From PCOS to Parenthood

Laura von Hagen(@drvonhagen) with Hana McConville

Fertility, ND! Very cool. Tell me about yourself and how you ended up working in fertility.

I love my job, it is so rewarding! I always had a strong interest in fertility and pregnancy. I am passionate about helping patients grow their families and achieve their ultimate goal, bringing home a healthy baby. My interest in fertility started with my journey after I was diagnosed with PCOS at 25. My husband and I are the 1 in 6 Canadians who experience infertility and conceived both of our children through IVF. With my clinical expertise and personal experience, I offer a whole-hearted, candid approach to fertility, pregnancy and motherhood.

What’s one thing people don’t know about you.

I’m a published author! After our IVF cycle was cancelled due to COVID-19, I was in a pretty dark place. Writing my book was incredibly therapeutic during the initial lockdown. My PCOS Pregnancy is your ultimate guide to getting and staying pregnant with PCOS.

You have two boys - congrats on the newest addition to your family! How was your postpartum journey? It is SO different this time around. My first baby was a covid baby, which means no visitors, no taking walks with friends and mom meet-ups for coffee. I felt very isolated, alone and overwhelmed. This time around, I’ve enjoyed maternity leave because of the immense support I received. Having healthy meals cooked for me, seeing a lactation consultation in person, hiring night support and connecting with local mom groups have made a huge difference in my physical and mental recovery.

What are your top recovery tips for postpartum?

You need to rest! I find most moms ignore the advice ‘sleep when the baby sleeps’ and try to do too much in the first few months postpartum. Your job should be to rest and feed the baby. You need to be okay with delegating other tasks and asking for help.

What are your favourite snacks for postpartum?

My go-to are lactation cookies, energy balls, smoothies, bone broth and breakfast burritos! Anything you can easily eat or sip with one hand.

What’s one ingredient you put in everything?

Protein powder- quick, simple, delicious and helps with satiety and energy with breastfeeding.

What are three things you can’t live without (the postpartum version)?

‍My water bottle, nipple cream and breastfeeding pillow.

What are you most excited about in your life right now?

Starting solids with my baby! It is so fun to watch his expression trying new foods every day.

Your affirmation for today?

You are doing great. It is so easy for a mom to compare yourself and feel like you’re not enough. Every day I tell myself I’m a great mom and I’m doing my best

As a Naturopathic Doctor and IVF mama herself, Dr. Laura fundamentally believes in empowering her patients to achieve their ultimate goal, healthy pregnancy and baby. While it is common to feel isolated and uncertain during this time of change, Dr. Laura provides the support that patients deserve when navigating their fertility and postpartum journey. She shares her personal story and expertise in her book, My PCOS Pregnancy: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Pregnancy with PCOS.

Before becoming an ND, she completed an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at Queen’s University and a Master’s in Clinical Anatomy at Western University. She further pursued her interest in women’s health on a CIDA Maternal and Newborn Care internship in Africa. Outside of the clinic, she loves to spend her free time biking and running outdoors. Dr. von Hagen, ND is a past board member for Conceivable Dreams.

Check out her website here