Fertile Minds Radio

In today's episode you will guided through my favorite visualization for starting a new year. I highly suggest this visualization anytime you are starting something new, need to get unstuck, or are making big decisions. We are going to harness the connection between our heart and our womb for this one. Get comfy and let's dive deep together.  This meditation was part of a 3 day series I taught at the end of 2023. You can still access the replays here until Feb 1st, 2024. Don't miss this special opportunity to learn from me on a deeper level.

Hello, wonderful listeners! I'm back with the fifth season of Fertile Minds Radio, and I couldn't be more excited. It's incredible to think about the journey we've embarked on together, and I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated listeners. Your support is what makes this podcast so special. In this season opener we are shedding light on the role of Vitex, a herbal remedy. Tune in for a detailed exploration of how Vitex can impact prolactin levels, luteal phase insufficiency, and progesterone deficiency—all crucial factors affecting a woman's reproductive journey.  After listening to this episode you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of how Vitex might be the natural solution you've been searching for. If you would like access to my fertility supplement guide based on up to date research click here.  If this episode resonates with you and you want to take this work deeper, I invite you to join my Conscious Conceptions program by going to https://www.FertileMindsRadio.com to learn more.    Research mentioned:  Walker MH, Tobler KJ. Female Infertility Batool Hossein-Rashidi, Maryam Nemati, Effects of Vitex agnus-castus extract   Luteal phase deficiency in regularly menstruating women: HERE HERE HERE   Disclaimer *  You must not rely on the information in this podcast as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website or in this podcast.

Explore the complex world of reproductive rights & environmentalism with Representative Lindsay Cross where we discuss the process of passing critical healthcare legislation, crisis pregnancy centers, abortion restrictions, & more. Summary: In this episode, we dive into the complex world of reproductive rights and environmentalism, discussing recent issues in Florida and the potential impacts on reproductive technologies like IVF and medical care during emergencies. Joined by Representative Lindsey Cross, we explore the increasing prevalence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their potential connection to infertility, miscarriages, and possibly even gender dysphoria. We also break down the complicated process of how a bill becomes a law and the role of committees, the House of Representatives, and the importance of majority control. Additionally, we examine the frustrating aspects of pregnancy counting in the medical system, the funding for crisis pregnancy centers, and the impact of extreme policies on reproductive healthcare and education. Finally, we discuss the long-term implications of our convenience-driven lifestyle on our health and the environment, as well as the role of lobbyists in shaping legislation. This conversation is crucial to understanding how these issues affect not only Florida residents but the wider population as well. Chapters: (0:00:01) - Environmentalism in Fertility (0:05:39) - The Complex Rules of Passing Legislation (0:12:37) - Funding Crisis Pregnancy Centers (0:21:10) - Impact of Abortion Restrictions (0:30:01) - Politically Motivated Disinformation (0:40:41) - Impact of Convenience Lifestyle (0:52:50) - The Impact of Lobbyists on Society (0:59:19) - Environmentalism and Reproductive Health  

Do I need more time to prepare my body before I start trying for a baby? Or am I running out of time and need to start trying ASAP? The answers to those questions are unique to each person thinking of starting a family, and today we discuss the factors we should consider when trying to answer those questions and how to do so without creating more anxiety for yourself & your partner.  We dive into conditioing around having a child and the importance of knowing your "why," when it comes to starting a family.  This is a must listen if you are at the beginning of thinking about starting a family or if you ahve been in the throws of infertility for some time and need to find your bearings.  If this episode resonates with you and you want to take this work deeper, I invite you to join my Conscious Conceptions program by going to https://www.FertileMindsRadio.com to learn more.     

Subtitle: We discuss the major influence that methylation has on our cells' genetic expression, and how we can manipulate it to our advantage with proper folate supplementation. Our Guest: Ricardo Miranda is the CEO and MTHFR consultant for MTHFRdoctors.com. He is a leading clinician and one of the top researchers in the field of MTHFR genetic mutation. With over 28 years of clinical experience, he is able to assess the direct link between his patient's genetic mutations and their health issues. He developed a unique approach combining Functional Medicine, Genetics, Epigenetics, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Nutrition and Integrative Medicine diagnostics. He has done extensive research in the MTHFR area, and with the understanding of multiple disciplines, he has coached doctors from all over the country on how to treat patients with MTHFR mutations and methylation issues, including mitochondrial dysfunction. With a passion for helping people reverse their long-lasting illnesses, Ricardo founded MTHFRdoctors.com. Today MTHFRdoctors.com is one of the leading websites in the field of MTHFR with the biggest research database on MTHFR related studies available. Description: We take a deep dive into how our body's natural ability to detoxify itself can be inhibit by as much as 70% depending on our genetics. The innability to detox naturally can have significant impact on both male and female fertility as well as the health of our future children. We discuss in depth the antagonist relationship between folate and folic acid and how to avoid folic acid causing issue even though it is widely prescribed to OB patients across the US.  For more insight like this on the daily join our online fertility coaching program and course, Conscious Conceptions. Go to www.FertileMindsRadio.com to find out more. 

Zulgeil Ruiz Ginés, born and raised in Puerto Rico, is affectionately known as “Zul”. After the birth of her first daughter, she was forever changed in how she understood pregnancy and birth. Supporting families in their pregnancy, birth and postpartum care became her passion. She has studied with birth workers in Los Angeles, Mexico and now Florida. Zul is the owner of UMA Midwifery & Homebirth Services assisting families in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and the greater Tampa Bay area. We discuss challenges women, especially women of color, face while seeking proper birth care. Description: There is an alarmingly high maternal mortality rate among women of color in the United States- 40 deaths per 100,000 compared with a 12.4 deaths per 100,000 for white women. This is on par with women experience in developing nations. Why is this continuing to happen in one of the wealthiest nations and no one is talking about it? More importantly- What are the solutions? Takeaways [7:05] The pandemic skyrocketed demand for midwives, as some women were being forced to birth at home, or couldn't have family in the room during the delivery. [12:07] Not everyone needs a home birth, but everyone can benefit from a midwifery model. [14:03] Becoming a doula or taking a doula course gives a great introduction into midwifery, and the journey can help us heal from traumatic birth experiences. [19:30] Pain is physical, but suffering is mental. When we anticipate pain, we experience it. [24:40] Since the pandemic, some women are getting induced as early as 37 weeks, but such early inductions can often lead to caesarian births. [36:15] Certain areas have hospitals that are understaffed or under equipped to handle certain birth situations, especially for women of color, or people needing translation services. [45:08] Women of color are often left unheard in hospitals, leading to traumatic experiences that create a distrust and fear of going to hospitals. [49:19] CDC: 60% of the current US maternal deaths are preventable. [57:00] The right to choose the type of birth you will have depends on the state you live in. [67:07]Home births cost around 6k including all pre- and post-partum care. Hospital births range from $8000 to $60000   https://umamidwifery.com https://www.nacpm.org/ https://www.fertilemindsradio.com/ https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/maternal-mortality/2020/maternal-mortality-rates-2020.htm https://www.who.int/news/item/16-06-2021-caesarean-section-rates-continue-to-rise-amid-growing-inequalities-in-access https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/who-statement-on-caesarean-section-rates-frequently-asked-questions https://www.cesareanrates.org/ https://www.consumerreports.org/c-section/biggest-c-section-risk-may-be-your-hospital/        

Subtitle: What is the fantasy fallacy and how can it affect us on our fertility journey and after we become parents? Description: We fall victim to the arrival fallacy when we forbid ourselves to feel happy until we accomplish that *one* thing, but oftentimes, even when the goal is achieved, we still have trouble feeling complete. In this podcast, we discuss the prevalence of fantasy fallacy in our society and methods that can help us find happiness in our present. Thanks for listening. If you want to go deeper with this material, I highly encourage you to join our group coaching program and course Conscious Conceptions. You'll find community, and a blend of mindset work and strategy from functional and traditional chinese medicine to help you feel your best on the path to parenthood. You'll have weekly access to me to ask ALL of your fertility and pregnancy questions. We now offer sliding scale pricing so that this knowledge is accessible to any woman on the planet that has a need. Go to FertileMindsRadio.com to get on our email list for the next opening in March 2023.  

If you want to avoid arguments with your partner about lifestyle changes from diet to drinking in the name of conceiving, this is the episode for you.  Most of us think of consent as something we give for something big- like a medical procedure, or in sexual exchanges. Obviously we want to give consent to be intimate. What I want to talk about today, are the more subtle aspects of consent in the context of your path to parenthood and all of the well intentioned changes we might be making or thinking about making in regards to lifestyle changes.

There is so much waiting in a fertility journey, and because we really never know how long it will take to hold that healthy baby in our arms, I think this is one of the greatest skills you can learn for the micro of the two week wait to the macro of the entirety of completing your family.   In this episode you will learn... - What to do when you feel in a hurry to get pregnant. - What delay discounting is and how to know when you are doing it. - Learn to understand which part of your brain is guiding your decision making process. - The understanding of possiblity thinking vs probability. - The stats on falling pregnant that are often glossed over. When you get good at delaying gratification and disciplining yourself with healthy habits that make you feel good from a place of self love, from a place of training your brain and taking care of your body, and not because you think they will yield a baby, you can enjoy the wait of any journey in life, even falling pregnant. We call this living in high engagement with low attachment in my Conscious Conceptions program. You are engaged in living your life to its fullest, growing your capacity for uncertainty while growing your capacity to stay in prefrontal thinking and marveling at the magic that happens, which is the baby becomes the icing on the cake instead of the cake itself.    

Fertility challenges, mothering. trauma, and conditioning can absolutely get in the way of pleasure. And pleasure is what lights you up and makes this whole life worth living. So what is a girl to do? Join me as I pick the big beautiful brain of Sex Coach, Danielle Savory, and she shares her tips for creating more pleasure and drops some knowledge on how our bodies and minds work to keep us safe and to light us up. If you love our guest as much as I do, head over to https://daniellesavory.com and see how she can help you reclaim your sexiest most lit up self.  

When making hard decisions it can feel paralyzing, as if one decision could derail our entire life. You may be asked to make incredibly hard decisions on a path to becoming a parent so I created this for you. It is one of my favorite time out of thinking exercises I use to get in touch with my higher self when I am struggle to make the "right" decision. Enjoy! P.S. Please do not listen to this while driving or operating heavy machinery. Save it for a time when you can listen and be open to all that your mind and body have to offer you.  

Decision fatigue describes how our decision-making gets worse as we make additional choices and our cognitive abilities get worn out. Decision fatigue is the reason we feel overwhelmed when we have too many choices to make, especially in the absence of resources. The phenomena of decision fatigue can affect even the most rational and intelligent individuals, as everyone can become mentally exhausted. The more decisions made throughout the day, the harder each decision becomes for us. Eventually, the brain looks for shortcuts to circumvent decision fatigue, leading to poor decision-making. While this is typically a business concept it is rampant in the fertility & parenting world because of the sheer number and weight of each decision we are asked to make on a daily basis. Finding yourself in torturous indecision about whether you should join Conscious Conceptions? Let's clear that up together on a call.   Schedule a FREE Consult     

Words have incredible power. Today we are going to explore the story you have been broadcasting to your body about the status of your fertility and how that impacts your perception of the journey. I'll share some personal insights I had working through this same exercise with my own health and the surprising findings in the mansion of the mind. We will go through my ritual for rewriting your story in a powerful way.  www.FertileMindsRadio.com  

Seeing that positive pregnancy test can leave us flying high with happiness, until the worry sets in. Today's episode seeks to educate you on what to expect in terms of appointments, symptoms and labs so there is less room in your mind for thinking something is going wrong.   If you are curious about working together or joining Conscious Conceptions you are invited to schedule a free 1:1 session with me here.

What are the five realms of fertility? They are the places in our lives we can look to and examine in order to feel more balanced on our fertility journey. Join me as we explore how fertility challenges may be showing up as more than an empty next in this excerpt from my Conscious Conceptions coaching program. If you are curious about working together or joining Conscious Conceptions you are invited to schedule a free 1:1 session with me here.

What exactly happens in a life coaching session? And why would I ever hire someone to help me do Life? And is that a legit career? These are actual judgey thoughts I myself had when I first learned about life coaching 10 years ago. Listen on to find out about some of the very unexpected and pleasant side effects life coaching had on me after I finally took the plunge.

Traditionally the definition of a Conscious Conception includes the physical aspects of preconception care and then adds in a spiritual dimension of preparation. It engages the, "feminine principle of receiving." It presupposes a spiritual realm from which a baby's spirit can be invited into the '"Earthside" life, and it is modified to suit spiritual belief of the mother and or parents. It spiritualizes sexuality, conception, pregnancy, and birth. It allows for a greater purpose and can thus relieve some burden from the woman as she TTC, helping her to feel like she is in co-creation rather than totally responsible for creation. It allows for practice, ritual, meaning that can also permit depth psychology work and meaningful practices that help to reduce stress and also reinvigorate sex life for couples. Join me to listen to  what a Conscious Conception is and is not, no matter what your take is on religion.

Anger is a normal emotion for all humans. Some of us have a harder time acknowledging and/or releasing our anger. Take a 20 minute journey with me to practice allowing and releasing our anger and systematically breaking down the false and poisonous belief that good girls dont get angry. Love these practices? Join us in my Conscious Conceptions Coaching Program. Our next cohort start the end of May. Get on the waitlist so you don't miss a moment! www.FertileMindsRadio.com  

As Marijuana and it's component supplement CBD become more mainstream there is a real risk that you could be stunting your fertility with their use, especially in unexplained cases or recurrent implantation failure.  Join us for the education bomb Dr. Gersh drops on how our hormones naturally ebb and flow with our own endocannabinoids and what happens to our hormones we add THC or CBD.  If you suffer from endometriosis, unexplained infertility, or implantation failure and have ever wondered if Mary Jane was to blame or could help you, tune in! 

Space for grace is a personal account of where my thought work and spirituality have converged. I want to show you how to up-level your fertility journey into one of growth that will ultimately make your current suffering worth it in the end. 

Gut health isn't where your brain would normally go when trying to solve the problem of fertility challenges, but it is thought to be one of the root causes of subfertility. Did you know that low microbe diversity in your intestines can lead to issues like endometriosis, pcos, metabolic syndrome and even obesity? Functional medicine specialist Dr. Jen Horton and I talk all things poo and how and why it should be a part of your fertility workup.

How do we construct a practice that fits our life, one that we will actually keep coming back to? Those questions and more are answered along with a mantra for you to practice for the next 40 days to beckon a child into your life.

Practicing the Art of Silence, with your partner, can help to reveal the stories that you tell yourself about your connection and help to cultivate a deep sense of connectedness. Today you will learn the two most important exercises that will help you begin to feel comfortable in silence and true presence.

Day 5 of our meditation challenge happens to fall on a new moon in Taurus and Earth day. What an auspicious day for setting intentions! We will examine the 5 realms of life (Physical, Mental/Emotional, Relationship, Material and Spiritual) and how our fertility is interfacing with these different parts that make up our lives. We will then set some intentions that we would like to see unfold and seal it with a mantra in celebration of the Earth- Om Shri Gaia Ma Purnatva Gaia Ma.

Today's guided journey can be super helpful anytime you feel that you need a healthy "time out." Often when we are feeling the most constricted, it is because we are wrestling with questions. Today you go on a journey to get answers from the Archetypal women you carry inside. After it is over you will know how to find more space when you are feeling pinned in or couped up. After you practice it a few times, you won't even need my voice.

Today's meditation will guide you through a journey of becoming reunited with the wisdom of your heart. We will discuss the concept of the Heart - Uterus connection as defined by Traditional Chinese Medicine.

In day 2 of our fertility meditation challenge we explore concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine that stresses the importance of a spiritual perspective and strong awareness of our higher self to help with creation or what is sometimes referred to as a conscious conception. 

The breath is all about the exhale, and so is finding your center. In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week I am hosting my annual fertility meditation challenge. In today's meditation you will practice 5 different types of breathing techniques. My hope is that you will find 1-2 that really resonate with you that you take into your daily life to help control the stress response.

Brain based coach, Elizabeth Markie, and I will discuss our favorite techniques for down regulating the nervous system out of fight or flight throughout our day. Two heart math techniques that are only 1 and 2 minutes long are covered along with how to bring healing & connection to the world with a Meta Meditation.

As if fertility challenges weren't hard enough, now we are dealing with the ramifications of COVID-19. Today we bring you some sound advice for coping emotionally and the beautiful insight as to why you may be better equipped to handle this than you think.

I’m sure you’ve heard time and time again, stress negatively affects fertility and pregnancy. Maybe you been told, Just RELAX and it will happen more times than you care to count, which really makes you stress out and maybe want to punch said person. Now you can’t exactly go about cutting all of the stress out of your life, I mean, fertility challenges alone are stressful. What are you supposed to do? Give up? Quit? Not a chance. You make a game out of making friends with your stress response. Acknowledge it, know it’s going to happen, get good at catching it before it becomes a freight train careening out of control, AND then see how fast you can change your stress response into a relaxation response by trying on one of these little beauties from our mini mindful moments installments. Meditation & mindfulness techniques and their ability to turn on our parasympathetic nervous system, or what’s known as breed and feed, are evidence based practices that not only enhance your fertility, but they can also help you hold a pregnancy, even if it’s high risk. Remember, it’s not stress that’s the enemy, it’s how fast we can get back into a relaxed state that really matters. These mini relaxation techniques are quick, easy to apply throughout your day and restore your relaxation response in moments, keeping your mind broadcasting the message to your body, "It’s a safe time and place to create life,” helping you to feel back in control of your stress and ready to conceive. 

We all have something that we want that sometimes is a struggle to see other people around us getting or having the feeling like you’re the only person that doesn’t have the thing. But, what should you do when everyone around you is pregnant, and you are having a meltdown? Our guest, Erin Gray LMHT, LMT takes us through a four-step approach that you could apply to avoid a meltdown or at the very least lessen the blow.  

In today’s episode we dissect the concept of Total Ecology of Health. It’s a term coined by one of my mentors, Dr. Aviva Romm. It has to do with our body’s ability to detox itself in relation to the toxic burden we place on it and our interconnectedness to the planet. We discuss what toxic burden is, the concepts of stress and terrain and what you can do emlimate your toxic burden and super charge your natural detox abilities.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Heidi Brockmyre. She will be helping us understand how acupuncture can help boost fertility and help you conceive. Heidi is a licensed practitioner of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, and she has a decade of experience helping women grow their families. She’s supported hundreds of women in her clinic in San Diego and now thousands of women around the world and her online community. She teaches women how to get pregnant, have a faster, healthier, easier and more affordable way in her online program Fertility activation method. She loves teaching women how to renew their faith and their ability to conceive and how to take back control of their health and their bodies. It is important to note that the benefits of acupuncture and Chinese medicine don’t end at conceiving; it helps even after childbirth.    

Are you a new mom struggling to keep up? Do you feel like taking care of your child is way more work than you anticipated leaving you constantly overwhelmed? Or are you finding yourself in a constant emotional funk, while telling yourself you should feel happy? You could be suffering from postpartum depression.   Many women suffer from postpartum depression, and even more go undiagnosed with postpartum anxiety. The magnitude of the depression and/or anxiety can vary from one woman to the other. Some women suffer from severe postpartum depression including suicidal ideation, while others have a mild version constantly feeling like something just isn’t right.    When you are stuck in the thick of negative postpartum takedown, it can feel like it’s going to last forever. The good news is, it doesn’t have to, and there is a way out.   In today’s episode, we are honored to have Liz Langston join us. Liz is a postpartum coach and a postpartum depression survivor. She shares with us how she made it out of the depression and how she realized her mission to lift up other moms that are suffering like she did.

You may have heard me talk about the MODEL on episodes 48 and 54 when I talked about certainty and thought management, but truly you need to hear it again. These are concepts you can’t hear enough to really understand them. this is because most of us were not taught how to manage our minds. Even fewer of us were taught exercises to really understand our minds, not just how to conceptualize how the mind works. This exercise of using the self coaching model is something I have been working with for two and a half years now in Self Coaching Scholars with Brooke Castillo. It’s been instrumental in me reclaiming my health and my sanity as a step parent. I know this can handle any situation and I want to teach it to you. I truly believe if you work with it and actually write down the models that you run, it can be the #1 tool to help you keep your cool while you are patiently waiting to conceive!

Our guest today, Lindsay Meisel, is the chief science editor at Ava Fertility Tracker with over a decade of experience educating and writing about reproductive health. I got to geek out with her over the science behind this wearable piece of tech and how exactly the Ava bracelet is different from other ovulation predictors. If you have wondered about using the Ava, have tracked your basal body temps (BBT) and are totally over buying ovulation kits, are unsure of your ovulation signs & symptoms, or your just starting out and trying to figure out when your fertile window actually occurs this episode is for you. For a $20 coupon check the show notes at http://www.LadyPotions.com/fmradio/ovulation-calculator-you-wear

Infertility is becoming an epidemic in the world. According to a statistic carried out in the US, 10-12 out of 100 couples in the US struggle with infertility. In today’s episode, we are joined by a woman who has been through the infertility journey and is now a mother.   Infertility is isolating and brings with it a sense of hopelessness. According to our guest, there is a great online community that supports couples going through infertility.Our guest today is Tedi Palmer. She’s a wife, a mom and an infertility survivor, and a mama of two. She’s active in the infertility community by running an infertility-related blog. She also runs an Etsy shop selling infertility awareness apparel. Also, she runs a non-profit called Hope for Fertility.

Are you considering having a home birth? This episode is for you. Our guest today loves talking about home birth.   Today, we are joined by Katelyn Fusco. She is the host and creator of Happy Homebirth. As a wife, mother and homebirth advocate, she has a passion for presenting positive, encouraging stories and reliable resources for homebirth mothers. Before becoming a mother, Katelyn worked as a student midwife. She has had two empowering homebirths, the second of which she considers to be the birth, she wishes for every interested mother: mindful, peaceful and powerful at home.

In honor of Recurrent Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month we offer you this wisdom packed episode with Dr. Zev Williams.  If you or someone you know has experienced a miscarriage you owe it to yourself to have a listen.   

1 in 10 American women which is somewhere around 5 million women, suffer from symptoms on the PCOS spectrum. I really want you to understand that it is intact reversible in 85% percent of women. The sad part is that your doctors often times aren’t talking to you about reversing it if you have been diagnosed. They only educate you on how to manage it with medications like metformin and Birth Control. Today we cover all of the supplements that can treat the root cause of PCOS to help you be healthier and more fertile.  Take this podcast a step further & become a Fertile Minds Insider today. 

Does a sperm analysis matter when trying to conceive? When you should get one and other specifics with world renown reproductive urologist, Dr. Paul Turek. 

We're back with another meditation to help you get your mind and your heart on the same page during that crucial stage of implantation. This meditation was a listener request and is geared towards someone undergoing an IVF cycle, but really anyone in the implantation window of their cycle will benefit from listening. Let's turn on our relaxation response and turn up our ability to hold life.  music credit: Christopher Lloyd Clarke  For more meditations just like this one at your fingertips visit us here  

Has TTC made your mojo go MIA? There's a book to help you find it! This conversation with Denise Wiesner, a fellow ABORM certified acupuncturist, is packed with tips from the taoist traditions of chinese Medicine to help you forget about conceiving and get back to loving, literally.  Download the first chapter of her book here https://www.denisewiesner.com/book

Mindset can be tricky. We can unknowingly be playing negative messages over and over in our minds that make us feel like crap. Today's meditation and lesson will help you learn how to move from the victim mindset of thinking, "Why isn't this happening? I deserve to be a parent," to the abundance mindset of, "Look how much we already have. Being parents will be the icing on the cake." This is an excerpt from the 30 days of fertility meditation program I created just for you. 

When people have more awareness, they have better health physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is why how we form thoughts from past experiences, and being aware of those thoughts that become beliefs is so important to observe and become aware of. In today’s episode, Hillary talks about harnessing the power of our brain to rectify its belief, or to create certainty in the future ability to become a parent. She discusses creating certainty to buy your way through the tough moments, so you can keep taking action in the correct direction, along with the and create momentum key to creating positive momentum, and meditation to separate our thoughts from our deep inner wisdom and guidance.   To share your own fertility story, please email me at hillary@ladypotions.com. I look forward to connecting with you, as you are what this podcast is all about.   Takeaways [2:48] Certainty is the currency for your dreams of creating a family, yet our brain will try to dissuade us from risking the uncomfortable thoughts of pain and failure. [4:15] When people are operating at the highest level of consciousness, they have a higher chance of coming up with creative solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems. They have more confidence, and when we have more confidence, we gain positive momentum, which is the key to manifesting the life of our dreams quickly. When large groups of us are in this mindset, it’s like a chain reaction around us and it’s almost contagious to all of those we come in contact with. [5:33] Elizabeth Markie, founder of Tribrain Yoga says, “Thoughts are electric and feelings are magnetic.” Momentum is a force that can take us any direction and has everything to do with beliefs and how we manage our thoughts. [7:17] Beliefs are just thoughts you have thought over and over until they have become a non-negotiable belief. If beliefs come from the past, certainty comes from the future. Many believe they will never get pregnant, their body can’t hold a pregnancy, or it happens to everyone but them. These are not facts. These are beliefs colored by thoughts and emotions that you have experienced over and over until they have created a thought so strong you believe it as a fact. [10:14] Potential from a scientific standpoint is kinetic energy waiting to come to life and move something. Because 70% of our thoughts are on repeat, they are like a broken record based on past experiences playing over and over, all while creating evidence for our brains. Real certainty comes from daring to believe in the future circumstance you haven’t yet created and realizing that either way, you could feel bad. Our actions shift our circumstance and that becomes more evidence and certainty for the future. [18:58] Mindfulness is key to helping us slow down our thoughts to observe them and see our brain as possibly lying to us and/or being stuck in the past. [22:47] The brain doesn’t understand the reality of physically doing something, and the brain values emotions and feelings over thoughts any day. You have thoughts and they are stuck in the past at the moment creating the emotion of fear. [27:37] Meditation begins.   References: Fertile Minds on LibSyn Fertile Minds on iTunes American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine The Life Coach School Diagram - Hillary will provide     Continue Your Journey: @ladypotions4u on Twitter @ladypotions4u on Instagram   My Website: Ladypotions.com Special Thanks to Christopher Lloyd Clarke for music

Today we will be covering one of my personal subjects in life, food! Food therapy has always been part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It can be really easy to initiate your own healing simply by eating for your current TCM disharmony. I will share with you some easy life solutions and three different approaches that you can start with your very next meal. Food has a lot of ties to our belief system, our past, and emotions we have yet to feel. Changing the way you eat can seem very overwhelming, so today I invite you to just pick a few from these three ideas that suit you and your life.   To share your own fertility story, please email me at hillary@ladypotions.com. I look forward to connecting with you, as you are what this podcast is all about.   Takeaways [2:34] This can be a really hot topic for some people. I think most of my patients would rather me ask them who they voted for and how much money they make than for a weekly food journal. The reason why is food has a lot of ties for many of us. It’s got our belief systems all wrapped up in it, this is good, that’s bad, I can never follow a diet, I’ll get fat if I eat that, I’ll feel better if I eat that over there, I’ll eat in secret and no one will know, and so on. And it’s highly tribal and social. Most of us were comforted by food when we were little and as adults in the western world, it is often the center of many social gatherings. So when we start poking at it, and suddenly trying to change the way we eat, it can get a little unnerving. [5:42] If you do have blood sugar instability and you test positive for gestational diabetes, you could pass that insulin instability down two generations. That’s right, your unborn grandchildren could have trouble with their blood sugar or even PCOS. This is because insulin can compete with your hormones trying to dock in your ovaries, reducing egg quality, or even stopping ovulation. We have the power to affect the health of the next two generations by what we put into our bodies up to one full year prior to getting pregnant. [6:01] I would rather encourage you to make positive small changes that feel right to you rather than your feeling like your eating is one more thing you have to try and be perfect at. The implications of your DNA occur one full year before you get pregnant. [8:25] Even a 2% change a day has a cumulative effect. It’s important to start small and adopt habits and a diet that feels positive and nourishing. If you pick what feels right at this stage of the game, you can work with suits you now and always circle back to more of them. If it doesn’t feel good, you are going to make an excuse not to. [8:39] Pick what feels right for you and your partner, and start small. [10:24] The first approach is from Daoshing Ni, from his book The Tao of Fertility. He thinks of the menstrual cycle as a season, and there is a systematic way to eat accordingly along with the phases.  This can be helpful to improve egg quality, sperm quality, and your menstrual lining. It might be a bit difficult if you are a creature of habit or have a tendency to grab raw cold food as this is pretty much prohibited on the diet. It is a simple approach that can drastically make a difference in less than three months. [12:10] The second is a general list of what not to eat, and a meal order solution like Green Chef or Hello Fresh. This is great for the on-the-go person that is working too much or overwhelmed by the idea of shopping and cooking. However, it can get pricey, especially if you cave and order take out when you have organic food sitting in your fridge. [13:09] Third, is the pattern diagnosis of TCM by symptoms that tell you how to eat based on TCM. This will often help you feel the best the quickest and make your overall constitution stronger helping you to achieve optimal fertility. It can be difficult if both of you have completely different imbalances or constitutions. It’s a win if you love strict rules. It gives a list of don’ts and dos. [14:20] In the Tao of Fertility approach, you think of your menses as the season of winter. Shedding, ending and contracting. The week after your period is like spring where plants and flowers are budding and blooming, and the ovulatory phase is summer. The luteal phase is akin to autumn, the idea that Earth is filled with activity and where the temperature is beginning to drop as we come towards Winter. During the first two weeks of your “seasons,” you want to incorporate foods that will strengthen your egg quality and energy. This includes grains, high protein foods like eggs, meat, and beans. It’s important the food is warm for digestion. If you feel extra fatigued and weak during menstruation, you want to eat a lot of blood-nourishing foods like bone broth. The second phase after ovulation shifts to leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale, chard, and berries. [23:15] Build healthy blood through the addition of foods like eggs, avocados, seeds (chia, flax, sunflower, and pumpkin) and nuts (with the exception of peanuts), unrefined coconut, and full-fat organic grass-fed dairy (as long as there is no intolerance or allergy). Healthy blood encourages good circulation to nourish egg follicles and to build healthy endothelial lining. Must of us go out of our way to make our baby's first nursery the best it could be, really though our womb is really baby’s first home, so let's make the most of it! [25:44] Always choose full-fat instead of fat-free. Often times when they take the fat out, they replace it with sugar and other unhealthy additives. [26:40] Method 3 is pattern diagnosis of TCM by symptoms that tell you how to eat for your fertility based on TCM. This will often help you feel the best the quickest and make your overall constitution stronger helping you to achieve optimal fertility. It can be difficult if both of you have completely different imbalances or constitutions. It’s a win if you love strict rules and are good at abiding by a list of do’s and don’ts. [29:22] I go through the patterns of foods and symptoms depending on the body types, symptoms and deficiencies.  You can also download the food quiz here on the website for a further dive into what you should be eating for your specific constitution. [29:51] In TCM, Chi is translated very loosely to “circulating life force energy.” Kidney Chi deficiency can range from not enough energy, feeling low mood or stagnant, lower back pain, and stale menstrual blood. Foods that are useful in building up the kidney energy include raspberries, seeds, and nuts, venison, and lamb, shellfish and such as basil, fennel, and horseradish. [32:53] Spleen Chi deficiency can look like changes in appetite, bruising easily, excessive worry, and cramps that feel as though they are bearing down. It can lead to an inability to lose belly fat and water retention. You will want to avoid cold foods, deep fried foods, and dairy. Foods that help are cinnamon, clove, garlic, chestnuts, and all the foods in the kidney yung pattern such as shellfish, roasting chicken or lamb and roasted vegetables. [36:31] Yin is responsible for moistening and cooling, and foods that rebuild these cooling fluids are things are fish dishes with coconut milk, omelets, sweet potatoes, duck, string beans, fruit smoothies. You want to avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar and pungent spices. [39:37] Liver Chi stagnation is basically stress and shows up by being prone to depression, irritability, and possibly nipple discharge which is a sign of high levels of stress and hormonal imbalance. [41:09] Blood stasis or deficiency can show up as more anxiety or a low pain threshold, numb hands and feet, and fibroids or endometriosis. Foods that help to increase blood and decrease stasis include dark leafy greens, alfalfa sprouts, mushrooms, watercress, barley, apricots, kidney beans, mussels, oysters, tuna, and pate.   References: Fertile Minds on LibSyn Fertile Minds on iTunes American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine The Tao of Fertility: A Healing Chinese Medicine Program to Prepare Body, Mind, and Spirit for New Life, by Daoshing Ni and Dana Herko Sun Basket Feed Your Fertility: Your Guide to Cultivating a Healthy Pregnancy with Chinese Medicine, Real Food, and Holistic Living, by Emily Bartlett and Laura Erlich   Continue Your Journey: @ladypotions4u on Twitter @ladypotions4u on Instagram   My Website: Ladypotions.com Special Thanks to Christopher Lloyd Clarke for music

Our generation has been raised to be goal-oriented and to go after what we want, whether it’s a law degree or a new car. While being independent is great and what the culture values, infertility is way different and it’s important to value receiving to get pregnant and stay pregnant. There's power in learning how to lean into doing things for the purpose of feeling good rather than to achieve a specific result. Finally, Erin and I give some tips for self-care that hopefully will provide listeners with a feeling of hope, relaxation, and gratitude.

Despite having been recognized within medical literature for over a hundred years, Endometriosis remains a very poorly understood condition. In today’s episode, Hillary discusses exactly what it is, why it takes so long to diagnose in the first place, how it can impact fertility, long term implications, and natural treatment options.   Takeaways: [3:15] Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent benign inflammatory disease. It affects women during their pre-menarcheal reproductive and postmenopausal hormonal stages. It is defined as the presence and growth of endometrial tissue in locations outside of the uterus. Displaced endometrial tissue responds to cyclical hormonal changes, proliferating and shedding outside of the uterus, and the bleeding is then accompanied by inflammation caused by irritation of local tissues such as the peritoneum. [6:28] The most conservative estimate is that Endometriosis is estimated to affect approximately one in ten women of reproductive age, which is approximately 176 million women in the world. It’s considered one of the most common gynecologic problems in the U.S. and a leading gynecologic cause of both hospitalization and hysterectomy. This may be a conservative number due to the fact that so many diagnoses are missed in teenage girls. [7:29] Initially, endometriosis was related to retrograde menstruation, but new theories have been launched, suggesting that chronic inflammation can influence the development of endometriosis because inflammatory mediators have been identified elevated in patients with endometriosis. [10:26] A few of the factors to developing endometriosis include an early period before the age of 12, short menstrual cycles, a D&C procedure, and a genetic predisposition. One of the main ways to diagnose it is through laparoscopic surgery. [15:20] Signs and symptoms include killer cramping before or during the menstrual cycle that does not respond to treatment, severe backache, bloating, and chronic fatigue. Additionally, women may experience constipation, swollen abdomen, intestinal gas, depression, and insomnia. [19:22] Given its association with chronic systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, it’s theorized that there is a link between endometriosis and an elevated risk of atherosclerosis and subsequent coronary heart disease. Interestingly, also epithelial ovarian cancers may be higher in women with a history of endometriosis. In nearly 8,000 women with EOC, women with a self-reported history of endometriosis had three times the risk of clear cell EOC and double the risk of endometrioid and low-grade serous EOC, but no changes in risk of high-grade serous, or mucinous EOC. Again, increased risk of ovarian cancer. And finally, and this is really interesting, women with endometriosis have a very clear increased risk of hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, other autoimmune conditions in addition to Hashimoto’s, including systemic Lupus, MS, and Sjogren’s, and also atopic disease is also significantly more common in women with endometriosis than women in the general U.S. population. [25:32] The holistic approach to dealing with endometriosis encompasses treating both the pain and the root cause. [36:32] A few of the natural treatments include Devil’s Claw, Melatonin, Adaptogens, and Medicinal Mushrooms. Also, it is important to decrease or eliminate foods that cause inflammation such as a high amount of dairy and animal products. One also must detoxify their liver and reduce stress and environmental exposures. [36:32] A diet similar to the Mediterranean Diet seems to do well for those with endometriosis, as the focus is on healthy fats, lean meats and plenty of vegetables. [54:38] Other options and treatments include speaking with a professional practitioner about an IUD, acupuncture and getting a pelvic or abdominal massage. Many places will teach you the art of doing the massage technique on yourself so you can administer it on your own time.   Continue Your Journey: Jade Disperse 2 Farmer’s Footprint Arvego.org Castor oil pack   Website Ladypotions.com

When it comes to using the chakras there are actually two currents that help the energy to flow, however, most people are only accustomed to using one of them working from the bottom chakra up. This pathway is what is sometimes referred to as the path to liberation or emotional freedom. The other less know current is the downward current from the heavens to the earth plane, sometimes referred to as the current of manifestation. For thousands of years in Chinese Medicine humans have been explained as a divine mix of matter and spirit, a pivot if you will between heaven and earth. When it comes to using the chakras and meditations to help your pursuits of beckoning a healthy happy baby into your life, both currents must be taken into consideration. This meditation will show you how to do just that, all while helping you turn on your relaxation response. 

Confronting Your Parents After Motherhood Julia was born in South Korea, but was adopted and raised by a white family. Now that she has her own child—the first biological relative she’s ever known—she’s rethinking her relationship with her own family, and on a search to find her birth mother.