Warrior Women - Empowering Women, Writers, and Dreamers

I had the amazing opportunity to be on a podcast with two of my lovely friends and work colleagues, and share openly about infertility; some of its ups and downs, ways to reduce stigma, how we can support others, and some resources to help you or a loved one cope. <3 Thank you Tami West , and Gracey Lichtenstein, for providing a safe, caring space to discuss such an essential topic! The Double Life of Infertility Podcast Episode

The club no one wants to be a part of, yet 1 in 5 individuals (1 in 8 couples) experience: infertility. I'll share more of the ups and downs of our most recent IVF journey (five years and counting) when I have the time and energy to type it all out. In the meantime, this humorously sums up the infertility journey pretty well.    

 This is NOT mine, full credit goes to the author, Kat Rippinger. We are more than our limitations. PCOS, an intricate dance of its own, Affects my life, in ways yet unknown. It weaves through my days, a constant refrain, Leaving traces of struggle in each passing grain. An invisible burden, relentlessly felt, PCOS impacts each card that is dealt. From dawn's first light to the moon's gentle glow, Its presence lingers, a torrential flow. Fatigue becomes a familiar friend, As energy wanes, unable to mend. The simplest tasks, now mountains to climb, PCOS whispers, weaving its own rhyme. Hormonal imbalances, a rollercoaster ride, Emotions fluctuate, like an unpredictable tide. From joy to despair, from hope to dismay, PCOS shapes the tone of each passing day. Weight fluctuations, often hard to bear, Affecting body and mind, fueling despair. Self-image shifts, as confidence takes a blow, PCOS mocks, a relentless foe. The journey to conceive, arduous and long, Fertility held captive...

Random infertility memes I've come across recently that speak to my soul and are more creative and say it better than I can verbalize at the moment.

  Happy Father's Day, no matter what that journey may look like for you.

  Happy Mother's Day, no matter what form that takes. Be kind to others, and most importantly, be kind to yourself. You're wonderful.

I had the privilege of creating and recording a webinar on Coping with Infertility and Loss for my job at CuraLinc Healthcare. There are so many individuals who are quietly struggling and feel alone; that no one understands. While no journey is the same, know that you are not alone and there is help, comfort, and support for you. Happy early Mother's Day, to all parents in heart, mind, and spirit. Coping with Infertility and Loss Webinar

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. With 1 in 8 couples experiencing infertility issues (1 in 5 individuals), there may be more friends than you are aware of that are quietly struggling, and keep it to themselves out of privacy, stigma, embarrassment, or any number of reasons. It can get lonely, thinking you are the only one. You are not alone! As we've been trying for over 5 years to have children without success, my advice would be: To couples that are trying to get pregnant - If you have been trying to have kids without success for months, see a fertility specialist as soon as possible; don't wait. And, if you are beginning to try, it's not a bad idea for both you and your partner to get bloodwork and a check-up right off the bat to make sure everything is working right and you both are healthy. You don't have to wait until you been trying for months with no success to ask for help. By getting things tested at the beginning, you can be aware of any pote...

Did you know that seeds can help you with health problems? These superfoods are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, all of which we could use more of in our diets! -Chia seeds are very filling since they contain fiber. They’re also full of iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and omega-3 fats. They can help give you energy, boost exercise performance, fight depression, help with Type 2 Diabetes, prevent migraines, improve PMS symptoms, lower blood pressure, and reduce insulin  resistance . -Pumpkin seeds are packed full of healthy nutrients and vitamins like magnesium, iron, zinc, protein, and vitamin A. Eating pumpkin seeds can help reduce cholesterol and boost your immune system, as well as help with androgenic alopecia or hair loss. -Sesame Seeds are chock full of magnesium and calcium. They also can help lower cholesterol, as well as protect your liver from oxidative  damage . -Sunflower seeds are rich in magnesium and selenium, which have a...

 What is endometriosis? Endometriosis or “endo” is a common women’s health issue when the tissue similar to the uterus’ tissue grows outside of the uterus and other areas of your body where it doesn’t belong. It can affect more than 11% of women in the United States between 15 and 44. That’s 6.5 million women! Endometriosis is typically found on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, on the tissues that hold your uterus in place, and the outer surface of your uterus, vagina, cervix, or bladder. You are more likely to get endometriosis if you have: never had children, menstrual periods that last longer than a week, short menstrual cycles (27 days or shorter), a family member that has endometriosis since it is genetic, high estrogen levels, or a health problem that blocks the normal flow of menstrual blood during your period. The endo growths growing outside of your uterus where they don’t belong can swell and bleed similar to period bleeding. This continues to build up and bleed in areas wh...

  Did you know there’s regular PCOS and then there’s lean PCOS? When most people think of PCOS, they typically think of the stereotype and outward signs of being overweight, obesity, acne, and facial hair. However, PCOS doesn’t always need to include the weight factor. The outward signs may not be there with lean PCOS, but the inner symptoms are still wreaking havoc on your body. You can be super skinny and still struggle with the rest of the issues that come along with PCOS, like irregular periods, excruciating cramps, blood sugar issues, fertility problems, elevated testosterone levels, acne, and excess hair everywhere, or even hair loss. The point is, just because you may not be checking off every box for a health problem diagnosis, there may still be underlying issues. I wish I had gone in to get things checked out when I was a teenager, instead of just sweeping things under the rug and telling myself that being exhausted, having super painful periods, and never able to lose a...