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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! We have officially reached the grand finale of our Fertility Series. After weeks of discussing how to heal your body, reduce your toxic load, and prepare for conception, we are finally asking the big question: You're pregnant... now what?

And we couldn't think of a better way to kick off this episode than with a massive Random Revelation: Chrissy is 12 weeks pregnant!

The first trimester is a beautiful but incredibly challenging season. Today, we are sharing real-time updates and practical, crunchy tips for surviving the early days of pregnancy. We talk about finding grace when the only thing that sounds good is organic mac and cheese, how to navigate severe nausea, and why the "elastin" hormone is the sneaky culprit behind your early heartburn. We also break down what to actually look for in a prenatal vitamin and our favorite clean oils to soothe your stretching skin!

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The Big Reveal: Chrissy shares her 12-week pregnancy update and how vestibular physical therapy cured her severe vertigo in just one session.
• First Trimester Nausea Hacks: Why you need well-rounded snacks (protein + fat + carbs) instead of just plain crackers, the difference between ginger and peppermint, and Katie’s Unisom & B6 trick.
• The "Elastin" Hormone: How this hormone loosens your joints to make room for baby, but also triggers early heartburn and round ligament pain.
• Pelvic Floor Myths: Why pregnancy incontinence is not an inevitable life sentence and how proactive movement can protect your core.
• Decoding Prenatals: Why you need to check your label for folate vs. folic acid, watch out for glucose syrups, and why it's crucial to start taking them before you see a positive test.
• Stretch Mark Prevention: Our favorite natural body oils (like grapeseed, almond, and Ancient Greek Remedy) to keep your skin nourished—plus a hilarious story about Chrissy using belly oil as aftershave!

Resources mentioned:

• Exercise App: Expecting and Empowered
• Body Oil: Ancient Greek Remedy Body Oil - https://amzn.to/4nxsDE9
• Body Oil: Mother's Special Blend (Katie's older recommendation) - https://amzn.to/4wxGPRJ

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to the Fertility Series Finale!
04:33 Random Revelation: The Big Reveal... Chrissy is Pregnant!
06:06 Surviving the First Trimester
10:07 Trimester Overview and Diastasis Tips
12:54 Nausea Survival Strategies
19:25 Heartburn Hacks
26:17 Exercise and Birth Prep Movement
32:19 Ligaments Hormones and Pelvic Floor
40:48 Eating Well When Nothing Sounds Good
46:15 Prenatals: What to Choose
54:23 Second Trimester Glow
58:19 Stretch Marks Oils
01:03:12 Join Us On Facebook

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

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FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! In Part 9 of our Fertility Series, we are shifting our focus to the conventional medical interventions we are so commonly prescribed.

From the "doc in a box" to our primary care visits, it is so easy to rely on a quick prescription to mask uncomfortable symptoms. But what are those "quick fixes" costing our long-term health? Today, we are digging deep into the systemic impacts of birth control, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and steroids. We explain how synthetic hormones act as endocrine disruptors, why your gut flora is the actual foundation of your fertility, and how certain prescriptions deplete the exact vitamins your body needs to sustain a healthy pregnancy.

Plus, Katie shares a fun homesteading update (baby chicks have arrived!) and talks about her real-time experience using homeopathy and natural remedies to navigate a stubborn spring cold.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Homestead Updates & Natural Cold Care: Katie's journey using homeopathy for a sinus headache, building pallet compost bins, and the arrival of the baby chicks! Plus, Chrissy's recipe for thyme-infused honey.
• The "Quick Fix" Problem: Why suppressing symptoms (like fevers or coughs) can actually prevent your body from doing what it was perfectly designed to do.
• The Truth About Birth Control: How synthetic hormones act as "fake keys" in your endocrine system, mask underlying issues like endometriosis and PCOS, and severely deplete the body of B-vitamins, magnesium, and zinc.
• Antibiotic Stewardship: The microevolution of bacteria, the danger of wiping out your gut microbiome, and why fertility starts in the gut.
• Heavy Metals & Hormone Disruption: A brief look at the endocrine-disrupting heavy metals often found in vaccines and where to find the transparent data.
• Steroids & Blood Sugar: How long-term steroid use spikes blood sugar (leading to fat-stored estrogen), thins the skin, and triggers withdrawals.
• Natural Anti-Inflammatories: Simple, holistic ways to reduce inflammation using ginger, warm baths, and steam.

Resources mentioned:

• Book Recommendation: Turtles All the Way Down (Vaccine Science and Myth): https://amzn.to/4nkFGbZ 
• Website: Just the Inserts - https://justtheinserts.com/ 
• Website: HealthLine Article on Birth Control: https://www.healthline.com/health/birth-control-effects-on-body#:~:text=Combined%20pills%2C%20which%20contain%20synthetic,while%20using%20the%20combined%20pill. 

Chapters: 

00:00 Welcome to Crunchy Stewardship
00:46 Fertility Series Setup
02:08 Random Revelation Homeopathy
10:01 Natural Cold Care Tips
12:31 Garden Beds and Baby Chicks
14:19 Medical Interventions Overview
15:36 Birth Control and Fertility
16:24 Birth Control Personal Experiences
18:02 Synthetic Hormones as "Toxins"
20:12 Phytoestrogens
20:37 Messing With Your Cycle
22:42 Masking Bigger Problems
30:03 Nutrient Depletion
32:14 Pregnancy Nausea
35:47 Antibiotics Gut and Resistance
37:44 Microevolution in Bacteria
49:25 Vaccines
55:02 Steroids

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

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Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

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FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! As we near the end of our Fertility Series, we are welcoming all our new listeners and tackling a massive topic that affects almost all conventional food in the United States: Pesticides.

Specifically, we are zooming in on glyphosate (the main ingredient in Roundup) and how this chemical acts as a major endocrine disruptor. We know the topic of toxic food can feel incredibly heavy, but our goal is to empower you with the knowledge to protect your family's health and fertility without letting anxiety take over. We break down the science of how pesticides act like "fake keys" jamming up your hormone receptors, and why swapping your food choices has a profound generational impact—affecting you, your children, and even your future grandchildren all at once!

Because we believe in being wise stewards of our finances just as much as our bodies, we also tackle the big question: How do you actually afford organic food? We share practical strategies for making the grocery budget work, prioritizing the right items, and viewing high-quality food as "health insurance you can eat."

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The Toxic Receipt Rule: Why Chrissy's random revelation will have you saying "no receipt, please" to avoid unnecessary BPA exposure at checkout.
• The Messianic Seder: A beautiful realization about Jesus being the ultimate sacrificial lamb at the Last Supper.
• The "Fake Key" Effect: How pesticides jam the cellular "locks" in your endocrine system, scrambling hormones and directly impacting sperm morphology and "swimability."
• The Generational Blueprint: How traditional ancestral wisdom proves that our nutritional and toxic loads impact three generations at once.
• The Toxin Bucket: How glyphosate acts as a neurotoxin, crossing the blood-brain barrier to cause brain fog and memory issues.
• The Dirty Dozen & Clean 15: A breakdown of the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) list so you know exactly which produce to buy organic and which is safe to buy conventional.
• Health Insurance You Can Eat: How to shift your financial mindset so that funding a higher-quality grocery budget today helps prevent costly medical interventions tomorrow.

Resources mentioned:

• Resource: EWG's Dirty Dozen and Clean 15 - https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/
• Resource: CDC Live Births Map - https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/state-stats/births/fertility-rate.html

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Crunchy Stewardship
00:33 Fertility Series Updates
03:09 Random Revelation: Why You Shouldn't Touch Store Receipts
08:08 Crunchy Friends and Passover Talk
16:01 Pesticides and Glyphosate Risks
27:34 Birth Rate Map Findings
29:51 How Pesticides Disrupt Fertility
34:49 Egg Signals and Generational Impact
43:17 Neurotoxins and Food Experiments
46:48 Affording Organic and Final Encouragement

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Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

Follow us on Instagram @crunchystewardship 

FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! In Part 7 of our Fertility Series, we are tackling a toxin that is quite literally everywhere: Microplastics.

Have you heard the staggering statistic that the average person consumes a credit card's worth of plastic every single year? It sounds crazy, but when you realize how much of our food, water, and clothing is derived from petroleum-based plastics, it starts to make sense. Today, we are uncovering the sneaky places microplastics are hiding in your home and how this cumulative plastic burden is heavily impacting our endocrine systems, sperm health, and placentas.

But don't panic! We are wrapping up this episode with our brand new Crunchy Stewardship motto: "We don't go broke trying to get healthy." We share an incredibly encouraging 12-week study showing how quickly your body can bounce back, plus a list of free and cheap ways to drastically reduce your family's plastic exposure right now.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Crunchy Updates: Katie’s Random Revelation featuring Dr. Josh Axe’s new holistic Longevity Clinic in Tennessee and a bittersweet Wise Traditions podcast update.
• Hidden Plastics in Plain Sight: Why you need to look out for chewing gum, bleached tea bags, contact lenses, and even a popular over-the-counter stool softener (MiraLax).
• The Fertility Connection: How microplastics are reaching the placenta, infiltrating our organs, and what a recent 12-week study revealed about couples cutting out plastic and improving their fertility.
• Government Action: RFK’s STOMP program to systematically measure microplastics in the body, plus state-level bans on plastic food packaging.
• The Dust in Your Home: Why taking your shoes off at the door and vacuuming regularly is actually a crucial step to reducing your microplastic load.
• Budget-Friendly Swaps: How to switch to stainless steel, glass, wood, 100% food-grade silicone, and organic cotton without breaking the bank.

Resources mentioned:

• Clinic: Dr. Josh Axe's Longevity Club and Clinic - https://thelongevityclinic.com/
• Article: EWG (Environmental Working Group) on Microplastics - https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2023/10/making-meals-without-microplastics-tips-safer-cutting-boards 
• Facebook Post: Microplastic Fertility Study - https://www.facebook.com/share/18VnxyvSsa/
• Program: STOMP (Systematic Targeting of Microplastics) - https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/arpa-h-launches-groundbreaking-144-million-program-combat-toxic-microplastics-human-body.html 

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Crunchy Stewardship
01:08 Random Revelation - Crunchy Influencer Updates
05:55 Microplastics 101
11:20 Hidden Sources of Plastic
16:17 Plastic in Kids Stuff
18:36   Microplastics Found in Every Organ
21:08 Plastic Toy Wins and Fails
24:16 Impacts of Microplastics on Your Health & Fertility
31:22 Measuring Microplastics Program
37:07 State Bans And Tire Dust
40:34 Biblical Perspective on Microplastics
43:39 Simple Switches At Home
57:13 Budget Friendly Stewardship Wrap Up

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

Follow us on Instagram @crunchystewardship 

FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! In Part 6 of our Fertility Series, we are grabbing our morning coffee (at 8:00 AM!) and diving into the personal care products we use every single day.

Did you know the average woman applies 12 personal care products before she even leaves the house? That adds up to a staggering 168 chemicals layered onto your skin daily. Today, we are breaking down the "Cumulative Chemical Burden" and looking at three of the biggest endocrine-disrupting culprits in your bathroom: Phthalates, Parabens, and Fragrance.

We explain how these specific toxins mimic estrogen, suppress testosterone, and confuse your reproductive system. But don't panic—our bodies are incredibly resilient! We share how quickly your body can detox from these chemicals once you stop using them, and we give you a budget-friendly, stress-free plan for swapping out your products over time.

Plus, Katie makes a hilarious connection between modern food additives and Clark Griswold from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The Psychology of the "Crunch": Why food engineers design snacks to be loud, and Katie's realization about Clark Griswold's actual job.
• The Cumulative Burden: Why a single exposure to a chemical isn't the problem, but the daily layering of 168 chemicals is.
• Phthalates (The Plasticizers): Where they hide (from yoga mats to recycled clothing) and how they impact sperm motility and premature ovarian aging.
• Parabens (The Preservatives): How these synthetic preservatives mimic estrogen and disrupt the crucial hormone spikes needed for ovulation.
• The "Fragrance" Loophole: Why the word "fragrance" or "parfum" on a label is actually a legal hiding spot for hundreds of undisclosed chemicals—including phthalates designed to make scents stick to your skin.
• The Clean Bathroom Challenge: How to audit your bathroom and make budget-friendly, non-toxic swaps only as you run out of your current products.

Resources mentioned:

• App: Switch Natural - https://www.switchnatural.com/switch-natural-app
• App/Website: EWG (Environmental Working Group) - https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
• App/Website: Bobby Approved - https://www.flavcity.com/bobbyapproved/
• Book: Feeding You Lies by Vani Hari (The Food Babe) - https://amzn.to/4ccZZ7l

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome & Early Morning Brain Fog
02:05 Fertility Focus - Pthalates, Parabens, Fragrance
03:23 Random Revelation Crunch Factor
06:48 Cereal Crunch and Kellogg Stories
12:30 Cumulative Chemical Burden
18:18 Fragrance Sensitivity and Mouth Breathing
21:34 What Are Phthalates
23:43 Plastics Clothing and Home Exposure
27:39 How Phthalates Impact Male and Female Fertility
31:41 How to Detox from Phthalates Quickly
36:53 Parabens: The Estrogen Mimicking Preservatives
41:09 Why High Estrogen Disrupts Ovulation & Testosterone
45:31 Fragrance Means Hundreds of Chemicals
49:24 Essential Oils vs Synthetic Fragrances|
59:11 Clean Swap Challenge

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Connect With Us: 

Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

Follow us on Instagram @crunchystewardship 

FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

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As we continue our Fertility Series, we are shifting our focus to the environmental factors that can throw our bodies out of balance. Today, we are tackling a big one: PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as "forever chemicals."

While the topic of environmental toxins can feel overwhelming, we are here to remind you to choose faith over fear. We break down exactly what endocrine disruptors are, how they hijack your natural hormone production (like progesterone and insulin), and where these chemicals are hiding in plain sight. Most importantly, we share practical, budget-friendly, and stress-free ways to start reducing your family’s exposure today to protect your health and the fertility of the next generation.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The Hospital Food Shift: Why local farm partnerships in Florida hospitals are a massive win for holistic health.
• Endocrine Disruption 101: How "forever chemicals" confuse your body, mimic hormones, and impact fertility.
• The Pregnancy Nutrient Drain: Why your placenta will prioritize the baby’s growth at the expense of your own bones and reserves if you aren't nutrient-dense.
• Where PFAS Hide: The truth about your tap water, to-go coffee cups, microwave popcorn bags, and non-stick pans.
• The Fire-Resistant Problem: Why your mattresses, carpets, and children’s pajamas are coated in chemicals, and how to properly "off-gas" new furniture.
• Simple Swaps: Easy ways to transition to stainless steel, cast iron, organic cotton underwear, and clean cosmetics without breaking the bank.

Resources mentioned:

• Water Filters: Berkey Water Filters (Check Facebook Marketplace/eBay for deals!)
• Cookware Swaps: Lodge Cast Iron & All-Clad
• Blog Post: Katie's Guide to Finding Factory Second Stainless Steel Pans - https://agapeinvests.com/factory-seconds-designer-deals-for-less/ 
• Clean Haircare: Attitude (Always double-check EWG ratings as recipes change!)
• Clean Cosmetics: Primally Pure & Adele Natural Cosmetics
• Previous Episode: The History of PFAS & Forever Chemicals - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2467060/episodes/17596505 

Chapters:

00:00 Fertility Series and PFAS Preview
02:39 Random Revelation Hospital Food
04:18 Florida Hospital Nutrition Shift
11:48 PFAS Explained Endocrine Disruption
14:12 Hormones and Fertility Connections
17:01 Katie Progesterone Story
21:11 Pregnancy Hormone Rollercoaster
23:57 Placenta Nutrient Priorities
27:41 Where PFAS Hide
29:08 PFAS in Drinking Water|
33:25 Landfills Contaminate Soil
35:12 Mindset Over Fear
35:58 Cookware Swaps
39:51 Food Packaging Fixes
44:50 Foam Flame Resistant
48:33 Furniture, Mattresses, Carpets, Clothes
50:02 Off-gassing Tips
53:49 Pesticides
54:52 Personal Care Products 
59:32 Protecting the Next Generation

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Connect With Us: 

Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

Follow us on Instagram @crunchystewardship 

FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

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In Part 4 of our Fertility Series, we are shifting our focus to what is arguably the most impactful aspect of your overall health and fertility: Nutrition. Chrissy kicks things off with a fascinating look into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), explaining how our physical organs are deeply connected to our emotions. We also have an honest conversation about navigating holistic practices like TCM and muscle testing as Christians.

Then, we dig deep into the ancestral wisdom of Dr. Weston A. Price. If you want to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy—or if you are just looking to heal your body from the inside out—this episode is your ultimate guide to the "Fertility Diet." We break down the generational impact of our modern diets and the specific, nutrient-dense superfoods our ancestors used to build strong, healthy babies.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The Emotion-Organ Connection: A look at TCM, and how our bodies physically manifest emotions like anger, grief, and fear.
• The "Church Snack" Dilemma: Katie’s honest struggle with the processed foods we feed our kids and how to balance holistic health with grace and budget.
• The Pre-Conception "Big 3": Why Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K2/Activator X are absolutely essential for fertility, hormone production, and preventing birth defects.
• The Generational Diet: Why crooked teeth and narrow jaws are actually a sign of inherited nutritional deficiencies, not just genetics!
• Fertility Superfoods: The science behind why we should all be consuming cod liver oil, high-vitamin butter, pasture-raised egg yolks, and organ meats (and how to hide them in your food!).

Resources mentioned:

• Book: Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price - https://amzn.to/4bZJXfK 
• Resource: Weston A Price Foundation 11 Dietary Principles - https://www.westonaprice.org/11-principles-overview/ 
• Product: Pluck Organ Meat Seasoning - https://amzn.to/4bZJXfK 
• Product: High-Vitamin Cod Liver Oil (WAPF Recommended) - https://www.westonaprice.org/cod-liver-oil 
• Product: Thousand Hills Renegade Blend https://thousandhillslifetimegrazed.com/products/grass-fed-renegade-blend-ground-beef-with-organs 

Chapters:

00:00 Fertility Series Roadmap
01:39 Why Nutrition Matters Most for Fertility
02:57 Random Revelation - TCM and the Emotion-Organ Connection
11:12 Christian Discernment for Eastern Medicines
21:36 The "Church Snack" Dilemma
26:48 The "Big 3" Pre-Conception Vitamins
27:56 Vitamin A - The Architect
28:53 Vitamin D - The Pro-Hormone
30:15 Vitamin K2 - Activator X
35:07 Vitamin A Deficiencies
37:25 The Nutrient Chain & Eating for "Bodybuilding"
43:27 Vitamin D Deficiencies And Dental Health
46:39 Refined Foods Change Generations
53:36 Fertility Superfoods List
01:01:32 Prenatal Supplements
01:04:49 Budgeting Health

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Connect With Us: 

Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

Follow us on Instagram @crunchystewardship 

FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

Send us a Message!

Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! In Part 3 of our Fertility Series, we are shifting the spotlight to a topic that is often completely overlooked in the infertility conversation: the guys!

While women often carry the heavy burden of fertility tracking and testing, men play an equally crucial role—not just in conception, but in the health of the pregnancy itself. Chrissy brings us another fascinating anatomy lesson, explaining the miraculous 90-day lifecycle of a sperm cell and how it is perfectly designed by God to survive. Then, Katie uncovers a shocking truth about sperm morphology, comparing Weston A. Price's fertility standards from the 1930s to the shockingly low standards of modern medicine today.

We wrap up the episode by looking at the staggering statistics behind the global decline in birth rates, and why holistic health might be the key to turning the tide.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Banned Foods: Why American staples like Kraft Mac & Cheese and Ritz Crackers are restricted or banned in Europe (and what they do to your body).
• The 90-Day Cycle: Why a man's diet, stress, and lifestyle choices today actively impact his fertility three months from now.
• The Miracle of Semen: How the male body perfectly formulates fluids to neutralize the acidic female environment and nourish the sperm.
• Morphology Madness: How "normal" sperm abnormality rates went from under 20% in the 1930s to a whopping 96% today.
• The Postpartum Connection: How the quality of the sperm at conception can actually impact the mother's morning sickness, risk of hemorrhage, and postpartum depression.
• The Population Crisis: A deep dive into why U.S. and global birth rates have plummeted to historic lows and what it means for the next generation.

Resources mentioned:

• Book: Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A. Price - https://amzn.to/4bzucfi 
• Previous Episode: Fertility Series Part 1: Wrestling with God in the Waiting - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2467060/episodes/18826546 
• Previous Episode: Fertility Series Part 2: Female Fertility 101 - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2467060/episodes/18863856 

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Part 3 of the Fertility Series
01:31 Random Revelation - Foods Banned In Other Countries
06:54 Male Anatomy 101: Testes, Puberty, and Sperm Creation
12:44 The Semen Secret: Surviving the Female Environment
15:44 The 90-Day Sperm Renewal Cycle
17:35 Sperm Morphology: 1930s Standards vs. Today
30:21 How Sperm Quality Impacts Pregnancy & Postpartum
33:17 The Crisis of Declining Birth Rates & the "Replacement Rate"
42:42 Food's Impact on Health & Fertility
48:14 What We Are Covering Next: Improving Fertility

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Connect With Us: 

Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

Follow us on Instagram @crunchystewardship 

FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

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Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship! In Part 2 of our Fertility Series, we are shifting from our personal testimonies into a full masterclass on the female reproductive system. Chrissy puts her nursing hat on to break down the miraculous, intricate design of a woman's monthly cycle in a way that is easy to understand.

Whether you are currently trying to conceive, planning for the future, or just want to understand why your motivation tanks at certain times of the month, this episode is packed with "aha!" moments. We explore the biological miracle of conception, dive into the different ways to track your cycles at home, and discuss why managing your stress is one of the most important things you can do for your fertility.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The Anatomy of a Cycle: What is actually happening in your body during the follicular and luteal phases.
• The Hormone Rollercoaster: Why your energy and motivation peak before ovulation and crash right after.
• The Miracle of Conception: The fascinating, obstacle-filled journey sperm takes to fertilize an egg.
• The Cortisol Connection: How stress directly opposes progesterone, and why creating a feeling of "safety" in your body is crucial for conception.
• How to Track: A breakdown of Basal Body Temperature (BBT) tracking, LH strips, and advanced hormone monitors like Inito.
• The Power of Visualization: How Katie used the Christian Hypnobirthing app and visualization to find peace during her pregnancy and hospital stay with Malakai.

Resources mentioned:

• App / Monitor: Inito Fertility Monitor - https://www.inito.com/ 
• App: Christian Hypnobirthing App - https://www.christianhypnobirthing.com/ 
• Previous Episode: Fertility Series Part 1: Wrestling with God in the Waiting - https://www.buzzsprout.com/2467060/episodes/18826546 

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Part 2 of the Fertility Series
03:58 Random Revelation: An Anatomy Class Fun Fact
07:53 The Menstrual Cycle: Follicular vs. Luteal Phase
09:53 Growing the Next Generation in the Next Generation
13:04 Hormones & Mood: Why Your Energy Fluctuates
25:30 How Cortisol (Stress) Disrupts Your Fertility
31:44 The Power of Visualization and Mindset
35:51 Katie's Hypnobirthing Experience
41:40 The Biological Miracle of Conception
48:51 Methods for Tracking: BBT, Ovulation Strips, and Inito
01:00:00 The Stresses of Having Too Much Data

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Connect With Us: 

Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crunchychristianmama

Follow us on Instagram @crunchystewardship 

FREE How to Afford Non-Toxic Living Workbook: https://crunchystewardship.com/how-to-afford-non-toxic-living

Send us a Message!

Welcome back to Crunchy Stewardship. Today, we are stepping away from our usual lighthearted banter to share something deeply personal. This episode kicks off our brand new, multi-part series on Fertility. But before we get into the science, hormone tracking, and holistic health in future episodes, we knew we had to start with the posture of our own hearts.

In this incredibly raw and vulnerable episode, Chrissy and Katie open up about their personal fertility journeys. They share the unseen heartbreak of waiting, the frustration of unexplained symptoms, and what it looks like to wrestle with God when your deepest desires are met with silence. From navigating PCOS and naturopathic healing to surviving sepsis and making life-altering medical decisions, this episode is a testament to the fact that even in our darkest wilderness, God is still good.

In this deeply personal episode, we share:

• A Genesis Revelation: A beautiful realization about the creation story, and how God provided light before He ever created the sun.
• Chrissy’s Journey: The frustrating aftermath of hormonal birth control, discovering insulin resistance and PCOS, and finding hope (and healing) through a naturopath and Maca root.
• Katie’s 40-Month Wilderness: The pain of unexplained infertility, battling depression and anger, and ultimately finding peace in surrendering the dream of biological children.
• Malakai’s Miraculous Birth: The traumatic reality of contracting sepsis, the ECMO machine that saved Malachi's life, and Katie's heartbreaking decision to have a life-saving hysterectomy.
• The Ultimate Sacrifice: How the story of Abraham and Isaac, along with our own earthly trials, give us a humbling glimpse into the agonizing sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross.

Resources mentioned:

• Book: The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross (A wonderful Easter book for kids!) - https://amzn.to/4lqsi5e 
• Supplement: Maca Root (Used by Chrissy for PCOS/Hormone balancing)

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to Crunchy Stewardship

00:53 Random Revelation: The Light Before the Sun

09:53 Fertility Journey Kick Off

12:49 Chrissy's Fertility Journey

20:34 Katie's Fertility Journey

40:32 Malakai's Birth Story

44:54 Future Fertility for Katie

46:35 Finding Reconcilliation in the Journey

49:36 God Uses Infertility to Strengthen Our Faith

56:15 God Is With Us in the Journey

Remember, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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