#09 Stress, Burn Out &amp; Bodies in Balance: Understanding Naturopathy

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An Aussie meets a Kiwi in this episode of Bumps Along the Way!

Together, we explore:

Francesca’s personal experience with stress and burnout
Coming off the hormonal birth control pill
What a body in balance looks like
What is naturopathy?
How can naturopathy help with trying to conceive?
The impact of stress on fertility and conceiving
Why it's important to look 50/50 at both sperm and egg quality
The decline of sperm health
How naturopathy can support unexplained infertility
How we can improve egg quality
The importance of follicle health
And, why it might be time to toss the scented candles and perfumes while we're trying to conceive

As always, there's a lot I took out of this conversation and I hope you will too!

Anna

RESOURCES FROM EP 9

Contact Francesca:

Instagram @francescalyon_naturopathy
Email [email protected]
Website http://flnaturopathy.com/
Francesca is based in Amsterdam but is available for video consultations!

Future Women hormone testing & personal plans - https://future-woman.com/

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https://www.littleangelivf.com/blog/fertility/amh-test-normal-range-and-amh-levels/

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Previous Episode

#08 Finding Answers in Belgium: Dysmorphic Uterus, Hormone Injections & Sperm Quality

Ever since we started struggling to conceive, I have had the feeling something is not right. Maybe it's the yoga keeping me in touch with my body, maybe it's all the journalling and self-reflection. Maybe it's just gut instinct. But no matter that it was, we finally got the answers we have been looking for after a visit to a fertility clinic in Belgium.

With any diagnosis, it can be a lot to process. So I chatted with my long-time friend and fertility midwife Tor Chivers about our recent tests, procedures and results. Together we unpack the blood tests, MRI and hysteroscopy procedures that brought us to the diagnosis that helps to explain the reason I have struggled to fall (and stay) pregnant. Also, my husband learns his sperm quality has been low, another important reminder that in fertility, it really is 50/50!

The bumps in the road are not over for us. The treatment begins and that will bring its own set of challenges. But, we feel eternally grateful to have answers knowing so many people out there are still searching for theirs. If this is you, I'm sending so much love, and urge you to keep pushing your healthcare providers to look deeper.

Anna

If you would like to learn more about any of the discussed topics, I have found the following links particularly helpful:

AMH

Dysmorphic (T-shaped) uterus and my up-coming metroplasty

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34319061/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31146029/

Decapeptyl injections

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.963.pdf

https://www.news-medical.net/drugs/Decapeptyl.aspx

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Next Episode

#10 Miscarriage: The Medical & Mental Health Impact

Miscarriage. You know how common it is, you know the risks, and yet you still don’t really think it will happen to you. At least I didn’t. And although we go through a similar experience, miscarriage can mean something immensely different to everyone. That is why I felt it was important to do this episode.

6 months on since our miscarriage, I definitely didn't think we would still be here, with no positive pregnancy test half a year later. But I now feel like enough time has passed for me to revisit it and talk about it openly.

To help me navigate this conversation, I invited back two of the most supportive women I had the luck of speaking with during my own miscarriage.

Dr Sarah Farrell - a GP with a special interest in women’s health, fertility, pregnancy and contraception and mother of 3.
Robine Padberg-Hill - a psychotherapist specialising with women in perinatal and mother.

During this special episode, we discuss:

My personal experience with miscarriage, and how it played out.
Pregnant is pregnant! No matter how early on your miscarriage was, you have the right to grieve that loss.
The mismatch between the experience we are going through and the response we may get from our healthcare provider.
The different types of miscarriage - primarily spontaneous complete, threatened (incomplete) miscarriage, missed miscarriage.
The various emotional reactions people may go through depending on how their miscarriage plays out.
Reasons for miscarriage (spoiler alert: there probably was no reason!)
Why we are saying no to the “12 week rule" !!
Ways to manage miscarriage - expectant management (watch and wait), medical management, surgical intervention (D&C).
What happens post miscarriage?
The stages of grief - shock, denial, bargaining, anger, depression, acceptance, and hope.
The importance of community, sharing and talking about our experiences.
Ways we can learn to talk about miscarriage.
How you can support a friend or family member who suffering a miscarriage.
How couples can help each other through miscarriage.
Normalising that the grieving process can be different between partners.
Resources to find support.

As always, I hope this episode falls into the ears of anyone who needs it.

Anna

RESOURCES FROM EPISODE TEN:

Pink Elephant - miscarriage and early pregnancy loss support - https://www.pinkelephants.org.au/
Sands Australia - miscarriage, stillbirth, and newborn death support - https://www.sands.org.au/
PSI - https://www.postpartum.net/
How do you help grieving friend - YouTube video
Darling Shine Podcast
Hilary Metcalfe's Guide to Navigating Miscarriage - https://thesabi.co/blogs/conscious-collective/guide-to-navigating-miscarriage

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