San
Francisco Birth Center (@sfbirthcenter) as I began feeling stronger pushing
sensations. I sipped on coconut water and took small spoonful’s of honey and
remained hyper focused with each new breath I took. My breath & the thought of
meeting our baby girl so soon was my only focus.
I felt the power of my body with every surge and embraced each wave. I let my
body flow through each surge as I let go of control and breathed my way through
the depths of labor land. I let out what needed to come out and I kept a strong
mindset & confidence knowing these surges wouldn’t last forever, this pain was
meant to be felt, and I have the power to birth my baby into this world naturally.
Coco and I were working as a beautiful team and she arrived all pink and sweet
with glowing eyes on Friday 6.30.23 at 7:05am.
Going through labor and birth will transform you and it will empower you. Our
bodies know how to birth a baby just as well as they know how to grow a baby,
and I believe EVERY woman is capable of having a beautiful, sacred birth.
How is breastfeeding going?
Honestly, really well. From the get-go, we’ve had a strong latch, I felt prepared
going into it and it’s been a relatively stress-free experience. I am happy to say it’s
been quite smooth & intuitive for us. And I feel lucky! I am very thankful for my
positive breastfeeding journey, as I know that’s not everyone’s experience.
With that being said though, I have had some personal challenges with
breastfeeding.
For me, it’s been the TIME commitment. Breastfeeding is truly a full time job and I
think the mindset shift of constantly having to plan my day in 2ish hour chunks
around her feeds is the hardest part. I am more of a ~free bird~ mentally, so
having to be more scheduled and prepared for feeding around the clock can feel
a bit draining and annoying sometimes.
There are many beauties to breastfeeding though, like it feels so divinely
connected & raw & animalistic & nurturing & peaceful most of the time, especially
when I feed her outdoors. It always feels special watching my body FEED her
provide EVERY nutrient she needs to thrive, seeing her reach out for me and have
her mouth find me intuitively… I don’t even have the words.
And while not every session is sunshine & rainbows, I really do feel that oxytocin
rush and just feel so grateful that I am able to nourish my child in this way. It feels
very divinely feminine and I really love that nourishing, mothering energy.
If you don’t mind sharing, what supplements are you taking while breastfeeding?
As a breastfeeding mama I have to be more cautious of the herbs/supplements I
take since certain one’s can interfere with milk supply and/or can be too strong
for the baby. I still take a wide variety, but I make sure they’re more supportive for
my milk supply. I also take supplements high in Silica and tailored towards hair
growth since postpartum hair shedding is REAL! Our bodies produce huge
amounts of adrenaline when giving birth and just a couple months later my hair
started to shed like CRAZY! I was worried at first, but quickly learned it’s totally
normal and my hair will return to its normal fullness within a year.
This is what I’ve been taking over the last few months (with a few new
hair-supporting additions)…
Herbs: Ashwagandha, Nettle, Milk thistle, Schisandra, Horsetail, & Lemon Balm
Teas: Rose tea, Red raspberry leaf tea, & Nettle tea
Supplements: Motherload herbal supplement from @talia_likeitwas
@nobletaskhomestead (contains: Moringa, milk thistle, Red raspberry leaf, goats
rue, & fennel seed), Plant-based Iron (by Innate Response Formulas), Zinc, B12,
Iodine, liquid silica, vegan omega-3 EPA/DHA, Micro-C, Magnesium, & Pro-Bio
probiotic.
I also add a variety of superfood supplement powders to my smoothies such as
MSM powder (great for hair health), Barley grass juice powder, Spirulina, and
Pitaya (dragon fruit powder).
Do you have any home remedies for common illnesses that you’ll be putting into
practice when Coco gets sick?
As of right now my baby girl gets all the immune-boosting supplements I take
through my breast milk, but once she gets older and is no longer breastfeeding
I’m planning to implement the same protocols I use for my partner Kyle & I. We
don’t get sick often, but if we do come down with something we follow the Medical
Medium protocols and I make sure we take all the herbs & supps we possibly can
to combat whatever is attacking quickly!
I’m planning to implement the zinc shock therapy (just in a smaller dosage), B12,
fresh orange juice with Micro-C powder, turmeric ginger shots, Elderberry syrup,
and an herbal tincture composed of: Goldenseal, Propolis, Lemon balm, Cat’s claw,
Wild cherry bark for coughs, & Mullein leaf tincture.
Along with the herbs and supps, I’ll also make sure our little one is hydrated well
with lemon ginger water, coconut water, thyme tea/water, and celery juice +
cucumber juice.
Healing teas such as chamomile, peppermint, and rose hips will also be part of
the protocol along with raw honey and nourishing veggie soups.
What products such as soaps and lotions do you use on your baby girl?
I like to keep it super simple and clean for Coco. 3 products and that’s it! During
her bath I use Dr. Bronner’s unscented pure Castile soap, then I dry her with an
organic cotton towel and lather her soft baby skin up with pure organic coconut
oil. For her face I like to use a clean calendula baby oil by the company Primally
Pure for a beautiful glow 🙂
Is there anyone you look to or follow on Instagram for parent/kid advice?
I really believe in listening to my heart and intuition when it comes to parenting.
We know SO much more than we think we do and sometimes it can be
overwhelming with the amount of information out there. While I try to tune into
what I feel is best, I do still love gaining lots of inspiration from some really great
holistic moms I’ve been following since well before I was pregnant…
A few of my faves:
@melissaambrosini – Host of The Melissa Ambrosini show – My ALL TIME fave
podcast show, been listening since 2019! I have learned SO much from this
podcast show and the incredible people Melissa interviews, there’s truly so much
wisdom to be gained from her show.
@sarahs_day – Host of the VERY first health & lifestyle podcast I ever listened to!
Love Sarah’s YouTube channel too & her motherhood vlogs.
Dr. Kimberly Spair – @reclaimersofhealth – My go-to for holistic mom advice. Plus
she’s Medical Medium focused!
@ellenfisher – Can’t get enough of her podcast!!!
@_Kimberlysnyder
@Sophie.jaffe
@drgolly – His program was a game changer for us! I purchased his program for
newborns when we first brought our baby girl home and we learned sooo much
about the newborn stage from him. There’s so much info and prep for having a
healthy pregnancy and birth, but very little on how to actually flow through the
newborn stage with ease. Dr. Golly’s programs are amazing for new parents and
babies of all stages too!
Have you always lived a more holistic lifestyle?
Since middle school! Can you believe it?!
Unfortunately both of my grandmothers became ill from cancer when I was really
young and when Western medicine failed, my curiosity and passion for holistic
health sparked. This was the catalyst for adopting a healthful lifestyle early on in
life and over the years I’ve continued self-educating myself on all things health &
wellness to nurture & expand my mind, body, & soul. I remember the very first
book I picked up in middle school at a health food store titled: “1,001 Ways to Save
the Earth” and I was hooked on one of the ideas mentioned in the book – the idea
that going plant-based could not only help myself become healthier, but also help
the health of our planet. I remember feeling so compelled to live a more
zero-waste lifestyle at the time that I couldn’t help but try it out. I even took my
first wheatgrass shot in that very health food store and never looked back!
What does the majority of your diet consist of?
My diet is ever evolving, but what will always remain the same is the quality and
sourcing of my food. I believe in eating high-quality plant-based whole-foods in
their purest form. I used to be solely vegan from 2017-2021 and LOVED it, but
decided to start eating wild caught salmon again early 2022 and still do to this
day. My diet primarily consists of plant-based foods and I follow many of the
Medical Medium protocols on a daily basis with the addition of a little sea food
on occasion. Every once in a while I’ll indulge in a vegan (and sometimes
non-vegan dessert too) because I have the biggest sweet tooth! While I eat
plant-based whole-foods 95% of the time, I also feel life is short and it’s fun to
indulge and/or be flexible every once in a while 🙂
Typical breakfast.
I love starting my day off with my Green Goddess smoothie, it’s my ride or die. I
make my daily green smoothie with bananas, frozen mango, pineapple, coconut
water, maple syrup, barley grass juice powder, spirulina, MSM powder, and
spinach. Best way to start the day!
Typical lunch.
I love a hearty nourish bowl packed with all the micro/macro-nutrients. I like to
prepare meals ahead of time and make a large batch of all the foods I add into
my nourish bowls, so it makes lunchtime quick & easy. My go-to bowl lately has
been a base of quinoa, sautéed kale and snap peas with lemon, baked sweet
potatoes and radishes, asparagus, a little avocado, sprouts, and I like to top it off
with a homemade green goddess dressing made with micro-greens.
Your go-to healthy dinner.
Pasta! When we want something simple we make pasta. Our go-to’s are either
pesto, pomodoro, or cacio e Pepe made with Jovial brand gluten-free brown rice
pasta. Simple, but so delish.
Favorite go-to drink.
Coconut water, all day everyday. It’s simply my favorite. But If I’m feeling something
fun & bubbly I love a good kombucha or Lacroix 🙂
Favorite snacks.
I’m a BIG snacker and always have something to munch on lol. My go-to’s as of
lately have been Mary’s gone crackers and guac, dates with almond butter, or
Coco June coconut yogurt bowls.
I also love snacking on lots of fruit – Ataulfo mangos, strawberries & honey,
watermelon, Lychee, bananas, etc.
Favorite guilty/non-guilty pleasure.
Honey Mamas or Hu chocolate and I can’t resist a Matcha Boba from Boba Guys
(an SF original boba spot). My faveee!
What does your morning routine look like?
My morning routine always starts with cuddles with Kyle before Coco wakes up. We
like to take time to connect in the morning before we get going with life. Once
Coco wakes up I feed her and we cuddle with her in bed for a little bit and she
usually starts talking to us with her sweet baby voice. After lots of cuddle time, I
take Coco upstairs and she watches me get ready for the day in her swinging
chair while Kyle makes our smoothies (we usually start the day with a green
goddess smoothie) and then I prepare our herbal elixirs and supplements.
After that I like to get Coco dressed and ready for the day and we usually head
out on a morning run or walk in the sun & I’ll pop in a podcast episode before our
day gets busy. Coco usually falls asleep during our run/walk and takes her
morning nap and this is the time when I get to write in my daily gratitude journal
and review my intentions for the day/week. Everyday is different, but what always
remains the same is our morning routine. It’s simple, but it’s what feels best in this
season of life.
What does your night-time routine look like?
I LOVE my night routine now more than ever during this season of life. It’s one of
my favorite times of the day because it’s when I get to indulge in extra self-care
and time with Kyle.
After dinner we start unwinding for the day, we usually have jazz or other chill
music on and this is the time when we start getting our baby girl ready for bed.
Once Coco is asleep we like to set our intentions for the following day, then
shower and do a deep massage on each other in front of our Red light machine.
We’ll usually have a little dessert afterwards, and talk about life or anything that’s
on our mind in bed.
It can feel like a lot sometimes as new parents so we really value our time together
in the evenings and we like to keep our night routine sacred and special and treat
ourselves at the end of the day. I love implementing new self-care practices into
our night routine and in this season it’s been massage & red light therapy on
REPEAT.
Favorite form of self-care.
Nature therapy. Grounding on the beach and swimming in the ocean is my
ultimate FAVE form of self-care. Honestly doing anything outdoors is. I love
soaking up all the negative ions and coming home feeling refreshed and
rejuvenated.
Most life-changing book you’ve read.
Such a hard question! There’s sooo many goodies! But if I had to choose just one,
I’d have to pick “The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying” by Bronnie Ware
By far one of the most inspiring books I’ve read. A book that’ll really put in
perspective how precious this life is and how to cherish it and make the most of it!
What do you hope to instill in your baby girl before she’s old enough to make her
own decisions?
I want Coco to know that she is capable of doing anything she sets her mind to in
this lifetime and that she is the ARTIST of her own life.
Lastly, do you have a motto or anything you live by?
If you’re not enjoying life, you’re missing the point. I believe in finding the joy in
everyday life and embracing the little moments that make life feel special. Maybe
it’s just enjoying some chocolate with your love or taking time to soak up a little
sunshine. Whatever it may be, those special little moments are what add up to
create a joyful life.
You can find Hanna at @healthfulhanna on Instagram.
More posts you may enjoy:
Find me on the daily @herhealthystyle on Instagram. Thanks for joining me here! Xx Riane
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. I am only featuring items I love. As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you so much for your support! See my full disclosure.