“Hold on to hope. I know that’s hard to hear because there were times when I felt that all hope is lost and that it wasn’t in the cards for me. But if you hold on to hope and keep going, even if you don’t know the next step, keep going and be open to new things and the way will appear. Keep an open mind on what your journey is going to be, because sometimes things jump out at you that you didn’t realize were available.” -Sadie

Today’s guest is Sadie Banks. She is a blogger and photographer from Utah, and creator of the Good Grief Infertility Journal. Good Grief is a prompt journal for those enduring infertility. It walks you through and helps you cope with the feelings, emotions, and experiences that come with an infertility journey. Aside from the Infertility Journey journal, she also has the following journals: Miscarriage Journey, IVF Journey, Pregnancy Journey, Motherhood Journey, Anxiety Journey, and Grief Journey.

Sadie suffers from PCOS. She and her husband have tried timed intercourse and an unsuccessful IUI. After taking a break, she and her husband participated in a clinical trial for IVF that resulted in pregnancy and the birth of their daughter.

I’m thrilled to have Sadie on the podcast, sharing her amazing journey towards motherhood with us. Follow along Sadie’s journey on Instagram @sadie_banks. Grab one of the Good Grief journals at www.goodgriefjournals.com or follow them on Instagram @goodgriefjournals.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.

Podcast freebie: 7 day fertility optimizing meal plan with recipes and grocery list. Click the link to download freebie: https://fertilityfundamentals.clickfunnels.com/optin1588646493313

As a companion to Lana’s episode, Mary discusses what is IUI.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a type of artificial insemination. It is a procedure for treating infertility. Sperm that have been washed and concentrated are placed directly in your uterus around the time your ovary releases one or more eggs to be fertilized. The hoped-for outcome of intrauterine insemination is for the sperm to swim into the fallopian tube and fertilize a waiting egg, resulting in a normal pregnancy. Depending on the reasons for infertility, IUI can be coordinated with your normal cycle or with fertility medications.

Consult with your fertility doctor if this procedure is right for you.

This episode was brought to you by Fertility Fundamentals. Fertility fundamentals is a naturopath led collective of women supporting each other in their fertility journey. Join the collective for free at www.facebook.com/groups/fundamentalfertility and come join your tribe!

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.

“Put your relationship first. It’s easy to get caught up and get overwhelmed with the process—the amount of tests you have to go through, finding doctors— and it can easily take over your life. I think it’s important to connect with your spouse, remember why you want to create a family with them, and really invest in that relationship, otherwise you can easily get carried away. Empower yourselves with knowledge and make sure that your comfortable with your treatments and your medical professionals. Speak up, ask, and if they’re not the right medical professional for you to move on and find someone who will give you time, be there for you and help you through this journey, taking back control where you can.” -Lana

Today’s guest is Lana from Tel Aviv, Israel. She grew up in Boston before moving to Tel Aviv 11 years ago. She shares her struggles with weight, eventually going through gastric bypass surgery. She is committed to her health and her well-being by nourishing her body with healthy meals and exercising. Lana and her husband have been TTC for the past 2 years. Lana has gone through 2 unmedicated IUI procedures, which unfortunately were unsuccessful. Her husband has been diagnosed with issues with sperm morphology. Lana and her husband are strong advocates for their health and are now about to start their first IVF cycle. We are so excited and hopeful for you!

I’m thrilled to have Lana on the podcast, sharing her amazing journey towards motherhood with us. Follow along Lana’s journey on Instagram @meddie4ivf where she posts delicious and healthy meals.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.

Podcast freebie: 7 day fertility optimizing meal plan with recipes and grocery list. Click the link to download freebie: https://fertilityfundamentals.clickfunnels.com/optin1588646493313

As a companion to Lauren’s episode, Mary talks about ICSI and what this procedure is.

There are two ways that an egg may be fertilized by IVF: traditional and ICSI. In traditional IVF, 50,000 or more swimming sperm are placed next to the egg in a laboratory dish. Fertilization occurs when one of the sperm enters into the cytoplasm of the egg. In the ICSI process, a tiny needle, called a micropipette, is used to inject a single sperm into the center of the egg. With either traditional IVF or ICSI, once fertilization occurs, the fertilized egg (now called an embryo) grows in a laboratory for 1 to 5 days before it is transferred to the woman’s uterus (womb).

ICSI helps to overcome fertility problems, such as:

* The male partner produces too few sperm to do artificial insemination (intrauterine insemination [IUI]) or IVF.

* The sperm may not move in a normal fashion.

* The sperm may have trouble attaching to the egg.

* A blockage in the male reproductive tract may keep sperm from getting out.

* Eggs have not fertilized by traditional IVF, regardless of the condition of the sperm.

* In vitro matured eggs are being used.

* Previously frozen eggs are being used.

Consult with your fertility doctor if this procedure is right for you.

This episode was brought to you by Fertility Fundamentals. Fertility fundamentals is a naturopath led collective of women supporting each other in their fertility journey. Join the collective for free at www.facebook.com/groups/fundamentalfertility and come join your tribe!

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.

“Never give up. Keep believing because it will happen. It will happen one day. Try not to get drowned by your current situation as hard as it may be. And you have to remember to love yourself, take time for each other—no matter how difficult.” -Lauren

Today’s guest is Lauren from the UK. She has 2 daughters from a previous partner. Lauren and her husband have been TTC for the past 3 years and they experienced a rocky and tumultuous struggle to build their family. Lauren shares her story of ectopic pregnancies, loss of her tubes, miscarriage, and failed IVF cycles. Fertility has impacted Lauren physically, mentally, and financially. She and her husband have 1 frozen embryo. We are hopeful and have our fingers crossed for you!!

I’m thrilled to have Lauren on the podcast, sharing her journey towards motherhood with us. Follow along Lauren’s journey on Instagram @making_baby_benny.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.

Follow Dr. Mary on Instagram @fertilityfundamentals. Podcast freebie: 7 day fertility optimizing meal plan with recipes and grocery list. Click the link to download freebie: https://fertilityfundamentals.clickfunnels.com/optin1588646493313

As a companion to QuaShawnda’s episode, Mary dives into Hashimoto’s Disease and how it affects fertility.

It is very important to solve thyroid problems before conceiving a baby. If Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is left untreated, symptoms of an underactive thyroid can worsen and cause fertility problems including: menstrual cycle issues such as menorrhagia (heavy menstruation) or irregular periods, low basal body temperature (BBT), low libido, muscle cramps/tenderness, hair loss, severe PMS, sleep disturbances and weight gain, problems getting pregnant and infertility, miscarriage, preterm birth and even neurodevelopmental issues for your baby.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, also known as Hashimoto’s Disease (and frequently just referred to as Hashimoto’s) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are accompanied by an elevated inflammatory response due to the body identifying various organs and systems of the body as a foreign invader. This immune system attack may lead to the loss of, and degeneration of tissue and/or organ structure and function.

What to Consider Eliminating from Your Diet…

* Gluten – “The gluten molecule is very similar to thyroid tissue, and it is thought that the immune system identifies the thyroid gland as gluten and attacks it.”

* Non-organic dairy – non-organic dairy contains the synthetic growth hormone rGBH which has been found to increase inflammation in humans (even those without autoimmune diseases).

* Aspartame – research is showing Aspartame to be problematic for the thyroid gland.

* Unsaturated oils – doctors speculate that these oils may contribute to hypothyroidism possibly in part because they contain high amounts of omega-6 fatty acids which promote inflammation and are often rancid even before they make it to the grocery store shelf.

* Soy – soy isoflavones are known to disrupt endocrine system function and may lower concentrations of the thyroid hormone T3.

It would be best to consult your doctor or naturopathic doctor to run a thyroid panel to establish a baseline and a diagnosis before starting any supplementation.

This episode was brought to you by Fertility Fundamentals. Fertility fundamentals is a naturopath led collective of women supporting each other in their fertility journey. Join the collective for free at www.facebook.com/groups/fundamentalfertility and come join your tribe!

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.

“Don’t give up. If that’s something that you want, keep going after it. It’s OK to be jealous. It’s OK to have all those feelings. You need to make sure that your mental health is intact. We all have something—if you dig down deep inside— we all have something to be thankful for!” -QuaShawnda

Today’s guest is fellow fertility podcaster, QuaShawnda, host of the Journey to Motherhood podcast. She survived 10 years of infertility and conquered a variety of failed fertility treatments including 3 failed IVF cycles. She miraculously became pregnant naturally after three months of using a natural supplement named Pregnitude.

I’m thrilled to have QuaShawnda on the podcast, sharing her amazing journey of multiple rounds of IVF and natural pregnancy. Follow along QuaShawnda’s journey on Instagram @mrzqteepie. Check out and listen to her podcast @journey2motherhoodpodcast. This is available on Anchor and Spotify. Her YouTube page is QuaShawndha Everett. You can email her at: [email protected]

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.

Follow Dr. Mary on Instagram @fertilityfundamentals.

As a companion to Kennie’s episode, Mary dives into how anemia can affect fertility.

Researchers from India have found that “women who do not get sufficient amounts of iron may suffer anovulation (lack of ovulation) and possibly poor egg health, which can inhibit fertility at a rate 60% higher than those with sufficient iron stores in their blood.” This is from a 2014 report in the International Journal of Current Research and Academic Review .

When the blood does not get enough iron, anemia, or an insufficient number of red blood cells, may develop. Since it is these red blood cells that deliver oxygen to all of the body’s tissue and organs including the ovaries and uterus, this deficiency may cause the eggs stored in the ovaries to weaken over time and become unviable. Worse yet, should conception occur, anemia makes it impossible for the growing fetus’ cells to divide and grow properly. This may result in a miscarriage in some cases.

The symptoms of anemia are:

* mild to severe fatigue

* chronic headaches

* dizziness

* brittle or weak nails

* decreased appetite

* low blood pressure

Speak to your doctor in order to get a blood test if you have any of these symptoms. Always have your iron levels checked by a health care professional before beginning supplementation. If it turns out your iron levels are adequate, supplementing can actually be dangerous.

Supplementation is not always necessary if you’re not in an “unhealthy” state. Incorporating iron-rich foods into your diet can also provide major fertility benefits! Again, be sure to pair iron-rich foods with foods containing vitamin C!

Foods Rich in Non-Heme Iron:

* Legumes such as peas, beans, and lentils

* Nuts and seeds including peanuts and hazelnuts

* Dried fruits including prunes, raisins, and figs

* Leafy green vegetables (kale, broccoli, spinach)

* Whole grains such as oatmeal

Foods Rich in Heme Iron:

* Lean chicken, turkey, salmon, tuna, and eggs!

* Avoid red meats as they are inflammatory and can be detrimental to fertility!

Foods Rich in Vitamin C:

* Citrus fruits

* Peppers

* Kiwi

* Leafy greens such as broccoli and kale

* Tomatoes

* Strawberries

This episode was brought to you by Fertility Fundamentals. Fertility fundamentals is a naturopath led collective of women supporting each other in their fertility journey. Join the collective for free at www.facebook.com/groups/fundamentalfertility and come join your tribe!

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.

“Mindset is everything. You have to tell your body, ‘I am healed. I am whole. I am the righteousness of God’’ “ And that affirmation..when I tell myself that, I feel invincible. With God all things are possible. When I start telling my body that, it gives me hope and hope is the opposite of depression.” -Kennie

Kennie is an entrepreneur and fertility blogger. She has been married for 10 years and she shares that going though infertility has made her closer to her husband and has increased her faith in God. She shares that even as a teen she had an inkling that she may have fertility challenges due to a strong family history of reproductive issues among the women in her family. Kennie shares her struggle with multiple reproductive issues such as endometriosis, hydrosalpinx, anemia, as well as her struggle with depression.

I’m thrilled to have Kennie on the podcast, sharing her amazing journey with us. Follow Kennie on Instagram @rpineapplesistersbox and be sure to subscribe to her box once launched. Her mission is to build a marketplace and sisterhood of infertile business owners to connect with the infertility community and support each other.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.

Follow Dr. Mary on Instagram @fertilityfundamentals.

As a companion to Traci’s episode, Mary dives into balanced translocations and how they can affect fertility.

A balanced or chromosomal translocation is a condition in which part of a chromosome has broken off and reattached in another location. In other words, it means that sections of two chromosomes have switched places. It can increase the risk of recurrent miscarriage. In about 4.5% of all couples with recurrent miscarriages, one or both parents has a balanced translocation. Research has shown that couples with balanced translocations are more likely to have miscarriages than couples without balanced translocations. Testing is done through karyotyping, which is a blood test done on both partners. Some research suggests balanced translocation in the mother is most likely to be associated with recurrent miscarriages, but fathers can be carriers as well.

There is no cure for balanced translocation.In some cases, couples with balanced translocation conceive naturally or they can opt for a treatment called preimplantation genetic diagnosis or PGD. In PGD, the couple conceives via in-vitro fertilization along with gene testing of the embryos to be sure that they do not have an unbalanced translocation.

As always speak to your healthcare professional if you are experiencing this issue.

This episode was brought to you by Fertility Fundamentals. Fertility fundamentals is a naturopath led collective of women supporting each other in their fertility journey. Join the collective for free at www.facebook.com/groups/fundamentalfertility and come join your tribe!

If you enjoyed today’s episode, subscribe to the Fertility Stories podcast and leave a review.