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Farrah Bourke-Freund is on a mission to help expectant mothers have the healthiest pregnancies possible, not just by staying active, but by maintaining a healthy diet.
"My job, as I see it, is to encourage women to be as healthy and nutritious and strong as possible so they can be successful and have vitality as they enter a new stage in their life," she said.
Bourke-Fruend, a Salt River First Nation member, works as a "resource mother" for Our Babies, Our Future, a Fort Smith-based nonprofit that specializes in prenatal nutrition, among other things.
She has been in her current role for about a year, and has already supported multiple women through their pregnancies, and the postpartum period.
One of her main responsibilities is encouraging proper nutrition SA国际影视传媒� both for the mother and baby.
"Not many women are aware that while they plan to have a family SA国际影视传媒� plan to have children SA国际影视传媒� it matters what they have inside their bodies, to develop the healthiest baby or a healthy pregnancy," she said. "Nutrition plays a big part in brain development.
"While their stomachs can handle it, adequate intake of protein is very important in developing your healthy baby, as well as things like blueberries and walnuts SA国际影视传媒� those are brain foods, like anything with omega-3s," she added. "To be your healthiest as a woman carrying to full term, those are the foods youSA国际影视传媒檒l need to feel strong and healthy."
Bourke-Freund also helps women who are struggling with fertility explore how better nutrition can improve their chances of conceiving.
"I love encouraging young mothers that they have it in them to be the healthiest they can possibly be, and to also encourage women who are struggling fertility-wise," she said. "I love to help them look at themselves and see what it is that their body needs to become pregnant, and to take those steps.
Another element of Bourke-Freund's job is encouraging exercise throughout a woman's pregnancy. She admits that, in the past, some women have had an aversion to staying active while carrying the child. However, "it's gotten better in the modern era."
"Prenatal nutrition can also go along the lines of exercise as well," she said. "A lot of moms feel way better when they take care of themselves.
"There was a good decade or so where women were very cautious about the things that they do exercise-wise. During that time, a lot of women would be in postpartum depression and very low with their mood because they were so cautious. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 known that when you start taking care of yourself and taking those steps when it comes to nutrition and exercise and movement, that changes your whole vitality and look while youSA国际影视传媒檙e pregnant."
Bourke-Freund's expertise is based largely on her own experience. She is now a mother of six, and has gained a greater understanding of nutrition and health through each of her pregnancies.
"I have life experience of being a mother to six children," she said. "My eldest is 16, my youngest is two years old. For each single one of my children, ISA国际影视传媒檝e entered different phases and itSA国际影视传媒檚 only gotten better... I strength trained through my last two pregnancies, especially my last, where I was the healthiest ISA国际影视传媒檝e ever been in my life, having my sixth baby. I strength-trained through my whole pregnancy.
"The more that I understand a womanSA国际影视传媒檚 body, such as my own, and a babySA国际影视传媒檚 body, I realize that, as a woman, the power lies within us to look into ourselves, and be fully immersed in that way of living so we can further develop a stronger generation of people. In order to get there, there are steps, and thatSA国际影视传媒檚 to be healthy mentally, physically and emotionally."
Our Babies, Our Future primarily serves Indigenous families, however, Bourke-Freund is also eager to spread the word that she is willing to "work with anyone." Expectant mothers and women interested in becoming mothers can reach the nonprofit at (867) 872-3321.
