fertility counseling
What are Your Goals for Your Fertility?
Sometimes I say “fertility” and people automatically jump to “pregnancy.” But you get to choose what you do with your fertility and right now, your goal might be to avoid pregnancy. I know I’ve certainly been there at different times in my life! Unfortunately, we can’t turn our fertility on and off like a switch. Even hormonal birth control doesn’t always work as well as expected and the more research is done on hormonal birth control, the more everyone is aware of the risks and side effects. Because our hormones don’t just affect our reproductive system, when we alter them the effects can be felt in our whole body. But avoiding hormonal birth control doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to be in control of your fertility.
A Healthy Pregnancy Starts Before Conception
If your goal is to have a healthy, low-risk pregnancy the time to start planning for it is 4 to 6 months before you get pregnant. The egg you will ovulate the month you conceive is developing in those 4 to 6 months and the nutrients that your body has (or doesn’t have) will affect the health of your egg. The health of the egg affects:
- hormone levels during pregnancy
- placental development
- fetal development
Did you know your cycle is one of your body’s vital signs? Just like your blood pressure or temperature, your cycle gives essential information about your body’s well-being. If you know what to look for, it will tell you about your hormone levels, your metabolic rate, nutritional needs, and more! In our preconception meeting, I’ll help you know what to look for and we can discuss any lab work that might be beneficial in helping you get on the right track for a smooth-sailing pregnancy.
If you’re wanting to get pregnant, it’s not all on you! Sperm quality matters, too. If your partner is on board for optimizing his health, all the better! We can talk about the nutritional and lifestyle methods he can use to optimize sperm quality before you conceive. While it usually takes less time to improve sperm quality (they have a shorter developmental timeframe), it’s helpful if he starts this journey with you. Plus, everyone’s body functions more effectively when it is getting what it needs! It’s not just the health of the reproductive system that will improve–it’s everything that will improve!
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Do you want to learn more about how to help your body function optimally so you can set yourself up for a successful low-risk pregnancy or just to create body wellness? Let’s talk! A fertility coaching session can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses in your lifestyle and how they may be affecting your hormonal balance. We’ll look at your nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress, and talk about your cycle to get a well-rounded picture of your health and well-being. Lab testing and HTMA are also available options.
Want to get started? Appointments can be virtual or in person at our Knoxville, TN office location.
Fill out our contact form or email info@rootsandwingsmidiwfery.com to schedule an appointment!
Learn to Read Your Body
Did you know that every month your body gives you information about:
- if your hormones are balanced
- if your metabolic rate is normal
- if your cervix is healthy
Did you know that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that you should consider your menstrual cycle to be your fifth vital sign? Knowing the information it gives you should be just as important as knowing that your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respirations are normal. You can also use tracking your cycle to either achieve or avoid pregnancy! Take control of your overall health and well-being by learning the signs your body is giving you every month.
One-on-one Read Your Body Session : $ 250
- An introductory session, usually 90 minutes long, to help you start hearing what your body is saying during your cycle. This class will cover the basics of the ovarian cycle, the hormonal cycle, the menstrual cycle, human fertility (for both partners) and what can be observed each month as you begin to chart.
- Informational handouts that will help you succeed in charting at home
To Learn the Most, Join Our Read Your Body Coaching Program!
12 Week Program : $1500
- 12 week program designed to help you learn to read your body
- 1 individual intake session, approximately 90 minutes
- 1 HTMA test to inform us about your body’s individualized needs
- 3 follow up sessions (virtual, approximately 45 mins each, must be used within 3 months of purchase).
- Personalized instruction based on the information your body gives during the program
- Help reviewing the information you collect to address questions about observations or variations
- Access to a private coaching group for 3 months (hosted by Rebekah Mustaleski)