Do You Know the Fetal Stations and What They Mean? Fetal station is something your doctor may check as your delivery date nears or when you are checked when you get to the hospital or birthing center.  It is a measurement of how far the baby has descended in the pelvis and is measured by the relationship of the fetal head to the ischial spines (sit bones).  The ischial spines are approximately 3 to 4 centimeters inside the vagina and are used as the reference point f or the station score. Station is the measurement of fetal descent in labor and is measured using a vaginal exam.  ..read more

A popular ingredient that often is in our diet – gluten – could be playing a part in fertility and infertility.  We’ve heard how gluten-free diets can be helpful for those with Celiac disease or gluten sensitivities.  Did you know that gluten could have subtle ties with fertility for some individuals? Celiac Disease and Fertility For those with Celiac disease, consuming gluten can cause inflammation and damage to the small intestine.  This can lead to nutrient malabsorption which can be vital for reproductive health.  Studies suggest that a gluten-free diet could positively ..read more

Stir-fries are the perfect quick meal when you come in from a long day and want to get dinner on the table quickly. Print Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Stir-fries are the perfect meal when you come in from a long day and want to get dinner on the table quickly. Course Main Course Cuisine Chinese Servings 4 Calories 143kcal Equipment 1 Skillet or wok Ingredients 1 Tbl Olive oil 1 Cup Broccoli florets 1 Medium yellow onion quartered 1 Cup Carrot matchsticks 1 Cup Snow peas 1 Cup Sliced button mushrooms 1 Tbl Minced garlic 4 Tbl Filtered water, divided 1 Lb Boneless, skinless chicken breasts ..read more

Plastics and Hormones There is a link between plastics and some cosmetics and hormone imbalances.  These imbalances can cause disorders like infertility, PMS, fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), menopausal hot flashes, irritability, depression and even more. Everyday plastics often contain chemicals like BPA and phthalates.  These are know as endocrine disruptors.  They interrupt the delicate dance of our hormones and mess up their rhythm. This often means playing havoc with menstrual cycles and egg quality.  For men, it plays tricks with sperm cou ..read more

Did You Know You Have Four Cycle Phases? If you are tracking your period and ovulation, you can determine each phase of your cycle. Menstrual Phase These are the days when you are on your period (usually between 3 – 7 days) Follicular Phase This starts the day after your period ends up until ovulation Ovulation Phase Ovulation occurs within a 24 hour window (usually around mid-cycle).  Your fertile window is the 5-7 days leading up to ovulation – this is when you can get pregnant Luteal Phase This is after ovulation occurs up until the day before your next period – this phase is the longe ..read more

When you’re stuck in a middle-of-the day funk, the last thing you need is a heavy fast-food lunch to weigh you down.  Instead, try this delicious light lunch wrap.  You’ll feel full, but you won’t need a nap after you eat! Print Spinach, Chicken and Goat Cheese Wraps Course Lunch Cuisine Clean Eating Servings 2 Calories 338kcal Ingredients 2 100% Whole Wheat Tortillas 2 Tbl Plain Greek-style Yogurt 1 Cup Baby Spinach leaves, measured then chopped 1 Grilled boneless, skinless chicken breast torn into bit-sized pieces 1/2 Cup Crumbled goat cheese 2 Tsp Red wine vinegar Instruc ..read more

Struggling With Period Symptoms? If you have been struggling for a while with period symptoms and having trouble trying to conceive, hormone testing could be your next step to figure out exactly what is going on. But, you may be running into some problems with doing that: Your doctor won’t run a hormone panel Your doctor did run a hormone panel and told you everything was fine and come back if things get worse You didn’t know you had to test at a specific time in your cycle and you went to the lab on the wrong day (your doctor did not say anything about this) You got your lab results back and ..read more

Dads don’t always realize how important their role is when it comes to breastfeeding and newborn care.  Feeling left out is how they may feel since mom is the only one who can breastfeed the baby.   However, dads have a profound effect on breastfeeding and the well-being of both their partner and their child. Support from a loving partner is one of the most important factors in a woman’s decision to breastfeed.  Research shows that when a mother has the support and encouragement of her partner, she’s more likely to be successful at breastfeeding and breastfeed for a longer ..read more

I have many conversations with women about hormonal birth control.  Many have been using hormonal birth control for many years.  Some say their period was very irregular for many years and since she has been on hormonal birth control, her cycle as been regular.  After more conversation, they often are not aware that they are not actually producing their own hormones, ovulating or cycling monthly while on the hormonal birth control. I have these conversations all the time.  Women are being put on birth control at very young ages and the side effects and the mechanism of acti ..read more

Do You Experience Heavy Menstrual Bleeding? As with any menstrual symptom you may be experiencing, we need to ask – WHY is this showing up?  Why are you experiencing heaving bleeding/periods? What first comes to mind is the estrogen and progesterone balance, structural reasons, nutrient deficiencies and gut health. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding is Also Called Menorrhagia Your period is considered heavy if: it lasts more than 7 days >80 ml during a given period bleeding through super protection products Reasons for Heavy Bleeding Structural: Endometriosis Ovarian cysts Fibroids This can ..read more