Fertility Forward

When you are consumed with negative thoughts or going through a difficult time, it can be really hard to pull yourself out of these thought patterns. Although there are so many affirmations and self-help apps out there, when Leo Skepi was going through a challenging period in his own life, none of these platforms resonated with him, and so to solve this, he created his own. Positive Focus helps interrupt and replace thought patterns. The app helps sends messages that stimulate and prompt you to think help you gain self-awareness, and improve your overall mental state. In this episode, Leo shares his journey of developing the app and talks about some examples of messages on the app. We dive into how he comes up with the notification quotes and where he draws inspiration from. This app is just in its fledgling stage, and we are sure there is so much more to come. Tune in to hear it all. 

Trauma affects people in different ways. Just because something is not traumatic for some else, doesn’t mean it won’t be traumatic for you. Talking to us today about acknowledging trauma, and Post Trauma Growth is psychotherapist Joelle Rabow Maletis. Joelle’s focus in this episode is on learning to shift from being a victim to a warrior, by choosing to take ownership of your trauma and honoring the impact a traumatic event has had on you. By asking, “So what?”, Joelle teaches us to give space to the trauma, but to also move forward. We cover the biochemical reactions that underpin the three fear responses, and how to tackle each one. From great tips on how to ground yourself, to advice for fellow therapists on treating skeptical patients, this episode contains a wealth of information for all aspects of your life. Tune in to find out how to turn trauma into growth, without dismissing the trauma!

Mental health struggles are stigmatized and when women are pregnant or become mothers, these issues are almost completely overlooked. Dr. Emily Watts specializes in women's mental health and perinatal psychiatry and applies a holistic approach to the care of her patients. She sees the interplay between the physical, mental and social wellbeing of her patients as vital to their overall health. In today's episode, Emily explains how those on medication for their mental health can navigate conception and pregnancy. There is a not a universal answer and it depends on individual factors and circumstances. We talk about the prevalence of mood and anxiety changes during all stages of pregnancy and Emily walks us through some of the lifestyle changes she typically recommends. Our conversation also touches on the importance of sleep, challenging the idea that moms need to do it all, and normalizing speaking about mental health during pregnancy. Tune in to hear it all! 

A growing awareness that you don't need to have a partner in order to become a parent is changing the narrative about parenthood. Today’s guest to discuss this topic is Dr. Rachel Gerber, a reproductive endocrinologist, infertility specialist, and board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who cares for patients at RMA of New York’s Eastside and Westchester offices. In this episode, we discuss all aspects of single parenthood by choice or single motherhood by choice (SMC), from selecting a sperm donor to considerations regarding disclosure, artificial insemination, and fertility preservation, as well as the importance of prioritizing your mental health and finding a good support system. Hopefully, this conversation will inspire those who are thinking about becoming a single parent by choice and enlighten those who are unfamiliar with some of the nuances of this powerful journey. Tune in today!

The month of September is PCOS Awareness Month and, in today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Lucky Sekhon, OBGYN and fertility specialist based in New York City, to discuss polycystic ovarian syndrome and her unconventional approach to the disorder. We also dive a little deeper into the emotional impact of PCOS and the loss of control that patients often feel when diagnosed during their fertility journey, with Dr. Sekhon emphasizing the importance of reframing it as an ‘alternate state of being’ rather than a disease. We also share our expertise in nutrition, mental health, and physical health, weighing in on the roles that whole foods, perspective, and exercise play in the treatment and management of this confusing and complex alternative state of being. Tune in today to learn more!

The COVID-19 vaccine is raising a lot of questions and anxiety, but it is particularly pertinent to those with a special interest in fertility. On today’s episode, we talk to Dr. Lucky Sekhon, OBGYN and fertility specialist based in New York City. We kick off our discussion by acknowledging that pregnant women are a vulnerable population when it comes to COVID before discussing the misinformation crisis that has emerged and some of the myths surrounding pregnancy and fertility. Dr. Sekhon gives us an overview of the three vaccine options available and shares what studies have shown about vaccination during pregnancy: that more than not having a negative impact on pregnancy and fertility, the vaccine will have a positive, protective impact on pregnant women. She touches on some of the risks involved in contracting COVID during your pregnancy and draws us to the disturbing statistic that less than 20 percent of pregnant women are vaccinated in the US. Dr. Sekhon recognizes a parallel in terms of hesitance with the HPV vaccine in relation to fertility and highlights the importance of trusting public health experts, even though politicization makes this harder. In summary, her advice for pregnant women is that, the sooner you get vaccinated, the better. We hope you join us to hear all this and more today. 

So often when women struggle with their fertility, they are told to follow treatments that may not work for their bodies. Perhaps they are told to lose weight or live healthier, but for many women, this is not enough. Melissa Groves Azzaro is an integrative dietician who helps women with hormone imbalances, PCOS, and fertility issues regain their periods and get pregnant naturally. Through her functional approach to figure out the root cause of infertility issues, Melissa is able to tailor nutrition, supplement, and lifestyle plans to meet her clients’ needs. In this episode, we talk about what PCOS is and the various ways it can manifest. Because it is a syndrome, it can present itself differently in everyone and we get to her some great nutritional advice for those who have the condition. Of course, there is no universal diet or lifestyle plan, but there are some principles that can help women across the board. Our conversation also touches on the importance of balance, some supplements Melissa typically recommends to her patients, and the value of using a food-first approach. Tune in today to hear it all.

Choosing to follow a healthy diet should be pretty straightforward, right? But with all the information available to us online it can often be difficult to know which sources to trust, especially when they contradict one another. Here to shed some well-informed light on the topic is registered dietician nutritionist, and certified diabetes educator, Lily Nichols. Lily is a researcher and author of two books Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Diabetes. She is also the co-founder of the Women’s Health Nutrition Academy. Her work is deeply informed by her passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition. In our conversation with Lily, we hear about how she first became curious about the nutritional guidelines set for pregnant women and how her research exposed their inaccuracies. We cover a range of misunderstood foods and nutrients for pregnant women, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, liver, and fish, and hear how to safely benefit from them. Lily explains the deficiencies that result from a vegan diet and how to prevent them with adequate supplementation. She also shares her tips and tricks for incorporating healthy, but potentially unpalatable food into your diet slowly. We wrap up by hearing a little bit about Lily’s plans and gain insight into the tremendous amount of work necessary for writing a book on diet and nutrition. For all this and much more, tune in today! 

Many parents who pursue donor-assisted reproduction often feel alone in their journey, but the truth is they usually share the same fears. Today we welcome back Nancy Kaufman, a licensed clinical social worker, and psychoanalyst who has been practicing in New York City for over 30 years. Nancy works with individuals, couples, and groups dealing with infertility and parenting after infertility. For the past 15 years, she has led The Third Party Parenting Network, a support group for those pursuing donor-assisted reproduction with an emphasis on issues related to disclosure. Today we discuss the value of walking through this process with a support group. Nancy sheds light on some of the common fears held by members of her support group, such as fears surrounding the rejection of a parent by a child who was conceived with the help of a donor, fears that a child is going to be genetically related to a lot of other children, and the tension that may arise between parents when one shares DNA with the child and the other does not. We discuss the importance of asking the question “Do I really want to be a parent?” and talk about how being a parent and having a genetically related child are not the same thing. To hear why you should disclose the truth about using a donor to your child from a young age, tips on how to navigate your child’s questions about the donor, and information about where you can find support for the challenges you face in your family journey, tune in today!

Today, we speak with holistic nutritionist and women’s wellness expert, Erin Parekh, who specializes in guiding women to nurse themselves on their journey to and through motherhood. You’ll hear the story of how Erin’s own fertility journey sparked her special interest in women’s wellness and the pivotal moment when she realized how little clinics offered to those on a fertility journey. We touch on stigma and the role of communication to connect people, Erin’s self-care tools, and reframing the all-or-nothing mindset. Erin believes that mindset is an essential part of building holistic wellness and we talk about the importance of a gratitude practice, looking at the whole picture, and finding what works for you, personally. We talk about the role that nutritional knowledge can play in reducing stress during your fertility journey, and Erin reveals that the time she’s had to herself while her husband is on a business trip has been grounding and necessary. We hope you join us to learn from Erin’s theoretical and personal knowledge today!