The Hormonal Mama

With so many causes of infertility, it can be difficult to understand what may be causing your infertility. So let's break it down one by one. Uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are an interesting category when we're talking about causes of infertility. They don't always cause infertility, and the fascinating thing, at least I think of fibroids, is sometimes people misunderstand fibroids and confuse them with polyps, which we'll talk about in another video. But today we're jumping into uterine fibroids. Understanding exactly what they are, how often do they cause infertility and really, do they always cause infertility? Hint: no, they don't. But we will get to that in just a minute. So let's dive in. What are uterine fibroids? Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that occur in the uterus and are made of uterine muscle, also known as the myometrium or middle layer of the uterine tissue. Tumors grow within this layer and can protrude into the inside of the uterus or through to the outside layer. The uterus has three layers of muscle tissue, the perimetrium, which is the outer layer, the myometrium, which is the middle layer, and the endometrium, which is the innermost layer. Fibroids, which grow in the myometrium otherwise known as the middle layer, can protrude into each other layer of uterine tissue. They can protrude inward, pushing into the endometrium, causing less space within the uterine cavity. It can also protrude outward on the outermost layer, the perimetrium. Uterine fibroids affect an estimated 70 to 80% of people with uteruses at some point in their lifetime. 2 to 4% of those with fibroids experience infertility. Uterine fibroids are very common among women in their thirties and forties. The cause of uterine fibroids is unknown. Treatment for uterine fibroids depends on the size and impact on life and/or reproductive struggles, but options include surgery, medication, or other interventions. Symptoms may include: heavy menstrual periods, longer or more frequent menstrual periods than expected, weight gain, and/or abdominal distension. Stay tuned for more information about infertility and don't forget to follow and subscribe. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Background Music:   Motivate Me by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

There are a lot of things that come up as a new mom.  One of the most complicated things, is the decision how to feed your child.  Are you going to nurse, pump, formula feed, a combination?     As a mom who combination fed my twins due to an issue with low milk supply, I often struggled to find a comfortable and stylish nursing bra.  But what's more frustrating was finding a sports bra that I could easily transition to nursing from after a workout.  If only Jen & Keri was around!   Today's guest is Dr. Karlie Causey, co-founder of Jen & Keri, a postpartum activewear brand specializing in stylish and functional sports bras that double as nursing bras!  So, after you have your baby and your back to hitting the gym, you don't have to get out of your sports bra, you can nurse your baby without changing!  And more than that, these incredible bras are cute and stylish!   Dr. Karlie is the co-founder of a postpartum activewear brand, sports chiropractor, and certified strength and conditioning coach who is passionate about providing practical tools to moms and moms-to-be, helping them restore their bodies and continue exercising after their babies are born. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Karlie shares her journey to becoming a chiropractor.  •We talk about what inspired her to co-found Jen & Keri.  •She tells me about her experience founding an activewear company.  •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Find Karlie:  On the Web:  www.jenandkeri.com On the Web:  www.karliecausey.com Instagram:  @jenandkeri  Instagram:  @drkarlie TikTok: @jenandkeri TikTok: @drkarlie --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

With so many causes of infertility, it can be difficult to understand what may be causing YOUR infertility. So let's break it down one by one. Male factor infertility, also known as MFI. This is such an interesting cause of infertility because it's not talked about as often as female causes of infertility, mostly because there are more causes of infertility that can originate from the female. This doesn't mean that causes of infertility are more often with the female. It's actually a third female factor, a third male factor, and another third male _*AND*_ female factor. But that being said, the category of male factor infertility covers fewer causes than female factor. But let's dive in today and talk about what are the more common causes of male factor infertility, also known as MFI. Let's dive in. This is a great one. So here we go.  What is male factor infertility? MFI, or male factor infertility is identified as being due to an issue with sperm, sperm production, or other related issues. Some examples are low sperm count, abnormally shaped sperm, otherwise known as morphology, low sperm movement, otherwise known as motility, and more. Normal sperm count is considered a range from 15 million to greater than 200 million sperm per milliliter of semen. Low sperm count is considered to be anything fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen.  In terms of morphology, normal sperm morphology (or shape) has a head, a body and a tail. Abnormal sperm morphology (or shape) is a tail that is too long, a tail that is missing a head, a head that is missing a tail, no body, a head that is too big, a head that is not properly shaped, two heads, or two tails, or anything that is not a normally shaped sperm. Low sperm motility, also known as slow moving sperm is exactly how it sounds. It's sperm that doesn't move at the proper rate. Normal sperm motility is considered to be sperm that moves forward with progressions of at least 25 micrometers per second. Poor sperm motility is anything that is less than five micrometers per second or sperm that _*doesn't*_ move forward.  Other causes of male factor infertility are things like varicocele. In varicocele, there is an enlargement of the veins in the scrotum. This enlargement can cause low sperm production and/or decreased sperm quality. In a normal scrotum, the veins are not enlarged and are the proper size. MFI or male factor infertility, affects an estimated 7% of all men. 40 to 50% of infertility cases are due to MFI. Some causes can be fixed through surgery, diet, and lifestyle changes. Diagnosis is made through a variety of tests, usually in the following order, sperm sample, otherwise known as a semen sample, blood test, imaging, or repeat sperm sample. Stay tuned for more information about infertility and don't forget to follow and subscribe. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Background Music:   Motivate Me by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Do you hear the term functional nutrition and find yourself asking, "What in the world does that mean?" or "How in the world is that going to help me?"  My guest today, Brooke Rozmenoski AKA Brooke Rozzie is helping us understand what functional nutrition is and how she can help! Brooke is a Functional Nutrition Therapy Practitioner & Hormone Expert.  Brooke and her amazing team of women specialize in women's health and changing the narrative for women in how they view their life, their health, and their bodies. She is a Mom of two and has been in the health & fitness industry for over 15 years. After becoming a Mom, and through personal experiences with stress and the impacts it left on her body, she realized how unsupported women are in knowing what their body needs to feel good and how to achieve it. Today's model is set up with a cyclical diet and exercise pattern, but it isn’t set to serve what a woman's body truly needs to thrive. Brooke and her team work in their practice to change the narrative on how women approach their health and truly help them get to the root of what is going on in their unique body, so they can truly feel good in their skin, ditch the diet and exercise mentality, and live a life that they feel really good in, unapologetically. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Brooke shares her childhood experience with body image and how that inspired her to become a personal trainer. •We talk about what inspired her to learn more about functional nutrition. •She tells me about her interest in hormone health and how that is a huge part of her practice. •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Brooke: On the Web:  www.brookerozzie.com Instagram:  @brookerozzie Email:  hello@brookerozzie.com Podcast:  The Power of a Woman --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

With so many causes of infertility, it can be difficult to understand what may be causing your infertility. So let's break it down one by one.  PCOS. Super important, super prevalent, illness. PCOS affects so many people. If you've never heard of PCOS, you might have heard it as polycystic ovarian syndrome. This is an interesting endocrine disorder that I'm really excited to dive into and bring you the basics about because PCOS affects so many people, often without knowing it. Also, often treatments aren't really treatments as much as Band Aid solutions, or masking the symptoms.  I am excited because I have talked to so many PCOS experts, people with PCOS, people who have reversed their PCOS. It's a fascinating topic. Today, I'm just bringing you the basics. Just the basic stuff about PCOS. So let's dive in.  What is PCOS? PCOS is polycystic ovary syndrome, which is an endocrine disorder characterized by enlarged ovaries filled with small cysts and or other symptoms, including excessive hair growth or regular menstrual cycles, acne, unexplained weight gain and much more.  A normal ovary is a relatively small size, about the size of an almond. But with PCOS, an ovary is enlarged and filled with cysts.  Some symptoms of PCOS include acne, facial hair, exhaustion, and hair loss.  PCOS affects one in 10 People with a uterus.  Around 30% of infertility cases are caused by PCOS.  There is no cure for PCOS, but symptoms can be managed.  A diagnosis is made through a combination of tests including imaging, blood testing, pelvic exams, and more.  Symptoms may include but are not limited to excessive body and facial hair or irregular periods. Loss of hair on the scalp, unexplained weight gain and acne.  PCOS can be treated many ways including natural approaches and in some cases can actually be reversed.  Stay tuned for more information about infertility and don't forget to follow and subscribe Background Music:  Motivate Me by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Have you ever found yourself at a point in your life where everything has changed and you don't know what's next?  Maybe you just bought a house.  Maybe you just had a baby.  Maybe you moved to a new country.  Something pivotal has happened in your life, and you're wondering how to move forward with your life.  My guest today, Jaclyn Strominger, is a Business & Accountability Coach with a passion for helping women leap to their success! Jaclyn has been been passionate about helping people for over three decades. After 20 years in magazine publishing, she started mentoring when she realized most people begin their careers without a clear path or plan. In 2013, she became an entrepreneur and through her journey started coaching and training women and men how to pursue their own passions and create the life they desire. Jaclyn has made it her mission to help others take charge of their life and make changes to become better version of themselves. As a mentor, she helps others increase their inner and outer confidence, take leaps, and take charge of their lives. She is there for her clients to help them through the highs and lows of change. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Jaclyn shares her background in magazine publishing. •We talk about what inspired her to leave publishing and become a coach. •She tells me about why she is so passionate about coaching and why she's a "leaper" and not a "leper". •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Jaclyn: On the Web:  www.leaptoyoursuccess.com Instagram:  @jaclynsgems Facebook:  www.facebook.com/JaclynStrominger LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/jstrominger --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

With so many causes of infertility, it can be difficult to understand what may be causing your infertility. So let's break it down. One by one.  Today we're talking about endometriosis. Endometriosis is a condition that can cause infertility, but it doesn't always cause infertility. It is a complicated disease that isn't really well understood, in terms of the cause. In terms of cure or treatment, these things are complicated. But it's an important topic, because it can cause infertility, but it's equally important because it doesn't always cause infertility. So many women in the world are walking around with endometriosis and it's complicated and painful. I know because I'm one of them. That is something we'll get into another day, my personal experience. But today it's important, let's talk about endometriosis. Let's get into it.  What is endometriosis? Endometriosis is a disease of unknown cause that is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue, which is the interior lining of the uterus on structures and or organs outside of the uterus.   The female reproductive system consists of the uterus, the vagina, two fallopian tubes attached to either side of the uterus, and two ovaries, one attached to each fallopian tube.    Menstrual blood, which is the endometrial tissue that sheds once a month lines the inside of the uterus. Endometriosis is when that same menstrual blood or endometrial tissue occurs on the outside surfaces of the reproductive structures.   Endometriosis can also occur on organs of the digestive system, including the small intestine and the large intestine. Endometriosis can also occur between the vaginal canal and the rectum, as well as other areas like the large intestine, the fallopian tubes on the outside of the uterus, and even lining parts of the vaginal canal.   One in 10 people with a uterus are affected by endometriosis. Endometriosis causes infertility in about 30 to 50% of those affected.   It can be treated, but currently there is no cure.    It is often misdiagnosed as or diagnosed concurrently with IBS, (irritable bowel syndrome) and/or IC (interstitial cystitis).   Symptoms of endometriosis may include but are not limited to pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, painful ovulation, painful sex, bowel and urinary pain, and digestive problems.    Stay tuned for more information about infertility and don't forget to follow and subscribe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Background Music: Motivate Me by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Navigating infertility is like a full time job all on its own.  Day in and day out you have to figure out what is causing it, what to do about it, how to manage the emotional component, all while living your regular day to day life.  Compound that with owning and growing a business and it can feel like a recipe for disaster! Today's guest, Vienne Cheung Brown is the owner of luxury hosiery brand, VienneMilano.  Vienne knows first hand the struggles of navigating infertility and the never ending uncertainty of lack of answers, persistent questions, and all the frustrating ins and outs of infertility. Vienne Cheung Brown is the founder of VienneMilano, a luxury hosiery brand dedicated to thigh high stockings that are made in Italy. Founded in 2011, Vienne transitioned her previous work in high-tech product management to designing, distributing, and managing a fashion e-commerce brand.  Today, VienneMilano has helped redefine thigh highs as a fashion category. Her hosiery collection offers one of the world's most extensive variety for thigh high stockings consisting of classic styles, fashion-forward pieces, skin tone matching sheers, eco-friendly stockings, plus sizes, and much more. The brand has expanded from being sold exclusively from VienneMilano.com to distributing to many online distribution channels and brick-and-mortar outlets. VienneMilano has also been featured in Vogue, Marie Claire, Elle, FOX, NBC and has been a popular accessory for celebrities and magazines in photo shoots across the world. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Vienne shares her infertility story and experience. •We talk about what prompted her interest in creating a luxury hosiery company. •She tells me about how she balanced the stress of infertility with the stress of owning a business. •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Vienne and VienneMilano: On the Web:  www.viennemilano.com Instagram:  @viennemilano Facebook:  www.facebook.com/viennemilano Twitter:  @VienneMilano --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Infertility. What a topic! I know there is so much to cover with infertility. If I were to do one episode and talk about infertility, we'd be here for a month. Or longer, so I'm not gonna do that. That's why these Thursday episodes are short, three to five minute episodes, just to give you the facts. We can dive deeper, we can get way deeper with all of this. But for now, let's just start with the simple stuff. Today we're talking about infertility as a whole, the general topic, the definition, what the statistics are surrounding infertility, the basics.. But before we dive into that, I just want to emphasize infertility is an important topic. It is not discussed enough. There's not a lot that people, generally speaking, know about it because it's complicated. It's taboo and it shouldn't be. I am proud to say that I was an infertility warrior. Technically, I still am. Because when you're an infertility warrior, you are always a warrior. You fight this thing and it stays with you forever. I'm proud of that. I strongly believe that infertility is not a taboo topic. It is something everybody should understand and talk about and not feel uncomfortable about. I get why people feel uncomfortable if you don't know what to say to someone going through infertility. It's tough. But if you're someone going through infertility and people around you don't know what to say, that's equally tough. And we will get to that in another episode. But today we're talking basics. What is infertility? What's the definition? What does it mean? What are the statistics? I've got so much more to come for you, but here's an introduction, so let's get to it. What is infertility?  Infertility is the inability to conceive, or get pregnant, despite regularly timed sexual intercourse without protection or contraception for one year. This number changes to six months in people over the age of 35. Infertility can cause a tremendous amount of anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma. This includes emotional trauma, physical trauma, and spiritual trauma. Seeing a negative pregnancy test is a very different experience than seeing a positive pregnancy test in people with infertility. Infertility affects one in eight couples. This number can also be looked at as 12.5%. One third of infertility cases are caused by male factor infertility. Another third of cases are caused by female factor infertility. And the last third of cases are caused by both male and female factor infertility. Stay tuned for more information about infertility and don't forget to follow and subscribe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Background Music: Motivate Me by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Hormones.  Skin.  Hormones and skin.  What a match these two are!  Think about it for a second.  When your hormones do what they do (especially the sex hormones and other hormones related to reproductive... stuff) skin often freaks out and takes on a life of its own.  Acne.  Dry skin.  Oily skin.  Angry skin. Confused skin.  It's all related to hormonal changes!   My guest today is an expert in bio-organic chemistry, microbiology, synthetic biology, and skincare and he's here to talk about his innovative probiotic acne system and skincare line, Phyla. Yug Varma, PhD, is the Cofounder & CEO of Phyla, the world’s most advanced probiotic acne system. He has 10+ years of microbiome research experience including an extensive background in bio-organic chemistry, microbiology, and synthetic biology. Dr. Varma received his scientific training at several distinguished academic institutions, including Johns Hopkins University (PhD) and University of California, San Francisco. His scientific work has been published in many prestigious journals, including Nature. Dr. Varma’s mission is to change the way we treat chronic bacterial diseases, and is working tirelessly to achieve this goal with a microbiome-based technology platform. He is passionate about promoting scientific literacy, and devotes a significant amount of time demystifying microbiome research and making the latest research accessible to the general public. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Yug shares his background in bio-organic chemistry, microbiology, & synthetic biology. •We talk about how he and his co-founder came up with the idea of Phyla and why it was so important to them to create this incredible line. •He tells me about how Phyla works and the science behind probiotics and acne. •Who he'd invite to his dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in his life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Dr. Varma & Phyla: On the Web:  www.phylabiotics.com Instagram:  @phylabiotics Facebook Group:  www.facebook.com/phylabiotics Exclusively for listeners of The Hormonal Mama Podcast:  Get 20% off all Phyla products when you use coupon code:  mama20 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stressed, confused? All of the things surrounding infertility? Do you feel like maybe you're not understanding it or maybe you're not quite sure what may be causing your infertility? Or what this particular diagnosis means or what fertility treatments even are?  If you fall into any of those categories, you will want to join me every Thursday, when I'm breaking down all of these topics. We're going to be talking about what infertility is, different types of causes of infertility, fertility treatments, tips for your mental health for infertility, all kinds of things. Anything related to infertility, we're tackling it on Thursdays. These are going to be short, three to five minute episodes to give you the facts and statistics, and any other helpful information to help you along your way.  So again, join me every Thursday, on The Hormonal Mama Podcast, for anything and everything infertility. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Background Music: Motivate Me by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Being a woman dealing with infertility can be extraordinarily overwhelming, confusing, and downright painful.  So often women are told that "statistically" their chances of conceiving are low, or impossible, or unlikely.  This approach can be very disheartening and cause even more stress and anxiety in an already intense situation. The beauty though, is that in so many cases, the reality is that statistics are just that!  STATISTICS.  You aren't just a number.  You aren't just a percentage.  You are a real person and nothing is all or nothing.  Enter Erica Hoke.  Erica's incredible story of success (X4!) after being told she had a 1% chance of conceiving, will blow you away.  Erica is an infertility coach, author, and infertility warrior.  Learn more below: Erica is the infertile mom of 4, who at 35 was told that she had a 1% chance of getting pregnant.  She refused to believe it and persisted with diet and lifestyle changes. Now she's on a mission to empower women that they CAN take control of their fertility and be successful.  She wants everyone to know "just because a doctor tells you they can't help you, doesn't mean you can't get pregnant."  Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Erica shares her story of infertility. •We talk about her coaching program: "Accelerate You Fertility Bootcamp". •She tells me about her Infertility Success Stories Series of Books. •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Erica: On the Web:  www.ericahoke.com Instagram:  @infertilemomof4 Facebook Group:  www.facebook.com/groups/infertilityempowered Apply to share your success story in an upcoming book:  https://dzpzc2l9mls.typeform.com/to/uacSqvNp  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Season 3 of The Hormonal Mama Podcast has been a bit... unusual.  I've taken multiple hiatuses, had many scheduling changes, and also hosted an incredible group of guests.  In this final episode of season 3, I'm talking about what in the world has been going on with me this past year and why The Hormonal Mama Podcast has been ALL over the place this season, what I have in store for you with the podcast for next season, and what you can expect for me in my 3 businesses:  The Hormonal Mama, Cara B. Design Studio, & Cara B. Design & Wellness. Cara B. Drescher (me!), is a licensed & board-certified massage therapist, nationally certified continuing education provider, licensed esthetician, certified integrative wellness life coach & holistic health coach, textile artist, & all-natural bath & body product maker.  I know... it's a lot.  Since 2002, Cara has worked within the wellness & beauty industries, working from licensed massage therapist & licensed esthetician to wellness center manager, and becoming a nationally certified continuing education provider.  Throughout her career, Cara has taken her work and understanding of the human body very seriously, with countless hours of continuing education to further her understanding.  A back injury sidelined her from massage work in 2010 for 3 months.  During this time off she picked up a new hobby and taught herself how to sew.  Cara began designing unique wallets and purses using repurposed antique & vintage upholstery fabrics, paired with lighter-weight, newer textiles.  Her hobby transitioned into a business, and Cara B. Design Studio was born.  6 years later, in 2016 a shoulder injury forced Cara out of work for 13 months.  During her recovery, she developed an interest in all-natural bath & body products including bath salts, muscle balm, roll-on perfume oils, and more.  She educated herself and created a subsidiary, of Cara B. Design Studio, Bath & Body By Cara B.  In 2019, 4 years after embarking on a roller coaster ride of an infertility journey, Cara gave birth to twins after 14 fertility treatments over the course of 3 years.  Through her postpartum journey, she developed a passion for helping others suffering through and after infertility, and thus started this podcast and a new academic journey becoming a certified integrative wellness coach and holistic health coach.  The Hormonal Mama was then born, and the rest, as they say, is history. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •I talk about why I had to take so many long breaks this season. •I briefly share my journey through infertility and into pregnancy and parenthood. •I share a bit of what’s to come in season 4 of the podcast! •A breakdown of my 3 businesses: The Hormonal Mama, Cara B. Design Studio, & Cara B. Design & Wellness ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Me: Instagram:  @thehormonalmama & @carabdesignstudio LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/carabdrescher Facebook:  www.facebook.com/thehormonalmama & www.facebook.com/carabdesignstudio On the web: www.thehormonalmama.com, www.carabdesignstudio, & www.carabdesignandwellness.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

The journey of infertility is often a lengthy, complicated, and stressful journey, sometimes with more questions than answers.  Oftentimes, those questions lead to more procedures including costly IVF cycles.  In many cases, multiple egg retrievals are necessary and even then, success is not always guaranteed.  My guest today, Ilana Refaeli has first-hand experience with the trials and tribulations of infertility, multiple cycles of IVF including multiple transfers, egg retrievals, and lack of answers.  After years of struggling with infertility, she's got some exciting surprises to share with us! Ilana Refaeli is a High energy, tri-lingual, dependable Medical, Legal interpreter, and business development professional.  Motivated, passionate and hands-on professional.  Born and raised in South America and moved to the US when she was ten years old.  She's lived both in Philadelphia and Florida over the past twenty years, and is fluent in three languages, Hebrew, Spanish, and English, and fluent understanding of Portuguese and French. Underwent fertility treatments for five years in the Tri state area at different highly rated medical facilities as well as internationally in Israel and Mexico. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Ilana shares her story of infertility. •We talk about IVF in the US, Israel, & Mexico. •She tells me about her experience being labeled a "problem patient" after simply being diligent about her fertility care. •Ilana shares her exciting, surprise news! •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Ilana: Instagram:  @ilanaboca1  LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/ilanarefaeli  Facebook:  www.facebook.com/irefaeli --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Clutter clutter clutter!  Clutter is one of the most frustrating things because it's not always just physical clutter getting in the way.  Organization can be tough for many of us, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and stressed.  Sometimes it's not just about organizing your home or your office, but it can also be organizing your thoughts, your life, etc.  There are times in life when we deal with emotional or mental clutter, or just the regular "clutter" of everyday life.  My guest today, Louise Hopkin is a professional home organizer and organization coach.  She doesn't just help you get your house in order, but your life as well! Louise Hopkin is the owner of The Space Reclaimers.  As an organization coach and home organizer, she helps people who struggle with not letting things go. She works to help them understand why we hang on to stuff and then using her many techniques to help people release the "stuff" that no longer serves them.  Louise helps her clients think more about the end goal feeling that they want rather than the short-term inconvenience of having to do the work to de-clutter. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Louise tells me the difference between a home organizer and an organization coach. •We talk about how she got into the world of organization, even as a non-organized person herself. •She tells me why she's passionate about the work that she does and the different ways clients can work with her. •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Louise: On the web: www.thespacereclaimers.ca Instagram:  @thespacereclaimers email: info@thespacereclaimers.ca Podcast: Inspiring Calm Podcast --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum anxiety (PPA) are being talked about more and more, however, women who have first hand experience and share their journey are still few and far between.  The few that are comfortable discussing these life changing stressors are often ones that want to help others through their own struggles.  My guest today, Megan McLaren is one of those amazing women.  She's taken her painful and personal experiences with both PPD and PPA to help women change their own lives and find their own empowerment. Megan McLaren is a registered social worker and Life coach, specializing in helping women and mothers create a life of authentic joy. In 2019, I experienced the most difficult year of my life after suffering with PPD/PPA and have taken that pain and turned it into passion by helping women prioritize their mental health and well being. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Megan tells me about her personal experiences with PPD & PPA. •We talk about how she recognized and overcame both PPD & PPA. •She tells me about her work as a registered social worker and how and why she became a life coach. •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Megan: Instagram:  @meganmclarencoach On the web:  meganmclarencoaching.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Hypnosis is often considered a "party trick" or a "magic trick", but in reality it can be a life-changing therapy.  Hypnobabies is a company that specializes in self-hypnosis techniques to help men, women, couples, singles, and more get through the struggles of childbirth, infertility, breastfeeding, infant and toddler sleep issues, and so much more! Founder and Director of Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis, Kerry Tuschhoff is a nationally renowned speaker and writer on a wide range of women's pregnancy and childbirth concerns. Her subjects include fertility, prenatal and childbirth choices, informed consent issues, health and low-risk status concerns, comfort in childbirth, the power of birth language and midwifery advocacy. As a childbirth educator since 1989, a doula and hypnotherapist, Kerry has developed many educational programs for birthing mothers, medical and childbirth professionals, and hypnotherapists. These efforts have become immensely popular and have started a chain-reaction of interest to change the way women give birth, how newborns are cared for, and the way natural childbirth is perceived by the general public as well as the medical community. Kerry created a very comprehensive childbirth program of her own; Hypnobabies Childbirth Education. This unique program has trained hundreds of thousands of women to use medical-grade hypnosis techniques and give birth unmedicated in a much easier and more comfortable way. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Kerry tells me about her own experiences with complicated childbirths •We talk about how she first got into hypnosis •Kerry talks about how hypnotherapy can make a huge difference before, during, and after pregnancy •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Kerry & Hypnobabies: Instagram:  @hypnobabiesofficial_ On the web:  www.Hypnobabies.com Email: director@Hypnobabies.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hypnobabies --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety are often stigmatized parts of many women's motherhood journey.  What's more, postpartum anxiety is not currently recognized by the DSM-5 (The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition).  My guest today is Allison Lieberman, a marriage and family therapist with personal and professional experience with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety.  Allison Lieberman is a licensed marriage and family therapist, postpartum anxiety expert, mom of 2, and 2x postpartum anxiety survivor. She is the co-founder of Rooted in Harmony Counseling, a California-based group therapy practice dedicated to helping moms with anxiety, relationships, and parenting. She is the host of The New Mama Mentor® Podcast and creator of The New Mama Mentor® Signature Program. She is passionate about helping new moms overcome anxiety by developing confidence, shedding the mom guilt, and building a community. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Allison dives right in to her personal experiences with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. •We talk about why it's important to recognize the signs of both postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. •Allison tells me about her work as a marriage and family therapist. •Allison talks about her brand new podcast, The New Mama Mentor® Podcast. •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Allison: Instagram:  www.instagram.com/thenewmamamentor  www.instagram.com/rootedinharmonycounseling  On the web:  www.rihcounseling.com  Courses:  https://thenewmamamentor.thinkific.com/courses/how-to-beat-the-overwhelm-and-control-the-chaos-in-motherhood  http://thenewmamamentor.thinkific.com/ Podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-new-mama-mentor/id1615305496 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

Learning how to manifest, set goals, and ultimately zero in on finding and creating the joy in your life can be a struggle. However, having the guidance and expertise of a seasoned coach specializing in these areas, can change your life! Today’s guest Judith Joy is here to talk about manifestation, vibrations, and happiness. Judith Joy is a manifestation mentor (Author * Coach * Speaker* & all-around Creator of Possibilities) and author of the inspirational books, "Surviving Your Teenager...And Being Happy Anyway" and "Dear Future Lover...Bring Your Book Boyfriend to Life."  Judith's journey has led her to 20+ years of study and research of how the heart and mind work together, resulting in her creation of "It's Possible!" a simple four-step manifestation process. She helps people discover the art of claiming their power, being High Vibe, and creating possibilities that work for them. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode:  •Judith explains what manifestation actually is.  •We talk about her two incredible books and how they came about.  •We discuss what it means to be “high vibe” and understanding vibrations and frequencies.  •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life.  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Find Judith:  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/JudithJoy  On the web: www.judithjoy.com/  Twitter: www.twitter.com/yeswithjudithjoy  Instagram: www.instagram.com/yeswithjudithjoy/  Facebook: www.facebook.com/yeswithjudithjoy --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message

What is ketosis?  What are ketones?  Is the keto diet the only way to manage it all?  Let's take a step back and talk about it all.  In this episode, my guest Nita Kasan is going to answer all these questions and more.  But we're not stopping there.  We're breaking it down and talking about a different approach rather than the keto diet.  One you won't want to miss hearing about! Nita Kasan is a master’s prepared Registered Nurse whose professional career has ranged from Critical Care to Flight Nursing, to serving as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve Nurse Corps, to Chief Nursing Officer & Chief Operating Officer roles in multiple hospitals throughout the U.S. and finally business ownership. Nita is currently the Principal and Owner of two organizations that support the coaching, mentoring, and healthcare Leadership needs of hospitals nationwide. In addition to her Healthcare business focus, Nita has a passion for helping herself and others upgrade their body, their mind, and their lives through the proven science of Biohacking and Ketones.  This passion led to another hat that Nita wears which is that of a Promoter & Brand Ambassador with a company called Prüvit and a product that is on the forefront of truly transforming just about every aspect of health. In this role, Nita helps people accelerate their body’s ability to “burn fat for fuel” independent of diet & exercise, which continues to feed her desire to make a difference in the life and health of others. Here’s a quick glimpse at this episode: •Nita explains ketosis and what it means. •We talk about ketones and how they affect our bodies. •Nita tells me about her background as a registered nurse and what brought about her interest in ketones. •Who she'd invite to her dream dinner party and who have been the most influential people in her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Find Nita: Instagram: @keto.nitajean LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/nita-jean-kasan On the Web:  www.innovativeexcellence.net/about --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thehormonalmama/message