Cycles and Seasons

Episode Summary Template

In this episode Jennifer talks about why chasing the “perfect fertility diet” can add stress to your fertility journey instead of supporting it. Whether you’re trying to conceive on your own or through fertility treatment, she shares four guiding principles for a sustainable, nourishing way of eating, plus real client stories that show why peace, not perfection, is the goal.

Key topics discussed: 

• Why the “perfect fertility diet” might be making things worse, not better
• The hidden signs food anxiety is adding to your fertility stress, from guilt over “bad” foods to skipping dinners with friends
• Where the pressure to eat perfectly really comes from: diet culture, social media, online forums and well-meaning advice
• What Jennifer has noticed about the women in her practice who conceive (hint: they aren’t the “perfect eaters”)
• How the Mediterranean style of eating supports fertility, with simple meal ideas and easy ways to adapt it if you’re gluten-free, dairy-free or don’t eat meat
• Bioindividuality: why copying someone else’s plan often backfires, including when you have a diagnosis like PMOS (formerly PCOS)
• Why you’re probably doing more right than you think, and how small additions and “crowding out” beat a total overhaul
• Why Jennifer looks at food as supportive or unsupportive instead of good or bad, and why you should occasionally enjoy that slice of chocolate cake
• Why a sustainable way of eating beats a perfect plan, especially when treatment stretches over months
• Real client stories: a calmer headspace going into an embryo transfer, a holiday season without binges or restriction and feeling “the weight of fertility lifted”

Resources Mentioned:

• Book a free Fertility Support Session with Jennifer

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Subscribe to Jennifer's weekly newsletter
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Libby Horesh, MAOM, LicAc, FABORM, about how a whole-systems approach to traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture, herbs, food, movement and lifestyle working together) can help rebalance the body and support fertility, whether you're trying naturally or using fertility treatment. 

Libby is the founder of Nurture Acupuncture and one of only a handful of fellows of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM), now the Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board of Reproductive Medicine, in Massachusetts. She also serves on ABORM's board. 

Her path to Chinese medicine was personal: after being diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS, now PMOS) in her 20s, she chose Chinese medicine over conventional treatment, and her symptoms resolved. Before that turning point, she studied English and environmental geoscience at Boston College and worked as an environmental scientist. She then earned a master's in Oriental medicine from the New England School of Acupuncture and became board-certified in reproductive medicine. 

For the past 17 years she has treated fertility and reproductive health in both women and men, along with a wide range of other health issues, drawing on her scientific background to care for the whole patient. When she's not in the clinic, you'll find her cooking creatively, spending time with her husband and two kids, and getting outside as much as possible.

Key topics discussed: 

• More than needles: what a “whole systems” approach to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) really includes, from herbs and nutrition to movement and breath
• Libby’s own PCOS (PMOS) story: how one look at her tongue changed her diet, and how her cycles began to regulate within a few months
• The IVF study worth knowing about: roughly 61% live birth rates with whole-systems TCM vs. about 48–51% with usual care or acupuncture alone, and what may be driving the difference
• Why you can’t rebalance your body in the 30 minutes before and after an embryo transfer, why three months of preparation is ideal, and why it’s still worth starting wherever you are
• Could your lunchtime salad be draining your energy? Raw and cold foods, digestion and directing your body’s energy toward the uterus and ovaries
• The surprising case for red meat: “blood deficiency,” what your period has to do with it and plant-based options for vegetarians
• Is your workout helping or hurting your fertility? Hot yoga, half marathons and matching movement to the energy you actually have
• TEAS (Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation): an at-home tool between sessions for IVF stims, a stubborn uterine lining, PMOS and painful periods, plus how some PMOS patients went from 60-day to 30-day cycles in two-to-three months
• Scared of needles? What really happens at a first appointment, from tongue checks and pulse reading to “baby needles,” why most patients fall asleep and the 10-point drop in blood sugar Libby saw on her own glucose monitor
• What to tell your fertility doctor, why herbs are usually paused once injectable medications begin and why your partner deserves a seat on the table too

Resources Mentioned:

• Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board of Reproductive Medicine (formerly ABORM), including its worldwide practitioner directory: aborm.org
• Food, mood and poop journal, a tool Jennifer uses with clients to notice how foods make them feel
• Gaia Herbs Plant Force Liquid Iron and Floradix, liquid iron supplements Libby uses as a “blood tonic”
•  “Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in-vitro fertilization outcomes.” Hullender Rubin LE, et al. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 2015 (the retrospective cohort study of about 1,200 IVF patients discussed in this episode)
• TEAS (Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation), using a TENS unit on acupuncture points; work with a qualified practitioner for your point protocol

 Connect with Libby:

• Website: www.nurturewholehealth.com
• Book an appointment online through the website, with offices in Concord and Bolton, MA, and evening hours available
• Questions? Email and phone number are listed on the website
• Instagram: @nurture.acupuncture

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Emily Everton about healing your relationship with your body and calming your nervous system to support fertility and conception.  Emily is a holistic women's health doctor of physical therapy, certified Mercier fertility specialist and hypothalamic amenorrhea coach. She is the founder of Embody Physical Therapy and Wellness in Hopkinton, MA, where she specializes in menstrual health, fertility and perinatal care. Emily blends evidence-informed care with a deep reverence for the body's innate wisdom, guiding women toward a more curious and compassionate relationship with their bodies. Her own recovery from hypothalamic amenorrhea, and the natural conception of her daughter, deeply informs the work she does today.

Key topics discussed: 

• Emily's own healing journey with hypothalamic amenorrhea, and how she went on to conceive naturally.
• What it really means to "come home to your body," and why repairing that relationship can be a game changer on a fertility journey.
• What Mercier Therapy is, what a session actually looks like, and who can benefit from it
• Why pelvic floor physical therapy is an underutilized (and often overlooked) resource for women trying to conceive.
• How nervous system dysregulation shows up during fertility treatment, and a simple orienting practice you can try today to feel calmer and safer in your body.
• The paradox of fertility tracking: why the apps, Oura Rings and ovulation strips that are meant to help can also leave you feeling more stressed and dysregulated.
• Why adding pleasure, ease and joy back into your life can matter just as much as anything you remove from it while trying to conceive.
• How to know if a fertility clinic or provider is truly seeing the "whole woman," not just her ovaries and uterus.
• What to look for in a practitioner - including certifications and the discernment questions to ask - when building your fertility support team.
• Free resources you can use right now to start understanding and charting your own menstrual cycle.

Resources Mentioned:

• Mercier Therapy, developed by Dr. Jennifer Mercier
• Find a Pelvic Rehab Fertility Specialist (PRFS)
• Emily's free menstrual cycle charting guide (basal body temperature, cervical fluid, fertility awareness basics)
• Emily's free guide to pelvic floor and cervical changes throughout your cycle

Connect with Emily

• Website: www.embodyptwell.com
• Instagram: @emilyeaverton.dpt
• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

Episode 47: How Do You Want to Feel This September?

In this episode, Jennifer shares a shorter, solo episode thinking out loud about the one question she asks almost every client entering fertility treatment or a new phase of treatment: how do you want to feel? 

Key topics discussed: 

• Why September’s shift into fall can hit different when you’re mid fertility cycle, mid two-week-wait, or starting a new round of fertility meds
• The one question Jennifer asks nearly every client before a new cycle, egg retrieval, embryo transfer, or two-week wait - and why it changes everything
• Moving from “just get through the cycle” to getting through it feeling hopeful, empowered, grounded, or centered
• Why hope and fear can coexist, and how to stop treating them as a contradiction
• Why feeling overwhelmed by protocols, appointments, and decisions isn’t a sign you’re doing it wrong - it’s a sign you need more support
• Redefining confidence during treatment: it’s not about knowing the outcome, it’s about trusting you can handle whatever comes
• What feeling “empowered” really means in fertility care, and why it starts with finding your voice with your care team, partner and yourself
• Why well-meaning advice like “just relax and it’ll happen” isn’t support, and what real support actually sounds like
• A simple exercise to name how you want to feel this month, and let that answer guide a decision or two
• Jennifer is opening a few 1:1 coaching spots this September, and how to schedule a free 45-minute Fertility Support Session

Resources Mentioned:

• September 1:1 coaching openings

Connect with Jennifer:

• DM Jennifer @jennredmondinhc
• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Zsofia Jamieson and Marta Han about the Aviva Method, a specialized fertility movement practice, and how they built The Fertility Class to make it accessible to women around the world. 

Zsofia Jamieson is a certified Aviva Method teacher, entrepreneur, and former fashion executive who was diagnosed with severe PCOS as a teenager and told she might never conceive. She healed naturally through movement and nutrition and, after leading global strategy for brands like Net-a-Porter, introduced the Aviva Method from Hungary to the UK and US.

Marta Han is a health coach, certified yoga teacher, and Aviva Method instructor. After navigating infertility and hormonal imbalance following years as a competitive ballroom dancer, she restored her health naturally through movement, nutrition, and holistic practices.

Together, Zsofia and Marta are the founders of The Fertility Class.

Key topics discussed: 

• Zsofia and Marta's personal fertility journeys and how they met and joined forces to create The Fertility Class.
• The history and origins of the Aviva Method, developed by Aviva Steiner and practiced for decades in Israel and Eastern Europe.
• What a Fertility Class session looks like, from the warm-up sequence to the 30-minute pelvic-focused movement practice.
• How the movements support blood flow, circulation, and the endocrine system around the reproductive organs.
• Specialized modifications for different stages of fertility treatment, including IUI, IVF, and endometriosis.
• Why matching the right type of movement to your nervous system matters, especially for "Type A" women prone to overexercising.
• How the practice builds body awareness and helps women better understand their own cycles and symptoms.
• Why they measure progress through cycle regularity and ovulation signs, not just pregnancy outcomes.
• What's included in a Fertility Class membership: personalized plans, nutrition classes, meditations, and a supportive community.
• Cost and accessibility of the program, including a 7-day trial and scholarships for those who need them.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Fertility Class
• The Fertility Class 7-day free trial
• The Aviva Method, the specialized movement practice at the root of The Fertility Class program

Connect with Zsofia and Marta

• Website: thefertilityclass.com
• Instagram: @thefertilityclass

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Jessica Katz, LICSW, PMH-C, CCFP, about the intersection of sexual trauma and infertility, exploring how survivors can navigate fertility treatment with greater safety, agency and self-compassion. Jessica is a clinical social worker, certified perinatal mental health specialist and clinical supervisor specializing in infertility and reproductive mental health. She is the founder of Empress Counseling, a private practice dedicated to supporting individuals and couples navigating IVF and other family-building pathways. Jessica has worked with trauma survivors and individuals with complex infertility histories for over a decade, and is a committed advocate for reproductive justice.

Content Warning: This episode includes a discussion of sexual assault and trauma. Some content may bring up difficult feelings, so please take care of yourself and feel free to pause or skip this episode at any time. Resources are listed below, and support is always available if you need it.

Key topics discussed: 

• How Jessica's background in trauma and sexual violence work, combined with her own infertility journey, led her into reproductive mental health
• The significant overlap between infertility and sexual trauma, and why the two are so rarely discussed together
• Why fertility treatment can cause previously healed trauma symptoms to resurface unexpectedly
• How the invasive, exposing nature of IVF procedures and exams can feel especially difficult for trauma survivors
• Practical ways to reclaim a sense of safety, choice and consent during treatment, including asking questions and setting boundaries around disclosure
• What "trauma-informed" care actually means, and how patients can find and vet trauma-informed providers and clinics
• The role of therapy in this work, including modalities such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, EMDR and Internal Family Systems
• Why self-blame and shame are common during infertility, and how naming vulnerable feelings can interrupt that cycle
• Grief as a through-line connecting trauma and infertility, including loss of timeline, community and the life once imagined
• Reclaiming agency and rebuilding trust with your body, and how partners and couples counseling can support the journey

Resources Mentioned:

• AllPaths Family Building. Directory that can help connect patients with trauma-informed reproductive providers,
• Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. Support resources and trauma training
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). National sexual assault hotline and resources 
• Maternal Trauma Support. An emerging directory of trauma-informed perinatal care providers 
• RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association. Therapist and provider directory
• Trauma therapy modalities: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Brainspotting, and Cognitive Processing Therapy

Connect with Jessica Katz:

• www.empresscounseling.com
• Instagram: @EmpressCounseling

Connect with Jennifer Redmond:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Jodi Tolman, author, keynote speaker and online course creator devoted to helping others navigate the path to parenthood. After marrying her husband Jay at 40, and faced with infertility, Jodi spent six years pursuing treatment, adoption and donor egg IVF, ultimately building a family of three children. Jodi now helps others find their own best path to parenthood. Her story is shared in her best-selling memoir, “One From Each Column: My 46-Year Trek from Abusive Childhood to Elusive Motherhood.”

Key topics discussed: 

• Jodi’s discovery, at age 40, that she had age-related infertility, and how her resilience helped her face it
• Why couples should identify their true priority - genetics, pregnancy, or parenting - early in the journey
• How Jodi and her husband “double-tracked” treatment and adoption at the same time
• The importance of building a trusted team - doctor, social worker, genetics counselor and mental health practitioner
• Why relying on trusted professionals, rather than “Dr. Google” or AI tools, matters for fertility education
• Staying hopeful and keeping an open mind through a long, uncertain journey
• Learning to grieve the dream of a genetic child while embracing the wonder of however your child arrives
• Ways male partners can stay engaged and feel involved throughout the process
• Preparing thoughtful questions before every medical appointment
• Jodi’s upcoming digital course, “From Powerless to Parenthood and Points Beyond”

Resources Mentioned:

• Jodi’s memoir: “One From Each Column: My 46-Year Trek from Abusive Childhood to Elusive Motherhood”
• Jodi’s upcoming digital course, “From Powerless to Parenthood and Points Beyond,” is launching soon 
• All Paths Family Building, a New England-based nonprofit offering support groups, including for men

Connect with Jodi

• JodiTolmanSpeaks.com
• Contact information for speaking engagements and consulting is available on her website

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Dr. Maya Barsky about the recent renaming of PCOS to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome), what it means for diagnosis and treatment, and how this shift can empower women to better understand and manage their health. 

Dr. Barsky is a double board-certified physician in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She serves as a Lead Physician at the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, at UConn School of Medicine. Dr. Barsky also holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Investigation, where her thesis research focused on Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS). She is passionate about helping individuals and couples from all walks of life navigate their family-building journeys with compassionate, evidence-based care.

Her clinical interests include PMOS, reproductive surgery, diminished ovarian reserve, recurrent pregnancy loss, fertility preservation, and third-party reproduction.

Key topics discussed: 

• Why PCOS was renamed to PMOS (Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome) and what the new name better reflects about the condition.
• The history of the condition from Stein-Leventhal syndrome (1935) through its evolution as an endocrine, metabolic and genetic disorder.
• The three diagnostic criteria for PMOS (hyperandrogenism, polyfollicular ovaries/elevated AMH, and irregular cycles) and why only two of three are needed for diagnosis.
• How PMOS affects the whole body throughout life, including endocrine, metabolic, cardiovascular, mental health and reproductive systems, not just during reproductive years.
• Why up to 70% of women were diagnosed late under the previous name, and the challenges of diagnosing PMOS in adolescents and in women approaching menopause.
• PMOS and fertility: why it is not a diagnosis of infertility, how irregular ovulation affects conception, and the range of treatment options from lifestyle changes to letrozole, IUI and IVF.
• The role of lifestyle changes in managing PMOS: high-protein diet, reduced carb load, at least 150 minutes of movement per week, hydration and sleep. 
• GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound) and their potential benefits for PMOS, and why they must be discontinued 1–2 months before trying to conceive. 
• Supplements for PMOS: the importance of prenatal vitamins with folic acid for those trying to conceive, and inositol as an alternative to metformin.
• Dr. Barsky’s message to women who suspect they may have PMOS: there is no “typical” PMOS patient, the condition is not your fault and every woman deserves a clear diagnosis and a whole-person care plan

Resources Mentioned:

• Center for Advanced Reproductive Services (UConn Fertility) 

Connect with Dr. Maya Barsky

• Instagram: @MayaBarskyMD
•  Website: uconnfertility.com

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Kayla Branstetter about the Greek myth of Medusa and Athena as a lens for understanding medical gaslighting, reproductive trauma and the cultural expectation that women endure their pain in silence. 

Kayla is an English instructor at Crowder College, where she teaches literature, creative nonfiction, and composition. She is a published writer whose work has appeared in more than 40 journals worldwide, and the author of the creative nonfiction book Off With Her Head. A TEDx speaker and educator, her work centers on women’s health, narrative medicine, reproductive trauma, and the cultural expectations placed on women’s bodies and resilience. She is currently completing a Doctorate of Education in Healthcare, with research focused on narrative medicine and women’s healthcare. 

Her forthcoming book, Don’t Be an Athena, examines reproductive health, medical gaslighting and the myth of silent endurance through storytelling, research and at times, dark humor.

Key topics discussed: 

• The Greek myth of Medusa and Athena, and how it shaped the title and framework of Kayla’s book, Don’t Be an Athena
• How society tends to demonize women’s reproductive choices and experiences, from teen pregnancy and miscarriage to IVF, abortion and choosing not to become a mother
• Kayla’s own experiences with infertility, miscarriage and medical gaslighting
• The idea of “silent endurance” and where the centuries-old expectation that women must suffer quietly comes from
• Missouri’s maternal and infant mortality rates, restrictive abortion laws and the challenges of accessing reproductive healthcare in rural areas
• The need for comprehensive sex education and more supportive, paid parental leave policies
• Kayla’s dissertation research on narrative medicine, the role of AI in healthcare and improving doctor-patient communication
• The difference between treating “the chart” versus “the human,” and how storytelling builds trust between doctors and patients
• What folk medicine traditions can teach modern medicine about accessibility and human connection
• Endometriosis, the importance of self-advocacy, and how cultural expectations can make it harder for women to seek care

Resources Mentioned:

• Don’t Be an Athena: Women’s Stories of Surviving Medical Misogyny. Kayla’s forthcoming book, releasing July 20th and available for pre-order now
• Ozark Hollow Press
• Kayla’s TEDx talk, “Don’t Be an Athena” (TEDxMSSU)
• “Blood,” a short story by Zdravka Evtimova that Kayla discussed with her class while talking about folk medicine
• The work of Dr. Rita Charon, a founding figure in the field of narrative medicine

Connect with Kayla Branstetter

• https://kaylabranstetter.wordpress.com/
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Facebook (personal profile — she welcomes friend requests!)

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.

In this episode Jennifer talks with Alicia Abdella, MSW, LICSW,  about the emotional and psychological dimensions of third-party reproduction, including egg donation and gestational surrogacy. Alicia is the founder of On the Path Counseling and Consultation, a specialized psychotherapy practice supporting individuals and couples through the emotional challenges of reproductive health. With 15 years of clinical experience, Alicia and her team of licensed therapists provide compassionate counseling for those navigating fertility struggles, IVF, pregnancy loss, third-party reproduction, and complex family-building decisions. Her practice is based in Andover, Massachusetts, with virtual services available in New Hampshire, Maine, Florida, and Massachusetts.

Key topics discussed: 

• What egg donation and gestational surrogacy are, and who uses them
• The wide range of emotional starting points when considering donor egg or surrogacy
• Why partners are rarely at the same emotional place at the same time, and how to navigate that
• Normalizing ambivalence – you don’t have to be 100% on board right away
• How the loss of a genetic connection reshapes feelings about bonding and parenthood
• Disclosure decisions: navigating social stigma, family, culture and religion
• Known vs. anonymous donors and surrogates: short-term and long-term considerations
• Why true anonymity is no longer realistic in the age of direct-to-consumer DNA testing (23andMe, Ancestry.com)
• Bonding with a baby you didn’t carry - what gestational surrogacy looks like emotionally for intended parents
• The role of community and peer connection as a coping tool
• What to expect from a therapy session or formal consult with a reproductive mental health professional
• ASRM guidelines for mental health professional involvement in donor and gestational carrier cycles

Resources Mentioned:

• Fertility Forward — a support program in partnership with Terra Fertility (Boston area)
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) — asrm.org (practice guidelines for third-party reproduction)

Connect with Alicia:

• On the Path Counseling and Consultation
• Email: [email protected]

Connect with Jennifer:

• Schedule a free Fertility Support Session
• Follow Jennifer on Instagram for more tips and insights: @jennredmondinhc

I would be so grateful if you would subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with women in your life who can benefit from this information.

Disclaimer: The Cycles and Seasons podcast is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your healthcare professional regarding any symptoms or medical problems you are experiencing.