Dr. Joanna Rosenfeld, ND

01/20/2023

1 year ago today 🥰.

The little embryo that became our amazing daughter 🥹.

People often ask what I did differently for this transfer, and as much as I wish I had some secret recipe, the answer is ‘exactly the same thing as last time’.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. On this fertility journey it can be easy to feel like you’re losing it when you do the same thing month after month, or transfer after transfer. Although it’s important to make sure we’ve explored all possibilities, sometimes it’s just up to that little embryo.

People experiencing infertility are the most resilient people out there. So this is your reminder to keep cheering for your little golden embryo 💕

01/02/2023

Trigger warning: fertility-related post.

I don’t post this picture lightly, in fact it has taken me months to post it. I hate keeping information from my patients, but at the same time I knew that I had to protect myself. It’s only now, with my daughter being 2.5 months old, that I can finally start to realize this surreal dream that I have wanted for so so long.

It took my husband and I over 4 years to conceive our beautiful daughter. After years of trying at home, adding in alllllll the alternative treatments, pursuing multiple rounds of IVF, genetically testing our embryos, doing a mock cycle and then a miscarriage, our amazing little girl chose us to be her parents.

I have always been passionate about supporting people in their fertility journey, but it wasn’t until I experienced it myself that I became convinced that this is my calling.

I know how hard it is to keep trying when you are losing hope. I know the emotional burden that infertility can take on your whole being and your relationships. I know the financial strain is great. And I know how hard it is to try to keep smiling when it feels like your world is crashing down on you.

In 2023 I am committed to sharing my story in the hope that it can help anyone feel less alone and more hopeful on their journey. Maybe you can also gain some helpful information from the years of research I have done, both for myself, and my patients. I know when I was trying these stories helped me, so I’m just passing it on from all the amazing people who have shared before me.

If this is too much right now, you can unfollow me. I know how important it is to protect your heart, but please know that I’m here for you ❤️

06/01/2022

Today was my last day as I’ll be moving next week! Change is always a good time for reflection, and I’m so grateful for this experience, and all the wonderful patients and colleagues I have had over the last 7+ years ⭐️
Telemedicine visits for new and returning patients can now be booked at the link in my bio 🤗

04/29/2022

Curious about my favourite supplement for egg quality?
🌙
It’s actually melatonin! We think of melatonin as being helpful for sleep, but it is also a really powerful anti-oxidant.
🌙
Women receiving melatonin before IUI and IVF had higher numbers of eggs retrieved, higher fertilization rates, higher progesterone levels, and improved pregnancy rates!
🌙
Melatonin is also helpful for reducing pain scores and analgesic use in women with endometriosis.
🌙
Very cool!! Melatonin isn’t for everyone though, so check with your doctor before using it.
🌙
You can naturally help to improve melatonin levels by reducing exposure to artificial lights and screens in the evening, and of course clocking zzzzs in a dark room.
🌙
PMID: 25330986
PMID: 23602498

08/11/2021

My patients are often concerned that if they don’t have s*x on their ovulation day, that they have reduced their chances of falling pregnant that month. But, good news - your chances are just as good in the 2 days leading up to ovulation.
💃🏻
In fact, 2 days before you ovulate is typically when you see the most fertile cervical mucus (looks like raw egg whites) which is important for keeping the s***m alive and helping it get to the Fallopian tube for fertilization.
🥚
Having s*x every other day during your ovulation week will ensure that you hit one of the statically highest days for conception.
❤️
PMID: 7477165

07/21/2021

Your period app probably isn’t right!
🙊
Your app is only about 21% accurate at predicting your ovulation.
So what can you use instead?
⭐️ cervical mucus
⭐️ basal body temperature
⭐️ ovulation predictor tests
⭐️ progesterone blood test
⭐️ ultrasound at a fertility clinic.
I think you would be surprised which one is the most useful for your fertility!
Full post up on the blog- link in bio!

07/09/2021

As with all things fertility, it is never this simple. Some women have the “perfect” cycle and have trouble conceiving, while other women have erratic cycles and fall pregnant easily.
🍍
That being said, here is what the evidence says about the characteristics of the most fertile menstrual cycles.
🍍
Link in bio for the entire article!
🍍

03/11/2021

If you are in BC, I highly highly recommend .
Same day video appointments available, and in-person visits possible for those who need it after the initial video call.
I have been trying to get a physical since COVID because I don’t have a family doctor, and none of the clinics I called were doing routine physicals due to COVID.
Enter Babylon! Was able to get in 2 days after signing up on the app.
Other people I have referred have gotten an MRI within a couple weeks, and a skin biopsy within 2 days, same day prescription refills and blood test requisitions.
This is not a replacement for the family doctor that has known you since you were 10yo, but this is such an amazing service for the many people in BC left without a family doctor! All the doctors and support staff I have interacted with have been amazing.
10/10 experience!!

02/20/2021

This year has been utterly exhausting, for EVERYONE.
If you’re feeling more tired than usual, it’s important to do some blood work to see if there is a physiological reason (like iron and B12 deficiency or thyroid conditions) but if all that seems normal, and you’re still feeling tired, ☝️ is a very likely reason you’re not feeling yourself.
Try to find something that brings you joy (bring back the sourdough!) and get outside as much as you can, especially in the morning to catch glimpses of sunshine ☀️ to help with your circadian rhythm.
Reach out to your care team to see how they can help too, we’re here for you.
And hang in there, this will be over soon.

12/31/2020

2020 has been a year that has tested all of us. For many people it was a year with a lot of grief, loneliness and anxiety.
But amongst all the hard times we were able to slow down, cook more, do puzzles, spend time in nature, and join zoom baby showers/birthdays/weddings to celebrate all the beautiful things in life.
Your resilience amazes me and I can’t wait to see what we are capable of in 2021 ✨✨

06/06/2020

“In the next few months, Dr. Henry would prove to be one of the most effective public health officials in the world, with lessons for nations struggling to emerge from lockdowns.”
Thank you Dr. Bonnie Henry ❤️

Dr. Bonnie Henry kept the disease in check in British Columbia without harsh enforcement methods. Now, she is leading the way out of lockdown.

06/02/2020

05/26/2020

🙋🏻‍♀️
You can ask for things - it doesn’t make you needy or dependent.

05/26/2020

It is so nice having less car traffic around, especially in busy areas which can make it hard to distance. And more patios!

As COVID-19 restrictions ease but people remain cautious about gathering indoors, the City of Vancouver says it will introduce 50 kilometres of what it's calling "slow streets," and plans to repurpose some roadways to use as patios.

05/23/2020

💯