Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
kidsFeb 1, 20231:21:05pending

#295 Creating Optimal Nutrition for Expecting Parents with Julie Sawaya

About this episode

Most of us are nutrient and vitamin deficient. On today's podcast, Blyss & Dr. Stu talk with Needed co-founder, Julie Sawaya, about her home births and journey to creating an optimal supplement for moms and dads. Julie also shares her insights on the importance of working with the right midwife or doula, the impact of a first birth on future births, and the importance of addressing the underlying nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, their conversation explores the challenges of finding optimal nutritional support through food alone, the reasons why Needed was formulated and the addition of a men's line with a focus on sperm health and quality. Julie also discusses the importance of asking your practitioner for the right blood tests to detect deficiencies and top nutrients to test for.


In this episode of Birthing Instincts:

  • Julie’s decision to have home births & special moments for her and Blyss
  • How to choose the right midwife or doula for you
  • The impact of a first birth on future births
  • How Needed helps women thrive & have healthy pregnancies
  • Why food alone isn’t cutting it for our optimal nutritional needs
  • Formulation and development of Needed supplements
  • Addressing the nutritional needs of both mothers and fathers during pregnancy



Julie’s Bio:


Julie Sawaya is the co-founder of Needed, a nutrition platform dedicated to optimally nourishing women before, during, and after pregnancy. Needed is backed by the latest clinical research and a collective of perinatal nutrition practitioners that regularly test women's nutrient and hormone levels to know exactly what's needed. Julie and her co-founder Ryan started Needed 5 years ago when they discovered through nutritional testing that they were hugely deficient in key nutrients needed for a healthy pregnancy. Through research they realized they were not alone. 97% of women in this life stage take a prenatal, yet 95% have nutritional deficiencies. Needed was created to help women become optimally nourished--starting with a redesigned prenatal vitamin, and now including over 20 targeted nutritional supplements to meet the needs of women AND men during the childbearing years.

Julie is based in LA and is the mama of 2 girls, both born at home (the first with Blyss!)



This show is supported by:

  • Needed | Use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS to save 20% off your one-time order or first three months' subscription OR use code BIRTHINGINSTINCTS100 for $100 off the first three months of a plan at thisisneeded.com. 
  • LMNT | Go to drinklmnt.com/birthinginstincts to get a free sample pack with every order


Connect with Julie:


Connect with Dr. Stu & Blyss:



This show is produced by Soulfire Productions



Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Get every episode summarized

Each time Birthing Instincts publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

Hosts & guests

No transcript yet

This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.

#295 Creating Optimal Nutrition for Expecting Parents with Julie Sawaya

Birthing Instincts

0:00
1:21:05

More episodes

More from Birthing Instincts

View all episodes →