Podcasts about iui

Trying to conceive can feel like a never-ending cycle of guessing, hoping, and waiting. In today's episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what I'm doing differently as my husband and I begin trying for baby #3. I share my personal fertility journey—from battling infertility and IVF to welcoming two miracle girls—and why this season feels different. This time, I'm pairing faith with science by using Inito, the at-home fertility monitor that tracks four key hormones for a full picture of your cycle. No more squinting at test strips or relying on app predictions. Inito has given me clarity, peace of mind, and a six-day fertile window backed by real data. But more than that, I'll walk you through the biblical perspective that shapes how I use tools like this: stewarding my body wisely, trusting God fully, and remembering that faith and science are not enemies. If you've ever felt like you're missing something or wasting precious cycles, this episode is for you. You'll walk away with practical TTC tools, spiritual encouragement, and a reminder that even in the waiting, God is good. ----more---- Try Inito THE Fertility Tool you Need - as shared today, this is the tool I just started using as we begin preparing for conceiving baby 3!! The Inito Starter Pack is available for just $89 with the code THEWAITINGWELL at inito.com - this is the tool you HAVE to have: Your very own fertility lab that measures actual values of Estrogen and LH to predict your fertile days, PdG (urine metabolite of progesterone) to confirm ovulation and FSH to track your follicle growth.    ✨ Plus, I'm sharing an exciting announcement about my brand-new mini course, Peace in the Wait — created just for women in the two week wait after ovulation, IUI, or IVF. If you're longing for daily encouragement and structure to stay grounded in truth, this will bless you deeply.

When IVF fails and you're childless after infertility, people often try to cheer you up with “at least you can…” comments. But what these comments really reveal is how uncomfortable our society is with sadness. In this episode, I share how a recent injury reminded me of that cultural reflex, why sadness is not a flaw, and how you can create room for both grief and growth as a childless woman. Plus: details on my free class September 17 and my World Childless Week panel on September 20, Rediscovering Your Identity as a Childless Woman. Sadness and Infertility: When It Feels Uncomfortable Have you ever been told “At least you can travel” or “At least you don't have to pay for college” after your IVF failed? If you're childless after infertility, you know how painful and dismissive these “at least you can” comments feel. People think they're comforting, but they rarely land that way. In this week's episode of The So Now What? Podcast, I explore what these comments really mean, why they don't help, and how to stop internalizing the silent message they send — that sadness, disappointment, and grief are emotions you shouldn't feel. You'll hear: Why people reach for “at least” comments and what it reveals about society's discomfort with sadness How my nephew's recent soccer injury reminded me of our instinct to erase someone else's sadness The connection between these comments and what we hear when IVF fails Why sadness is not a flaw but proof that something mattered to you How to hold both infertility grief and the good that still exists in your life Why rediscovering your identity as a childless woman can shift your story from loss to strength This episode also celebrates the 4-year anniversary of The So Now What? Podcast. Four years of creating a community for women who were left without resources after fertility treatments ended without a baby.  Free Resources & Upcoming Events Free Class: Wednesday, Sept 17: Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond Without Spiraling or Shutting Down). Morning/afternoon in the US, evening in Europe.  Register here! World Childless Week: Saturday, Sept 20: I'm leading a panel called Rediscovering Your Identity as a Childless Woman at 8 AM CT / 2 PM BST. Join us live or catch the replay. Register here! Free Guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Download it for free. CLICK HERE! ☕ Help me celebrate 4 years of The “So Now What?” Podcast! If this podcast has supported you, would you leave a rating or review? Reviews help more women who are grieving infertility discover this resource. As a thank-you, I'll send you a $5 Starbucks gift card.

Are you ignoring symptoms like painful periods, spotting, or constant fatigue—thinking they're just a normal part of being a woman?The truth is, these subtle signs may actually be your body waving red flags about your fertility. If left unchecked, they can delay or even prevent you from conceiving, even if your doctor has brushed them off as “normal.”In this episode, you'll discover:-The 7 key infertility symptoms most women overlook but shouldn't.-Why conventional care often dismisses these red flags—and what they're missing.-The first steps you can take today to uncover root causes and move closer to pregnancy with confidence.Press play now to learn how to decode your body's signals and finally take control of your fertility journey.

In this episode of Trying to Be Positive, Anne sits down with Whit to share a raw, hopeful fertility story: three losses, multiple failed transfers, and the heartbreak of “it's not going to happen."From the shock of recurrent pregnancy loss to navigating IVF, IUI, and surrogacy setbacks, Whit opens up about NK cells, low LAD, sperm DNA fragmentation, ERA/EMMA/ALICE results, and why “try another retrieval” wasn't the full picture. Anne breaks down what immune factors can mean for implantation and how small shifts in care, advocacy, and timing can change everything.If you've been told donor eggs or surrogacy are your only options or you're stuck after “normal” test results—this conversation is for you. You're not alone, there is hope, and your questions matter.

Today, Ali sits down with Jessica Bell van der Wal, founder of Frame, to talk about her deeply personal fertility journey and what ultimately led her to create a resource to better support others.Jessica talks about learning about her mother's miscarriages, growing up Catholic, and facing her own unexpected challenges when trying to conceive. She opens up about having PCOS, a mild thyroid condition, irregular cycles, and ovarian cysts, and also navigating infertility treatment with no fertility coverage. She also gets real about anxiety and shame, the loneliness of late-night Googling, and going through IUI (which ultimately led to her pregnancy). Follow on IG: @meet_frameFor more, click: www.frameyourfuture.comTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IUI success; PCOS; thyroid condition; ovarian cysts; male factor infertility; anxiety; shameEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Order yours now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacySupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af-infertility-and-modern-family-building-through-art/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Amanda and her husband had tried everything but IVF on their road to try to conceive. After failed IUIs and no known diagnosis beyond unexplained infertility, they felt stuck and frustrated. Amanda had had cycle issues for years, but had always used birth control to suppress symptoms. Now, it seemed like they could be contributing to their infertility. A friend reached out with a different option and a new perspective: restorative reproductive healthcare. The rest is history. Hear Amanda's story of natural conception and a healthy pregnancy after infertility and failed assisted reproductive technology treatments!NOTE: Appropriate for all audiences but does discuss assisted reproductive technology.GUEST BIO: Amanda, a speech pathologist, has been married to her husband for 4 years and began working with Woven Natural Fertility Care in March 2025 after unsuccessfully working with an assisted reproductive technology clinic.SHOW LINKS:Ep. 163: Healthy pregnancy in 3 cycles after being told IVF was her only hope, with LorenEp. 155: "How I got pregnant when IUIs didn't work" -- Braelyn's storyEp. 147: Emotional healing after IVF, with Shiloh IVF MinistryEp. 122: IVF Alternatives for friendsEp. 96: Theological Considerations with IVFJoin us on Substack*Get started like Amanda: Register for an Intro Session today*Send us a textSupport the showOther great ways to connect with Woven Natural Fertility Care: Learn the Creighton Model System with us! Register here! Get our monthly newsletter: Get the updates! Chat about issues of fertility + faith: Substack Follow us on Instagram: @wovenfertility Watch our episodes on YouTube: @wovenfertility Love the content? The biggest gift you could give is to click a 5 star review and write why it was so meaningful! This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Neither Woven nor its staff, nor any contributor to this podcast, makes any represe...

Could your bathroom habits be quietly sabotaging your chances of getting pregnant?If you've been struggling to conceive, you may not realize how much your digestion impacts your fertility. When your body can't properly eliminate excess estrogen through daily bowel movements, it can throw off your hormones, disrupt your cycle, and make conception more difficult.In this quick episode, you'll discover:-How irregular elimination can trigger estrogen dominance, inflammation and interfere with fertility.-Simple daily habits to support hormone balance through digestion.-Natural strategies to keep your gut healthy and working in favor of conception.Press play now to learn how something as simple as regular elimination can help restore hormone balance and bring you closer to your positive pregnancy test.

When IVF fails, your brain can feel like the enemy, spiraling with infertility triggers, constant comparison, and the grief of being childless after infertility. In this episode, you will discover why your brain reacts this way when fertility treatments do not work, and three simple practices to begin calming your mind and finding peace. Have you ever felt fine one moment, and then a single pregnancy announcement, bump photo, or piece of unsolicited advice left you spiraling? If IVF failed you and you are now childless, your brain may feel like the enemy. But the truth is, your brain is just trying to protect you. In Episode 182 of The “So Now What?” Podcast, you will discover why your brain works the way it does after infertility and how to start rewiring it so you can feel calmer, steadier, and more in control of your story. You will learn: Why your “smoke alarm brain” gets so sensitive after IVF fails and infertility treatments end What it means to “name it” when you feel yourself reacting (fight, flight, freeze, or fawn) How to look for glimmers of safety that calm your nervous system faster than pep talks Why bridge thoughts are more believable and more healing than toxic positivity How shifting the way you respond to infertility triggers helps you reclaim peace and confidence in your childless life Once you stop seeing your body and brain as the enemy, everything changes: your friendships, your marriage, your time, and your ability to create a meaningful future without children.  Announcements

Is your fertility struggle really about MTHFR—or could your genes be pointing to a much bigger story?If you've ever been told that an MTHFR mutation explains why you can't conceive—or if you've tried all the “clean living” advice and still aren't seeing results—this episode is for you. We explore how genetics, oxidative stress, and hidden nutrient weaknesses can quietly impact egg and sperm health, making pregnancy feel out of reach even when you're doing everything “right.”In this episode, you'll learn...-Why MTHFR is only one piece of the fertility puzzle and what else you must consider.-How oxidative stress and genetic predispositions directly influence egg and sperm quality.-The role of functional genetic testing in uncovering hidden causes of unexplained infertility and guiding personalized solutions.Press play now to uncover how your genes and environment interact—and how this knowledge can finally move you closer to growing the family of your dreams.

268. Savvy Business and Health & Wellness Tips and Journey to Overcoming Infertility with Laura Jean Bell   1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."   Today's episode includes some thematic material. I want you to be aware before you listen in the presence of little ears.    *Transcription Below*   Laura Jean Bell is a believer, storyteller, writer, wife to her high school sweetheart and mama to three miracle babies.   She is a published author of You Can Always Come Home by Laura Jean Bell, in addition to being a Business and Social Media Coach.    Laura also overcame stage 3 endometriosis by taking the road less traveled and now she spends countless hours helping other women take that road with her!    Connect with Laura on Instagram: @laura_jean_bell   Laura Jean Bell's Website   Questions and Topics We Discuss: What are a handful of practical tips you can offer others, especially as it relates to digital marketing? Will you share your research on Minerals: How do we even determine what minerals we need?  Will you leave us with a few more social media tips?   Thank You to Our Sponsor: Midwest Food Bank   Other Episodes Related to This Topic from The Savvy Sauce: 48 Pursuing Health, Not Vanity Before and After Childbearing with Blogger, Speaker, and Coach, Megan Dahlman 33 Pursuing Health in the New Year with Functional Medicine Specialist, Dr. Jill Carnahan 68 Hormones and Simple Changes to Feel SO Much Better with Functional Medicine Expert, Dr. Jill Carnahan 70 Energy to Spark Success in Your Business with Best-Selling Author, Speaker, and Podcaster, Christy Wright 76 Conflict Resolution, Infidelity, and Infertility with Licensed Psychologist and Certified Sex Therapist, Dr. Jessica McCleese 77 How 2 Questions Can Grow Your Business and Change Your Life with Author, Pastor, and Podcaster, Jeff Henderson 132 Pursuing Your God-Given Dream with Francie Hinrichsen 256 Gut Health, Allergies, Inflammation and Proactive Solutions with Emily Macleod-Wolfe 266 Female Sex Hormones, Periods, and Perimenopause with Emily Macleod-Wolfe   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook, Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:10)   Laura Dugger: (0:11 - 1:25) Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living. I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.    Today's episode includes some thematic material. I want you to be aware before you listen in the presence of little ears.    Thank you to an anonymous donor to Midwest Food Bank who paid the sponsorship fee in hopes of spreading awareness. Learn more about this amazing nonprofit organization at MidwestFoodBank.org.   Laura Jean Bell is my guest today, and she is a Jesus-loving author and also a business and social media coach. So, not only is she going to share some of her best savvy social media and business tips, but also the conversation takes a detour into health and wellness, and she has an abundance of wisdom to share there as well, even including practical tips that we can implement today for our own flourishing in health and well-being. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Laura.   Laura Jean Bell: (1:26 - 1:27) Hi, thank you for having me.   Laura Dugger: (1:28 - 1:34) I'd love for you just to start us off by giving us a snapshot glimpse of your current life right now.   Laura Jean Bell: (1:35 - 2:27) Oh, my goodness, my chaotic life. Actually, it's a sweet, beautiful thing, but I am a wife to my high school sweetheart. We have been married, this year will be 11 years, and we have three kiddos. Emmylou, who is six. She literally just turned six. My son Oaks, who is three, and my youngest is Lottie, and she just turned nine months. So, my life is very full. I own my business, I am a published author, and I have three very, very needy children, right? I'm in a season of life where I'm very, very, very needed, and that's a beautiful thing, but it can be a very overwhelming thing at times. So, that is a little snapshot about my day-in and day-out life.   Laura Dugger: (2:27 - 2:43) That sums it up well. Gorgeous kid names, by the way. Oh, thank you. But I'd love to hear more about your business, too. Would you mind just explaining the work that you get to do as a digital marketer and online income mentor?   Laura Jean Bell: (2:44 - 4:58) Sure. Okay, so, this has been such a fun journey for me, and just to maybe explain it in like a Reader's Digest version, because I think that there's so much on the internet right now that's like, make $5 million in four minutes. But what I do is actually help business owners.    So, like the average woman who maybe is wanting to build an income or find her place online, that was where I started. That's where I began, like really helping those women be like, “Hey, I can be a business owner, too.” I can actually have like a mark and a place in this space, which I think is often really hard for women to like grasp, because we're so inundated with influencer culture.    But as the business began to expand and grow, I really started to lean into how do I help business owners actually market their business and make it really profitable online? Because a lot of times there's business owners that have these great businesses, but they don't actually have the marketing piece to actually sell the thing that makes their business a business. And some of them have a brick and mortar, and they're brick and mortar as well, but they'd love to increase their income.    How do you do that? You get online; you make sales online. And so, what I do is I teach female business entrepreneurs how to scale their business using Instagram.    I do not focus on any other platforms. My main focus is Instagram and teaching them how to use their messaging to make sales consistently. And so, I help them figure out their messaging and then write it.    Actually, I write content for a lot of my clients. And then I teach them consistency and speed so that their life isn't just consumed by the internet, which is like what all of us feel, right? Like, once you get on, you're like, how do I do this?    And I have to create this, I have to edit this, I have to do that. Like, it becomes very overwhelming. And so, what I do is I just eliminate the overwhelm.    I simplify it and I help entrepreneurs really find their messaging.   Laura Dugger: (4:59 - 5:15) Wow, that's incredible. So, you clearly have a gift for communication and articulating different things. Is there anything you want to just give us a little peek into practical tips if somebody is running their own social media?    Any tips you'd have for business owners?   Laura Jean Bell: (5:17 - 6:59) I think that the biggest, the greatest understatement that's happening right now online is followers and views mean absolutely nothing. They are like the beginning of Instagram, the beginning of social media. It was all about like, how many friends do you have?    And then it was how many followers do you have? And you know, how many views are you getting on your stories? And you get all these interactions on your reels.    And like, while that is the mental game of social media, and that is the thing that everybody is going for, because it actually fuels this like dopamine hit in your brain. But the reality is, is that there are people with thousands upon thousands of followers that are making $0 on the internet. And what they need is the actual messaging that says, “Hey, this is how I serve this pain point, and give you the life you want.”   And so, the biggest thing is, if you have five people in one day that view your stories, and three of them actually buy from you, like, that's over 50%. So, you're looking at, while everybody is freaking out about the number, it really is about your messaging in order to convert to sales, you can have a bunch of eyes on you. But if you're not serving the people that are following you, and serving them towards a sale, it doesn't mean anything.    So, don't focus on the numbers, focus on your messaging, focus on your brand, focus on what it is that you are serving your people with. And you will make money, you just will. It's how it works.    So, I hope that answers your question. Well for you.   Laura Dugger: (6:59 - 7:26) But yeah, I love it, because it's so unexpected, I would have never known. And I've also heard you encourage people to share their stories rather than just stating facts. And you share your own story, both online and in your book, You Can Always Come Home: Following the Breadcrumbs of Your Past to Find the Hope for Your Tomorrow.    So, Laura, how can we all incorporate stories into our own work so that we can better serve others?   Laura Jean Bell: (7:28 - 8:59) That's such a good question. And I think the biggest thing is, what story do you want people to know? What story is it that like, you really think like, you've been pricked, right, by the Holy Spirit, like, this is the story that I need you to tell.    This is why you walked through this experience. This is why you're doing this thing. Because oftentimes, we can negate the things that we've walked through, and act as if like, those things didn't, weren't that big of a deal because you survived it, right?    Like, oh, well, you know, it wasn't anything, it was a big deal, right? And so, what are the things that you actually feel are important, they keep showing up, they keep becoming the things that people are asking you about? And how do you tell that story to where somebody hears the messy middle, and then the beautiful resolve, the beautiful ending to that story, because there is, right, the beginning, the middle, and the end.    And that's what makes stories so impactful. Facts tell, right? Like, anybody can tell you that, like, a carrot is orange.    But like, if somebody tells you the story of how the carrot became orange, or how this, like, what the soil does to all of this, and how it adds these nutrients, doesn't that make you like, appreciate a carrot more, want to eat a carrot more, want to go buy the carrots more, right? And so, the same goes with our story, like, what is it that actually happened to create this specific result?   Laura Dugger: (9:00 - 9:11) That's so good. Well, and speaking of stories, are you willing to walk us through a little bit of your own story with your health journey? Yeah, absolutely.    Ask me anything.   Laura Jean Bell: (9:11 - 9:16) I'm an open book. It might scare some people. I'm an open book about it.   Laura Dugger: (9:17 - 9:33) I appreciate that. Yeah, just, you're clearly a very healthy woman. But I know you've had a whole past that you've walked.    So, has health always been important to you? Or at what point of life did you start to make some changes because it wasn't working?   Laura Jean Bell: (9:35 - 14:24) Yeah, you know, it's so interesting. When I reflect on something like that. Um, you know, I grew up in a home, I always start with this, like, my mother was not a dieter.    Like she didn't diet all the time. She wasn't always like, on some workout trend or not eating carbs or not doing this. Like it was never that.    My mom is naturally like very, very, very thin. And so, like that wasn't a part of the conversation. My mom was always obsessed, though, with, like eating food that's good for you.   Like, and in the 90s, like that was really tricky, right? Because they were so many messages about like, what's good for you? What's not that is bad.    Like there's all these things. And while our household, I say was probably much healthier than the average household in the 1990s and early 2000s. I don't think that I ever like cared about my health.    I still ate the Hot Pockets and the Easy Mac and ramen noodles and every opportunity that my parents actually let us eat out like I was chowing down. So, when I reflect on like my years, like 0 to 18, all I cared about was just consumption. I was like, nobody could stop the amount of food that I could consume.    I'm five foot eleven (5' 11”). I was growing like crazy. You can ask my family like I could out eat anyone.    It was kind of unbelievable. So, that part of my life, like, that was not an unhealthy thing. College is when things began for me.    And when I went to college, I for most of my life, I was a competitive dancer. So, like, I was consuming but I was burning like it was like calories in versus calories out. I had no concept of that.    I did not know how to read a nutrition label on the back of a box until I was like, well into college, like, literally remember learning how to do it in a college health class. So, I go to college. And I noticed that I started gaining weight, right?    Like, I'm eating all the fast-food options that are in our student center. And then the cafeteria food. This isn't my mom's home cooked meals anymore.    This isn't the mostly healthy option anymore. And I start gaining weight. So, when that happened, I started hearing other girls talk about what they were doing.    Like, oh, well, you just eat less than exercise more. And like, I had no concept of like, what, what did that mean? Right?    Like, do you just not eat like I love to eat, right. And so, what I started doing, I didn't know how to like lift weights or do anything. So, I started running, because I thought, okay, I have endurance, I danced forever, like, you have to have that endurance with that.    So, like, I'll run. So, I start running. And I completely gave up meat.    I was like, well, I can just eat. I thought meat somehow made you fat. I don't know.    That was just some weird thing that I had in my head. And I stopped eating meat, and I ate less. So, like, I just kind of narrowed down what I was eating, and then ate less of it kind of thing.    And that was when my health problems began, was when I began doing that. Which is really interesting, right? I was probably eating roughly like 1000 to 1200 calories a day, but I was running four to six miles a day.    So, like, I was not fueling what I was burning. Although I was losing weight. So, like, calories in versus calories out, like the concept of like, just eat less than exercise more, it was working.    I was 19. Like, I was young, I had a like, everything was working right, you know. But all of a sudden, my body was like, you're depriving me.    And I'm not only being deprived of actual calories, I'm being deprived of nutrients. And what began to happen is it started to show up in my hormones, with my cycle, started breaking out in hormonal acne on my chin, I started having very short cycles. So, like, for any woman listening that maybe doesn't have a concept of this language, because oddly enough, so many women don't, and it's like about us.    But like, a woman has a cycle, your period isn't your cycle, it's the full month that's your cycle. And I was instead of 28 days, I was having 18 day cycles. And the pain during my period was excruciating.    It was so painful. And I'd never experienced that before. So, those were the things that began to show up.    But I just kept going with what I was doing. And just thought I just had bad periods. I had family members that had bad periods, this just must be genetic. And I just have to live with it and pop ibuprofen every 18 days, right. So, that was kind of where it where it started.   Laura Dugger: (14:25 - 16:04) Let's take a quick break to hear a message from our sponsor. Midwest Food Bank who exists to provide industry leading food relief to those in need while feeding them spiritually. They are a food charity with a desire to demonstrate God's love by providing help to those in need.    Unlike other parts of the world where there's not enough food, in America the resources actually do exist. That's why food pantries and food banks like Midwest Food Bank are so important. The goods that they deliver to their agency partners help to supplement the food supply for families and individuals across our country, aiding those whose resources are beyond stretched.   Midwest Food Bank also supports people globally through their locations in Haiti and East Africa, which are some of the areas hardest hit by hunger arising from poverty. This ministry reaches millions of people every year. And thanks to the Lord's provision, 99% of every donation goes directly toward providing food to people in need.    The remaining 1% of income is used for fundraising, cost of leadership, oversight and other administrative expenses. Donations, volunteers and prayers are always appreciated for Midwest Food Bank. To learn more, visit MidwestFoodBank.org or listen to Episode 83 of The Savvy Sauce where the founder David Kieser shares miracles of God that he's witnessed through this nonprofit organization. I hope you check them out today. Was that the point that led to what you call your year of rebellion? Or did that come later?   Laura Jean Bell: (16:05 - 23:39) No way that that was just the start of basically, roughly eight years of undiagnosed endometriosis. So, what started happening is in college, I would have these what I call episodes where I would be roughly like a day or two before my period would start. And I would have this unbelievable pain that would come over me.    And I could feel it literally my lower abdomen, so much pressure, so much discomfort. Oftentimes, it would involve vomiting, passing out, so painful. To this day, I've had an unmedicated birth.    And I'm here to tell you that the pain of pushing out an almost 10-pound baby, and that were roughly the same thing. It was unbelievable, excruciating pain. I would go to the doctor, they would not give me ultrasounds, they would not check anything, they would not even do my blood work, they did nothing.    They would just say you have really painful periods, and we'll give you birth control. That was every year from 2010 until 2017. This was what was given to me.    And so, in 2017, I was on my way to work, and I had one of those episodes. And I called the doctor, they bring me in, and I said, I want an ultrasound, like I will sit here all day, I need an ultrasound. And so, they did an ultrasound and found two cysts on one ovary, one on the other, and they were six and seven centimeters and six centimeters.    I mean, it was just crazy, these large cysts. And they were like, you more than likely have endometriosis. This is, you know, they started explaining all the things.    And fast forward, I ended up having two laparoscopies, which is the surgery to remove endometriosis in 10 months, the average woman can go 18 months between surgeries, and I had mine in 10 months. That's how reoccurring rapidly it was growing and spreading in my body. And I felt zero relief from the surgeries, which everyone promised, like, you'll feel amazing, you'll, you know, you'll get pregnant. I couldn't get pregnant. I was in so much pain, and I go through another cycle of it.    And it's like, these doctors are like, yeah, you're probably just not going to be able to have children. We recommend you getting on birth control, or getting a hysterectomy, like, these are your options. And so, what I did is I went to see a fertility specialist, like anybody would do like, I'm not going to just stick with my OB. I'm going to see if I can actually have kids. And so, I see a fertility specialist, I go through multiple, multiple, multiple rounds of fertility treatments, and I wind up getting pregnant with my first daughter, Emilu.    So, she is a product of folly stem stimulation and an IUI. And lots of trigger shots and lots of synthetic progesterone. I did all of it.    And after my daughter was born a year postpartum, I got pregnant again, and I miscarried that baby. That baby was miscarried March of 2020, which is when everybody went crazy, right? 2020, like who has their 2020 story, right?   And so, my daughter was little, I mean, she was like 14 months old, when I had this miscarriage. And I remember watching, I watched this video, it was called The Pandemic. And a lot of people like didn't actually see it because it was taken off the internet for misinformation.    And it was a woman that was explaining what was really happening with the pandemic, which is funny, because all of it's true now. But it was taken down like, she's crazy. This is a horrible pandemic, nothing was created in a lab, all of that.    And I was like, I went to watch it again, because I thought this woman must be crazy. Like there's no way that this would actually happen. And I went to watch it again.    And it was taken off the internet for misinformation. And this thought came over me, which is so bizarre now. Like, I know more about Kim and Kanye's divorce, than I know about what's happening with this pandemic.    Yet, Kim and Kanye's divorce information is there for me to see. And they're not letting me look at this. Why?    And it was this very strange thing that came over me. But everything that came out that was like, don't take this medicine to help COVID, don't do this, actually, like saturated fats are bad for you, like all of these different things that were popping up. And people were saying, it's misinformation.    I was like, I'm going to research that. I'm going to research that. I'm going to research that the fertility doctor that did my DNC after I had a miscarriage. They actually said to me, you will never again, have another pregnancy.    But if you do, you will not have a normal child. That is what they discovered and decided about me, according to the results from that DNC, what happened to that baby, why that baby wasn't developing, why I lost that baby. It literally like, and him saying that to me, I was like, why?    And it was almost like he couldn't explain to me the reasons why, but that I just never would. And this is what I needed to do next in order to stay healthy and keep endometriosis away. And so, I went on this journey for one year and I committed to one year where I was like, everything that is misinformation, I'm going to research it.    Everything that I have been told is good for me or is the best choice for me because of my condition. I'm going to actually look at what they're giving to me and like, why? Um, every time somebody told me like endometriosis is incurable.    Okay. But like, what is endometriosis? Nobody actually explained to me what it was.    They just told me I had it and that it caused what it caused, not actually what caused it. And so, when I went on this journey, I began to discover and unfold so many things that absolutely blew my mind, broke my heart, made me very angry because as I began to implement the things that I discovered, I healed and I got better. And all of a sudden I don't have endometriosis anymore.    All of a sudden I'm pregnant with a very healthy baby. All of a sudden, like everything is better. How is it that the things that the providers that were working with me, what they were doing for me was keeping me sick.    And as I branched out and did all the things that they said was absolutely crazy. I had one of them literally looking at me and he was holding topical progesterone and he was like, this stuff, like with all due respect to this functional doctor that talked to you, this stuff doesn't work. And unfortunately they sell things to people like you, young women who are desperate for answers.    They sell this stuff to you to make so much money and it's not going to do anything for you. Guess what? Topical progesterone changed my life.    So, anyways, that is kind of a little bit of like my year of rebellion and what happened. I'm happy to go into details for you, but I feel like I'm getting long winded with it.   Laura Dugger: (23:39 - 24:13) No, that's incredible. I do want to do a deep dive into it because I think it's such a blessing after you've spent over a year researching this and then living this for multiple years. I think it can be such a benefit to each of us.    And I'm recalling this story specifically about toxins where people were saying that means nothing. But in that fertility clinic, somebody told you, there was a sign that said their employees were not allowed to wear certain toxins because quote, it could inhibit the fertility process.   Laura Jean Bell: (24:14 - 24:14) Yes.   Laura Dugger: (24:15 - 24:16) Can you elaborate on that?   Laura Jean Bell: (24:17 - 26:18) Yes. You know, what's really funny is I went to the health department to get some paperwork and stuff for my kids the other day. And, um, there was a sign up that was like any and all women that are getting mammograms, if you're getting a mammogram, do not wear perfume or deodorant for a mammogram because of the radiation mixed with the toxins.    I asked the woman that was sitting there, I was like, why did they say that? And she explained it to me and I was like, oh, okay. So, why aren't you telling us to stop wearing it altogether?    Um, but when I went to the fertility clinic, I was going through fertility. I was like an avid Daisy by Mark Jacobs perfume where I don't know. I still love the way that smells.    It's the yummiest, but I would wear it all the time. And I went in and the woman that was there, she was like, you smell so good. And I was like, it's Daisy by Mark Jacobs.    She was like, I wish I could wear perfume to work. I'm not allowed to. And I was like, why not?   And she was like, oh, because like the people that are working on women who are going through fertility, getting their IU eyes. So, it's like when they're actually inseminating you, like we, it could inhibit the fertility process. She was like, have you ever noticed we don't have any candles?    Like we're not allowed to bring candles here, all of that. And I was like, why aren't you telling me to stop doing that? Is that not interesting to anyone?    Like why is no one paying attention to the fact that like, I'm walking in here with perfume on to get an IU eye that's going to fail because it inhibits the, for the fertility process, like the one that works. Uh, guess what? I wasn't wearing any perfume.    So, it's like, it's one of those things that like, when I heard that, I thought, well, what is it that messes with the fertility process? Like what, what is that? And this was honestly, when I heard this information, this was before my year of rebellion.    So, like, I remember her telling me that and I kind of stopped wearing it to the sessions because I thought, well, I don't want to get this messed up anyways.   Laura Dugger: (26:18 - 26:29) So, yeah, pretty wild. That's incredible. And okay.    So, from that year of rebellion, what other tweaks did you make small and large?   Laura Jean Bell: (26:30 - 29:38) Oh man. Um, some big things like I removed toxins from my home. So, that looked like removing Clorox wipes and, um, detergents that are just like your average detergents that you buy from the store.    Um, I stopped burning candles and started burning, not burning, but diffusing essential oils. Um, from there, what I really started focusing on was my protein intake. Um, I spent so many years vegan, vegetarian, refusing meat, refusing proteins.    And those were the years that things were really bad for me. When I started to reincorporate animal proteins and quality animal fats, my cycles went from 18 days to 29 days. I started having painless periods.    My hair started growing more. Um, my nails wouldn't break. Um, my, even my vision got better.   And so, what was really interesting is I started learning that if you are protein deficient, you will be progesterone deficient and progesterone is the pregnancy hormone. This is the hormone you have to have in order to conceive. I always tell it like this progesterone equals pro gestation.    So, if you don't have enough progesterone, your baby cannot survive the first 12 weeks. That's what the baby lives on before the placenta is formed. You have to have progesterone in order to balance out the estrogen progesterone balance.    If it's imbalanced, that's where you have pain, mood swings, acne, discomfort, the growth of endometriosis and PCOS. These things are really important. Progesterone is so important for your mental health.    If you are mentally low, like think about your progesterone levels. Think about how much you're sleeping. If you're sleeping in complete darkness, that raises your levels.    If you eat at least 80 grams of protein a day, it raises your progesterone levels. These are two really basic things. Like it's really simple.    It's not complicated. So, that was probably the biggest thing for me was learning how to eat because for years we're told, at least all of my life, like fat is bad. They would rather you eat hydrogenated oils and I can't believe it's not better than actually eat grass-fed butter.    Why? Why is it bad for you? When you really uncover the work that was done in the studies that were given for explaining that fat is bad, it was all paid for.    It was all paid for by the medical industry, by big pharma in order to push this agenda. They said that it was bad for our hearts, but get this, in the years after they told everyone that it was horrible for heart health, heart disease skyrocketed as people began to eat less animal protein and less animal fats. So, anyways, just to give like a little, some of the things that I discovered and changed, that's the main thing, which really and truly is like not that complicated.    Wow.   Laura Dugger: (29:39 - 29:45) Yes. Focusing on what you're intaking. What about cortisol? What did you learn about that?   Laura Jean Bell: (29:46 - 32:21) So, cortisol is like your get up and get crap done hormone. Okay. And when you are living in a state of fight or flight, where basically you get up in the morning, I'm going to give you an example of what a lot of women do.    And they end up having issues with cortisol and eventually stop producing it altogether. So, a woman gets up in the morning, she wakes up, she drinks a cup of coffee with no food on her stomach. And she goes and does a 30-minute cardio workout.    And then she comes in and she eats maybe like a protein bar, like a little, like some type of granola bar, another cup of coffee. She goes to work. She works all day or she's home with her kids all day.    And by the time she's got her work done, or she's taking care of her children and fed her children, doing all of these things, you're going all day long. All of a sudden it's three o'clock and you haven't eaten anything and you're in a bad mood and you're really tired. And so, maybe you go get a snack and another cup of coffee.    And then by the time you get to dinner, it's the only meal that you've really sat down and had for the day. Okay. So, what has that done to you?    Your body believes because your body and your brain don't know the difference between a bear chasing you or you running strictly on caffeine and doing too much cardio. And so, all of a sudden she is moody. She's exhausted.    She's running on all this tension. Her hair starts to fall out. She gets acne.    Her skin's doing some weird stuff. Her nails are kind of brittle. All this, you're always moody.   You're always in a bad mood. It's because your cortisol is doing this. It's like, and it's like on, it's like high.    And sometimes when you keep doing this, you actually can get a lot of energy. And then all of a sudden your adrenals, because your adrenals are what produced cortisol. Your adrenals are like, actually we're done.    Like stop running from the bear. Just die. Like literally it like can't do anything for you anymore.   And you go into what a lot of people call, or doctors call adrenal failure, which is where your body doesn't even produce cortisol anymore. And so, that is when you can't get out of bed in the morning. You're so exhausted.    Um, you can't lose weight. You, no matter what you do, you're winded. You're overwhelmed.   Um, but you don't have energy for anything. You have so much brain fog, um, so much bloat and inflammation. It's because your body's not producing cortisol.    So, you don't have the energy to get anything done. Um, does that answer your question?   Laura Dugger: (32:21 - 32:45) Yeah, this is so interesting because I feel like there's a whole health movement right now. So, there's a lot of buzz about all of this and people, I think, especially after 2020 people are waking up. So, love gathering perspectives as you're talking about inflammation then too, with cortisol, have you researched much about grounding, like actually barefoot on the earth?    Yes, girl. Are you kidding me? Absolutely.   Laura Jean Bell: (32:46 - 35:48) Um, so, something that was really interesting, I went to see a specialist, um, when I was really healing my adrenals, because a fun fact for you, like when your adrenals are just in overload, if you are experiencing high cortisol, you're constantly up here. Guess what? Your body's going to throw out the window fertility because what in the world is safe about a body that is running from a bear?    Like, no, your body is preserving you because it's not safe for you to host a life. So, I was seeing a doctor who was really helping me. Um, it's called muscle testing.    So, they test each organ according to how your muscles respond. And, um, I was in adrenal failure. And at this point I'd already had my second child and was experiencing a lot of inflammation.    I couldn't lose weight. I was like so tired. I was irritable.    And, um, I did this long session with him and I was in St. Pete, Florida doing this session. And he said, you have an assignment for the rest of the day. And I was like, okay.    And he was like, you need to go to the beach, like go somewhere and actually lay your entire body down on the sand. He was like, I know, like nobody wants to get sandy, but like lay on the sand. And I was like, tell me why.    And he was like, if you lay on the sand, it's your body touching the earth. And God gave you the earth as a battery pack. And this battery pack literally is going to shoot energy back into your body that your body has been deprived of.    And like, there's, he started going into all the studies for it, but he was like, don't you ever know the difference? Like, and how you feel when you've been cooped up at work all day. And then like, you go on a vacation to the beach and you sit on the beach and you put your feet in moving water.    He was like, it's literal living water. This living water moves and it heals and rejuvenates what happens to water that stagnant. It gets disgusting. Yeah.    It turns to mold, right? It actually goes toxic, but that moving water is healing. It's living.    It's rejuvenating. It's very biblical, right? And then you have the earth that God gave you is this battery pack.    There are people, this is going to sound crazy, but there are who have done LSD, like psychedelic drugs that talk about the vibrations of the earth. When they're on this drug, they are seeing the way. And they talk about there's a magnetic field.    They like, you can read, you can watch videos. You can see studies of people who did LSD, who literally can see the energy that the ground gives you. I mean, it's crazy, but isn't it like the Lord, right?    To give us what we need in nature, like magic.   Laura Dugger: (35:49 - 37:17) Yes. Where we're going back to the way that he designed, whether that's eating whole foods or getting outside in his beautiful nature. There's countless benefits, but I think it's just amazing that taking your shoes off and being on the earth, even for 30 seconds is beneficial.    When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce?   How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you? Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials, anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love?    If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help. Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple podcasts.    Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.    You had also talked about previously with your health journey, being deficient in minerals, I think you said as well, or just not getting the nutrients. So, are there any minerals that we all are likely lacking or any that you would recommend from your research and experience?   Laura Jean Bell: (37:18 - 39:36) Yeah, I would, I mean, every mineral. The most underrated mineral right now is potassium. The amount of women who are potassium deficient and need more potassium is unreal.    But magnesium is huge. You have to have magnesium for your body to even naturally produce vitamin D. Like vitamin D is a hormone, but you have to have magnesium for your body to produce vitamin D.    How many have gone to the doctor and they're like, you are very low in vitamin D, right? Well, get in the sunshine more, take the supplement, but like, where's your magnesium, right? And so, magnesium, potassium, potassium is huge, especially for your mental health.    This is really going to help you in like balancing out, like you're removing the brain fog, really. Sodium, which everyone's like, eat less sodium. You need less sodium chloride.    You need less table salt. You don't need less salt. Your body has salt.    Your body needs salt. Think about what your t-shirt looks like when you drenched in sweat. It dries and what does it have?    Salt. It's salty, right? When you're sweaty, it's salty.    And it's because your body actually needs sodium. It has to have it. And so, stop using white table salt, like iodized salt.    Go get some quality Celtic salt, like really simple, but put that in your water. Like first thing in the morning, drink some water with some Celtic salt, like get those electrolytes back in your system. So, potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium, like your body needs calcium and you can get calcium in multiple ways, um, multiple ways, but calcium is going to support your bones.    It's going to help support your muscles. Cause if you are working those muscles, your body needs the strength. And so, calcium is going to give you that balance as well.    It's fantastic. So, all of them, but like, I think the make sure you're getting magnesium, just like if you just need to start somewhere, just get a magnesium supplement. I recommend magnesium glycinate because it's kind of the overall magnesium.   Laura Dugger: (39:37 - 39:44) So, it's great. Okay. And you said you can get calcium multiple places.    Do you take that as a supplement or where do you get your calcium?   Laura Jean Bell: (39:45 - 41:04) So, I actually do adrenal cocktails. So, that is, um, coconut water, orange juice and Celtic salt. That's it.    And just do a little adrenal cocktail in the morning. And in the afternoon, make sure that you have had protein before you drink it, because if you're anything like me, it'll spike your blood sugar. Um, if you're not balanced, so, you need to be balanced.    Um, I've always been very sensitive to things like orange juice, apple juice. Like as a kid, I would feel really bad in the mornings and I just thought breakfast made my stomach hurt. And actually it was like, my blood sugar was dysregulated from the cup of orange juice and the cinnamon toast that my mom gave me.    Right. So, like, it's like butter, sugar, white flour, orange juice, like eat this for a nutrient dense breakfast. And I like would feel horrible after because my blood sugar was off.    So, um, make sure you get some protein on your stomach and drink the adrenal cocktail. Like my parents, my parents swear by it. My dad's like, this has changed my life.    I'm your mom's going to make me one of those little cocktail things that you tell, I tell her about all the time. It's hilarious. And I'm like, it's just juice and coconut water, but it's got the minerals.    That's why it makes you feel so good. It's because it's giving your body the nutrients that it needs.   Laura Dugger: (41:05 - 41:17) That's incredible. Are there any other biohacks, health hacks, even the role of light that it plays or movement or anything else that you want to recommend with your extensive research?   Laura Jean Bell: (41:18 - 43:19) Um, I'll give two things. Uh, number one: if you can get up as the sun is rising or a little bit before and actually go outside and stare at the red light. The actual, morning sunrise, and then watch the sunset. If you can get your eyeballs on just like the surroundings where that red light is hitting, that will do wonders for the production of melatonin in your gut.    It's going to help you sleep. It's going to help you sleep really good at night, which is going to help you with your progesterone levels. So, that is great.    Number two is weightlifting. If you can incorporate at least two days a week of heavy weightlifting into your routine, it's going to do wonders. And the reason I say that is that estrogen, toxic estrogen, not the estrogen that's good for you that you need to like make you female, but like the toxic estrogens you're getting from perfumes and food and plastics and all the things it stores itself in fat, in visceral fat.    And so, the best way to burn fat and build muscle is by lifting weights. And so, if you want to keep toxic estrogens out of your body, step number one, get rid of fat, like fight hard for like, I mean, I'm still postpartum. I'm still burning off like weight that I gained in pregnancy.    But the number one thing that motivates me is not like, I want to look better, which of course I want to look better. Of course I want to fit back into my clothes, like all of that. But like Laura toxic estrogens store themselves in this fat.    And so, what, when you are lifting weights, you are burning fat and building muscle to support your family and not be burdened by the imbalance of your hormones. Like right there. That is the reason why.    So, lift weights. It's so good for you. It protects you from so many other diseases, but like that alone, women do not understand the power of that.    It's going to do wonders for you.   Laura Dugger: (43:20 - 43:47) Okay. This is so helpful. And then I'm thinking it's beneficial to have a specific plan.    So, as we think about where you talked about laundry detergents or limiting toxins, will you share a few of your personal favorite products? And then also what are some recommended things we can actually eat? Like when you walk through a healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, what would you share?   Laura Jean Bell: (43:49 - 45:22) Okay. So, some favorite products. I started out using Thieves household concentrate.    Young Living sells it. And it's like $26 for a bottle of the concentrate. That concentrate can be household cleaner.    So, like it can clean any surface in your home. It can be used as dishwasher detergent. So, we use thieves instead of like pods in our, in our dishwasher.    And I'm here to tell you, I think Young Living just came out with dishwasher pods, like Thieves dishwasher pods. We don't use it. We still use the concentrate.    But we use that. You can use it in your laundry so you can wash your clothes in it. And so, we alternate with that.    Sometimes we use that. Sometimes we use Molly's Suds. Those are like little pods.    You can get them on Amazon. It's a non-toxic option. You can also wash your clothes and like baking soda and vinegar, like just be old school.    Your clothes won't smell like vinegar. Don't worry. Like the vinegar gets rid of the odor.    That's like how our grandparents did it. So, those are some really simple hacks. Just because that's inexpensive.    Like you can make 16, I think it's 16 bottles of household concentrate, like spray with the one bottle. So, like you buy the one bottle, it takes a cap full and then you fill the rest of the way up with water and it cleans anything. It's fantastic.    It smells great. You'll love it. What else did you ask me?   Laura Dugger: (45:22 - 45:28) Food? Yes, food. Like a sample menu. Okay.   Laura Jean Bell: (45:28 - 47:02) Something that I love to eat. I love to just really enjoy my food. Like if you're on the go, like I'll give it an example.    If you're on the go, I recommend like boil some eggs. Okay. Take like three boiled eggs.    Get like a chopstick to get your protein and like an RX bar. RX bars are going to have the carbs, but it's also going to have more protein. You'll get six grams of protein per egg and then about 10 grams in your chopstick.    So, it's like 18 grams of the eggs plus 10 is 28 grams plus the RX bar. You're going to get over 30 grams of protein and then you'll have some carbs. I do recommend getting a little bit more carbs, but if you're on the go and you're in a hurry and you need to feel balanced, that's a good start.    If you're home, like I love doing scrambled eggs and air frying sweet potatoes, peppers, and onions. It is delicious. Just trust me and season it with garlic powder and salt.    It's so simple. Some avocado oil and literally just allow, like think about all the carbs, all the protein, everything. The best hack though, that I learned with eggs is do two regular, like the full egg and then do two egg whites and then add cottage cheese to your eggs, blend it in a blender and then cook them and just thank me later.    So, you're getting extra protein, it's creamier, it's so good. And then eat that with sweet potatoes and peppers and it's primo.   Laura Dugger: (47:02 - 47:12) Okay. This sounds amazing. I love it.    And this is my post recording meal, the RX bar. I love it on busy days.   Laura Jean Bell: (47:13 - 48:27) Yes. For lunch, I mean lunch, I honestly, I keep like ground beef patties just ready. And my air fryer stays on. I literally use it for every meal.    Sometimes if I don't have it ready, I just pat it out, put it in the air fryer, it cooks. Do that with a bunch of veggies, get lots of fruit, mainly berries, like berries, apples, and just adding that in is your carb. You can do, if you need a snack, I highly recommend doing Greek yogurt and mixing in your favorite protein powder and mixing that up.    It's so good. The Greek yogurt gives you the carbs, the fats and protein, and then you add the extra protein in it. And so, it's excellent.    For dinner, our favorite meal, we eat a lot of grass-fed beef because we buy cow every year. So, we'll do bowls and we'll do like a bed of rice, sweet potatoes, peppers and onions, and then ground beef. And then we drizzle the Japanese barbecue sauce over it.    And we call it Japanese barbecue bowls. It's literally just like a bunch of vegetables and meat with sauce, but it's really good.    So, there's some meal ideas for you.   Laura Dugger: (48:28 - 48:49) That's incredible. Thank you for just rattling those off. We've got a plan now.    And I love how this conversation took a turn toward health. So, before we leave that section, any other healthy rhythms or best practices or ways you've simplified your life that you would recommend? Just sleep.   Laura Jean Bell: (48:49 - 49:34) I know that sounds ridiculous, but people aren't sleeping and go to bed without your phone. You're going to be okay. You really are.    If your kids can go to bed without their phones, without a phone in their face, you can do it too. It's not the best way to turn your brain off. So, go to bed.    When you lay in a dark room without any blue light, you actually are helping your nervous system reset itself. And it needs a moment to rest and digest. So, get in the bed without a blue light and close your eyes and go to sleep.    You can do it, but it's so simple. And try to get eight to 10 hours of sleep a night. Truly, it's so important.   Laura Dugger: (49:35 - 49:54) That's so good. And you're all about simplifying. You even help people simplify their digital marketing.    So, as we turn it back to business, I know you can't give away all of your secrets, but will you share just a few more business or social media tips with all of us?   Laura Jean Bell: (49:55 - 50:43) Oh, man. I think the number one thing that I would tell anyone who's wanting to do anything in the online space is don't spread yourself across every platform. It's not worth your time.    And the more you hone in on one thing, the more of that thing you will sell, like plain and simple. And you will make way more money. You will spend way less time working on it.    You will enhance the lives of the people that choose to work with you. That is what you will gain.    If you simplify your offers, number one, sell less. Just sell more of one thing and stop spreading yourself thin across all the platforms. It's just too much work.   Laura Dugger: (50:43 - 51:03) That's wise counsel. And will you also tell us, I mean, I'm amazed as I'm thinking of all this research that you've done. You're living a healthy lifestyle.    You're raising young children, consulting with others as their coach. Also, you wrote a book. Can you share a little bit about that?   Laura Jean Bell: (51:03 - 52:50) I wrote my book. I actually have it right next to me because I was like, if somebody is going to ask you what this book is about, it's a book of short stories. And it sounds really simple, but it's a book of short stories that really draws you back to who you are in the Lord and understanding your place, like your identity in Christ, your belonging, fighting against fear and really coming home to who God created you to be.    And so, this book is a compilation of short stories of my own life where these things were very disrupted. My identity, like a total identity crisis, like not just having so much fear, learning how to come back to who God made me to be, but really writing out the moments of when I was living in that season and the people that helped me kind of find my way out and the things that God really showed me in that journey. And so, have it right here.    You Can Always Come Home: Following the Breadcrumbs of Your Past to Find the Hope for Your Tomorrow. It's really what my heart was and I learned a lot when I left my hometown and I moved to small town, North Alabama. And although this is where my dad is from, this was not where I was raised.    And I walked into a total identity crisis when I moved here. And I write a lot about that and about the moments when I was living in that season. How the Lord would reveal to me, like, remember when this happened, or remember when this happened and how you handled it or what that person said to you. And I wrote those stories in here.    And so, the goal of this book is for anybody who reads it to know that God's on your side and everything's going to be okay.   Laura Dugger: (52:51 - 53:06) Thank you for sharing that, Laura. And we'll certainly add a link for that in the show notes for today's episode, but also what links can we give for your social media? And then if somebody wants to reach out and work with you, what would that process look like?   Laura Jean Bell: (53:07 - 53:47) Yeah, so, my Instagram is Laura_Jean_Bell and Jean is J-E-A-N. And if you want to work with me or reach out, you can email me at laurabellwrites@gmail.com, or you can literally go to my Instagram account and click the link in my bio where I explain what I do. And it offers an ability to hop on a call with me where we can talk together and see if we would be a good fit to work together.    So, those are the ways that you can contact me. I have a website, laurabell.co, and you can contact me through that as well.   Laura Dugger: (53:48 - 54:07) Wonderful. Thank you for adding that. We will make sure it's accessible for everyone.    And Laura, you may be familiar with why we're called The Savvy Sauce, which is because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, my final question for you today, Laura, what is your Savvy Sauce?   Laura Jean Bell: (54:09 - 56:38) For life in general? You got it. Okay.    Well, I have two of them. And so, one of them is kind of silly and one of them is not. So, I'm going to go with the non-silly one.    Oh, share both. Yes. But I will say like this, there was this line that I heard, and I don't know who like trademarked this line, but it was very simple.    It said, “You are the CEO of your life.” And it was very simple, but it changed everything for me because for so much of my life, like if your knee jerk reaction to things not going your way is to blame someone else, you're not living as the CEO of your life. And I have spent a lot of my life, like when something doesn't go my way, I look for a person to blame instead of looking at myself and my own flaws. Being able to see that, “Hey, sometimes Laura, you're to blame and like, it's okay.”   You're the CEO of your life and you get to see what you did wrong, see how you messed up, see how you needed to shift something and then move on. And I think so many of us, whether we want to believe it or not, we can fall victim to that and live our lives so attached to this idea that somebody else is always to blame. Somebody else did this to me.    Sometimes things do happen to you that are not your fault. Sometimes you are a victim of horrible crimes and horrible things happening to you. But the question is, what are you going to do about it?    Who are you going to talk to about it? Are you going to go to the Lord and ask Him what it's actually supposed to look like for your life moving on from this place? Are you going to stay in a mindset that's small and traumatized, small and victimized?    Or are you going to say, “I'm the CEO of my life and I'm going to link arms with the Holy Spirit and keep moving forward.” And so, that was a huge thing for me to learn. And I feel like it's kind of been my savvy sauce in the last probably year, because 2024 was a year of a lot of things happening to me that weren't my fault.    And finally, one day I thought, you know, Laura, you can sulk in this, but it's not going to change your circumstance. What's going to change your circumstance is you saying, “I'm in charge of my life and I'm going to pick up the pieces of this and I'm going to ask God what to do with it.” And so, anyways, you're the CEO of your life and it's time to take charge of that.    So, yeah.   Laura Dugger: (56:38 - 56:42) I love it. And now you've got to share your silly one as well. You've left us curious.   Laura Jean Bell: (56:43 - 57:01) What is The Savvy Sauce? Let me just tell all of my, all of my geriatric millennials out there, you need to put castor oil on your face. Okay.    Just know that like castor oil, you need to look like a glazed donut when you go to bed and your skin is going to be, your skin will thank you. Just trust me.   Laura Dugger: (57:02 - 57:26) That's incredible. I was so grateful you shared. And Laura, I can see why clients are so drawn to work with you.    It is so delightful to have conversations with you. You are gifted in so many different arenas. And I think what really stands out is your generosity and just your willingness to share all of this with us.    So, thank you so much for being my delightful guest today.   Laura Jean Bell: (57:26 - 57:29) Oh, it's such a gift talking to you. Thank you for having me.   Laura Dugger: (57:30 - 1:01:12) One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.    Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.    We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.    That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.    This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.    Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.    And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.    First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.    You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.    We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.    And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.    And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

092.  We have Selah on to share her spontaneous pregnancy at 41. You might know her for her older mom and boy mom skits on IG or as the voice of Chloe Bourgeois. She started trying to conceive in her early thirties. After three years of trying, she started to be more intentional by tracking her ovulation and temperature, but nothing happened. She went to a fertility clinic for help. They cleaned out her fallopian tubes, scraped her uterus and removed a garden of polyps on her uterus. She was never officially diagnosed, but she had an endometrioma on her uterus. Her periods were extremely painful. Then she had two IUI's, but that didn't work. With her three egg retrievals, she only got nine eggs total, so she wasn't confident. Finally, the embryo stuck with the transfer, and she had her first son at 37. At 38, she wanted to try for a sibling, but after a year of trying, she wasn't pregnant. At 39, right before Christmas, she email her clinic to let them know she was ready to have another transfer. Christmas morning she woke up only to realize her cycle was late. She found out Christmas Day she was pregnant at 39 with her second baby. Selah didn't think it was possible to get pregnant at 41. Get more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode92/Donate to the show: If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I can't keep the podcast going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it's as small as the price of a coffee, please donate HERE. 

We're back with another special series, diving into one powerful theme at the heart of home birth journeys. This time: First Time Birth Stories. What helped you when you were preparing for home birth? For Paige, “Ina May's Guide to Childbirth” and Doing It At Home podcast were two of the biggest resources in her journey. In Paige's submitted audio story, she walks us through her preconception journey as well as the planning for home birth and the birth of her son, Cole. Themes and topics from Paige's story: Unexplained infertility and struggling to conceive IUI process Exploring a birthing center option Finding a midwife Support from husband Different positions during birth Postpartum hemorrhage Healing and recovery Addressing questions and comments around home birth Links From The Episode: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth: ⁠https://amzn.to/41gwx8F⁠ Offers From Our Awesome Partners: Needed: https://needed.sjv.io/XY3903 - use code DIAH to get 20% off your first-time, one-time order More From Doing It At Home: Doing It At Home book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vJcPmU DIAH YouTube: https://bit.ly/3pzuzQC DIAH Merch: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/doingitathome Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Ali is joined by Dr. Amanda Adeleye, the founding partner and Medical Director of CCRM Fertility of Chicago -- and an REI who isn't afraid to tackle some of the biggest myths and misconceptions around fertility. Ali and Dr. Adeleye dig into some of her patients FAQs, from the stereotype that Black-identifying people are “hyper fertile,” to what you should tell your doctor if you have a history of substance use or abuse. They talk about how they are both featured experts who answer questions on Roon.com -- a free, trusted resource built by doctors that helps you navigate your health journey with expert videos. They also bust myths about male factor infertility and whether long-term birth control use contributes to infertility. Spoiler alert: Dr. Adeleye sets the record straight.Follow on IG: @amanda.j.adeleye_md and @roonwomenshealthFor more, click: www.roon.comTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; male factor infertility; substance use and abuse; fertility stereotypes for Black-identifying people; birth controlEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacySupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Did you know that the vitamin best known for fighting colds could also boost your fertility and protect your reproductive health?If you've been trying to conceive, chances are you've focused on tracking cycles, hormones, and protocols—yet one simple nutrient may be quietly making a big difference. Vitamin C not only strengthens immunity but also helps reduce inflammation, protect eggs and sperm from oxidative stress, and support implantation—all key factors in increasing your chances of a healthy pregnancy.In this episode, you'll discover:-How vitamin C protects fertility by reducing oxidative damage and inflammation.-Why whole food vitamin C supplements often provide better absorption and added fertility benefits compared to standard ascorbic acid.-Easy ways to add vitamin C-rich foods into your daily meals to naturally support hormone balance and reproductive health.Tune in now to learn how one powerful nutrient can help create the fertile foundation your body needs to conceive.

Teddy's mama, Elizabeth, started A Touch of Teddy 501(c)3 in 2023 in his memory, with a mission to send free teddy bear ornaments to pregnancy & infant loss families during the month of October. In this episode we discuss her passion for continuing her son's name by pouring her pain into helping other loss families.Find her and help support on Instagram: @atouchofteddyWebsite: https://atouchofteddy.org/Go to LOSSLINK.COM to find your local Loss Posse!*************************************NOTE: I am not a doctor or a therapist. The views of my guests are not always reflective of my own.  I am just a real life loss mom describing her experiences with life after loss. These are my experiences, and I'm putting it out there so you feel less alone. Always do your own research and make informed decisions!For more REAL TALK about baby loss and grief, hit subscribe to be notified when another episode drops!Support the podcast and shop the store!  At a Total Loss Shop Instagram @thekatherinelazar Youtube: @thekatherinelazarEmail: thekatherinelazar@gmail.comWebsite: www.katherinelazar.com Some helpful resources:https://countthekicks.org/https://www.measuretheplacenta.org/https://www.pushpregnancy.org/https://www.tommys.org/ Local to Atlanta:https://www.northsidepnl.com/

Could hidden inflammation be the reason you're struggling to conceive or experiencing recurrent miscarriage?Chronic inflammation is one of the most overlooked yet powerful factors impacting conception and miscarriage risk. Many women are told their symptoms are “normal” or that their “eggs are old,” but in reality, unaddressed inflammation could be the real reason your body isn't creating a fertile environment for pregnancy.In this episode, you'll discover:-The subtle signs of inflammation that most women and even doctors miss-How inflammation disrupts ovulation, egg quality, and implantation-Practical, science-backed strategies to lower inflammation and support your fertility naturallyPress play now to learn how to reduce inflammation and finally create the healthy, receptive environment your body needs to get — and stay — pregnant.

It's a very special minisode with three of Ali's favorite people in the fertility world: Dr. Carrie Bedient, Dr. Susan Hudson and Dr. Abby Eblen, aka Fertility Docs Uncensored. Today, we're diving into their brand-new book, The IVF Blueprint, which comes out September 23. The docs and I break down what they've learned from years of guiding patients through IVF—the science, the strategy, and the emotional side of treatment. We talk about why they wrote this book, what each one of them brought to the table, and how it aims to empower anyone navigating infertility with knowledge, clarity, and compassion. Whether you're just starting to explore IVF, already in treatment, or supporting someone you love, this episode is packed with insights and real talk from some of the most trusted voices in reproductive medicine.Follow on IG: @fertilitydocsuncensoredFor more, click: https://www.fertilitydocsuncensored.com/TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; egg retrieval; frozen embryos; embryo transfers; empowerment and education; REIs; what to ask your doctor before IVF EPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode 181: Childless Legacy – How to Create One If you are childless after infertility, what kind of legacy are you leaving? When IVF, IUI, or years of trying to conceive did not lead to the family you dreamed of, it can feel like your story has nowhere to go. Like your legacy disappeared along with the possibility of motherhood. But what if you could create a legacy that does not depend on having a child? In this episode of The “So Now What?” Podcast, Lana shares a deeply personal reflection on what legacy really means when you are childless not by choice. Inspired by her grandfather's 118th birthday and the stories passed down about the life he lived, she challenges the belief that legacy begins when you are gone or only matters if you are remembered by children. Your legacy is how you show up in your life today. It is how you treat yourself, how you treat others, and how you decide to keep living even when life turned out differently than you hoped. In this episode, you will learn: What a childless legacy really is, and why it matters now more than ever Why waiting to be remembered is keeping you from feeling fulfilled How to reflect your values in your day-to-day life A new way to define meaning and purpose after infertility Why you do not have to wait for someone else to tell your story A challenge to start building your legacy now, not later If you have ever wondered how to create a life that feels meaningful without the children you dreamed of, this episode will speak directly to you.

Could the hidden bacteria in your vaginal microbiome be the reason you're struggling to get pregnant—or experiencing miscarriage?Most fertility advice focuses on hormones, ovulation, or sperm health. But the truth is, your vaginal microbiome is the gatekeeper for conception. When this delicate ecosystem is out of balance—even without symptoms—it can sabotage sperm survival, block implantation, and raise your risk of miscarriage.In this episode, you'll...– Learn why your vaginal microbiome could be the missing piece in your fertility journey– Discover how imbalances damage sperm, increase miscarriage risk, and lower IVF success rates– Get natural, practical steps to restore a sperm-friendly, pregnancy-ready environmentListen now to uncover how your vaginal microbiome could be silently sabotaging your fertility—and what you can do today to protect your chances of getting and staying pregnant.

Join us as we celebrate the incredible women choosing solo motherhood with fertility specialist Dr. Rose McDonnell from Genea Perth. These remarkable women are redefining family on their own terms, showing extraordinary courage and determination to pursue their dreams of motherhood. Dr. McDonnell shares her admiration for these patients and provides expert guidance on the medical journey, from optimal timing, donor selection, treatment protocols (IUI vs IVF), success rates by age, and the unique challenges solo mothers face. From pre-treatment screening to pregnancy support, this episode provides essential guidance for women considering or pursuing solo parenthood, backed by the expertise of one of Perth's leading reproductive medicine specialists. This episode honours the resilience and empowerment of solo mothers while providing essential medical insights for women considering this transformative path to parenthood. This episode is proudly supported by Genea Fertility

Our co-founder, Julie Francom, hosts today's episode with Heather from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Heather talks today about her journey with IVF for her first pregnancy and conceiving spontaneously with her second. Heather's first birth involved infertility, ovulation inducers, IUI's (including a chemical pregnancy), solo appointments during COVID, and a C-section due to fetal tachycardia. She conceived naturally with her second, and also talks about the power of a chiropractor and the details of her positive VBAC induction at 39 weeks at only 1cm and 10% effaced due to gestational hypertension. Heather had a Foley bulb, Pitocin, lots of movement, Fentanyl, an epidural, peanut ball, AROM, pushed for a few hours, and met her sweet baby! The Fertility Docs Uncensored PodcastNeeded Website: Code VBAC20 for 20% OffThe Ultimate VBAC Prep Course for ParentsOnline VBAC Doula TrainingSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Send us a textYou finally got the positive test after IVF or IUI — now what? In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols walks you through the first steps after a positive pregnancy test, from confirming with beta hCG bloodwork to your first ultrasound. Learn why rising numbers matter more than the absolute hCG value, why it's crucial not to stop progesterone or estrogen too early, and what milestones to expect in the first 6–10 weeks.Dr. Amols also shares common myths, tips for healthy habits, and insight into the emotional rollercoaster of “graduating” from your fertility clinic to your OB. Whether you've just seen those two pink lines or are preparing for this moment, this episode offers practical guidance, reassurance, and hope for your next chapter.Thanks for tuning in to another episode of 'Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday' with Dr. Mark Amols. If you found this episode insightful, please share it with friends and family who might benefit from our discussion. Remember, your feedback is invaluable to us – leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred listening platform. Stay connected with us for updates and fertility tips – follow us on Facebook. For more resources and information, visit our website at www.NewDirectionFertility.com. Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us at TBFT@NewDirectionFertility.com. Join us next Tuesday for more discussions on fertility, where we blend medical expertise with a touch of humor to make complex topics accessible and engaging. Until then, keep the conversation going and remember: understanding your fertility is a journey we're on together.

Have you been told your miscarriages are just “bad luck”?If you've experienced two or more pregnancy losses and your doctor says it's common or nothing to worry about yet, you're not getting the full picture. Miscarriages are not random. There are hidden, testable root causes that conventional fertility care often overlooks—things like thyroid dysfunction, clotting disorders, infections, hormone imbalances, and even sperm DNA fragmentation.In this episode, you'll...– Discover 8 overlooked causes of recurrent miscarriage that could be standing in your way of a healthy pregnancy– Learn what advanced testing can reveal that standard fertility workups miss– Walk away with clear next steps to advocate for deeper answers so you can protect your next pregnancy and finally carry to termListen now to uncover the real reasons behind recurrent miscarriage—and take back control of your fertility journey with answers that truly matter.

Du Liebe, in dieser Folge lade ich dich auf eine Reise zu einem kraftvollen, oft verdrängten Anteil in dir ein: der wilden Frau. Vielleicht kennst du das Gefühl, immer alles richtig machen zu wollen. Deinen Zyklus genau zu tracken, dich an alle Empfehlungen zu halten, dich zu optimieren – in der Hoffnung, dass es dann klappt. Und dabei dich selbst zu verlieren. Doch tief in dir gibt es eine andere Stimme. Eine, die nicht plant, sondern spürt. Die nicht gefallen will, sondern frei ist. Die vertraut, anstatt zu kontrollieren.

The two week wait can feel like an emotional battlefield — every twinge, every symptom, every day dragging by with anxious questions. But what if these 14 days could become holy ground instead of anxiety ground? In today's episode, I share my own experience with the two week wait, biblical truth that brings lasting peace, and 5 practical tools you can use right now to calm your spiraling thoughts, anchor your heart in God's character, and breathe again in the waiting. Whether this is your first cycle or your fifteenth, God has purpose in these days. You don't have to white-knuckle your way through them. You can walk with peace, surrender, and hope that doesn't disappoint. ✨ Plus, I'm sharing an exciting announcement about my brand-new mini course, Peace in the Wait — created just for women in the two week wait after ovulation, IUI, or IVF. If you're longing for daily encouragement and structure to stay grounded in truth, this will bless you deeply.

Guest: Ashley Rodón, President of the Carlos Rodón Foundation  Host: Dan Bulger, Progyny     In this powerful and personal episode, Ashley Rodón, wife of Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón and President of the Carlos Rodón Foundation, opens up about their emotional path to parenthood. Ashley shares how her dreams of starting a family were met with unexpected heartbreak, multiple pregnancy losses, and the resilience to keep moving forward.  From the devastation of her first miscarriage to the miracle of her daughter Willow, Ashley reflects on the highs and lows of her fertility journey. Along the way, she found strength and support through her partner, family, friends, and community. Now living life as parents of three, she and Carlos founded The Carlos Rodón foundation, a non-profit bringing people hope through The Willow Grant, which offers the opportunity for families to afford fertility treatment.  Ashley shares how their foundation has grown, partnering with organizations like the Nest Egg Foundation and Columbia Fertility to make family building more accessible to all.  This episode proves how the right platform, purpose, and lived experience can spark lasting change for those who need it most.  To learn more or apply for a Willow Grant, visit https://rodonfoundation.org/apply/   For more information, visit Progyny's Podcast page and Progyny's Education page for more resources. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.     Watch this episode on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/CCfSsklVXes 

On today's episode, Ali is joined by Kati Cattaneo—Los Angeles real estate agent, influencer, storyteller, and IVF warrior—for a convo that blends heart, humor, and resilience. Kati opens up about the real and sometimes awkward parts of trying to conceive (“I kinda got crazy with my husband about timing things… and he was like, ‘What the heck—sex is supposed to be fun!'”), navigating her diagnosis of hydrosalpinx, pivoting to IVF, and going through her second egg retrieval on January 7—the very same day the Palisades wildfire destroyed her home. Kati -- who has a big following on IG and TikTok — talks about why she's sharing her infertility journey on socials in real time, what it felt like to lose their home in the LA wildfires (and if they'll rebuild), and where she is now in her family building journey (hint: It's not over yet). Follow on IG: @katicattTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; Los Angeles wildfires; Palisades fires; hydrosalpinx; timed intercourse; egg retrieval; frozen embryosEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, my ATL Loss Mama friend, Lara, tells us about her sweet 1st son Malek who passed at 28 weeks. She has since had her 2nd son Sami who is turning 1. Lara has a rare autoimmune disorder which could possibly play a part in her pregnancies. However, there just isn't much research or information out there. We discuss warning signs, not knowing what they were, lack of information during pregnancy and what that means for subsequent ones. We hope this shines some light for anyone dealing with similar disease and wanting to bring home living babies. Find Lara on IG at @lara.aqel Find your loss posse on LossLink.com! *************************************NOTE: I am not a doctor or a therapist. The views of my guests are not always reflective of my own.  I am just a real life loss mom describing her experiences with life after loss. These are my experiences, and I'm putting it out there so you feel less alone. Always do your own research and make informed decisions!For more REAL TALK about baby loss and grief, hit subscribe to be notified when another episode drops!Instagram @thekatherinelazar Youtube: @thekatherinelazarEmail: thekatherinelazar@gmail.comWebsite: www.katherinelazar.com Some helpful resources:https://countthekicks.org/https://www.measuretheplacenta.org/https://www.pushpregnancy.org/https://www.tommys.org/ Local to Atlanta:https://www.northsidepnl.com/ 

Feeling stressed and worried it's hurting your chances of getting pregnant?Even short bursts of stress can send your hormones into chaos, disrupting ovulation, lowering progesterone, and making your body feel unsafe to conceive. In this quick episode, Dr. Katie shares three fast, proven stress relief techniques you can do anywhere—no yoga mat, no meditation app, no extra time required—to instantly calm your nervous system and protect your fertility.In this episode, you'll...– Learn how micro stress resets can improve hormone balance and boost your ability to get pregnant– Discover three simple techniques you can do anytime, anywhere—even in a meeting– Build long-term stress resilience to lower miscarriage risk and support a healthy pregnancyPress play now to master three quick stress relief tools that protect your fertility and help your body feel ready to conceive.

Send us a textUnderstanding the different types of Diminished Ovarian Reserve and what they mean for your fertility journeyBeing told you have Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) can feel overwhelming — but the truth is, it's not the same diagnosis for everyone. In this episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols breaks down the “automobile” analogy to explain why DOR is a broad category that can mean very different things depending on the cause.You'll learn:The four common “models” of DOR and how each affects fertilityWhy age, AMH, AFC, and FSH tell different parts of the storyHow your specific type of DOR shapes your treatment planReal patient stories that prove DOR doesn't always mean poor outcomesThe essential questions to ask your doctor if you're diagnosed with DORIf you or someone you know has been labeled with DOR, this episode will help you replace fear with clarity — and empower you to make the right next step for your situation.Thanks for tuning in to another episode of 'Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday' with Dr. Mark Amols. If you found this episode insightful, please share it with friends and family who might benefit from our discussion. Remember, your feedback is invaluable to us – leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred listening platform. Stay connected with us for updates and fertility tips – follow us on Facebook. For more resources and information, visit our website at www.NewDirectionFertility.com. Have a question or a topic you'd like us to cover? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us at TBFT@NewDirectionFertility.com. Join us next Tuesday for more discussions on fertility, where we blend medical expertise with a touch of humor to make complex topics accessible and engaging. Until then, keep the conversation going and remember: understanding your fertility is a journey we're on together.

This week, Hanna chats about the loneliness of wanting to get pregnant while living with vaginismus, a reality that can mean painful intimacy, a difficult road to conception, or turning to options like IUI. Also, she shares life updates, including her thoughts on Taylor Swift's new album and how her pregnancy with her twin boys is going so far.Work with Jess from Pain Free Intimacy - code SAYWHAT5 for a discount!The Eden Notepad - code POD for 15% off!

Infertility and Othering: When You Don't Belong Have you ever walked into a room and instantly thought, “I'm the only one here without kids”? That sinking feeling in your body is what is known as othering. Othering happens when you are seen, or you see yourself, as separate because you do not fit a societal mold. If you are childless after infertility or your IVF journey ended without the child you dreamed of, you know how often othering can happen. You get left out of conversations, your life experiences are dismissed, or someone makes a comment that forces you to explain why you do not have children. But here is something you might not have considered. You may be keeping yourself in that “other” role without even realizing it. In this episode, you will discover how you might be self-othering and how to shift the way you show up so you feel more connected and less defined by childlessness. I share why this topic is so personal to me after my own seven-year journey through IVF failed and ended without a child. You will learn the exact mindset shift that helped me stop letting “childless” be my headline and start introducing myself in ways that made me feel confident and part of the room. You will learn how to: Recognize when you are self-othering without realizing it Stop letting childlessness become your whole identity Walk into social settings feeling prepared to lead the conversation with who you are beyond motherhood Use simple questions to connect with friends, family, and colleagues without the focus being on parenting See yourself as more than the one without kids so others can too I also share a Thrive After Infertility client story that shows how one small change in how you show up can completely change how you are seen and how you feel in social situations. If you have been feeling disconnected, overlooked, or like you will never belong in rooms where most people are parents, this episode will help you step out of the “other” box, create your own sense of belonging, and feel empowered in any setting. Links from this episode Free Class: Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Learn practical ways to handle comments without shutting down or feeling small. Register here! Thrive After Infertility: 12 Week Coaching Program Work with me to create a life you love even without the children you dreamed of  Learn more here Book Your Free 45 Minute Thrive Call HERE! In this call, you and I will create a plan for how you can start thriving and loving your life after infertility. Book your call Follow me on Instagram @lana.manikowski If you are ready to stop letting childlessness define your story and start living in a way that reflects all of who you are, press play on this episode now.

Could hidden stress be the real reason you're not getting pregnant?Stress doesn't just make you “feel” tense—it changes your hormones, disrupts ovulation, affects implantation, and tells your body it's not a safe time to conceive. In this episode, Dr. Katie reveals the five sneaky ways stress sabotages fertility and how to break the cycle so your body feels ready for pregnancy.In this episode, you'll...– Recognize the subtle physical and emotional signs of chronic stress blocking conception– Understand how stress impacts your hormones, egg quality, and implantation on a cellular level– Get practical tools to regulate your nervous system and create a safe, fertile environmentListen now to uncover if stress is quietly wrecking your fertility and learn simple, science-backed strategies to fix it starting today.

Today, Ali joined by the multifaceted Erica Cobb—TV host, podcaster, and self-proclaimed “eternal optimist”—as she shares her raw and powerful journey through infertility, IVF, and surrogacy. Erica opens up about the challenges she's faced so far, including a tumor on her pituitary gland, blocked fallopian tubes, and the emotional toll of hearing, “You're pregnant, but not pregnant enough.” Through it all, Erica remains steeped in gratitude and grounded in intention. We talk about spirit babies, manifestation, navigating roadblocks, and the incredible woman currently carrying her baby as a gestational carrier. Her story is still unfolding-- so make sure to listen in and follow along for what happens next. For more, go to www.comeback.tvFollow on IG: @ericacobbTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; pituitary gland tumor; blocked fallopian tubes; spirit babies; manifestation; navigating roadblocksEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipINITOhttps://try.inito.com/hormone-tracking/inf/?discount=INFERTILEAF&utm_source=social_media&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=INFERTILEAFIG: @initofertiilityFor years, clinical labs were the only way to get a clear view of your hormone levels and ovulation patterns. But for many people in the trying to conceive community—especially those with hormone imbalances or conditions like PCOS—frequent lab visits can be costly, inconvenient, and take up a ton of time. This is why I'm excited to tell you about Inito, which is unlike anything else out there. Inito is an at-home fertility monitor that tracks all four key hormones—Estrogen, LH, FSH, and PdG—on a single test strip. Instead of piecing together fragments of info, Inito offers a full, clear picture of your hormone health through a data chart and clear insights that are unique to your body and your cycle.The Inito Starter Pack is available for just $89 with the code INFERTILEAF at ihttps://try.inito.com/hormone-tracking/inf/?discount=INFERTILEAF&utm_source=social_media&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=INFERTILEAFEXTEND FERTILITY IG: @extendfertilitywww.extendfertility.comFertility shouldn't be dictated by a timeline. Extend Fertility offers cutting-edge egg and embryo freezing, infertility care, and IVF—all designed to put you in control. Their approach? Research driven, transparent, and personalized. With a world-class lab, exceptional verified success rates backed by nearly a decade of egg freezing results, and pricing lower than the national average, Extend Fertility is making reproductive care more accessible and effective than ever. Whether you're preserving fertility for the future or actively trying to conceive, they're here with expert support every step of the way. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Your Infertility Journey: How to Stop Explaining It If you are childless after infertility, you have probably been on both sides of the spectrum: staying silent because you do not have the words or emotional energy to talk about your journey, and then overexplaining to justify that you “did enough” to try to become a mom. In this episode of The So Now What? Podcast, we talk about the exhausting pressure to explain why you did not keep going with fertility treatments, adoption, or donor eggs, and how to protect your peace when people ask intrusive questions. I share a personal passage from Chapter 1 of my bestselling book So Now What? about the moment I learned my final embryo was not viable, and how that phone call ended my fertility journey but not my life. You will learn why the way you tell your story is one of the most powerful tools you have, and how you can start telling it in a way that feels true, peaceful, and rooted in who you are now as a woman without children. This is the exact work I do with my clients inside Thrive After Infertility. I help you reclaim your story, stop overexplaining, and feel confident and proud in conversations about your life, even when it turned out differently than you dreamed. In this episode, you will learn: The two extremes: staying silent vs. overexplaining your childlessness Why overexplaining feels like putting your pain on trial How to stop offering your grief as “evidence” to be believed A real-life excerpt from my book So Now What? How to start telling your story on your terms without apology Why this shift changes how you feel about yourself in every room you walk into Links from this episode: Register for my free live class on Auguat 26, 2025 : Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Download your free guide: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless (and How to Respond) Download Chapter 1 of my book So Now What?: Get it here Book your free Thrive Call: Schedule here If you are ready to create a life you love without the children you dreamed of and finally feel rooted, confident, and proud of who you are, I can help you get there.

Think melatonin is just for sleep? This overlooked hormone could be the missing link in your fertility journey.Melatonin isn't just about better sleep—it's a powerful antioxidant that protects egg quality and supports ovarian function. In today's Get Pregnant Now Quickie, Dr. Katie breaks down how this sleep hormone plays a vital role in regulating ovulation, balancing progesterone, and even boosting IVF outcomes. If you've been trying to get pregnant and dealing with poor sleep, low progesterone, or irregular cycles, this is one episode you don't want to skip.In this episode, you'll...– Learn why melatonin is found in your ovarian follicles and how it impacts egg quality– Discover how disrupted circadian rhythms can lower fertility and delay conception– Get actionable strategies to naturally boost melatonin and protect your hormone healthPress play now to find out how melatonin could be a game-changing tool on your journey to finally get and stay pregnant—without guesswork.

If your hormones feel off but no one's giving you real answers, this episode is a must-listen. Caitria Thiele unpacks how to fix low progesterone and why “normal” labs don't always tell the full story. We also dive into cycle tracking, missed ovulation, and the functional steps that actually restore fertility (without losing your mind).Timestamps:[1:53] Intro [4:00] What does progesterone do in the body, and why is it so critical for fertility and overall hormonal Balance? [7:29] What are the glaring symptoms of low progesterone and how we can see it in day to day life?[10:06] What are some of those bigger root causes behind why progesterone drops in the first place?[19:17] Can you walk us through the thyroid-progesterone connection and how they impact each other?[20:26] What are the best ways to naturally increase progesterone?[27:27] Can stress alone lead to low progesterone and how do you help women through those scenarios?[33:16] Is bio-identical progesterone ever necessary and how do women know that it's something they should consider?[41:11] How do we get a truly accurate picture of hormone imbalance and what tests should we take and when? [50:51] In your experience, is infertility truly ever unexplained or is it just under investigated?[52:16] What are some of the most common root causes of infertility in women today that aren't being addressed? [56:58] How do you help somebody who is trying to decide if it's time to pursue an intervention like IVF or IUI?[1:03:14] Any tips for prompting ovulation and is there anything that can help with low testosterone? [1:05:59] I've been so emotional on my period is that indicative of something specifically?[1:06:43] How concerning is a longer cycle, like more than 35 days?[1:08:33] Why do I get migraines 3 days before my cycle begins?[1:09:18] At what point post-partum should I be worried if my period hasn't returned [1:10:33] I've heard so much inositol supplements and I'm curious about it's effectiveness and safety for trying to conceive. [1:11:42] How do you manage your hormones after removing a hormonal IUD or other birth control after years of use?[1:13:27] Is DHEA 5 safe to add in? Episode Links:Connected Healing WebsiteFollow Caitria on InstagramSponsors:Go to boncharge.com/WELLFED and use coupon code WELLFED to save 15% off any order.Go to drinklmnt.com/wellfed and use code WELLFED to get a free 8-pack with any drink mix purchase.Go to http://mdlogichealth.com/whey-protein, and use coupon code WELLFED for 10% off.Go to wellminerals.us/chill and use code WELLFED to get 10% off your order.

What if the key to improving your fertility and regulating your hormones was as simple as adjusting when you sleep, eat, and get sunlight?In this powerful episode, Dr. Katie Wood sits down with functional dietitian Jillian Greaves to uncover the science behind your circadian rhythm and how it directly impacts fertility, hormone health, and PCOS. If you've been doing “all the things” and still struggling to conceive—or worried about miscarriage risk—your body's natural clock could be the missing piece.In this episode, you'll...– Understand how your circadian rhythm influences ovulation, hormone production, and egg quality– Learn the three biggest rhythm disruptors affecting your ability to get pregnant– Walk away with three free and practical strategies you can implement immediately to support your fertilityHit play now to find out how aligning your body's natural rhythm could be the most overlooked yet powerful fertility tool you're not using.

We know that the journey to parenthood can be filled with hope, questions, and sometimes, unexpected challenges. For many families, traditional paths to conception don't always lead to the results they dream of, making reproductive interventions more important than ever. Today, we're focusing on one of the most accessible and effective options available: intrauterine insemination, or IUI.IUI has helped countless families take a meaningful step forward on their fertility journey, offering new possibilities when other methods haven't worked. Setting your family up for success with IUI is important. That's why we're so glad to chat on IG Live with Dr. Tara Harding, Owner of Simply You Wellness.During this Live, we're going to discuss fertility medications, timing for IUI success, things to consider about sperm, and so much more.Learn more about Dr. Harding's services: https://www.drtaraharding.com/Get tested for BPA, phthalates, parabens, and other hormone-disrupting chemicals with Million Marker's Detect & Detox Test Kit: https://www.millionmarker.com/

Today, Ali sits down with a true powerhouse in the infertility community: Rebecca Flick, Chief External Affairs Officer at RESOLVE, who has spent the past 20 years advocating for fertility patients nationwide. Rebecca opens up about her own deeply personal infertility journey, including her diagnosis of premature ovarian failure (and how that language has evolved), discovering she carries the MTHFR gene (and what that really means), and navigating IVF. She shares her experience of transferring three embryos, welcoming her son (now a teenager), and conceiving her daughter years later—without ART. Rebecca also reflects on the power of advocacy, how RESOLVE has grown, and the ways the infertility landscape has transformed over the past two decades.For more, go to www.resolve.orgFollow on IG: @resolve TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; MTHFR gene; premature ovarian failure; embryo transfer; advocacy EPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipINITOhttps://try.inito.com/hormone-tracking/inf/?discount=INFERTILEAF&utm_source=social_media&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=INFERTILEAFIG: @initofertiilityFor years, clinical labs were the only way to get a clear view of your hormone levels and ovulation patterns. But for many people in the trying to conceive community—especially those with hormone imbalances or conditions like PCOS—frequent lab visits can be costly, inconvenient, and take up a ton of time. This is why I'm excited to tell you about Inito, which is unlike anything else out there. Inito is an at-home fertility monitor that tracks all four key hormones—Estrogen, LH, FSH, and PdG—on a single test strip. Instead of piecing together fragments of info, Inito offers a full, clear picture of your hormone health through a data chart and clear insights that are unique to your body and your cycle.The Inito Starter Pack is available for just $89 with the code INFERTILEAF at ihttps://try.inito.com/hormone-tracking/inf/?discount=INFERTILEAF&utm_source=social_media&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=INFERTILEAFEXTEND FERTILITY IG: @extendfertilitywww.extendfertility.comFertility shouldn't be dictated by a timeline. Extend Fertility offers cutting-edge egg and embryo freezing, infertility care, and IVF—all designed to put you in control. Their approach? Research driven, transparent, and personalized. With a world-class lab, exceptional verified success rates backed by nearly a decade of egg freezing results, and pricing lower than the national average, Extend Fertility is making reproductive care more accessible and effective than ever. Whether you're preserving fertility for the future or actively trying to conceive, they're here with expert support every step of the way. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on Tea Talks with Jiling, we are joined by Liane Moccia. Liane is a registered herbalist and author specializing in fertility and preconception planning. Liane is the author of The Herbal Fertility Handbook: Natural Strategies to Increase Your Chances of Getting Pregnant. She combines herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle changes with a clear plan to help optimize fertility. Liane's own infertility diagnosis led her to a career change to help others on similar journeys. She lives outside of Boston and works virtually with clients from all over the country. Liane and Jiling discuss common misconceptions about herbs and other holistic strategies to support fertility, how herbs can support fertility treatments such as IVF and IUI, the importance of sperm health, the role of timing in using herbs and supplements for fertility support — and how can people know when to take what. Visit Liane Moccia at

Is Vitex really the “miracle hormone herb” for healing your hormones so you can get pregnant… or could it actually be making things worse?If you've been seeing Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) all over your feed, marketed as the ultimate fertility fix, you're not alone. In this episode, Dr. Katie Wood breaks down exactly what Vitex does in the body, who it can help, and—just as importantly—who should avoid it. If you're dealing with irregular cycles, low progesterone, or considering herbal support, this episode clears up the confusion and helps you avoid making symptoms worse.In this episode, you'll...– Understand how Vitex works on the brain-hormone connection to potentially support ovulation and progesterone– Learn which fertility struggles may be helped (or worsened) by Vitex– Discover why personalization and practitioner guidance are essential when adding herbs to your conception planListen now to learn whether Vitex is a helpful tool or harmful trend for your fertility journey—and what to do instead to get pregnant naturally.

What if the hardest part of infertility wasn't just the treatments… but the fact that no one even knew how hard you tried? In this episode of The "So Now What?" Podcast, we're talking about an overlooked reality: what it feels like to go through years of IVF and fertility treatments and never even get a positive pregnancy test. No bump. No loss others can see. Just you, quietly rearranging your life around the hope of motherhood… with nothing to show for it when it didn't work. This is for you if you're childless after infertility and have felt the sting of being dismissed, forgotten, or misunderstood because your story doesn't come with "visible" grief. Here's what we cover: Why IVF without pregnancy leaves a haunting silence around your story The reality of disenfranchised grief when you're infertile and childless Why comparing your pain to others doesn't bring healing, it brings shame The myth that you have to love your story in order to find peace How to stop minimizing your experience and start creating a future you feel proud of What it looks like to reclaim your voice and move forward without motherhood You don't have to keep shrinking your grief or hiding your truth just to make others comfortable. This episode reminds you that you were in it. And that's enough to matter. If you've ever wondered whether your story counts because you never got pregnant—this episode is your reminder: You don't need proof to be seen. You don't need a baby to validate your grief. You were there. You gave everything. And that matters. ✨ Mentioned in this episode:

Are your hormones secretly sabotaging your chances of getting pregnant?If you're experiencing irregular periods, unexplained fatigue, or even just a sense that your cycle is “off,” your body might be waving red flags that your hormones need support. In this episode, Dr. Katie Wood breaks down seven subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs of hormonal imbalance that could be interfering with ovulation, implantation—or even causing early miscarriages.In this episode, you'll...– Learn how to recognize the most overlooked signs of hormone imbalance affecting fertility– Discover why “normal” lab results might be missing the real problem– Get practical guidance on functional hormone testing and the next steps to rebalance and restore your body for conceptionListen now to uncover if hidden hormonal imbalances are standing between you and the pregnancy you've been dreaming of.

Struggling with fertility or exploring natural ways to support your reproductive health? In this episode of Sofia Unfiltered, we're diving deep into how Ayurveda—the ancient Indian system of holistic healing—can support fertility for both women and men. Whether you're trying to conceive naturally, preparing your body for pregnancy, or navigating fertility over 35, this conversation will leave you feeling informed and empowered. Our guest, a certified Ayurvedic practitioner, shares how lifestyle changes, herbal support, and personalized nutrition can help balance hormones, reduce stress, and enhance reproductive function. You'll learn how the doshas influence fertility, what to eat (and avoid) to support conception, and why regulating the nervous system is key—especially in today's fast-paced world. We also talk about male fertility, including Ayurvedic solutions for sperm health, libido, and energy. Plus, if you're combining Ayurveda with IUI or IVF, we cover how both systems can work together.The Sofia Unfiltered by Sofia Health is for general informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional healthcare services, including the giving of medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have. For any health concerns, users should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals.

It's World IVF Day! Today, Ali is talking to her friend and former Infertile AF guest, Emily Patel, about The Hopeful Families Collection, Emily's new initiative to bring books into public and school libraries to celebrate the many ways families are created, including assisted reproductive technology (ART), adoption, surrogacy, and donor conception, while helping all children learn that every family is built with love and hope. Emily talks about why she created this movement, some of the books that will be included (including Ali's books, Work of ART and Beautiful Bird!) and how listeners can help support the mission. "The goal is to bring awareness," Emily says. "Even with our family, we're a bi-racial couple with donor-conceived children from two different donors, which is not a very traditional story. "It's wanting to allow those families that are unique to be represented in books, and making sure that other families can educate their children from a very early age that it's ok that you have friends who have families that look different from you, that came together differently than you. We can celebrate our differences, because it's truly just love that creates a family." For more, go to www.hopefulmamafoundation.orgFollow on IG: @hopefulmamafoundationTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; IVF; IUI; surrogacy; embryo adoption; adoption; single mom by choice; single parent by choice; donor conception EPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this expert minisode, Dylan Morgan of Cascade Cryobank, a sperm bank based in Washington, talks about innovations and recent happenings in the world of sperm donation. Cascade Cryobank was founded in response to the need for safe, high-quality donor sperm that has emerged in recent years. Their mission is to recruit outstanding donors and to produce frozen sperm of exceptional quality for use by families and individuals pursuing assisted reproductive care. Dylan talks about how Cascade Cryobank is implementing video calls between potential donors and recipients, and how AI is being incorporated into the fertility and sperm donation world, making it potentially easier for intended parents and donors. For more, go to cascadecryobank.com Follow on IG: @cascadecryobank TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: TTC; ART; sperm donation; innovations in sperm donation; intended parents; AI and fertilityEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Meet Keri Croft, an infertility, child loss and surrogacy advocate who went through 16 years of infertility. On today's ep, Keri tells Ali all about her family building journey, which includes having her son, and also the devastating loss of her first girl, Angel, who was missing part of her cerebellum. "It was a horrible, horrible decision to have to make, and I wouldn't wish it on anybody," Keri says of undergoing a TFMR (Termination for Medical Reasons). Keri talks about how a balanced translocation affected their fertility journey, and also how she navigated IUI and IVF. "I tried everything. And of course that takes a toll on your marriage. It was an absolute clusterfuck," she says. Keri also shares how she lost two other girls, Hope and Jade, how she and her husband decided to pursue surrogacy, and launching her workshop, Find Your Dream Surrogate. "After years of fertility treatments, loss, and heartbreak, I eventually had my daughter via a surrogate — a journey I navigated completely independently, without an agency," Keri says. "It was beautiful and brutal and eye-opening in ways I never expected. When it was all said and done, I kept thinking: Why the hell isn't there a better roadmap for this? So I built one."For more, go to www.kericroft.comFollow on IG: @thekericroftshowTOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Pregnancy; TFMR; trying to conceive; pregnancy loss; baby loss; IVF; IUI; balanced translocation; surrogacy; ART; EPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipINITOhttps://try.inito.com/hormone-tracking/inf/?discount=INFERTILEAF&utm_source=social_media&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=INFERTILEAFIG: @initofertiilityFor years, clinical labs were the only way to get a clear view of your hormone levels and ovulation patterns. But for many people in the trying to conceive community—especially those with hormone imbalances or conditions like PCOS—frequent lab visits can be costly, inconvenient, and take up a ton of time. This is why I'm excited to tell you about Inito, which is unlike anything else out there. Inito is an at-home fertility monitor that tracks all four key hormones—Estrogen, LH, FSH, and PdG—on a single test strip. Instead of piecing together fragments of info, Inito offers a full, clear picture of your hormone health through a data chart and clear insights that are unique to your body and your cycle.The Inito Starter Pack is available for just $89 with the code INFERTILEAF at ihttps://try.inito.com/hormone-tracking/inf/?discount=INFERTILEAF&utm_source=social_media&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast&utm_content=INFERTILEAFAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacySupport this podcast at https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today, you will hear information about testing your male partner with a relatively new test called SpermQT. This week, the Fertility Docs, Dr. Carrie Bedient from the Fertility Center of Las Vegas, Dr. Susan Hudson from Texas Fertility Center, and Dr. Abby Eblen from Nashville Fertility Center welcome a groundbreaking guest: Dr. Kristen Brogaard, Chief Scientific Officer and Founder of Path Fertility. Kristen joins the Docs to discuss SpermQT, one of the first major innovations in male fertility testing in years. SpermQT goes beyond a traditional semen analysis to assess sperm DNA and determine whether sperm is capable of fertilizing an egg. If the SpermQT test is abnormal, it strongly suggests that natural conception or IUI will likely fail, making IVF the recommended next step.Kristen shares how Path Fertility is conducting multiple studies to evaluate pregnancy outcomes when the SpermQT test is applied to men whose partners conceive naturally or through IUI and aims to track pregnancy through delivery. Future analysis in the IVF lab will evaluate fertilization and embryo development in men with normal versus abnormal testing. SpermQT is helping to redefine how we understand male fertility, challenging the outdated assumption that a normal semen analysis equals fertility. If you order the test the DISCOUNT CODE is FDU. ReceptivaDx sponsored this podcast.

Today, Ali is talking to Zach and Alexandra French, the founders of the nonprofit organization The Surrogacy Foundation, whose mission "isn't just to raise funds, but to propel surrogacy into the mainstream." Zach and Alexandra share their entire family building story, from how they met and got together to having their first child without Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). They talk about what happened when Alexandra found a lump in her breast, and how they navigated her cancer diagnosis and treatment. They also talk about Alexandra's double mastectomy, and how they pivoted to surrogacy after her surgery. "My doctor said if we wanted to expand our family, I could no longer carry. We would have to turn towards surrogacy--because if i carried another child, my cancer would return," Alexandra says. They talk about all of the intricacies of surrogacy, from finding a match to navigating the legal side, and share what it was like when their next baby was finally born. They also talk about creating the Surrogacy Foundation and how they've raised more than $500,000 so far to help families in need. "At The Surrogacy Foundation we don't just raise money; we help families every step of the way," they say. "Because education is essential to accessibility, we provide state of the art education based on decades of experience in an easy-to-use format."For more, go to www.thesurrogacyfoundation.orgFollow on IG: @thesurrogacyfoundation TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: Breast cancer; chemotherapy; double mastectomy; trying to conceive; surrogacy; nonprofits; surrogacy grants; ARTEPISODE SPONSORS: BEAUTIFUL BIRD AND WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksThe latest book in the Work of ART series, “Beautiful Bird” tells the story of three parents, one incredible boy and a family built with love—and a little bit of science.Pre-orders are available now! The first 150 copies will be Personalized, Signed and Numbered! Don't miss out on this limited edition! Tap the link in bio and stories to order your copy today.When Helen decides to have a baby on her own, she welcomes Jack Bird into the world through IUI with the help of her friend, Aaron. But when Jack is born and needs extra care in the NICU, Aaron and his partner, Blake, fall in love with Jack, too. Together, the three join forces to raise Jack, proving that family isn't about how you start—it's about how you grow.Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipGENERATIONS CRYOVAULTwww.gencryo.comIG: @generationscryovaultWhen you're navigating fertility treatments, every decision feels big—because it is big. But did you know that when it comes to storing your reproductive tissue—including eggs, sperm, and embryos—you DO have a choice? Most clinics automatically store your tissues—or hand you off to their partner. But guess what? It doesn't have to be that way. Enter Generations CryoVault, which believes in the motto, "Your tissues. Your choice." When you choose to work with Generations CryoVault, they help you transfer your tissues securely and easily to their headquarters – a place you can trust. Take control of this part of your journey by visiting gencryo.com. And make sure to mention Infertile AF to receive 1 free month of storage.INITOwww.inito.comIG: @initofertiilityFor years, clinical labs were the only way to get a clear view of your hormone levels and ovulation patterns. But for many people in the trying to conceive community—especially those with hormone imbalances or conditions like PCOS—frequent lab visits can be costly, inconvenient, and take up a ton of time. This is why I'm excited to tell you about Inito, which is unlike anything else out there. Inito is an at-home fertility monitor that tracks all four key hormones—Estrogen, LH, FSH, and PdG—on a single test strip. Instead of piecing together fragments of info, Inito offers a full, clear picture of your hormone health through a data chart and clear insights that are unique to your body and your cycle.The Inito Starter Pack is available for just $89 with the code INFERTILEAF at inito.com.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacySupport this podcast at https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsOur Sponsors:* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code INFERTILEAF for a great deal: https://happymammoth.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy