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Sophie Mumby, Registered Dietitian (HCPC) Iron-related blood tests are among the most common ones I see clients bring to appointments, and they're often misunderstood. Here's a simple guide to hopefully help you understand your readings better. Haemoglobin (Hb) is the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. A low level indicates anaemia, which has many possible causes, including iron deficiency, low B12 or folate, chronic disease and blood loss. Ferritin reflects your bod

Sophie Mumby, Registered Dietitian (HCPC) The early weeks after having a baby are tiring in ways nobody can fully prepare you for. I've had two babies and completely understand how hard it can be! Broken sleep is part of it, but low iron can quietly add to the exhaustion, and it's often overlooked once the focus shifts to your baby. Why iron can be low postpartum. Blood loss during birth, particularly with a caesarean, a haemorrhage or a long labour, can reduce your haemoglob

Sophie Mumby, Registered Dietitian (HCPC) If you've had your bloods taken recently and been told your haemoglobin is "a bit low" or your ferritin needs "keeping an eye on", it's natural to feel a flutter of worry. Let's unpick what these numbers mean. Haemoglobin is the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen around your body. In pregnancy, your blood volume expands significantly, and plasma increases more than red blood cells do. This dilutes your haemoglobin, so

Sophie Mumby, Registered Dietitian (HCPC) If you're trying to conceive, you may have come across a lot of advice about omega-3. Should you be taking a supplement? Can omega-3 improve egg quality? What about sperm health? Do you need to eat oily fish every week? And does your partner need to think about omega-3 too? There is a huge amount of fertility nutrition information online, and it can be difficult to work out what is actually supported by evidence. The good news is that

Sophie Mumby, Registered Dietitian (HCPC) Omega-3 is something I get asked about a lot in my clinics, particularly during pregnancy. How much do you actually need? Which fish are safe to eat? Do you need an omega-3 supplement? And what if you don't eat fish? There is a huge amount of conflicting information online, so in this guide I'll explain what omega-3 is, why it matters during pregnancy, how to get enough from your diet and when a supplement might be worth considering.

Sophie Mumby, Registered Dietitian (HCPC) Omega-3 is something that I get asked a lot about during my clinics, especially during pregnancy. There is a vast amount of confusing information online and wading through the information can be confusing. What are Omega-3 fatty acids? Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid. There are three main types of omega-3 fatty acids; EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ALA (alpha-linoleic acid). Th