Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Smith
Hi Courtney, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into maternal health and wellness was shaped by both personal experience and professional passion. Growing up, I watched my single mother navigate breast and ovarian cancer with incredible resilience. Witnessing firsthand the critical role of comprehensive support during life’s most vulnerable moments planted the seed for my lifelong commitment to women’s health, long before I fully understood where that path would lead me
I was always drawn to health and wellness, which led me to pursue a double master’s degree in Nutritional Sciences and Exercise Physiology and become a Registered Dietitian, Certified Prenatal & Postnatal Exercise Specialist, and Lactation Counselor. Throughout my education and career, I kept coming back to one realization: maternal health is often treated as an afterthought. Women are expected to just “figure it out” during pregnancy and postpartum, yet there’s a massive gap in practical, evidence-based support that goes beyond routine medical care.
That’s what led me to create Maternally Nourished. I wanted to bridge that gap by offering real, actionable guidance for moms at every stage—from preconception through postpartum and beyond. My approach goes beyond nutrition and movement. It’s about making sure moms and moms-to-be feel fully supported, seen, and empowered in a way that’s realistic for their daily lives.
Looking back, every step of my journey, from my education to my hands-on experience working with moms, has reinforced my mission. Maternally Nourished isn’t just about providing information. It’s about giving moms the tools, confidence, and personalized support they need to truly thrive.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Like most meaningful journeys, mine hasn’t been without its challenges. There have been plenty of learning curves, moments of uncertainty, and the ongoing process of figuring out how to make a lasting, positive impact in maternal health.
One of the biggest challenges in healthcare, especially in maternal health, is bridging the gap between science and real-life application. As a Registered Dietitian with double master’s degrees in Nutritional Sciences and Exercise Physiology, I’ve spent years studying how to best support moms, but knowledge alone isn’t enough. What truly matters is making sure the research translates into strategies that actually work for moms who are already juggling so much. I’ve had to continuously refine my approach to ensure the guidance I provide isn’t just evidence-based but also realistic and achievable in daily life.
Another challenge has been shifting the way society views maternal health. Too often, pregnancy and postpartum care focus entirely on the baby, while the mother’s well-being is treated as an afterthought. Even moms themselves internalize this idea, feeling like prioritizing their own health is somehow selfish. But the truth is, when we take care of mom, we take care of baby. Changing this mindset takes advocacy, education, and breaking down long-standing societal expectations so moms feel empowered to care for themselves, knowing it benefits their whole family.
Building Maternally Nourished hasn’t been easy either. It took years of balancing school, working, and gaining experience before I could bring this vision to life. Every challenge has reinforced why this work is so important. Moms deserve better support, and I’m committed to being part of that change.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Maternally Nourished is built on the belief that moms deserve better support through every stage of motherhood. Nutrition, movement, and holistic wellness should feel accessible and achievable, not overwhelming or confusing. The goal is to help moms feel confident, energized, and supported—whether they’re preparing for pregnancy, navigating the changes of pregnancy itself, or adjusting to life postpartum.
What sets Maternally Nourished apart is the diverse expertise behind it. With a background as a Registered Dietitian, a master’s in Nutritional Sciences and Exercise Physiology, and certifications in prenatal and postnatal exercise and lactation counseling, this approach goes beyond just one aspect of health. Everything is designed to be evidence-based yet practical, ensuring the guidance actually fits into real life.
From the very start, Maternally Nourished has also been about giving back. A percentage of proceeds is donated to women’s health organizations, supporting initiatives that uplift and empower women beyond just this space.
Support is tailored to the unique needs of each stage of motherhood, providing realistic and sustainable guidance that works for everyday life.
1. Preconception/Trying to Conceive – Optimizing health to enhance fertility and establish a strong foundation for pregnancy.
2. Pregnancy – Providing essential nutrition and movement guidance to support both mom and baby.
3. Early Postpartum (First Few Months) – Helping moms recover, rebuild strength, and nourish themselves while adjusting to life with a newborn, including support for those breastfeeding.
4. Later Postpartum (3+ Months to Years) – Supporting long-term well-being, energy, and sustainable health as motherhood evolves.
Every stage is approached with the understanding that moms need practical, flexible support—not perfection. The focus is on real, actionable strategies that fit into daily life, making health and wellness feel doable, not like another thing on the to-do list.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I was always told I was an old soul and very mature for my age, and looking back, it makes sense. I grew up with just my mom and I my whole childhood because my parents divorced when I was young, and my dad passed away when I was 11. Around that same time, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and a few years later, ovarian cancer. She passed away when I was 17, just after I graduated high school.
While other kids were stressing about pop quizzes and soccer practice, I was tracking my mom’s CA-125 blood marker and cheering when the number went down. I was still doing normal teenage things, but in addition, I was cooking meals she could keep down after chemo, running into the grocery store while she waited in the car because she was too weak, and helping her learn how to manage her ostomy bag after surgery. I wasn’t just balancing school and friends—I was stepping into a caregiver role most kids my age couldn’t imagine.
One day, she let me skip school to watch her give a presentation on ovarian cancer awareness to medical students in Boston. I remember sitting in the audience, feeling so incredibly proud. Even while fighting for her own life, she was pushing for better awareness, research, and policy change. That day showed me the power of using your voice to help others.
As I got older, she shared more about her struggles, including postpartum depression as a single mom. It made me realize how much moms carry, often without enough support. That only deepened when I started nannying in high school and college, seeing firsthand the invisible labor, emotional juggling, and selflessness that goes into motherhood. It reinforced everything I already knew: moms deserve more support.
That summer after graduating high school, while my friends were celebrating, I was sleeping in a hospital chair, holding my mom’s hand in her final days. I made a promise to myself then that I would pick up where she left off. I would continue the work she started, advocating for women’s health. Being by her side through it all changed me forever and created my life’s purpose.
Even as a kid, I was always thinking a few steps ahead, carrying a deep sense of responsibility for the people around me. That mindset has stayed with me and is a big part of why Maternally Nourished exists today. Moms deserve support, guidance, and care that actually meets them where they are and I am committed to making sure they get it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maternallynourished.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maternallynourished/#
