REMEMBERING // I don't teach stress management for women to "feel calmer". Yes that's a wonderful side effect, but it goes so much deeper than that. When our physiological stress response is deactivated, we're able to do so much more, including be more present during doctors' visits and actually remember what they say. One study found that on average people remember only 49% of decisions and recommendations provided during their appointment! Can you imagine all the wrong info

For many, being part of conversations about infertility, loss and miscarriage , high risk pregnancy, preterm delivery, life in the NICU, or parenting a child with medical needs can be uncomfortable. It's hard to hear about our favorite people struggling to grow their family. It's heartbreaking to hear about an innocent child's life threatened or gone too soon. So, we fill our discomfort with words. Advice, encouragement or stories we think will help. Sometimes they do. But mo

I love to hear from you! I love to address your questions and concerns with Listener Q & A episodes, like today’s show. Join us as we cover several topics that are relevant to birth trauma, preemie development, postpartum depression, and the work of healing. In this episode... Dealing with the uncertainty of the development of a preemie when you aren’t sure what to expect [2:24] Experiencing postpartum depression with stillbirth, miscarriage, or ectopic pregnancy [15:48] Gett

Most of us know generally how to eat healthy. We can even look at the last 72 hours of our life and find moments when we could have chosen healthier food options but didn't. When you're trying to conceive or are pregnant, you're inundated with advice on what to eat and what to avoid. So many women feel the pressure to get it "just right", worrying if what they're putting in their mouths is affecting baby negatively. When you're postpartum or into motherhood and want to reclai

There are many nuances to grief. The loss of a child is extremely painful grief, but you have to trust that your body knows how to heal itself. It’s important that you reach out for support when you need professional guidance. Let’s jump into this difficult topic together. In this episode... #1 We don’t speak accurately enough about the experience of pregnancy loss and saying goodbye to a life lost too soon. [9:28] #2 Grief hurts and feels awful. [11:00] #3 Our body has a bui

One of the most interesting aspects of my work in working with a wide variety of people is that every experience is so different, even if they share the same starting point. Having a baby in the NICU is a different type of trauma that shifts what you understand to be normal. It shifts everything you know to be normal and everything you expect to encounter in the way you enter parenthood. The good news is that you CAN find yourself again and return to “normal”! Let’s talk abou

I alluded to this in my stories yesterday but this week was a phenomenal week for so many of my clients. Every single one of them shared some version of, "I didn't think this was possible" as they reflected on the health and life changes that they've experienced on their fertility journey and through their pregnancy. Each and every one of my clients has experienced devastating moments on their family building journey. Some of them even found themselves at the edge of life the

September is NICU Awareness Month. If you aren’t familiar with what NICU stands for, it’s where sick or pre-term babies go for specialized care until they are well enough to (hopefully) go home. One of the most common questions I get from parents is about facing another pregnancy after going through a NICU experience. Just the thought of a repeat situation is terrifying for a parent. Today’s show dives into four important steps to take before trying to conceive again after a

Fertility trauma is happening all around us. It’s a huge part of the journey when you’re trying to conceive. Today’s show discusses why we have to address this issue and why trauma resolution should be part of fertility treatment for everyone. Listen on iTunes | Listen on Stitcher | Listen on iHeartRadio Episode highlights... What is fertility trauma? Why trauma is NOT always based on a single event Examples of when and how fertility trauma may occur Why fertility t

For some, experiencing pregnancy complications can be a traumatic event - even if you deliver a healthy, full-term baby. For others, a high-risk pregnancy can result in even scarier experiences such as health complications for baby, loss or a NICU stay. Needless to say, getting pregnant after a high-risk pregnancy can bring up strong feelings of anxiety, ambivalence and fear. You don't want to repeat the past, but you also don't feel done growing your family. What to do when

Over the many years my husband and I went through the rings of fire of primary & secondary infertility, we had the honor of meeting so many other couples who were ahead of us on their journey, guiding us and inspiring us. We met couples who ended up with children through fertility treatments, adoption, surrogacy, and couples who decided to live child-free. While each of our journeys & paths to our current life looked different, there is one common thread amongst all of us:

One of the most frustrating aspects of building a family is when it takes a struggle to get pregnant. It’s especially exasperating when no one has a WHY. It can make you feel scared, overwhelmed, and basically out of control. A’ndrea Reiter is a holistic fertility expert, Reiki Master, and the author of How to Get Pregnant Even When You’ve Tried Everything: A Mind-Body Guide to Fertility. She uses a combination of Reiki, intuition, and mindset coaching to move women through t

On today’s Q/A show, I am so excited to have your questions answered by one of my favorite infertility specialists, Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh.

When you're ready to start trying for a baby, it's pretty intuitive what changes you need to make. Stop drinking alcohol, stop smoking, eat healthy and exercise. Sounds pretty simple right? There's actually so much more to it than that! During this interview, I speak with my friend and colleague Katie Kahvo, who specializes in fertility nutrition on exactly what you need to know about nutrition and fertility to help yourself get pregnant as quickly as possible. We discuss thi