It usually starts at 2 a.m.
You’re awake. Again. The baby is finally sleeping but now your brain is not. You’re exhausted but wired. Your heart feels a little racey. Or maybe you just feel flat. Foggy. Not quite like yourself.
So you grab your phone and type in something you never thought you’d search.
“Naturopathic doctor near me.”
Because something feels off. And you can’t quite explain it. And you’re tired of being told it’s “just postpartum.”
As a Minnesota family photographer and Mom myself, I’ve been there. I’ve brushed things off. I’ve told myself I was just tired because I had a baby. Three times. (Spoiler alert: sometimes it’s not just that.)
That’s exactly why I invited Dr. Britt onto my Made for Minnesota Moms series. Because she’s a Minnesota-based Naturopathic doctor who understands the preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum season in a way that feels whole. Not rushed. Not surface level.
If you’ve ever wondered what working with a Naturopathic doctor actually looks like, this conversation is for you.
Why Moms Start Looking for a Naturopathic Doctor in Preconception and Postpartum
Here’s what I see over and over again.
- Women who are trying to get pregnant and want to feel proactive instead of powerless.
- Women who are six weeks postpartum and already feel dismissed.
- And women who are years past having babies and are just now realizing they never quite recovered.
We normalize so much. We normalize exhaustion. Anxiety. Brain fog. Hair loss. Mood swings. Thyroid shifts. We tell ourselves this is just motherhood.
But what if it’s not?
A Naturopathic doctor looks at the full picture. Not just the symptom of the week. Not just the six week checkup. And not just the one lab value.
And this isn’t theoretical for me.
I’ve been working with Dr. Britt for two years now. Not during pregnancy. Not in some perfect, proactive preconception season. But after three babies. After brushing off symptoms and telling myself I was “just tired.”
When I first started working with a Naturopathic doctor, I realized how much I had normalized. Things I thought were just part of motherhood. Things I assumed I had to live with.
Instead, I felt seen as a whole person. Not a checklist. Not a rushed appointment.
That shift alone was powerful.
Meet Dr. Britt, Minnesota-Based Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Britt Stamer is a registered Naturopathic doctor based here in Minnesota. She supports women with hormones, digestion, autoimmune conditions, fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum care.
She blends holistic care with diagnostic tools like lab work and imaging. So it’s not either-or. It’s both.
I don’t say this lightly, but it’s been a different experience than any other medical care I’ve received. It feels thoughtful. Intentional. Personal. (And yes, she remembers my kids’ names.)
If you’re more of a watch-and-listen person, you can see the full conversation below. Otherwise, keep scrolling. I’ll share what stuck with me most.
Q&A With Dr. Britt
What Does a Naturopathic Doctor Actually Do?
This felt like the most important place to start.
Because I think a lot of us hear the term Naturopathic doctor and immediately wonder… what does that even mean?
She explained it in a way that made so much sense.
A Naturopathic doctor blends holistic care like nutrition, herbs, and lifestyle shifts with conventional tools like lab work and diagnostics.
And then she said something that stuck with me.
“We try to focus on root cause medicine.”
Not just treating symptoms. Not just masking what feels off. But asking why.
- Why are you exhausted?
- Why are your cycles irregular?
- Why is your anxiety higher than it used to be?
- Why does your thyroid look different after baby?
She also shared that this work is deeply individualized. Two women can walk in with the same symptoms and need completely different plans. Because their histories are different. Their stress is different. Their pregnancies were different.
That whole-person lens is what makes working with a Naturopathic doctor feel different.
When Should a Mom Consider Working with a Naturopathic Doctor?
Her answer surprised me a little.
Preconception.
She loves to see women six months before they start trying to conceive. Because sperm and egg health both develop over several months. That window matters.
Seeing a Naturopathic doctor during that season allows time for lab testing, supplement support, hormone balance, and addressing anything that could impact pregnancy or postpartum recovery.
But she was also very clear.
You can come at any point.
Days after birth. Six weeks postpartum. Years after your last baby.
And then she said something that made me laugh because it’s painfully accurate.
“Your whole life is postpartum after babies.”
And she’s so right.
What Surprises Women Most About Working with a Naturopathic Doctor?
Time.
Her initial visits are 90 minutes long.
Ninety.
She goes through your health from birth until now. Pregnancy history. Stress. Sleep. Mental health. Symptoms. All of it.
And because she keeps her practice intentionally small, she really gets to know her patients. Their partners. Their kids. Their life.
As someone who sees her, I can say that part matters more than I expected.
I don’t feel rushed. I don’t feel like I have to cram everything into seven minutes. She takes the time to make sure I understand why she’s recommending what she’s recommending. And for me, knowledge makes it easier to follow through.
That level of care is something many people don’t realize naturopathic doctors offer.
What Misconceptions Do People Have About Working with a Naturopathic Doctor?
She said most women fall into one of two camps.
They either think they’ll have to overhaul their entire life overnight.
Or they think it won’t be helpful at all.
Instead, she meets women exactly where they are. Especially postpartum. When even brushing your teeth can feel like a win.
Plans are realistic. Simple. Buildable.
She also shared that many people don’t realize how much lab work naturopathic doctors can do. She loves using diagnostics alongside deep listening. That combination is powerful.
Because sometimes postpartum exhaustion is sleep deprivation.
And sometimes it’s iron deficiency. Or thyroid dysfunction. Or blood sugar shifts.
Those things deserve investigation.
What Does a Postpartum Visit with You Look Like?
This was one of the questions I was most curious about.
If it’s your first visit postpartum, it’s 90 minutes. That might sound long. But it’s necessary.
She reviews your entire health history. Your pregnancy. Your birth. What you’re feeling physically and emotionally right now.
Then she looks at previous labs if you have them. And often recommends updated lab work around the six week postpartum mark.
She explained why that timing matters.
In conventional care, six weeks is often the last visit.
But “Six weeks is just the beginning.”
That line hit me hard.
Six weeks is when things are just getting real. Sleep deprivation. Hormone shifts. Identity changes.
She wants to be the continuation of care after that standard check-in ends. Not the replacement. The continuation.
And I love that.
What Does the Preconception Path Look Like?
When I asked about the trajectory before pregnancy, she explained why she prefers at least six months if possible.
Sperm development takes about three months. Egg health develops over three to four months before ovulation.
That window allows time for lab testing, supplement adjustments, nutrient repletion, and making small shifts that can impact pregnancy outcomes.
She also works with women navigating infertility. Whether they are exploring IUI, IVF, or simply want to dig deeper before going that route.
If you’re quietly searching for a Naturopathic doctor near you because you’re struggling to conceive, you’re not alone.
There are options.
What Should Moms Look for in a Naturopathic Doctor?
This part was eye opening.
In Minnesota, not everyone who calls themselves a naturopath has the same training.
She explained that you should look for someone with “ND” behind their name. That indicates formal medical training in naturopathic medicine.
A qualified Naturopathic doctor can order labs, interpret diagnostics, understand medications, and still approach care from a holistic, root cause perspective.
And if you’re looking for pregnancy or postpartum support, make sure that’s part of their specialty.
Not all naturopathic doctors focus on fertility and motherhood.
What Inspired Her to Specialize in This Work?
This part meant a lot to me.
When she was in school, she was training to be a midwife. She attended 40 to 50 births and loved being part of pregnancy and postpartum in that hands-on way.
But the on-call life wasn’t sustainable for her as a mom. The late nights and constant readiness just didn’t fit long term.
So she asked herself how she could still deeply support women without living on call.
That’s when she stepped more fully into her work as a Naturopathic doctor focused on fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum.
And she didn’t leave birth entirely.
Now instead of practicing as a midwife, she serves as a doula only for her own patients.
She understands birth. She understands the medical side as a Naturopathic doctor. And she understands motherhood herself.
That combination shows.
The Moments That Make This Work Worth It
When I asked her to share a powerful moment, she didn’t hesitate.
The text messages with positive pregnancy tests from women who had been struggling.
Those messages still get her.
She also talked about women who had a difficult first pregnancy or postpartum experience. They addressed root issues. Supported thyroid health. Stabilized anxiety. Rebuilt nutrient stores.
And their second experience felt different. More stable. More supported.
That’s the long game of working with a holistic doctor.
It’s not just about surviving right now. It’s about feeling well long term.
Is There Anything Else She Wants Moms to Know?
At the end of our conversation, we talked about slowing down.
She created her own apothecary called Naïve Apothecary. She formulates teas, elderberry syrup, and herbal blends rooted in intentional living.
The name reflects living without artificiality. Living simply. Living connected.
And honestly, that feels like the heartbeat of her work as a Naturopathic doctor.
Not rushed.
Not surface level.
Intentional.
Real Community Resources for Minnesota Moms
If you’re building your support team, I also put together some Minnesota mom guides: a real life postpartum care guide for Minnesota moms.
I believe deeply that support changes everything. Whether that’s a Naturopathic doctor, a doula, a therapist, or a chiropractor. You deserve care that feels thoughtful.
Because when moms feel better, they show up differently. Softer. More present. More themselves. And that energy shifts everything in front of my camera (even the chaos).
And If You’re Reading This Because You Want to Feel Seen
I started this Made for Minnesota Moms series because I wanted real conversations. The kind you wish you could have over coffee. The kind that make you feel less alone at 2 a.m. when you’re feeding a baby and wondering if this level of exhaustion is just motherhood… or something more.
Talking with a Naturopathic doctor like Dr. Britt reminds me that we don’t have to settle for “this is just how it is.”
We’re allowed to ask questions.
We are allowed to want more energy.
We are allowed to understand our bodies.
And we are allowed to be cared for long after the six week appointment is over.
If you’re in Minnesota and have been quietly searching for a Naturopathic doctor near me, I hope this gives you a starting place. Watch the full interview. Book the consult. Or simply begin paying attention to the signals your body is sending you.
They matter.
And if you’re in the middle of pregnancy or postpartum and want to document this season too, I’d love to support you there. I photograph newborns, Fresh 48 sessions, and families in a way that feels honest and connected. Because this chapter deserves to be remembered. Not perfectly. Just truthfully. I’d love to hear from you.
This series is just getting started. I can’t wait to keep sharing women like Dr. Britt with you. Stay tuned for the next Made for Minnesota Moms video. You can watch this interview and find future episodes on my YouTube channel.
And if you want to see more of my work, you can always find me here, and sign up for my newsletter.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek advice from your physician, midwife, or other qualified healthcare provider with questions about pregnancy, labor, postpartum, or your health.
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