HEY, I'M Mechell

the founder of faith health motherhood, a community where moms & families are nourished with the word of God and healthy foods at mom's table

I knew God was calling me to serve moms, but I didn't have the full picture...

When my sister passed away from pregnancy complications related to preeclampsia I felt a strong call to serve women who are pregnant. I wanted to empower them with knowledge to advocate for the care they needed before, during and after pregnancy. I became certified in childbirth and breastfeeding education along with training to be a full spectrum doula.

I also acquired certifications in nutrition, mental health, fertility and lifestyle medicine. God was equipping me but I didn't know exactly how all of my trainings & prior experiences as a nurse practitioner and educator would come together to serve moms in a practical way. At times I had more questions than answers and I craved clarity.

My mission to help moms then turned into a reflection of my own motherhood journey, a time period marked by heightened anxiety.

It was the fall of 2017 when I was about 4 months pregnant and I sat across a therapist who said my anxiety was the result of trauma. It never occurred to me that trauma from the past could be the root of my present day anxiety.

What I learned from my past

I grew up with Sickle Cell Anemia, a life threatening blood disorder that not only affected my body but impacted my mental and emotional health. I felt a sense of hopelessness & despair and my self-image and self-worth suffered. In addition to living with the negative impact of a chronic illness, I was raised in a household where other members of my family were impacted by trauma so I absorbed their feelings as well. I soon started to realize that trauma not only caused my anxiety but touched every facet of my life from my confidence to lack of close relationships.

Suffering is a universal human experience but with God we are never alone in our pain.

After learning about the impact of traumatic stress on my own life which also played a role in my adult diagnosis of an autoimmune disorder, incomplete lupus I wanted to heal and help other's do the same. When I left my therapist office in 2017, I sat in my driveway for a bit of time and told God I wanted to do trauma work.

After this conversation with God multiple opportunities opened up to learn about stress and trauma and it was life altering. From 1995-1997 a survey of over 17,000 adults taken in Southern California showed that over half of the participants experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACE's) that affected their physical and mental health in adulthood. ACE's are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood that can permeate into your adult life and effect your mood, thoughts, attitudes and impact relationships, career, and even life expectancy. We can pass on trauma to our children if we are not careful to take our pain to God so he can heal our past.

The salvation Jesus offers heals our spiritual, emotional and physical state. It is the epitome of holistic healing.

When Jesus came to save us from spiritual death he knew that other areas of our life would need to be resurrected. He knew we would need healing in our mind and bodies as well. Individuals that experienced ACE's were more likely to suffer from diabetes, cancer, depression & anxiety, autoimmune disorders and many more conditions not listed here. A history of ACE's increases the risk of pregnancy complications and have been linked to conditions like Preeclampsia and Gestational Diabetes.

I'm on a mission

My healing journey started at the age of 13 when I gave my life to Christ. He gave me hope in exchange for my hopelessness & despair. He allowed me to live a life beyond my limitations and experience an unconditional self-worth based on my identity in him. My motherhood journey helped me to connect my past to my anxiety and led to a transformational understanding of the relationship between the mind, body and spirit. My friend, I invite you to join me on this lifelong journey of healing, restoration and renewal. Healing begins with a relationship with Jesus Christ who is able to deliver us from the power of sin, mend broken hearts and give us the peace and contentment that our soul craves. He is able to heal our bodies as we nurture and repair them through healthy foods and he's able to break the cycle of generational trauma by offering this same salvation to our children. God does this type of healing by speaking to you through his word at the kitchen table with your family, while you build emotional bonds that create resilience in your children and feast of foods that heal. This is the healing that happens through mealtime devotionals for moms.

"And we know that ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOoD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, to them who are the CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE." ROMANS 8:28 KJV.

I'm all about

Relaxed mornings, good food + good company, time in nature, quality time with family, reflecting on his faithfulness.

I'm not about

Perfectionism, fixed mindsets, rigid goal setting, self-criticism, unrealistic expectations, comparisons & bitterness.

WE MAY BE

The perfect

fit

if...

You are trying to conceive, pregnant or in the postpartum period and need nutrition and/or lactation support.
You want to create an empowered and satisfying motherhood journey by informing your decision making with nutrition and/or prenatal breastfeeding education.
Have realistic expectations about your health goals and extend grace to yourself when circumstances may become challenging.
Place your faith in Christ as your ultimate source of strength and look to him to guide you throughout your motherhood journey.

WANT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN WORK TOGETHER

Here's how I can help

Are you trying to conceive, pregnant or in the postpartum period? I provide 1:1 virtual nutrition and lactation support, assisting you with meal planning from fertility through the postpartum period. I also prepare you for a satisfying breastfeeding and/or pumping journey. So whether your in the early days of your fertility journey or in the postpartum period and trying to get baby to latch, establish a milk supply, introduce solids, return to work or wean from pumping or breastfeeding, I can help.

TELL ME MORE ➡

From Bump to Breastfeeding: Nutritional Wisdom for Every Stage

Calling all moms! I've crafted something special just for you - a comprehensive guide filled with essential nutrition and breastfeeding wisdom. It's your time to thrive, ensuring you and your baby enjoy the healthiest start. Click the link below to get your FREE guide now and embark on a journey of nourishment that is designed to help you feel your best while your nurture your child.