Fertility Friday | Fertility Awareness Mastery for Women's Health Professionals

In today’s episode, I share with you two interviews I recorded live at the Restorative Medicine Conference in Toronto.

Dr. David Brownstein is a Board-Certified family physician and is one of the foremost practitioners of holistic medicine. He is the Medical Director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in West Bloomfield, MI. Dr. Brownstein has lectured internationally to physicians, and others, about his success in using natural hormones and nutritional therapies in his practice.

Dr. Denis Wilson developed the concept of Wilson ‘s Temperature Syndrome in 1988 after observing people with symptoms of low thyroid and low body temperature, yet who had normal blood tests. He found that by normalizing their temperatures with T3 (without T4) their symptoms often remained improved even after the treatment was discontinued.

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Topics discussed in today's episode

• How a book on nutrition led Dr. Brownstein down this career path
• What should we know about iodine as it relates to the thyroid and why is it essential?
• What happens when there’s an iodine deficiency?
• Why is it important to know your iodine levels before you get pregnant?
• Iodine’s connection to cystic breasts
• How the thyroid is related to metabolism
• Low body temperature: what does it mean and what does it have to do with the thyroid?
• Dr. Wilson’s experiments with cycling patients and resetting their thermostat and thyroid
• What to do if you have a low body temperature
• The direct correlation between metabolism and body temperature and how it relates to fertility
• How does hyperthyroidism relate to fertility?
• How to tell if, and when, what you’re doing is working
• What to eat, and when to eat it, to maintain healthy insulin levels

Connect with Dr. David Brownstein, MD

You can connect with Dr. Brownstein on his website.

Connect with Dr. Denis Wilson, MD

You can connect with Dr. Wilson on his website.

Resources mentioned

• FFP 116 | Stop The Thyroid Madness | Going Beyond Synthroid & Getting to the Root Cause of Thyroid Disorders | Why the TSH Test Isn’t Enough | What to do when your Doctor Won’t Cooperate | Janie Bowthorpe, M. Ed.
• Dr. Brownstein's Book - Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can't Live Without It
• Dr. Brownstein's Book - Overcoming Thyroid Disorders
• Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness by Dr. Broda Barnes
• The Association for the Advancement of Restorative Medicine
• The Exercise Paradox
• List of Medical Providers Trained in Dr. Wilson's Approach

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Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

Fertility Friday | Fertility Management Masterclass

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

Dr. Duane is a board-certified family physician and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Georgetown University. She is trained as a Creighton Medical consultant, and she is the co-founder and Executive Team Leader of FACTS – the Fertility Appreciation Collaborative to Teach the Science.

FACTS was formed to educate physicians and healthcare professionals using medical evidence so they may empower women and engage men to appreciate and care for their fertility, and to change the culture of medicine so that fertility is recognized as normal and healthy. It’s doing what we all want - educating doctors about fertility awareness!

In today’s show, we talk about the work that FACTS is doing to educate medical professionals about fertility and fertility awareness-based methods.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What inspired Dr. Duane to create FACTS?
• How FACTS has grown since 2010
• The process Dr. Duane uses to educate other doctors and motivate other doctors
• Debunking the myth that pregnancy can happen at any time, no matter what
• What determines the effectiveness of a method?
• Getting over the hurdle of fertility awareness-based methods being entirely dependent on the person doing the method
• The idea of the female cycle is “the 5th vital sign” and the information that can be gathered from charting; including important diagnoses
• How to talk to your doctor about natural fertility methods
• The importance of knowing how your body works and educating women
• Details about the FACTS presentation and how to invite speakers
• Dr. Duane’s training in the Creighton Model System

Connect with Dr. Duane

You can connect with Dr. Duane on the FACTS website.

Resources mentioned

• FFP 031 | Using Fertility Awareness Charting to Treat Infertility Naturally | NaPro Technology | Dr. Danielle Miller
• FFP 033 | The Garden of Fertility | Night Lighting & Cycle Regulation | Electromagnetic Radiation | Katie Singer
• FFP 077 | Standard Days Method ® | Cycle Beads ® | Dr. Victoria Jennings
• FACTS' Research Overview Page
• Teen STAR
• Family Medicine Education Consortium, Inc.

Symptothermal method fact sheet 

• Symptothermal Method Study
• Billings Ovulation Method Study
• NaPro TECHNOLOGY

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Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

Fertility Friday | Fertility Management Masterclass

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

Lisa is a Justisse Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner who has been working in the field since 1988. She has an extensive background in women’s reproductive health and fertility, and also works as a Natural Health Consultant (at the Pharmasave Health Centre) in Parksville, BC.

In today’s show, we talk about the important role that healthy liver function plays in balancing hormones, fertility, and menstrual cycle health.

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Topics discussed in today's episode

• What does the liver do and how does it do it?
• How can you reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals?
• What are the signs of an overburdened liver?
• SKILL: Skin, Kidneys, Intestines, Lungs, Liver - Learning more about these organs of elimination
• How liver function is connected to a healthy menstrual cycle
• The different types of Estrogen and the effects they have on your body
• How does the liver break down toxins?
• Detoxing: When is it necessary and how does this relate to women who are actively trying to conceive?
• The foods and herbs that are best for a healthy liver
• What happens if the liver can’t release toxins?
• How hormonal contraceptives impact liver function
• How does liver health impact recurring issues, such as headaches, during your cycle?
• The importance of keeping track of what your body is doing

Connect with Lisa

You can connect with Lisa on the Justisse Healthworks website or email her at [email protected].

Resources mentioned

• FFP 038 | Using Fertility Awareness to Navigate Through Perimenopause and Menopause | Lisa Leger
• FFP 099 | HPA Axis Dysregulation, Adrenal Fatigue & Fertility | Stress Management | Kelsey Kinney (Marksteiner) RD
• Dan Barber's Ted Talk: A foie gras parable
• The Estrogen-Plus-Progestin Study
• 3,3'-Diindolylmethane
• Estrogen's Storm Season by Dr. Jerilynn Prior

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Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

Fertility Friday | Fertility Management Masterclass

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

Ilene has been a Fertility Awareness Educator since 2001. She first discovered fertility awareness in 1994 and has been teaching through the Fertility Awareness Centre ever since. She is the Executive Director of the Association of Fertility Awareness Professionals, (AFAP); the only international membership organization for fertility awareness professionals.

In today’s show, we talk about Fertility Awareness and the role it plays in advancing reproductive freedoms & justice for women, professionalism in the field, and much more.

Special Note: This interview was recorded before the 2016 Presidential election and Ilene wanted to note the conversation we had about reproductive justice would be different if we were to have it today.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What drew Ilene into the field of fertility awareness?
• Ilene’s tragic transition into becoming a fertility awareness educator
• The story behind the Association of Fertility Awareness Professionals
• Why is it so important to have this professional association for fertility educators?
• Does understanding how to chart your own cycle mean you can teach others?
• What surprised Ilene when she first started working with clients?
• The pros and cons of having such easy access to information
• The divide between fertility awareness educators and those who go the DIY route
• What is Reproductive Justice?
• Where is the AFAP starting in their fight for Reproductive Justice?
• How can you become certified as a fertility awareness educator through AFAP?
• What are Ilene’s top three myths about fertility?

Connect with Ilene

You can connect with Ilene on her personal website or on the AFAP's website!

Resources mentioned

• The AFAP's page on Reproductive Justice
  
• The AFAP's page on Teacher Training and Certification
• AFAP Membership Benefits
• Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler
• Where to Invade Next by Michael Moore
• Article on Mother Jones' website about lack of affordable child care in the United States
• A series of audio pieces about the lack of paid parental leave, and the impact on parents, in the United States
• FFP 083 | Do You Know When You Ovulate? | Fertility Awareness Method | Dr. Kerry Hampton
• FFP 020 | How to Accurately time Sex to Optimize your chances of getting Pregnant | Why Cervical Mucus is Essential | Dr. Kerry Hampton
• FFP 077 | Standard Days Method ® | Cycle Beads ® | Dr. Victoria Jennings

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

Fertility Friday | Fertility Management Masterclass

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

If you want to get a lecture from a health professional one of the quickest ways to do it is to tell them that you’re using the Fertility Awareness Method for birth control. In fact, you may not even need to go as far as talking to a health professional to get that response. You… Read More »

The post Top 5 Reasons Why It’s Harder to Use Fertility Awareness Postpartum While You Breastfeed appeared first on Fertility Friday.

Lori is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who has been working with breastfeeding mothers and babies for over 25 years. Lori became a Birth doula and a Postpartum doula and soon became a lactation consultant. Over that time she has worked with over 10,000 mothers and babies in private consultation to help them work through… Read More »

The post FFP 118 | All About Breastfeeding | Why it Might Not Be As Easy As You Think To Breastfeed Your Baby After Birth | Myths and Facts About Breastfeeding | Lori J Isenstadt, IBCLC appeared first on Fertility Friday.

Lori is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who has been working with breastfeeding mothers and babies for over 25 years. Lori became a Birth Doula and a Postpartum doula and soon became a lactation consultant. Over that time she has worked with over 10,000 mothers and babies in private consultation to help them work through their breastfeeding challenges.

Lori founded All About Breastfeeding, her private practice where she provides education, support, and advocacy for breastfeeding mothers! Lori is also a Podcaster, and her Podcast “All About Breastfeeding” is an amazing resource for breastfeeding mothers that I wish I had had before I embarked on my own breastfeeding journey!

I was recently featured on Lori’s Podcast, "All About Breastfeeding" (the place where the girls hang out), where I shared my experience with breastfeeding.

In today’s show, we are going to talk all about breastfeeding, and why it may not be as “easy” and “natural” as you thought.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What inspired Lori to become a lactation consultant?
• The biggest misconceptions about breastfeeding
• How you can prepare for breastfeeding
• Is breastfeeding supposed to hurt?
• Why you should assume you will need help breastfeeding
• Common breastfeeding challenges
• Should your baby be on a feeding schedule?
• What you should expect in the first few weeks of breastfeeding
• Should you worry about not producing enough milk?
• What is the “sweet spot” of breastfeeding?
• Why breastfeeding increases the bond between you and your baby
• The one thing Lori wants you to take away from this episode
• The biggest barrier to successful breastfeeding

Connect with Lori

You can connect with Lori on her website and podcast.

Resources mentioned

• My Appearance on Lori's "All About Breastfeeding" Podcast
• La Leche League International
• Jack Newman's Website
• Lori's Freebies & Checklists

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Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

Sponsored By:

This episode is sponsored by Prep Dish! Click here to receive your first 2 weeks of meal plans completely free of charge!

Candice is a graduate of the Midwifery Education program at McMaster University in Ontario. Since first learning about midwifery in high school, she has been committed to becoming a midwife herself. She has always had an interest in women’s healthcare and, in particular, the ideals of women-centered care. Candice strives to honor the ability of her clients to voice their opinions and wishes for their care by being open and supportive. Her goal is to make each client’s pregnancy and postpartum experience one that is positively supported and empowering. Another awesome fact about Candice is that she was my midwife - and helped me to birth my youngest son about 1 1/2 years ago.

In today’s show, we delve into what it is that midwives do, what their qualifications are, what their training is like, how they manage home births, and what their role is in the hospital setting. We also talk about the philosophy of birth from a midwifery perspective.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What inspired Candice to become a midwife?
• Common misconceptions about midwifery care
• What happens if something “goes wrong” during an at-home birth?
• Does having a midwife means you must deliver at home?
• Is giving birth, by its very nature, dangerous?
• Why you shouldn’t let fear dictate your decisions regarding pain medications
• How does the midwifery model of care differ from traditional medical care?
• What do Candice’s typical appointments look like?
• How midwifery care does end after birth
• Is seeing an OB when you’re not high-risk excessive?
• Midwifery care for high-risk clients
• The differences between doulas and midwives
• Candice’s thoughts on being present during the moment of birth
• What Candice wants you to take away from our conversation
• What does Candice want every woman to know about giving birth?

Connect with Candice

You can connect with Candice on the Burlington & Area Midwives website.

Resources mentioned

• Association of Ontario Midwives

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Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

Sponsored By:

This episode is sponsored by Prep Dish! Click here to receive your first 2 weeks of meal plans completely free of charge!

Janie A. Bowthorpe, M.Ed, has spent years as one of the most well-known and heartfelt Thyroid Patient Advocates, fighting for better thyroid care. And what has made her different from others who claim the same title?  It's her unique focus, which has always been about reported patient experiences and the wisdom gained from those experiences ... rather than strong opinions or courting the medical establishment.

Like millions worldwide, Janie was a 20-year victim of poor treatment with T4-only meds and the use of the TSH lab test, only to have a miraculous turnaround in the use of Natural Desiccated Thyroid. Those experiences propelled her to represent patients worldwide, totally based on their experiences and wisdom. She is the author of the book, Stop the Thyroid Madness.

In today’s show, we talk about why women who show signs of hypothyroidism often have the hardest time getting support from their doctors; whether it's lab work or getting prescriptions for thyroid medication (other than Synthroid®). We get to the bottom of the common issue of why a woman can feel terrible even if she has "normal" lab results, and what she can do if her doctor isn't supporting her mission to get to the underlying cause.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What events led to Janie writing her book, Stop the Thyroid Madness?
• Janie talks about the common symptoms of continued Hypothyroidism
• Why the typical tests doctors run Hypothyroidism are not good enough
• Why the common treatments for Hypothyroidism don’t usually work
• How free T3 and T4 levels are better indicators of your thyroid health
• Janie’s advice about how to handle resistance from physicians with regards to testing
• Why the commonly prescribed medication, Synthroid®, doesn’t always help
• What desiccated thyroid is and how it compares to Synthroid®
• What can cause symptoms to get worse after taking desiccated thyroid?
• What are some underlying causes of Hypothyroidism and can it be cured?
• Janie’s advice for people who’ve had trouble finding a doctor who’ll truly work with them
• The one thing Janie wants listeners to know
• The one myth about Hypothyroidism Janie wants to address

Connect with Janie

You can connect with Janie on her Website and on Facebook

Resources mentioned

• Stop the Thyroid Madness Website
• Stop the Thyroid Madness eBooks
• Stop the Thyroid Madness: Lab Values
• Stop the Thyroid Madness: Recommended Lab Work
• Stop the Thyroid Madness: Natural Thyroid 101
• Stop the Thyroid Madness Facebook Page
• FFP 104 | Birth Control Pills From Your Doctor’s Perspective | Why Your Physician isn’t Looking at the Root Cause | Alternative Medicine for Women | Dr. Miranda Naylor

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

Sponsored By:

This episode is sponsored by Prep Dish! Click here to receive your first 2 weeks of meal plans completely free of charge!

Janie A. Bowthorpe, M.Ed, has spent years as one of the most well-known and heartfelt Thyroid Patient Advocates, fighting for better thyroid care. And what has made her different from others who claim the same title?  It’s her unique focus, which has always been about reported patient experiences and the wisdom gained from those experiences… Read More »

The post FFP 116 | Stop The Thyroid Madness | Going Beyond Synthroid & Getting to the Root Cause of Thyroid Disorders | Why the TSH Test Isn’t Enough | What to do when your Doctor Won’t Cooperate | Janie Bowthorpe, M. Ed. appeared first on Fertility Friday.