My guest today is Star Lee. She had an easy time getting pregnant at 40. But after her first birth and 20 months of breastfeeding, when she didn't hit the "first ovulation jackpot" for the second time, she intuitively knew that time was of the essence if she and her partner were serious about having a second child. 

This is a story of being proactive by someone with a strong sense of self and a natural ability to advocate for herself and even still, it was a difficult experience that she is still sitting with and working through despite beautiful babies and joyful births. 

Resources- Vocabulary from this episode

• What are "Day 3 labs" - To be more precise, we can actually check these on cycle days 2-4. This is when we look at your estrogen levels- i.e., estradiol, as well as FSH and LH- these are some of the hormones that engage in a beautiful dance that when in perfect harmony, lead to ovulation. The early days of the menstrual cycle is when they are at their lowest and most stable so this is how we get a sense of what is going on in the first phase of the menstrual cycle- the follicular phase. Later in the cycle, we often check "day 21" labs which means we check progesterone levels to see if they rise appropriately. Day 21 is also a bit of a misnomer because it is only day 21 in a person with a 28 day cycle. Complicated huh?


• What is a DEXA scan? Its like an X-ray that is most commonly used to assess bone density, i.e., strength and bone loss, i.e., osteoporosis. It is also one of the best ways to understand your entire body composition (fat and muscle mass).


• Another episode where we talk a bunch about IVF: Supporting Single Parents By Choice, with Midwife Betsy Freeman


• If IVF is looking like a possible next step for you, Star says, join your local FaceBook groups to get the inside scoop on local providers and client experienes so that you dont ever have to feel like a number.


• Is your mental health suffering while on your fertility journey, during pregnancy or postpartum. Find a therapist that specializes in the perinatal period. One great place to start is Postpartum Support International (PSI).

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