There’s a lot riding on an IVF cycle. Although IVF is the most advanced modern medical approach to infertility – and a godsend for thousands of now-parents – on average (assuming no other interventions such as the ones we’re about to discuss here) each couple has just about a 30% chance of bringing home a baby, after 4 IVF cycles. With each cycle costing an average of $15,000 – not to mention the physical and emotional toll of going through fertility treatments – we definitely want to make it count. Egg quality issues are among the top reasons for IVF failure. In this blog, we’re going to explore 5 ways to enhance follicle and egg quality in advance of IVF … Read More
Feeling Fertile: 4 Mindset Shifts to Enhance IVF Success
In this article, we explore how our mindset informs our physiology when it comes to hormone health, fertility, and our emotional experience. Plan Your Pre-Season Just as it takes three months for the body to complete an egg’s development before ovulation, it takes the same amount of time for the eggs that will be retrieved for IVF to be cultivated, and to respond to the medications that will be used to increase the number of eggs retrieved. Similarly, it takes three months to prepare sperm in the male reproductive system. During this three month preconception season, both eggs and sperm are sensitive to the quality of your diet and the level of stress you’re both under. Just as athletes prepare … Read More
4 Signs You Could Have Adrenal Fatigue
Fatigue. Overwhelm. Anxiety. Exhaustion. Depression. These are some of the most common concerns we hear from smart, capable, proactive, otherwise healthy women (and men) in our practice. If you can relate to these awful experiences that steal your quality of life, your energy, motivation, even your personality!!…you’re not alone. Adrenal fatigue – basically a condition where your stress tolerance and stamina-producing system just can’t keep up, is extremely common in modern life. Having dealt with all of the above, it’s a real passion of mine to be able to help other high-achieving, heart-based women hear from their body’s innate wisdom so they can actually turn these symptoms around. If there are some tell-tale signs it’s time to ask your doctor … Read More
How Women Grow, Heal & Thrive
I’m hearing a message loud & clear, from women in Guelph + globally. Smart, conscious, inspiring woman, I hear that you want more energy so you can achieve more in your family and work life, more clarity so you can be productive, present and passionate like you know you’re here to be, and more ease and joy in your life so you can enjoy your family and personal time. I am hearing you when you say you feel stressed, down, irritable, and anxious. When you feel down & discouraged when you’re caught up in the comparison trap. When everything just feels super hard. Like all women, you want to know you’re not alone. Good News: You’re Not Alone The female brain is wired for connection. We … Read More
Detox Your Medicine Cabinet! Top 10 Natural Home Remedies for Women
Above all, I went into naturopathic medicine as a way to help people to help themselves. I believe that health care should involve as much teaching self-awareness and empowering self-care as it does treating and alleviating symptoms. As my work with women and families continues to grow and evolve, my philosophy has only deepened as I experience awe, respect and joy on a daily basis as I watch our community begin to shift, heal and thrive. Health Begins At Home Day to day lifestyle habits. Micro choices. Easily integratable changes over time. That’s how we powerfully transform our experience of life for ourselves and those we love. Sometimes you need guidance to get you past where you’re “stuck”. For minor … Read More
5 Ways to Prepare for Your Best Birth
By Christa VanderVelde, Doula The average couple does more research and preparation before purchasing a new vehicle than they do before giving birth. This is understandable. With all the information available to parents, preparing for birth can be more overwhelming than magical. As a Doula, I am passionate about helping parents sort through the information available to them and decide what is most important for birth preparation. So this month I sat down and compiled my favourite ways to prepare for your best birth. 1 – Address Your Assumptions More important than choosing a care provider or understanding your options, (we will get there), is addressing your assumptions. Ask yourself, “What do I believe about my body?” A negative self imagine … Read More
“What’s That Rash?” Clearing Up Common Skin Questions in Kids
As naturopathic doctors working with kids, we get a lot of questions from parents about a new or ongoing rash they’ve seen cropping up on their baby or child’s skin. Rashes or other skin issue are a good reason to check in: the skin is the largest organ of the body, tends to be extra sensitive in little ones, and conveys a lot of information about his or her overall health status. Below The Surface You might be surprised to learn that most skin conditions aren’t “just” skin conditions. The skin happens to be one way that symptoms express themselves that we can easily see and observe. It’s also why we include a skin health exam with your baby or … Read More