Linnéa Stenberg on pregnancy, blood values and life as a new mother

“Life is equal parts chaos and love”

Linnéa Stenberg is 32 years old, lives in Helsingborg and describes herself as an entrepreneur, health nerd and new mother. In her everyday life, she runs a digital marketing company where she helps companies grow through strategy, coaching and advertising. Alongside this, she also runs a community for women, @thehoneymums, with a focus on fertility, pregnancy and motherhood.

Health has long been a common thread in her life – from an early interest in biochemistry to further education in health coaching and nutrition, and now also women's health.

A few weeks ago, however, everything changed when she became a mother to her son Cassian.

– It has shifted my perspective more than anything else. From always being on the go to actually being here and now. I'm still the same person, but now I do everything with a baby in my arms – with varying results, she says with a laugh.

She describes life right now as equal parts chaos and love.

“There's a mental upgrade”

The pregnancy itself was, according to Linnéa, overall very nice. The first trimester was a challenge, however, with nausea and migraines that made it difficult to keep up the same pace as before.

- For me, who is used to always being on the go, it was an adjustment. But when I accepted it, I was able to let go and lean into the process. It changed everything.

The rest of the pregnancy was experienced as both strengthening and present, even though the last few weeks were more physically demanding. At the same time, the mental journey was greater than expected.

- A lot was about control, identity and not being able to perform as usual. Pregnancy and parenthood really do mean a kind of ego death – but also an upgrade. I feel like Linnéa 2.0.

“The body is incredibly intelligent”

One of the biggest insights during pregnancy was how advanced and autonomous the body actually is.

– It surprised me how much small things can affect, like diet or rest. But also that the body already has a plan. Not everything can be controlled – sometimes it’s mostly about keeping up.

Following your values ​​– an investment in security

For Linnéa, following your blood values ​​was an obvious choice. She has been doing it for several years, long before pregnancy.

– For me, it's about understanding the body in depth and working proactively, not just reacting when something feels wrong.

She highlights that maternity care does important work, but that it often focuses on a limited number of parameters.

– I wanted to get a more complete picture and be able to give the body the best possible conditions.

The focus was mainly on nutritional status – such as iron , ferritin , B12 and vitamin D – but also on blood sugar and inflammation markers. At the same time, she emphasizes that the goal was never perfect values.

- It was more about understanding the direction. When you are pregnant, you put a lot of pressure on your body, so knowing what it needs is very valuable.

Small adjustments that make a big difference

During pregnancy, there were no values ​​that stood out significantly, which Linnéa believes was because she had already worked preventively.

- I saw that iron and calcium dropped a little in periods, but then I was able to adjust through diet and supplements. It was a clear reminder of how much small changes can actually do.

Following the development over time also created strong motivation.

- It became less guesswork and more like a dialogue with the body. A clear example was when I saw that my iron levels started to drop – then I increased my iron-rich foods in time and never needed to take supplements.

Security through understanding

For Linnéa, knowing your own values ​​meant, above all, inner peace.

- I knew that my body had what it needed, and then it became easier to let go of the rest. As a first-time mother, it was a huge sense of security.

It gave both a sense of control and the ability to actually let go where it was needed.

First time as a mother

The first few weeks as a mother Linnéa describes as the biggest adjustment of her life.

- One moment you are completely overwhelmed, the next you are sitting looking at your baby and just bubbling with love. Sleep is… creative right now, but you are really driven by something bigger.

At the same time, the experience has given her an even deeper respect for the body.

– That it can create a life – it is absolutely incredible.

Health after pregnancy – a new perspective

After giving birth, the view on health has changed. The focus is no longer on “coming back”, but on rebuilding the body.

– The first period is mostly about survival, and that is okay. Now it's about meeting the body where it is.

She plans to take new blood tests to understand how the body has been affected by childbirth, hormonal changes and breastfeeding.

In the future, she especially wants to monitor iron , kalcium , hormonal balance and energy levels.

- The body has been through extreme stress, so it feels important to understand the current situation - but also start thinking ahead.

Recovery on the body's terms

Recovery is a central focus today - but without stress or demands.

- It's easy to want to get back quickly, but right now it's about letting it take time. The focus is on food, rest, fluids and the nervous system – not performance.

A new view of health

Pregnancy and the time after have reinforced an important insight:

– Health is not something we fix when something goes wrong. It is something we build continuously.

For Linnéa, it is also about creating a secure relationship with the body, rather than trying to control it.

A message to other parents

To other expectant or new parents, she would like to send some simple but important advice:

• Not to strive for perfection.
• To trust that you will grow into the role.
• To understand that feelings of inadequacy are a natural part of the process.

She also emphasizes the importance of knowledge, not least about breastfeeding, which is often more complex than many people think.

And last but not least:

- Taking blood tests and understanding your body is a very good investment - both for you and your baby.

And finally, with a smile:

– Sleep when you can. It's not a joke.