196: Behind The Scenes of IVF Prep: PMOS, Male Factor Infertility & Their First-Round IVF Success (Emily's Story)

In today's episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the stress you don't feel, the kind that quietly hijacks your hormones, drains your adrenals, and can drag out your time to conception without you ever naming it as "stress." I'm going to decode your nervous system in real-life terms, show how it flips you between "safe to make a baby" mode and "must survive" mode, and connect that directly to cortisol, adrenal health, and your fertility. And then I'll walk you through how years of hustling, pushing through, and being the woman who "handles it all" can leave a fingerprint on your lab markers and how tools like the DUTCH test can finally reveal whether this invisible stress is one of the missing pieces in your fertility story. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below.  PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/197 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

In this episode, I'm sitting down with my client Emily to share the real story behind her path to pregnancy and it's not as straightforward as it may seem. What began as a proactive plan quickly turned into navigating a PCOS diagnosis, male factor infertility, and a fertility experience that left her feeling discouraged and dismissed. But instead of accepting that as her path, Emily chose to do things differently. We take you behind the scenes of how we prepared both her and her husband for IVF, uncovering deeper imbalances through functional testing and focusing on the pieces that are so often overlooked with conventional care. Emily also opens up about the moments that challenged her the most, what helped her stay grounded through the uncertainty, and the unexpected signs that kept her holding on. Today's episode is a story about self advocacy, trust, and what can shift when you stop rushing the process and start supporting your body in a deeper way. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Apply for the Silver Package for 1:1 Fertility Coaching here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/196 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

Today's episode invites you into a completely different way of thinking about fertility, motherhood, and what it really means to prepare for a child. I'm joined by Chelsea Ann O'Brien, an integrative medicine nurse practitioner who bridges clinical practice with Eastern spirituality, and together we explore the concept of "feminine frequency" and why so many women today feel disconnected from it.  If you've ever felt stuck in overthinking, control, or survival mode on your fertility journey, this conversation will likely land in a very real way. Chelsea shares how our modern conditioning pulls us into masculine patterns that can quietly disrupt our mental, emotional, physical, and even spiritual health and ultimately, our ability to conceive and carry with ease.  We talk about how your internal state shapes the environment your future child is being welcomed into, why surrender is not weakness but power, and how healing generational patterns plays a critical role in conscious motherhood. Through both science and story, she offers a grounded yet deeply expansive perspective on becoming the mother your child is already calling in. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/195 Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

Before you start trying to conceive, there's one step most people never think about, but it can completely change how you plan for a healthy pregnancy. Genetic carrier screening isn't just for people with a known family history. In fact, most carriers are completely healthy and have no idea they carry a genetic condition. So the question becomes: what don't you know and how could that information shape your choices? In today's episode, I interview genetic counselor Janet Rosenfield, who brings over 40 years of clinical and teaching experience, and Orren Alperstein, founder of Canavan Foundation, whose personal connection to this work adds a powerful, human perspective. Together, we break down what carrier screening actually is, why timing matters, and how this information can shape your fertility journey.  From real patient stories to the future of genetic testing, this conversation is all about making informed, values-based decisions as you plan to grow your family. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/194 Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

After two back-to-back miscarriages, my client Briony knew something deeper was being missed. On the surface, she was "doing everything right," but underneath were silent unresolved issues like chronic stress, overtraining, and hidden gut infections.  In today's episode, I interview Briony, who shares how she shifted from chasing answers to truly supporting her body as a whole system, alongside her partner. From making big changes like stepping away from intense routines, addressing a hidden parasite, and even taking a full break from trying to conceive to focus on healing.  What followed wasn't just another pregnancy, but a completely different experience of feeling safe and supported in her body.  If you've been stuck in cycles of loss or confusion, this conversation will remind you there is another way forward. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? SIGN UP FOR PRIVATE COACHING: Sign Up For The June Bronze Package Here (limited spots available, closes Friday June 12) Missed June enrollment and looking for Nora's support? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here LOOKING TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/193 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

In today's episode, I am getting into one of the most requested topics, getting pregnant after 35. And I want to be clear right from the start, this is not a scary episode. This is an empowering one. We're going to talk about what's actually happening in your body as you age; the biology, the statistics, the real reasons conception can feel harder and I'm going to break it all down in a way that makes sense, gives you a roadmap, and honestly, gives you your power back.  And while there are never any guarantees in this journey, there is so much more within your control than you've been told. I'll be covering the truth about natural conception rates through your reproductive years, why oxidative stress and chronic inflammation are two of the biggest silent disruptors and the functional testing approach I use with my clients that gets them pregnant. Because when you stop guessing and start getting real answers, everything changes.  If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: Sign Up For The June Bronze Package Here (limited spots available, closes Friday June 12) Missed June enrollment and looking for Nora's support? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Looking To Get Pregnant On Your Own? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

What if everything you were told about your fertility, wasn't the full picture? In today's episode, I'm sitting down with my client Brittany, who takes us behind the scenes of a journey that began with a PCOS diagnosis, one that didn't fully reflect what was actually happening in her body. This diagnosis was then followed by a devastating miscarriage and mounting pressure to move forward with IUI. But her story didn't end there. What unfolded instead will challenge what you think you know about fertility diagnoses and timelines and what can shift when you get access to the right testing and work with someone who looks beyond just medical interventions. We talk about the moment everything changed, when deeper testing revealed that her hormone levels didn't align with a PCOS diagnosis at all, and instead pointed to an entirely different root cause. We dive into her protocol that followed her comprehensive hormone testing, and the tension she navigated between her impatience to move forward with treatment and learning to trust me, the process and her body along the way. Not that long ago, Brittany was exactly where you might be right now, searching for answers, weighing her options, and wondering what to do next. But when you trust your gut, find the right practitioner, and continue to surround yourself with success stories like hers, you're getting one step closer to getting and staying pregnant. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: CLICK HERE TO GET ON JUNE BRONZE PACKAGE WAITLIST (limited spots available) For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/191 Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

If you've been obsessing over what's "wrong" with your body while TTC, this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. In today's episode, instead of only hunting for red flags, I'm walking you through seven powerful "green flags" your cycle and your body use to quietly tell you, "Hey, things are actually lining up for pregnancy."  I take you through my top seven science-backed signs that your fertility is moving in the right direction, long before you ever see a positive test.  If you've been wondering whether your body is capable or if you're running out of time, today's episode will help you reframe your cycle as a monthly progress report, so you can spot what's already working and where your next best focus should be. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: CLICK HERE TO GET ON JUNE BRONZE PACKAGE WAITLIST (limited spots available) For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/190 Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

Imagine this: after months of trying, you finally see your doctor, pour your heart out, and within minutes you're handed a prescription for Clomid or letrozole with the promise that it will "give you a boost." But what if that supposed shortcut isn't actually a shortcut at all and might even be quietly working against your hormones, your uterine lining, and your long‑term chances of getting and staying pregnant? In today's episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what Clomid and letrozole really do in your brain and ovaries, how they can both help and hinder in medicated cycles, IUI, and IVF, the side effects you're rarely warned about, and what it means if you've done multiple rounds and still aren't pregnant. If you've ever wondered, "Is this actually helping me… or could it be setting me back?", stay with me because by the end of this episode, you'll know which questions to ask and how to decide if these meds truly fit into your fertility strategy. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below.  PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Related Links: For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/189 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

In a world where our watches, rings, and phones are constantly tracking our bodies, it's easy to forget that the most powerful "device" we have is our own body awareness. In today's episode, I'm sitting down with Sabrina Nowicki, CEO and co-founder of the Cyclicity app, to explore why understanding your fertile signs is still absolutely critical, even in the age of endless health data. We dive into how your basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and other fertile signs give you real-time insight into what your hormones are doing in a way no algorithm can truly replicate.  Sabrina shares how Cyclicity is designed to teach you how to read your own chart, rather than just spit out predictions, and how that shifts you from being a passive app user to an active expert on your own cycle. You'll also learn what your chart can reveal about stress, travel, sleep, diet, and even conditions like endometriosis & PCOS long before a generic app would ever flag that something's off. If you're curious whether all your wearable data is actually helping you, or if you're missing the deeper story your body is telling, this conversation is going to change the way you think about tracking your cycle. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/188 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.