Three Resources to Help You Survive Your Fertility Journey
When we started out on our journey I struggled to find helpful resources to help me navigate our new diagnosis. I remember asking my first RE (reproductive endocrinologist… aka fertility doctor) if there was anything I could do, and she said.. “no, not really” then suggested CoQ10 and inositol powder, but more as “well these won’t hurt”.
I was looking for ways to cope as well as ways to help improve our odds. But help wasn’t readily available. I have found that there are some awesome resources, it just takes some effort to find them. After searching out (and stumbling upon)some these past three years I have found some great ones. Here are a few of my favorites.
Fertility Podcasts
As I mentioned in my Fertility Journey Survival Tips post, my favorite Podcast is The Fertile Ground, hosted by Spenser Brassard. I just love her! When I’m having a rough day I can always find a podcast that will help change my mindset.
She currently has forty-nine, so if you’re just finding her there is a lot of great information! I’ve also listened to episodes multiple times and get something new each time! She released her last episode in July, hopefully she releases more!
She has a Fertility Life Coaching business and offers group training as well as one on one. I have not done either, but she gets great reviews! I did purchase her meditations and I love them!
Fertility Instagram Account to Follow
Infertility is an incredibly isolating thing. It’s hard to talk about, I struggle to put my thoughts and emotions into words. And it’s one of those things that you don’t know until you’ve been through it.
Social media has its good and bad points, but one of the good things is that you can find people going through similar situations. It provides a community. And it has helped me to see that I’m not the only one going through this, and I’m not alone in my thoughts (Like wanting to throat punch the next person that tells you to “just relax”…. just kidding… but seriously….).
My two favorite accounts right now are @thesliceofsun and @msjenniferrobertson. In my opinion, these accounts are positive and uplifting, but they don’t sugarcoat the truth about infertility.
Books
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I’ve done a lot of reading a lot of research when it comes to fertility. The book that has helped me most and that I’ve found most helpful is It Starts With The Egg. The author was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure at an early age, and with her scientific background she set out to find a research-based way to improve her odds.
The two main reasons I like this book are 1) I have a similar diagnosis, so her story gives me hope, and 2) I love that it is research-based. I nerd out on this stuff a little.
She explains the different vitamins and supplements that have been shown to improve fertility. She tells you which supplements are most helpful for the different diagnoses, and gives you an outline based on where you’re at in your treatment options. There is also a section on how you can improve your diet, as well as how different toxins affect fertility, and how to decrease your exposure. It is FULL of great information! I highly recommend checking it out!
The Infertility Cure is another great resource that was given to me by my acupuncturist. It looks at fertility from the Chinese Medicine perspective. I love the more wholistic approach it takes, and it is definitely worth reading!
And last but not least I have recently been loving Real Food for Pregnancy. While it focuses a lot on foods to eat while pregnant, I think it is good to start paying attention to the types of foods we eat to prepare our bodies for pregnancy, and to be more healthy in general. The one thing I really love about the book is that it emphasizes eating food closest to its natural state, meaning way less processed foods than Americans typically eat. e
I hope these are helpful, and I am always looking for new books, podcasts, or any other fertility-related resources! If you have any you like or would recommend, I would love to know!
Like the women from Fertility Rally suggest, this is a club that no one asks to join, but is full of wonderful members!
Sending you lots of love and prayers on your journey!
xoxo
Mollie