Fertility, Pregnancy, & Postpartum Nutrition Counseling
Personalized nutrition counseling WITHOUT the food and body shame that comes with most pregnancy and pospartum advice. Available in our Durham office and virtually in several states.
Tired of pregnancy and postpartum nutrition advice that makes you feel bad about yourself? We do things differently.
There’s so much bad information out there about nutrition, particularly when it comes to fertility, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. Spend 15 minutes on Google and you’ll probably end up with a miles-long list of “should”s and “shouldn’t”s that leave you feeling even more confused.
The reality is that nutrition is never one-size-fits-all — especially during this phase of life. We’re a group of anti-diet, Health at Every Size®-aligned dietitian nutritionists. We provide empowering, body-positive nutrition guidance for people through fertility, pregnancy, and the postpartum period. And, we do it without diets, food rules, or body shaming.
Our dietitian nutritionists provide anti-diet, weight-inclusive nutrition counseling that guides you through the many challenges that can come up during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
In our culture, it’s hard enough to establish a health relationship with food and your body. Add in the stress and body changes that come with pregnancy and childbirth, and nourishing yourself properly without guilt or fear can feel almost impossible.
Our dietitians are trained to provide compassionate, evidence-based guidance for a variety of common challenges and conditions that might arise during this time.
We provide nutrition support for a wide variety of issues related to fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum, including:
- Fertility for individuals and/or couples
- Irregular or missing periods
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Hormonal abnormalities
- Nutrition support for IVF
- Nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and food aversions in pregnancy
- Gestational diabetes
- Nutrient needs and supplements for pregnancy
- Post-delivery nutrition for recovery
- Postpartum body acceptance
- Nutrition to support breastfeeding
- Navigating infant food allergies in breastfeeding
- Difficulty breastfeeding (see our lactation services)
- Meal planning during the postpartum period
How postpartum nutrition counseling works
Step 1:
Request an appointment with one of our dietitians
Fill out our appointment request form with some information about yourself and what you need help with. We’ll send an email with more information and a booking link within 48 hours. We’ll also give you a call, since we know some people prefer scheduling over the phone.
Step 2:
Confirm your appointment, fill out the required paperwork, and verify your insurance benefits
Once you’ve booked an appointment, we’ll send you forms to fill out prior to your session.
Before your first session, you’ll reach out to your insurance company to confirm your in-network benefits (if you have Blue Cross Blue Shield) or out-of-network benefits (if you have Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare, or another insurer). Most Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans cover nutrition services in full, but it’s always best to check.
Step 3:
Have your initial nutrition counseling session
The nutrition counseling process looks pretty much the same whether you meet with your dietitian virtually or in person. During the initial session, your dietitian will introduce themselves, share more about our practice and office policies, and make sure to answer any questions you have.
Then, they’ll ask you lots of questions to get a sense of who you are, what you’re struggling with, and what your goals are for nutrition counseling. By the end of your initial appointment, you and your dietitian will agree on some goals to work towards. (Of course, all of this is subject to change — and often does! — as you continue to work together.) Past clients have told us that in this first meeting with their dietitian, they feel heard and affirmed, which isn’t always their experience with other healthcare providers.
Step 4:
Continue meeting regularly with your dietitian
Depending on your situation and your goals, your dietitian might suggest meeting weekly, bi-weekly, or at another regular frequency. You’ll have a standing appointment time (for example, 4 PM on Thursdays), and each session you’ll take small steps towards your long-term goals.
Nutrition counseling will adapt from fertility, pregnancy, postpartum recovery through infant feeding to support you with adjusting to each stage and addressing new challenges that arise.
Fees and Insurance for Pregnancy and Postpartum Nutrition
85-minute intake: $215*
55-minute follow-up: $140*
*This is a discounted rate only for clients paying out of pocket on the day of service. It is not the full rate billed to insurance plans.
Ruby Oak Nutrition dietitians are in-network providers with most Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance plans. Many plans cover nutrition counseling at little or no to you.
To verify whether your insurance benefits cover my services, call the phone number on the back of your insurance card and use the script provided here.
Our dietitians are considered out-of-network providers for Cigna, Aetna, United Healthcare, and other insurance plans. That means you’re responsible for payment at the time of service. Many clients are able to get some reimbursement from their insurance companies after submitting receipts (AKA superbills) for nutrition counseling.
Check out the FAQ page for more about billing and reimbursement.
Work with us for your pregnancy and postpartum nutrition
Virtual nutrition counseling
Available across several states in the US, via a HIPAA-compliant video platform. Our dietitians are licensed in North Carolina, Georgia, and Montana. We can see clients virtually in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Vermont.
In-person nutrition counseling in Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina
Appointments are available at our two North Carolina offices:
Downtown Raleigh Office: 219 S. East Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601
Downtown Durham Office: 3001 Academy Rd, Ste 130, Durham, NC, 27707