The Fertility Warriors

The silent fear of almost all fertility warriors: Are you too old to get pregnant?

On today's podcast, I talk about

•Whether or not you might be too old to have a baby with your own eggs

•How we can be more fertile now than we were in our 20's

•Some of the alternatives and options you have out there

•How to go about making the decision to take the next steps (and what the next steps might be)

•The number 1 thing eggs need (and what is responsible for 80% of its depletion)

Tune in and let me know what you think.

One day I stopped in my tracks and had this moment of clarity as I realised that I had this frantic energy in - this anxiety-riddled energy flowing through my mindset - when I hit the pause button as I was listening to podcasts at 1.5 speed.

It was like I'd been rushing and pushing everywhere and creating this sense of dis-ease within my body and mindset.

And this podcast speed was a sort of metaphor for my wider life.

S L O W D O W N

Was the message that had been coming through loud and clear.

Personal development is never once and done. It's an ongoing process of consistently bringing ourselves back on track and practicing daily rituals to help ourselves thrive and every now and again, since that moment, I have needed to bring myself back out of the frantic energy and back into a calmer, and slower frame of being.

In this podcast, I talk about my recent experience and some of the mindset shifts I've had, but also the most important step in welcoming calmer energy - which is first having the awareness of when you're letting your mind race and consciously choosing another path.

Can't wait to hear what you think x

Today on the podcast I'm talking about how to exit decision torture, and the answer is that sometimes we need to practice leaning into trust.

It takes SO much energy to consistently check the checkers and sit in distrust and indecision that I want to share with you my experience of Olivia's birth and how trusting that things would pan out. This was the right decision based on the experience and knowledge at the time and ultimately (I feel) led me to a more positive outcome, alongside the other work that I've done over the years to cultivate a calmer mind.

Leaning into trust and surrender can be a powerful shift on our journeys as we let go of always having to be the expert, and put our faith in our team and humanity - it can help us release the burden of what's happening as we try to conceive too.

I hope you enjoy this short episode.

I'm sneaking this one into the end of September which is PCOS Awareness Month. I'm joined by Nutritionist Solaine Douglas and we break down the PCOS myths and misconceptions.

PCOS is an increasingly common condition and one that we see frequently affecting women trying to conceive.

On the podcast we talk about:

•The two different types of PCOS and what causes them

•How our body breaks down insulin

•How our body responds to stress

•Common roadblocks in the medical profession

•Busting common diet myths regarding PCOS

It was my absolute pleasure to welcome Solaine to the podcast.

Solaine is a nutritionist for women who want to create healthy hormones, guts and metabolisms.

Her world revolves around her business baby, fur baby, great food and my home.

Solaine is passionate about helping women to feel empowered about their health, to understand how to eat and create a lifestyle that makes them feel good. We all deserve that.

She studied a Bachelor of Human Nutrition at Griffith University, Australia and is a member of the Complementary Medicine Association (CMA). Her journey with nutrition began many moons ago, back in 2012 and a passion for spreading the real food message ensued.

You can find Solaine on Instagram here, or look further on her website here.

I have been inundated from all angles on how the COVID Vaccine might impact fertility rates, miscarriage rates and generally all the things from fertility warriors who are about to embark on IVF cycles or trying to conceive and wanting to do their due diligence in understanding how the COVID vaccine might impact them and their future baby.

I applaud you for asking questions and wanting to find out the answers.

So, I asked my good friend, Dr Sasha Hakman, Board Certified Fertility Specialist and incredible explainer and science nerd - to the podcast to answer all of your questions and explain everything COVID Vaccine with us in detail.

We talked about:

What is the general consensus around the COVID Vaccine and fertility/TTC?

Is one vaccine better than another?

How does each of the different vaccines work?

Is there any incentive for Doctors to be able to promote these vaccines?

Where have we gone wrong in disseminating information about this vaccine?

How long should you wait between getting the vaccine and embarking on a new cycle?

Does this affect cycles?

Natural immunity vs vaccine immunity?

Is there enough research and data to make these calls?

Why has the process been so quick in approving these vaccines for use?

... and so many more questions

This is actually the third podcast I've done with Sasha and the other two rank up there in my top 10 all-time podcasts!

Is IUI a waste of time?

Your infertility questions answered

You can also find Sasha below:

Sasha Hakman MD on Instagram

Sasha Hakman's Website (where she has a bunch of Nutrition, Lifestyle AND COVID resources for you to check out)

At the time of recording this podcast, it was R U Ok day, and each year I watch everyone flock to social media to post little messages about R U Ok... and it irks me for a number of reasons.

•Because I know, that the majority of people with infertility are NOT ok (and half the world is in lockdown.... Chances are, we're not ok)

•It puts the onus on the US to always be reaching out for help (how about everyone around us looks for signs and symptoms that we're not ok, and learns what to do when they notice that?!)

•When we are existing in a state of heightened stress and anxiety - certain areas of our brain shut down, and one of those is the Brocas Area - the area responsible for speech. That's why sometimes talk therapy doesn't work for everyone, and that's why sometimes it is SO hard for us to put into words the emotional toll of infertility and everything we are going through

In today's podcast, I also talk about the way in which men and women cope with infertility (and which of those are, and which aren't actually helpful in decreasing the stress related to infertility).

Listen to the episode below and let me know what you think.

I mentioned the Mind-Body Fertility Reset in this podcast and we'd love to invite you to join us - it's a supportive, healthy and holistic membership program for women navigating infertility and IVF - with support groups, workshops and more than $3,000 of tools, resources and live events.

Click here to learn more.

Today's podcast talks about things to avoid when trying to conceive - it's a mix of physical things that you can quit and some emotional wellbeing tips (simple but profound ones) that can help you on this journey.

It's really easy to get caught up in the internet and the to-do lists and the 'shoulds' without fully knowing or buying into the benefits of why you're doing something so that is what we're diving into today on the podcast.

7 things you quit to get pregnant - hopefully there are a few warriors out there who need this permission slip.

Today I want to let you know you're doing a great job of a really hard thing. Focus on these infertility quotes

If you're feeling

Sad,

Angry,

Tired,

Left out,

Disappointed.

Your feelings are completely valid and real.

You are not doing anything wrong and you are enough, right now, as you are.

Enough of a woman

Enough of a contributor to society

Enough of a friend, daughter, partner, colleague

You are beautiful

You are human

You are navigating this journey in the best damn way you know possible.

Yes, you'll have hard days.

Yes, you'll have setbacks.

Yes, the journey will probably take longer than you thought it would.

But that doesn't make you less human.

Having feelings and emotions... make you human.

Having bad days.... Make you human.

Not being perfect... that makes you human.

For some of us, the path to parenthood looks different and that's ok.

For some of us, we discover that having children is no longer part of our story and that's ok too.

You don't need to know what your story will look like just yet, but you do need to be committed to continuing to turn the page.

To continue to put one foot in front of the other.

To believe that you are enough, right now, as you are.

And you were born worthy, you are worthy now, and no matter what the future holds, you'll continue to be worthy.

You are valued and loved by so many people and have so much to give.

And you are worthy of happiness, love and joy.

Not when you reach the next step, whatever that is.

Right now.

And me, this podcast and this community - we get it, and we're here to support you and walk alongside you every step of the way.

We are here for you.

I hope that you'll listen to this podcast anytime you feel that you need a pickup, some love or a moment to tune into your feelings.

Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @robynbirkin and let me know if this spoke to you today. And play it again anytime you need.

Urrggghhhh... weight and fertility is such a tricky and complex topic. It was my pleasure this week to welcome Sophia Pavia to the podcast. You may know her as ttc.nutritionist on Instagram and we connected recently over an Instagram story that touched on a topic I'm pretty passionate about: the sensitivity we need to show to women in bigger bodies around how we talk about weight loss - and particularly around not making assumptions based on size, and being conscious of making unhelpful statements (without providing support and guidance) like 'come back when you've lost weight' to women who may well have eating disorders or a history thereof.

Sophia is a Registered Dietician Nutritionist whose focus is on women who are trying to conceive and navigating infertility and joined us on the podcast to talk about her take on both sides of the argument.

I'd love to know what your experience has been like?

You can find Sophia at ttc.nutritionist or on her website here.

You may also wish to check out an interview I did with Nicola Salmon called Can you get pregnant if you're fat- where we talk about a lot of the stigma and misconceptions surrounding weight and fertility. Click here to listen (or watch).

Want more?

Join our monthly membership, the Mind Body Fertility Reset here (P.S. There is also another guest interview with Nicola there).

Make sure you're following me on Instagram here

Join our Free Facebook Support and Chat Group here.

Check out my programs and services here.

Today's episode on The Fertility Warriors really highlights the difference in treatments between conventional medicine in experts like your Fertility Specialist, and those who take a more holistic and natural approach such as a Nutritionist or Naturopath for fertility. It was a pleasure today to welcome fellow West Australian, Naturopath, Jacqui Lamplugh to talk about some of the tests your Specialist might be missing, and how you might go about doing more investigation yourself to get more answers on your journey if you're feeling left in the dark.

I'm a firm supporter of conventional medicine, however I do also believe that at times, there are tests and treatments that are outside their scope and hence why it can be beneficial to also work with someone such as Jacqui.

What do you think?

Reach out to me on Instagram - I'd love to know your thoughts at @robynbirkin

Jacqui Lamplugh is a qualified Naturopath, women's health and fertility expert, mum to two boys and super passionate about educating and empowering women about their hormones.

With over a decade's experience in the industry, Jacqui's worked with Australia's leading fertility experts and Perth's longest-standing natural medicine clinic. She's lectured about herbal and nutritional medicine at a prestigious Perth college, founded her own self-titled business and soon to release her online fertility course, Conceive Naturally.

Holding an Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy, a Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine) and a Masters Degree in Reproductive Medicine, Jacqui helps couples trying to conceive balance their hormones, boost their diet and lifestyle and improve their chances of conceiving - Naturally

You can find Jacqui at:

Instagram: @jacquilamplugh

Website: www.jacquilamplugh.com

Want more?

Join our monthly membership, the Mind Body Fertility Reset here

Make sure you're following me on Instagram here

Join our Free Facebook Support and Chat Group here.

Check out my programs and services here.