How Stress Affects Fertility: Hormones, Nervous System & Faith with Maraya Brown | Ep. 15
What if improving your fertility isn't about doing more, but about learning to slow down, nourish your body, and trust the way God created you? In this episode of the Catholic Fertility Podcast, I'm joined by Maraya Brown, Yale-certified nurse midwife and functional medicine women's health expert, to explore the connection between stress, nervous system regulation, hormone health, and fertility. We talk about how chronic stress can impact reproductive health, why understanding your menstrual cycle and ovulation is so important, and how nutrition, rest, and personalized fertility support can help you reconnect with your body.Maraya also opens up about her own experience with miscarriage, motherhood, and struggling to conceive after previously getting pregnant easily. We dive into the importance of looking beyond lab results, identifying the root causes of hormone imbalances, and learning to listen to what your body is communicating. And, of course, we talk about something so close to my heart: navigating fertility challenges with faith, surrendering to God's timing, and recognizing that we can actively support our health while trusting His plan. Whether you're trying to conceive naturally, navigating infertility, recovering your menstrual cycle, or simply wanting to better understand your hormones, this conversation is filled with encouragement, practical insights, and a reminder of how beautifully and intentionally our bodies were created.Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a practitioner-client relationship. Please consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or healthcare plan.In This Episode[02:38] – From corporate America to midwifery: Maraya's journey into women's health and how her personal fertility experiences changed the way she supports women.[12:37] – Fertility, faith, and feminine intuition: why learning to trust your body and release fear matters during conception, pregnancy, and birth.[19:02] – Trusting God's timing: I share my journey of recovering from 10 years of hypothalamic amenorrhea, navigating postpartum cycle recovery, and learning to surrender during seasons of waiting.[28:24] – Understanding your menstrual cycle: why ovulation is the main event, the role of progesterone, and how tracking your cycle can help you better understand your hormones and fertility.[34:27] – How stress and nervous system regulation connect to fertility, and why creating a foundation of safety, nourishment, and rest is an important part of supporting reproductive health.[38:58] – Functional medicine and fertility: looking beyond hormone labs, using individualized testing thoughtfully, and addressing the foundational habits that influence overall health.[45:35] – Maraya's personal fertility journey: the nutrition, lifestyle, and stress-related changes she explored while trying to conceive, and why fertility support should never be one-size-fits-all.Links & ResourcesConnect with Maraya Brown:Women's Vibrancy Code – Maraya's programs, resources, and podcast supporting women's hormones, energy, and vitality. Related Catholic Fertility Podcast Episodes:Oral Health and Fertility with Dr. Katie To Which NFP method is better? How do you know if you are ovulating?Enjoyed This Episode?If this conversation resonated with you, I would love for you to follow the Catholic Fertility Podcast, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with another woman who may need this encouragement on her fertility journey.My hope is that this podcast helps you feel more connected to your body, more confident in supporting your fertility, and more at peace trusting God's timing. Thank you so much for listening, and I'll see you in the next episode!