Motherhood is filled with advice, expectations, and endless lists of do's and don'ts-but what many resources overlook is the vital connection between a mother's spiritual health and her ability to nurture her child's whole well-being.
Nurturing Whole Health: You, Your Baby, and God in the First Year was born out of that gap. After seasons of wrestling with God, healing, and serving mothers at a crisis pregnancy center, Nicole Lea recognized the need for a resource that integrates physical, emotional, and mental health with the often-forgotten anchor-spiritual health.
This book equips mothers to care for both themselves and their children in body, mind, heart, and spirit. Blending professional expertise in nursing and medicine with lived faith and motherhood, it offers evidence-based guidance rooted in Catholic teaching and strengthened by encouragement from Scripture.
Nicole Lea, RN, CPNP, pediatric nurse practitioner, Co-Founder and CEO of Hello Eema, author, and mother, leads with warmth and wisdom. Contributing author Kathryn Italia, MD, brings her passion for helping others embrace their identity in Christ and whole well-being. Together, they offer mothers practical tools and spiritual hope to grow with their children in faith, love, and strength.
Our prayer for you is that this book blesses you-helping you build a solid foundation in Christ, navigate parenting with confidence and clarity, and come to know the boundless love of God, the peace of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit within you.
Italia, Kathryn: - Kathryn Italia, MD, completed her medical education at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and pediatric residency at duPont Hospital for Children (now Nemours Children's Hospital Wilmington). She practiced pediatrics for fourteen years, caring for hundreds of families before transitioning to focus on her own family in 2022. Her experience in primary care brought an essential perspective to this book about nurturing children's whole health.Kathryn lives with her husband and three children in Pennsylvania, where they share a love for travel and outdoor adventures, especially in the mountains where God's majesty is on display. She is active in her parish community and women's Bible study groups. At a national Catholic women's conference, she met Nicole, and their shared vision of faith-centered motherhood led to this collaboration. She considers herself blessed to combine her medical background with her faith to help other mothers on their parenting journey.
Lea, Nicole: - Nicole Lea, RN, MSN, CPNP, CPHQ, completed her bachelor of science in Nursing at Emory University. In 2005, after practicing as a bedside nurse in the emergency department and pediatric cardiology intensive and acute care units, she became a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. For sixteen years she cared for children with complex medical needs, including stem cell transplant and lung transplant recipients. She currently works on projects that promote healthcare quality and patient safety.Nicole lives with her husband, two children, and two pups in Houston, Texas. She enjoys being with family, gardening, or traveling to explore God's glorious outdoors. Nicole and her family are active in their local parish and she co-leads a women's prayer group. By God's divine grace, Nicole met Kathryn at a Walking with Purpose conference at exactly the right time! She is passionate about inspiring women to follow God's heart and live with boldness and hope. Invite Nicole to speak to your women's or moms' group about how to Nurture Whole Health for themselves and their children. Free faith-rooted, evidence-informed content and resources for caring for babies, children, and teenagers are available at HelloEema.com. Contact Nicole at nicole@helloeema.com.
