My Fertility Coach

04/28/2020

Some of you may know I recently took on a full time role with Vios Fertility Institute in Chicago. While I still offer coaching services as well, I'm so happy to be part of this incredible team where "conception is our life."

For those of you who may be considering a move to a clinic, if you are in Chicago, Milwaukee, or St. Louis (or interested in travel), Vios is currently offering a treatment cycle giveaway to new patients.

All the details are here: https://viosfertility.com/niaw-giveaway/

Let me know if you have any questions!

04/22/2020

🧡 Today we for National Infertility Awareness Week.

🧡 You are not alone. I didn’t want to tell people we were “trying”. And as time went on, I didn’t want to admit I was scared, a bit ashamed, a lot confused and frustrated about something that I thought was inherent. No birth control did not equal baby for us.

🧡 The path to baby isn’t always linear. A lot of the time, the equation never really adds up.

🧡 So for those who are struggling right now - 1 in 6 couples - you are NOT alone. It’s ok to ask questions, it’s ok to see your doctor BEFORE the recommended time of 6-12 months of trying, it’s ok to tune out the unhelpful comments and personal, intrusive, questions.

🧡 Infertility is a medical condition, not a personal flaw.

🧡 Standing with you, wearing orange, and sending lots of love and hope your way.

04/20/2020

As we kick off National Infertility Awareness Week, I want you to know you are not alone in this.

> Infertility is a medical condition.
> It impacts 1 in 6 of us.
> About 1/3 of infertility is due to a female factor, about 1/3 is attributed to a male factor and the remaining third is due to both partners or is unexplained. (I.E., it isn’t your fault.)
> It takes physical, mental, and emotional strength to walk this path.
> Building your family is worth it. ❤️

04/17/2020

My friend and fellow fertility coach, Robyn Birkin, has an amazing free webinar out today. (link in my bio.)

The IVF Pause Plan is full of simple, no guilt activities and perspective shifts you can make right now to help you cope with our current environment of a global pandemic, shelter in place rules, and paused or canceled fertility treatment.

During the webinar, Robyn will talk about:
> Why COVID-19 hasn’t exploded your biological clock...why there is still time to get pregnant (and may have even better odds of conceiving)
> How cortisol can hijack your body and wreck havoc with other hormones including progesterone, DHEA and more
> The 3 Ds of surviving this time and coming out with improved egg quality, quality of life, and overall fertility
> The number 1 thing you can do right now to improve your chances of conceiving and come out on top once clinics start treatment again - minus the guilt, overwhelm, and massive to do lists

It’s great information and feels like a release valve for the stress, tension, worry, and uncertainty you are carrying around.

The link to watch is in my bio. 👆

And share below - on a scale from 1-10 (10 being highest), how much stress do you have right now about your fertility journey?

02/26/2020

Worth the read: A great post from To Make a Mommy about the benefits of CoQ10 and how to best incorporate it into your fertility plan!

Are you taking CoQ10 to enhance egg or s***m quality? Any success stories?

(As always, check with your doctor before starting any supplements.)

Okay folks, so CoQ10 for female fertility and male fertility is pretty darn amazing. There

02/19/2020

How do you manage or pull yourself out of the “fertility funk”?

A fertility journey is hard. When the "funk" starts to take over daily life - even the parts that are good - try these quick techniques to boost your mood.

02/19/2020

I call it the “fertility funk”.

This is not the true sadness and grief that comes with this journey of loss and realignment of expectations.

It is, instead, the pervasive heaviness we carry around. Even when our present situation is actually fine - even good - the funk can cloud our perspective and make it all seem “off”.

Know what I mean?

What do you do to pull yourself out of the funk?

02/12/2020

There's a conversation on Instagram going about what do...

I got to spend a couple of hours last night with some true fertility warriors at the Shine Fertility meetup.

It struck me during the conversation: everyone in the room had had a miscarriage - recently. Many had experienced multiple losses just in the past year.

All were still going. Planning for, in the midst of, or waiting on results of a cycle.

Each had faced unimaginable disappointments, yet they were still going. Able to laugh, cry, share, encourage, and support each other. Able to hope.

Women are so strong, you guys.

So when I think of what do, it's really a question of what CAN'T they do?

In this journey, what we CAN do is always greater than we expected.

When do you think you've been the strongest in your journey? How do you build up your strength?

01/30/2020

My latest blog post -- how to manage the inevitable feelings of jealousy that arise on this journey.

What do you do to curb the jealous emotions when TTC?

How to manage the "green-eyed monster" when TTC.

01/27/2020

01/13/2020

I'm often asked about stress and its relation to fertility (or a seeming lack thereof). This article sums up what research studies show (spoiler alert: we don't really know) about the connection between stress and positive IVF outcomes.

What we all know, though, because we live it - is that stress makes the whole journey harder.

I love the author's description and suggestions on how to handle stress in this article.

What are you doing for stress management and self care?

If you’re struggling with infertility, no doubt someone has said to you, “just relax and you’ll get pregnant”. Or they told you a story…

01/07/2020

I hope you'll join me and 20 other fertility experts in this year's Get Pregnant, Stay Pregnant, and Birth Your Healthy Baby in 2020!

This free, virtual, summit consists of a series of 15-minute interviews you can listen to from your phone or computer audio.

The line up of experts is impressive and I'm incredibly honored to be part of it. My interview on Gratitude and Your Fertility Journey airs tomorrow, January 8. Don't miss it!

Click the link in comments to register and gain access to all of the amazing content that will restore your hope, provide practical tips to help you optimize your fertility, and improve your family building experience this year.

Cheers to 2020!

01/06/2020

Wise words from Fruitful Fertility

Fruitful’s founder and CEO, Elyse Ash, shares some strategies to stop letting infertility control you and your relationships in the new year.

12/30/2019

I put together a list of my top tips to boost fertility in 2020.

What do you think? What would you add?

Suggestions to help make this year your best one yet - and hopefully - the year you meet your baby.

12/02/2019

If you're struggling with what and how to share about your fertility struggle at ALL. THE. HOLIDAY. PARTIES. this year, check out these tips from my fellow Freedom Fertility Formula Specialist, .

What would you add to her list?

You need a plan. Aunty Sandi's IVF Silly Season Survival Guide. Tips for navigating your social calendar with grace and good humour this holiday season.

12/01/2019

Happy December! I’d love to invite you to join my friend, Erin, of Fertile Hope Yoga in this years Secret Snowflake program!

Register to participate by tomorrow, December 2. You’ll be matched with a fellow fertility warrior and throughout the season, asked to shower her with love, encouragement, support, and a small gift or gifts ($35 limit). In turn, you will also have a fellow fertility warrior supporting you!

You’ll love the extra support from someone who “gets it” at this time of year!

Link to sign up is in the comments. Have fun!

11/28/2019

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the US. May your day - and year ahead - be spent in abundance, joy, and peace.

Here are some suggested ways to further your gratitude practice. I love their different takes on ways to notice and expand on all the good that surrounds us.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for your support of My Fertility Coach.

https://ideas.ted.com/your-5-day-gratitude-challenge-from-ted/

These five different exercises — all from TED speakers — can help you add more thanks to your life.

11/27/2019

On this day before Thanksgiving, I’m overflowing with gratitude...thankful I get to share my fertility story and help others in their struggle, grateful to be warm and cozy inside while the wind howls outside, excited to spend time with family this weekend.
After a sleepless night, REALLY grateful for coffee.

What are you grateful for today?

Join in with in her challenge!

🙏 And, if you are looking for something deeper - gratitude as a way to develop resilience for your fertility journey - check out my free 21 Day Gratitude Challenge. (Link in bio 👆)