We've reached the end of my 1st trimester! In this podcast I'm answering questions all about my first trimester of pregnancy, sharing the biggest surprises and what I'm looking forward to in the next trimester. Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episode idea? Leave your feedback in this form: https://forms.gle/XyBgaf9JwgvcfH5p8 Disclosure: I'm in no way, shape or form an expert on anything. None of this is advice. Take it all with a grain of sa...
Sep 11, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 96
Even if you don't want to throw a gender reveal party (or if you do!) a lot of expecting parents are curious about their baby's s*x and if baby is a boy or girl. In this episode I dive into the different options parents have when it comes to finding out, what tests you can do and how my husband and I came to our decision. PS: Guess if we're having a girl or boy in the poll on Spotify or by filling out my Google Form below! Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcas...
Sep 04, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 95
In this week's episode, I'm breaking down what you can expect during your first few prenatal appointments, based on my experience working with a midwifery practice. Obviously experiences will vary, but I hope this sheds some light on the process in case you're nervous or just curious about what to expect (when you're expecting)! Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episode idea? Leave your feedback in this form: https://forms.gle/XyBgaf9JwgvcfH5p8...
Aug 28, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 94
As I near the end of my first trimester (!!), I'm going through a checklist of 25 things I was supposed to do. How many did I do, did I do them right and which ones do I still need to check off? If you're planning a pregnancy, look ahead to what's on your 1st trimester to-do list! Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episode idea? Leave your feedback in this form: https://forms.gle/XyBgaf9JwgvcfH5p8 Inspired by https://www.geisinger.org/patient-ca...
Aug 21, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 92
I've done a few episodes on the best ways to announce a pregnancy and the best time to announce...but that was all theoretical. What actually happened when it was our turn to share our pregnancy news? In this episode, I'm sharing how we told our closest loved ones our news, if my expectations matched up with reality, some of the odd feelings I was left with, and my tips for when you get to make your announcement! Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an...
Aug 14, 2024•48 min•Season 1Ep. 91
When it comes to choosing care during your pregnancy, the options (at least where I live) are midwife, OB (obstetrician) or family doctor. So which to choose? In this episode, I explain how I came to choose a midwife, why I like the midwifery model of care and how my first appointment at my midwife clinic went. I also dispel some common myths about midwives! Ultimately, you should choose a healthcare practitioner who makes you feel safe and comfortable. I hope this episode helps if you're consid...
Aug 07, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 90
What is a dating scan? When do you have your first pregnancy ultrasound? Will you hear baby's heartbeat and go home with adorable sonogram photos? In this episode, I'm filling you in on my experience going for two dating ultrasound scans. While every clinic/office is different, I hope this episode will help you understand what to expect for your own scan! PS: I'm collecting questions for my 1st trimester recap episode! Have a q for me or my partner? Leave it in the Google Form below! Want to sha...
Jul 31, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 89
If you've spent any amount of time TTC-ing or in the fertility game, you're likely familiar with early pregnancy symptoms. You've probably spent a lot of time in the mirror examining if your boobs got any bigger or wondering if that twinge was a cramp or something else. I spent years doing that and now that I'm pregnant (eek!), I thought it'd be fun to go through a list of common early pregnancy symptoms and see which ones I actually experienced. Find out if constipation, spotting and acne reall...
Jul 24, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 88
After receiving so many lovely comments from you about my recent pregnancy announcement, I had to jump in with a quick episode to say THANK YOU! I am seriously so blown away by this awesome little community and appreciate you all being on this journey with me. Back on Wednesday with a new episode!
Jul 22, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 93
They say that parents never stop worrying but I say that worry starts well before you're a parent. But what do we actually do with all of this worry? How do we stop it from taking over if there's always something to worry about? Plus, now that I'm into a new phase of my baby journey, I'm talking about upcoming changes to the podcast. Tune in for my announcement and then fill out the Google Form below (or Spotify question box) with your thoughts! Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have ...
Jul 17, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 87
TW: This episode discusses pregnancy test results. I completely understand if you're not in a space to hear an episode like this right now and I'm sending you a lot of love. In this episode, I take you through a few days in my life wrapping up my second IUI, waiting (and receiving) blood pregnancy test results and an anxiety-inducing weekend. By the end, I've got some exciting news to share! Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episode idea? Leave ...
Jul 03, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 86
Whether you're TTC (trying to conceive), pregnant or parenting, it can be hard to escape other people's opinions, ideas and advice. Even when they mean well and even when they're a trusted source of info, sometimes all of those voices are just too much! In this episode, I'm chatting about how to know when the external voices are too much, how to check in with yourself about what you really need, and how to block out the unnecessary noise! Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedbac...
Jun 19, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 85
A lot of people decide that once they have a kid it's time to move out to the suburbs, get a stable job and buy a minivan. While I've never subscribed to that line of thinking, I am now considering the idea of moving back to my hometown to be closer to family if/when we have a child... in fact, my husband suggested it! Would you consider moving to be closer to friends/family so your kid has playmates and you have built in babysitters? I'm discussing the pros and cons in today's episode, as well ...
Jun 05, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 84
I'm back with part two of my IUI story. What is the actual process like and, more importantly, did it work? Tune in to learn more and hear my thoughts and feelings on the whole thing. Get ready for some waterworks (sorry!). Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episode idea? Leave your feedback in this form: https://forms.gle/XyBgaf9JwgvcfH5p8 Disclosure: I'm in no way, shape or form an expert on anything. None of this is advice. Take it all with a...
May 22, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 83
Inspired by a listener q, I'm diving into what happens during a preconception check up, what tests you'll take and when your doctor will recommend you take them. But more importantly, I'm talking about why you might want to push for preconception testing and why you might not. Is it important to know what's going on ahead of time or better to wait and see? Reference: Episode 54: How can I prep for TTC? Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episode id...
May 08, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 82
After 2+ years of tests, medications and appointments, my husband and I are finally embarking on the next stage of our TTC journey: intrauterine insemination aka IUI. In this episode, I'll walk you through the first steps of the IUI, what I've had to do and how I'm feeling about the whole thing. Whether assisted fertility procedures are part of your journey or not, I hope this episode answers some questions and lets you know you're not alone. Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have fee...
Apr 24, 2024•30 min•Season 1Ep. 81
Inspired by a listener question, what do you do if you're ready to start TTC and get going on your fertility journey but your partner isn't there yet? It's hard to be patient when you feel that you're ready to get pregnant and become a parent. Listen in as I share my advice and reframe the question to make it about when we will be ready, rather than when they will be ready. Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episode idea? Leave your feedback in t...
Apr 10, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 80
If you're in the thick of your fertility journey, working on TTC, it can often feel like you're falling behind on some invisible race as everyone arounds you announces pregnancies and takes baby photos. So what do you do when you can't get out of the race mindset? Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episode idea? Leave your feedback in this form: https://forms.gle/XyBgaf9JwgvcfH5p8 Disclosure: I'm in no way, shape or form an expert on anything. ...
Mar 27, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 79
It's one thing to process your own reactions to TTC. But how do you handle it when the people in your life don't react the way you want them to or thought they would? While many individuals and couples decide to keep their TTC journey and fertility struggles to themselves, many more decide to share the news with some close loved ones (or even share their journey publicly). But that opens you up to reactions, opinions and the constant pressure to provide updates. In today's episode, I'm going ove...
Feb 28, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 78
One of the biggest certainties when it comes to TTC (trying to conceive) and any fertility journey is that nothing is certain! The whole thing is a roller coaster and constantly trying to deal with an uncertain future. As someone who loves to plan ahead, this has been one of my biggest struggles. So today on the pregnancy podcast I'm talking through how I deal with the uncertainty of TTC, little things I've done to find some certainty in my life, and our big (but very tentative) plans for 2025! ...
Feb 14, 2024•21 min•Season 1Ep. 77
After teasing it for weeks (months?) I am so excited to share my TTC interview with my husband with you! It was really interesting to hear the non-birthing/carrying partner's perspective, chat with him about some tough topics and answer some of your questions. Thank you again for your support of me and for this episode. It was a lot of fun! Please excuse any mic issues (it actually wasn't as bad audio as I thought it might be). And if you have any feedback or ideas for future episodes, please le...
Jan 31, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 76
Welcome back to Any Questions and episode #75! In this episode I'm talking all about what happens when you and your partner have different approaches to your TTC and fertility journey. If one of you is in a rush, wanting to get things done right away, stressing and willing to spend lots of money while the other is dragging their feet, what do you do? PS: Next episode will (hopefully!) be the Q&A with my husband. If you have any questions for him or for me/us, feel free to leave it in this Go...
Jan 17, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Happy new year and welcome back to Any Questions! Kicking off a new year of fertility and conception podcasting by discussing how we can make TTC (trying to conceive) feel less like a chore, which can be hard when everything feels so scheduled and burdensome. Plus, I'm sharing updates from our fertility clinic and IUI process. PS: I've heard your feedback and I will have my husband on the pod to answer questions and give his take on the partner/male side of the fertility and pregnancy journey. I...
Jan 03, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 74
It's my final episode of 2023! The end of 2023 also marks two years of trying to conceive (TTC) for me and my husband. In this episode I'm looking back on all of the highs and lows of this year (TW for pregnancy loss), what lessons and realizations I've learned from our fertility journey, and my plans for growing our family and this podcast in 2024! Thank you so much for listening to Any Questions this year and for all of your support. I started this podcast as an outlet for myself and have been...
Dec 20, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 73
TW: mention of pregnancy loss/miscarriage throughout If you've been on your TTC (trying to conceive) journey for a while, if you've suffered loss or if you've had bad test results, how do you get excited again? How do you get over the fact that you'll never be the same innocent optimistic person you were when you first started on this fertility journey? How do you not let the fear of another loss or bad result ruin the next one? Join me as I talk through some of my thoughts on this - knowing ful...
Dec 06, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 72
TW: This mini-sode deals with pregnancy loss, miscarriage and chemical pregnancy. If those topics aren't for you, feel free to skip this one! I had to record a bonus mini episode because I was just so blown away by all of the recent comments I received. THANK YOU all so much for your support, feedback, kind words, recommendations, stories and episode ideas. It means so much to me. I can't tell you how supported I feel and how much I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to reach out. Keep t...
Nov 29, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 71
In this week's episode of the fertility journey roller coaster, I'm thinking about what would happen if I got off the ride. What if we don't get pregnant? What if IUI doesn't work? What if we don't try IVF or adoption - or we do and it doesn't work out? Could I find happiness without a baby? Thank you to listener Gem for inspiring this episode! TRIGGER WARNING: I start the episode talking about miscarriage/pregnancy loss and thanking my listeners for their messages of support. If that topic isn'...
Nov 22, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 70
TW: chemical pregnancy, miscarriage, pregnancy loss In today's episode we're chatting about chemical pregnancies, inspired by a listener episode suggestion. What is a chemical pregnancy? Is it actually a miscarriage or something else? If they're so common, why do we rarely hear about them? And why does it feel like we can't be sad about them? I'm unpacking all that and more - tune in! PS: Check out thermometers, supplements, fertility tests and more at Femometer . Use code QUESTIONS for 15% of...
Nov 08, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 69
As the Little Mermaid would say, "When's it my turn?" I'm channeling my inner Ariel for today's episode: When is it finally going to be my turn to get pregnant? It feels like pregnancy and motherhood is all around when you're TTC (trying to conceive), and it can be hard to not feel like you're falling behind and frustrated that your own fertility journey is taking so long. Today I dive into the emotions of this part of the journey, the helpful reminders I like to tell myself and some actions we ...
Oct 25, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 68
Inspired by a listener suggestion, this week's episode is all about how to stop TTC (trying to conceive) from taking over your life. I'm sharing secret ways TTC may be taking over and what you can do to step back, add something new and find support. Plus, for all my fellow forward-thinkers and life planners, I'm talking about how to deal when you thought you'd have a baby (or at least be pregnant!) by a certain date and then that date comes along and you're still trying to conceive. PS: Check ou...
Oct 11, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 67
