Sara Flood, RN, and instructor in the Marquette Model of natural family planning, joins the podcast to share her experience using and teaching NFP. The Marquette Model allows women to use one or multiple signs of fertility to track their cycles. We discuss how the information that comes from cycle tracking is not only useful for avoiding or achieving pregnancy, but can give you valuable information about your health. Sara shares how she has seen stress impact the cycles of the women she has worked with and how an instructor can help you through those times. Knowing about natural family planning helps you make informed decisions about how you plan your family and about how you manage your health. Natural family planning also respects and highlights the GIFT of fertility and the beauty of our femininity.

You can find Sara here: www.nfpcoach.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nfpcoach
Instagram: @nfpcoach

Have an idea for future podcast episodes? Would you like to be featured on the podcast?
Email [email protected]

I will be hosting a virtual workshop “Know Your Body with Natural Family Planning” on Tues 6/23/20 at 7:30pm
Sign up here: https://mailchi.mp/nfppharmacist/virtualworkshop

I rounded up some random fun facts about natural family planning to share with you! These are things I learned about anatomy (sperm, cervical fluid), different natural family planning methods (basal body temperature), menstrual health (the average age of menarche and menopause), the Catholic church’s teachings on NFP, and NFP’s effect on marriage. Whether you are using natural family planning to avoid pregnancy, achieve pregnancy, or just to know your body better, there is something for you in this episode. Do you have a period problem or hormone condition like I do? You might just find something useful here.

I recently completed Marquette University’s Core Course on NFP and I wanted to recap some of the unique things I learned about natural family planning. More info here: https://www.marquette.edu/nursing/natural-family-planning-teacher.php

What did you learn? I would be delighted if you shared with me!
Facebook: NFP Pharmacist
Instagram: @nfppharmacist
Email me: [email protected]

This week, I talk about functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA), also known as just hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA). This is the hormone condition I have been diagnosed with. It means I do not have my period because my body is not making estrogen and there is no defined reason why. I share some facts I have learned from the medical and nutrition literature and I share some of my personal experiences.

Charting my cycles and symptoms has been extremely helpful to me in this whole journey. Are you interested in learning more about charting your cycles? Book a FREE 15-min consult with me here: www.calendly.com/nfppharmacist/15min

Email me: [email protected]
More resources: www.nfppharmacist.com

Reference mentioned - “No Period, Now What?” book: http://www.noperiodnowwhat.com/

In this week’s episode, I share my heart and let you in on knowing more about my values, strengths, and personality. I really felt God leading me this week to share a conversation about being completely honest with yourself and being 100% who you are. Have you ever found yourself apologizing for being you? Have you found yourself adjusting your words or behaviors to fit in with others or because you feared others would judge you? I know I have. Being wholly a woman means owning, accepting, and NOT apologizing for being the person God made you to be. I am still working on this and I invite you to work on this with me.

Thoughts/Feedback/Show ideas: email me: [email protected]

Challenge:
For the next 7 days, take a notebook and EACH day write out some truths about you and your value
Examples: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” “I am loved and treasured for exactly who I am”
Write them out in “I” statements
Up the challenge: read aloud what you wrote

Resources mentioned:
-”Girl, Stop Apologizing” book by Rachel Hollis: https://thehollisco.com/pages/girl-stop-apologizing-book
-Papercake creations (repurposed books into journals): https://www.etsy.com/shop/PapercakeCreations
-Value cards: http://www.motivationalinterviewing.org/sites/default/files/valuescardsort_0.pdf
-StrengthsFinder: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/strengthsfinder.aspx
-Myers-Briggs personality test: https://www.16personalities.com/personality-types
-Enneagram: https://onefootcoaching.com/
-Sparketypes: https://www.goodlifeproject.com/sparketypes/
-”Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire” book by Jen Hatmaker: https://jenhatmaker.com/books/fierce-free-and-full-of-fire/

Stress is a very natural response. In this episode, my friend and stress management expert, Terra Sorg, shares how you can work with your body and even manipulate your biology to manage stress.

Some things you will learn:
How to manipulate your biology to decrease stress
Stress can be a good thing!
Stress may come from things beyond our control, but we also may be causing ourselves undue stress
As women, we NEED to be taking care of ourselves FIRST
How to identify your priorities/values

Email Terra: [email protected]

Join Terra’s FREE Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/289025471781251/

Find workshops and other resources here: https://www.lifewithlessstress.com/

It is so easy as American women to become disconnected from ourselves. We get so busy we don’t even think about checking in with our bodies. Practicing yoga is an excellent way to connect back to your body and your mind. In this episode I bring on yoga instructor and my good friend, Amy Bizal. Yoga can help you relieve both physical and mental pressure. Prenatal yoga can be especially helpful for women and you do NOT have to be pregnant to experience the benefits. Plus, learn a surprising truth about the pelvic floor after pregnancy. Even if you think “you’re not a yoga person” (like I used to), you will not want to miss this interview. Amy shares her own story and encourages all us women to listen to our bodies.

Amy Bizal is a yoga instructor in Anoka, MN. She teaches prenatal, postnatal, family (including kids!), ladies night, and flow classes. Amy is passionate about helping women. Learn more about Amy and sign up for one of her classes here: https://amybizalwellness.com/

Follow Amy on social media:
Instagram: @amybizalwellness
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amybizalwelless

Have an idea for future podcast episodes? Would you like to be featured on the podcast?
Email [email protected]

Caring for our hormones means caring for our bodies as a whole. In this episode, we talk about all kinds of lifestyle changes we can make to support our hormone health. What kind of diet should we eat to have healthy hormone levels and increase our natural fertility? Can I drink alcohol? Can I still have my coffee? We talk about some of the studies that have been done looking at these lifestyle factors. What about taking a vitamin or supplement? Emily recommends taking a daily multivitamin and discusses the possibility of using vitex agnus (chasteberry). We briefly touch on sleep, stress, and xenoestrogens. Being mindful of what we are putting in and on our bodies can make a huge difference. You are fearfully and wonderfully made - nurture yourself like you believe that!

Interested in a complete medication/supplement review with Emily, the NFP Pharmacist? Book at www.calendly.com/nfppharmacist

Facebook: NFP Pharmacist
Instagram: @nfppharmacist
Email me: [email protected]

Periods are NOT just about bleeding or about babies. Our bodies were made to have regular cycles and this is a sign of our overall health and wellbeing. If something is off with your period - if you are not getting one, if your periods are irregular, if you are having heavy bleeding, etc. - then something may be wrong and you should be evaluated by a physician. Our periods are regulated by our brains and our ovaries. Hormones are released from both areas!

It is especially helpful for adolescents (teenagers) to be monitoring their periods and to know normal patterns and signs that they should see their physician. Realizing something is off with your menstrual cycle earlier means you can address the underlying issue earlier!

If you are taking hormonal contraceptives or using an IUD or other contraceptive device, you are NOT having periods. You may not be bleeding at all. If you are having monthly bleeds while taking hormonal contraceptives, this is NOT your period - it is a withdrawal bleed.

Natural family planning helps you be more in tune with your body and gives you more information about whether something is off with your natural cycles than just paying attention to when your period comes. Natural family planning helped me identify that something was wrong with my cycles and helped me seek treatment for my diagnosis of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea.

Our periods are not something to take for granted. They are our body’s sign of health - another vital sign for us women. Instead of focusing on covering up or hiding our periods, let’s start changing the conversation and celebrating this aspect of our WHOLE womanhood.

What did you learn from this episode? Are you dealing with a period issue? I’d love to hear from you.
Email me: [email protected]
Message me on Facebook (NFP Pharmacist) or Instagram (@nfppharmacist)

Interested in more NFP resources? Vist www.emilyrunsonpassion.com/nfp (soon to be www.nfppharmacist.com)
Interested in a 1-on-1 NFP consultation or medication/supplement review with Emily, the NFP Pharmacist? Book at www.calendly.com/nfppharmacist

This week I share all about how I got started using natural family planning and why I decided to help others learn about natural ways to avoid or achieve pregnancy. I am not exaggerating when I say natural family planning has changed my life. It has improved my relationship with God, my relationship with my husband, and my relationship with myself. NFP also helped identify a medical issue I had. I share about my diagnosis of functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (a condition where my body is not making estrogen) and how I have been coping with that. I hope that by sharing my story, you feel the courage to share yours too.

Do you have questions for Emily, the NFP Pharmacist? Do you have ideas for new podcast episodes? Send me an email or message me on Instagram or Facebook:

Instagram: @nfppharmacist
Facebook: NFP Pharmacist
Email me: [email protected]

Interested in a 1-on-1 NFP consultation or medication/supplement review with Emily, the NFP Pharmacist?
Book at www.calendly.com/nfppharmacist

As a healthcare professional, I wanted to be sure I was providing you with some factual information about the current COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020 in the United States). In addition to working with clients 1-on-1 for natural family planning education and for medication/supplement reviews (which I can still do over secure video calls), I work as a pharmacist in a hospital. I share my experience so far with COVID-19 in the hospital environment and I share some basics about COVID-19 from the CDC website.

For up-to-date COVID-19 information from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Concerned about your health? Wondering if you are taking medications, vitamins, and supplements that are needed, safe, and effective? Book a complete medication/supplement review with Emily, the NFP Pharmacist:
www.calendly.com/nfppharmacist

Facebook: NFP Pharmacist
Instagram: @nfppharmacist
Email me: [email protected]