12. Busting Sauna Myths: A Deep Dive into Safe Preconception & Pregnancy Practices

In this episode of the Resilient Fertility Podcast, Lily Nichols discusses her collaborative project with Lisa Hendrickson Jack, 'Real Food for Fertility.' Lily elaborates on how the project originated, the extensive research process, and the crucial role of nutrition in fertility and overall body health. Key topics include the impact of animal-based proteins, the differences between preconception and pregnancy nutrition, and the often overlooked paternal role in pregnancy health. The conversation also touches on the debate around intermittent fasting, the biases in nutrition research, preventable factors for recurrent pregnancy loss, and practical recommendations for optimizing fertility through nutrient-dense animal foods.

Join me, Anisa Woodall, a holistic fertility and prenatal Certified Nutritionist and mother of two, as I share my personal journey of overcoming physical setbacks that led to unforeseen delays in my own conception timelines. In this episode, I delve into the importance of mindset shifts, practical tips for optimizing fertility, and actionable steps to improve egg quality and reproductive health if you’re feeling your biological clock ticking. Whether you're planning to conceive, struggling with fertility challenges, or navigating pregnancy, this episode offers valuable insights, reminding you of your power to take control of your fertility journey and prepare for a healthy motherhood- regardless of the struggles and changes in your expected timelines. Tune in to learn how reframing your inner dialogue and embracing unexpected timelines can cultivate resilience, patience, and self-awareness and provide you further opportunities to further embody the mother your future child needs you to be. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Register for my FREE Masterclass Unlock Your Fertility: How to Transform Your Habits for Optimal Pregnancy Success!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Work with me: Reverse Your Aging Fertility- Join the waitlist ⁠⁠Join my Seasonal Meal Plan Membership⁠⁠⁠ and access my RENEW Spring Reset Meal Plan, using food to support releasing excess estrogen so you can finally achieve hormone vitality! Watch my Resilience from Estrogen Dominance Workshop (Replay)⁠ to learn how to support estrogen elimination, natural progesterone production so you can heal your period problems and get pregnant naturally! ⁠⁠Resilient Motherhood: ⁠⁠⁠⁠A self-paced guide to preparing for conception and beyond⁠ ⁠⁠(Signature Course and Coaching program) for couples preparing for conception. ⁠⁠Revitalize & Restore⁠⁠ 1:1 private coaching for hormone harmony. ⁠⁠Bloom & Nourish coaching program⁠⁠ for private pregnancy nutrition coaching. Read the Full Show Notes Here

Explore the essential link between oral health and fertility in this enlightening podcast episode, featuring expert insights on restoring your oral microbiome and reducing pathogenic bacteria. Dr. Katie Lee shares practical strategies to optimize fertility through oral health, emphasizing the systemic connection between mouth health and overall wellness. You’ll learn... The ways in which your oral health can impact your fertility How simply brushing and flossing is not always enough to prevent oral disease or bacterial imbalances The three types of pathogenic bacteria that can directly impact fertility and/or influence pregnancy health and can even play a role in pregnancy loss Why the presence of pathogenic bacteria in your mouth doesn’t always lead to dysfunction  When is the best time to get dental work done if you’re planning to conceive, TTC, or already pregnant What kind of testing you can do to learn more about your own oral microbiome and so much more Discover the importance of a comprehensive approach to health in preconception preparation, actionable tips for balancing your oral microbiome, and how prioritizing oral health sets the foundation for a healthy pregnancy. Ideal for women on the journey to motherhood, this episode equips you with knowledge and practices to enhance fertility and ensure your body is primed for a successful pregnancy when the time is right. Work with Anisa: Watch the Resilience from Estrogen Dominance Workshop replay Resilient Motherhood: A self-paced guide to preparing for conception and beyond⁠ (Signature Course and Coaching program) for those preparing for conception. Revitalize & Restore 1:1 private coaching for hormone harmony. Bloom & Nourish coaching program for private pregnancy nutrition coaching. Join my Seasonal Meal Plan Membership and access my BLOOM Spring Reset meal plan today! View Full Show Notes here

Katherine’s story is a beautiful example of resilient fertility and embracing a growth mindset on the motherhood journey. In this episode, she shares her story about her challenging conception and pregnancy journeys with her first child and how they motivated her to take her preconception preparation up a notch for her second baby. She shares her experience of medical sabotage with her first pregnancy that led to an induction and resulting C-section and why she’s choosing to do a wild pregnancy and sovereign birth this second go-around. We get into what kinds of lifestyle changes, made the biggest impact for Katherine’s fertility this time around, what she loved most about my online program Resilient Motherhood, and how she was shocked that she was able to conceive on the first go, especially after her first conception journey. In this episode you’ll learn about the importance of deepening your knowledge and leaning on wisdom from women who have walked this path before you, intentional planning, and unconventional prenatal care choices is discussed, showcasing personal growth and a journey towards resilient motherhood. We are hoping you’ll feel inspired from her story to take action - whether you are already trying to conceive or you want to have your ideal motherhood experience the first time (without going through all the trial and error). View the full show notes here

If you're preparing to conceive or are pregnant for the first time and are committed to making breastfeeding work but you're concerned about whether or not you'll be able to successfully breastfeed, join in on this episode where you'll find inspiration to align your motherhood journey with physiological needs, have foresight on potential challenges, equip yourself to handle these challenges, and prioritize intuitive parenting for a resilient journey. Explore the symbiosis of mother-baby dyad and prepare for motherhood with insights on breastfeeding success, holistic preparation, and intuitive parenting. There is so much more power in your hands than you've been led to believe. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Register for my FREE Masterclass Unlock Your Fertility: How to Transform Your Habits for Optimal Pregnancy Success!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Work With Me: ⁠⁠Join my Seasonal Meal Plan Membership⁠⁠⁠ and access my new RENEW Spring Reset Meal Plan, using food to support releasing excess estrogen Watch my Resilience from Estrogen Dominance Workshop (Replay)⁠ to learn how to support estrogen elimination, natural progesterone production so you can heal your period problems and get pregnant naturally! ⁠⁠Resilient Motherhood: ⁠⁠⁠⁠A self-paced guide to preparing for conception and beyond⁠ ⁠⁠(Signature Course and Coaching program) for those preparing for conception. ⁠⁠Revitalize & Restore⁠⁠ 1:1 private coaching for hormone harmony. ⁠⁠Bloom & Nourish coaching program⁠⁠ for private pregnancy nutrition coaching. View full show notes here

This episode of the Resilient Fertility Podcast delves into the intricate links between histamine levels, estrogen dominance, and fertility issues, especially during the spring season when allergies are rampant. I share insights from my recent Resilience from Estrogen Dominance workshop, explaining how allergens can exacerbate period pains, heaviness of bleeding and fertility problems by affecting histamine and estrogen levels. By drawing the connection between these elements, the episode explores the root causes of histamine intolerance and offers practical strategies for mitigating symptoms through diet, gut health optimization, and improving estrogen metabolism. If you're struggling with period problems, allergies, or trying to conceive, this episode provides valuable insights into using your diet and lifestyle changes to support your fertility journey. If you’re interested in using food as a means to address estrogen dominance and histamine intolerance, to finally experience relief from period pain and improving your chances of conceiving, then I’ll share next steps for doing so! Register for my Resilience from Estrogen Dominance Workshop (Replay)⁠ to learn how to heal your period problems and get pregnant naturally! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Register for my FREE Masterclass Unlock Your Fertility: How to Transform Your Habits for Optimal Pregnancy Success!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠Join my Seasonal Meal Plan Membership⁠⁠⁠ and access my new RENEW Spring Reset Meal Plan to heal from Estrogen Dominance today! ⁠⁠Resilient Motherhood: ⁠⁠⁠⁠A self-paced guide to preparing for conception and beyond⁠ ⁠⁠(Signature Course and Coaching program) for those preparing for conception. ⁠⁠Revitalize & Restore⁠⁠ 1:1 private coaching for hormone harmony. ⁠⁠Bloom & Nourish coaching program⁠⁠ for private pregnancy nutrition coaching. ⁠⁠View full show notes with references here

Have you ever wondered what the true effect of skipping meals was on your hormones or why sometimes you TTC around day 14 but you’re still not pregnant? In this episode of the Resilient Fertility Podcast, you’ll learn: How I conceived my first child despite ovulating later in my cycle How skipping meals may be impacting your ovulation How to know if fasting will harm or help your fertility journey Why fasting can be beneficial for some women’s hormones (and not others) What types of cleanses or detoxes will support your fertility and motherhood journey How you can safely detox in pregnancy Register for my Resilience from Estrogen Dominance Workshop (Replay) to learn how to heal your period problems and get pregnant naturally! ⁠⁠⁠Register for my FREE Masterclass Unlock Your Fertility: How to Transform Your Habits for Optimal Pregnancy Success!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Work with me: ⁠⁠Join my Seasonal Meal Plan Membership⁠⁠ and access my new RENEW Spring Reset Meal Plan, releasing on March 20th ! ⁠Resilient Motherhood: ⁠⁠A self-paced guide to preparing for conception and beyond⁠ ⁠(Signature Course and Coaching program) for those preparing for conception. ⁠Revitalize & Restore⁠ 1:1 private coaching for hormone harmony. ⁠Bloom & Nourish coaching program⁠ for private pregnancy nutrition coaching. ⁠View full show notes with references here

Have you been trying to conceive and you’re either in your two week wait (TWW) or you’re newly pregnant and you’re just feeling like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop? Are you afraid to get excited, to allow yourself to experience the joy of being pregnant because you may have had a short luteal phase or a history of pregnancy loss? You wake up every morning to check your BBT or do another pregnancy test- “am I pregnant yet?” “am I still pregnant??” The anxiety can feel overwhelming. I created this episode to help you navigate this mysterious period of the unknown. In this episode we’ll explore: How your luteal phase length can be an important sign that you need to optimize nutrition on your preconception journey The necessary role of worry and fear on your conception journey How to set boundaries with your fear Positive affirmations to say during your TWW or early pregnancy Whether you should you share the news with your friends and family in early pregnancy How to start reframing your mindset from distrust to recognizing your body’s wisdom View full show notes here

If you’re wondering...  Is it safe to use the sauna when trying to conceive? How does sauna use affect hormone balance and fertility? Can I continue using the sauna once I get pregnant? Are there specific precautions or guidelines for sauna use during preconception/pregnancy? Are the benefits worth the risks? then this episode is a must-listen. Join me in this episode as we uncover the fascinating ways that sauna bathing can support you on your journey towardsoptimizing hormone health, fertility, and pregnancy. I'll be sharing not only the science-backed benefits but also sharing my own personal experience of using the sauna throughout both my preconception and pregnancy experiences whileaddressing popular questions and concerns about sauna use throughout the motherhood transition. ⁠Download my FREE Preconception Checklist!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Register for my FREE Masterclass Unlock Your Fertility: How to Transform Your Habits for Optimal Pregnancy Success!⁠⁠⁠ Work with me: Resilient Motherhood: A self-paced guide to preparing for conception and beyond⁠ (Signature Course and Coaching program) for those preparing for conception. Revitalize & Restore 1:1 private coaching for hormone harmony. Bloom & Nourish coaching program for private pregnancy nutrition coaching. Join my Seasonal Meal Plan Membership and access my Winter Solstice 28-Day meal plan today! View full show notes with references here: www.anisawoodall.com/show-notes/sauna

Today on the podcast we're exploring a lesser-known self-care practice in the world of women's health and wellness with a special guest, Kit Maloney. With over two decades of experience in the field, Kit Maloney is a true authority in women's health. She's a scholar, entrepreneur, victim advocate, and pleasure activist. Kit holds a Master's degree in Gender and Social Policy from the prestigious London School of Economics and has been featured in prominent publications like Glamour, Self, and Bustle. Marie Claire even recognized her as an "Amazing Woman" for her groundbreaking work celebrating women's sexuality. But Kit's journey doesn't stop there. She discovered the profound healing power of vaginal steaming firsthand and decided to share this wisdom with the world. That's why she has traveled the world studying a wide variety of healing modalitiesand chose to become certified as an advanced practitioner in vaginal steaming. All of this has led her to founding Kitara, a platform dedicated to offering beautifully designed and expertly crafted products and services for safe, easy, and effective yoni steaming at home. She now resides in Maine with her husband and their 1-year-old son. Here are some Key Takeaways from This Episode: Discovering the multi-cultural practice of yoni steaming as part of the my own ancestry, and how fertility work runs in my bloodline Simple yet effective ways to restore your womb health Utilizing yoni steaming for various benefits including improved fertility, relief from period pain, regulating menstrual cycles (long or short), eliminating uterine fibroids, managing endometriosis symptoms, and naturally treating infections such as yeast and bacterial vaginosis (BV) How to adjust and plan your steaming practice timing while you’re trying to conceive (TTC) Understanding the different types of herbs and dosages necessary for specific steaming goals Why uterine fibroids occur predominantly in african-american women Why you shouldn’t steam during your period but you can during your postpartum bleeding and Insights into Kit’s personal journey with natural conception in her 40s. And here's the exciting part for our listeners: Visit Kitara's website at www.kitaralove.com, where you can explore a world of women’s wellness. Plus, Kitara is generously offering our listeners an exclusive discount. Use the code "ResilientLove" for $22 off any Kitara yoni steam seat, including savings bundles! Be sure to also connect with Kit on Instagram at @bykitara.  So, whether you're new to yoni steaming or a seasoned enthusiast, this episode is packed with insights and offers you won't want to miss. Join me in welcoming Kit Maloney to the podcast! Related Resources: ⁠Download my FREE Preconception Checklist!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Register for my FREE Masterclass Unlock Your Fertility: How to Transform Your Habits for Optimal Pregnancy Success!⁠⁠⁠ Work with me in my signature online course and coaching, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Resilient Motherhood: A self-paced guide to preparing for conception and beyond⁠ Click here for the full show notes