It feels like your infertility isn’t supposed to exist on Mother’s Day, when in fact it feels more amplified. I’ve got tons of advice on how to make the most of a difficult situation if you want it. But one silver lining to this time of self-isolation is that you don’t have to gather, in person, for ‘”happy” celebrations that make you feel so sad. [...]
Did you know that women who ate more than two servings of high-pesticide fruits and vegetables each day were 18% less likely to become pregnant, and 26% less likely to have a live birth than women with less exposure to pesticides according to a study published in 2018. Since fruits and veggies are an important part of a diet that optimizes fertility, here’s a list [...]
Your IVF cycle’s been cancelled and there’s a global pandemic. WTF? Like most infertility patients your stress level is sky high. So do your fertility a favor and get your body out of “fight or flight” mode and into “rest and digest” mode. When it comes to stress management, you need to choose the practice that works for you because consistency is key. Here are [...]
"The silver lining is this is a pause and not a stop, and now you have the opportunity to get your body ready to run this marathon," said Dr. Brian Levine, founding partner of CCRM Fertility in New York. As if life isn’t already turned upside down, many fertility clinics are cancelling IVF, IUI and other treatment cycles. It’s one more waiting game women [...]
Fill in the blank: I’ve been really __________ the last couple of weeks. That’s what I asked my readers to do. And here’s what they said: anxious, angry, sad, pissed, on hold… It’s hard to navigate those when your routine is upside down, you’re social distancing and you’re not sure when you’ll be able to begin or resume fertility treatment. One of the tools I [...]
You’ve probably heard that the Mediterranean diet promotes heart health, protects against diabetes and increases longevity. Research shows that the Mediterranean diet is a fertility diet too, increasing the chance of IVF success. So what do you eat on a Mediterranean diet? Lots of fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains and olive oil. Less dairy, eggs and poultry. Even less red meat. And forget fast food. [...]
I read something really powerful recently (I can’t remember where) and it stuck with me: Self-care doesn’t have to be a solitary experience. Self-care might be a group dinner, a walk with a friend or a phone call. I LOVE this so much! Don’t get me wrong, I’m 100% about journaling, meditation and a warm Epsom salt bath. Ooh, and dry brushing. But since infertility [...]
Just relax? Grrr. Anyone whose gone through infertility treatment hates hearing that. It implies that if you just relaxed, you’d get pregnant. It’s insensitive and insulting. If only it was that easy! Studies have shown that the stress associated with infertility treatment is equal to the stress associated with other serious illnesses such as HIV and cancer. It makes sense. You’re trying to decide on [...]
Sunday, March 10, at 2am, we “spring forward” – our clocks move ahead an hour for Daylight Saving Time. And as a result, we get more sunlight later in the day. Hooray for that! Here in the Northeast sunrise will move from approximately 6am to 7am and sunset will move from approximately 5:45pm to 6:45pm. That extra hour of daylight is a bonus if you’re [...]
It’s National Green Juice Day! I have no idea when National Green Juice Day began (does it matter?) but I am ALL IN! Green juices are high in antioxidants and phytonutrients, both of which help the body get rid of free radicals and other potentially damaging toxins. Juicing or blending break down the cellular walls of greens, which are often tough to digest. This allows [...]