Infertility: Endometriosis, IUI, and IVF

Today I talk with educator, birthworker, and owner of Birthsmarter, Ashley Brichter. Birthsmarter started as a result of Ashley’s own births not going as planned, and her noticing the gap between birth education and the reality of giving birth.

We discuss the value of birth classes (whether it is your first child or third child), how physiological birth works, the history of birth in the US, and birth preferences vs birth plans.

If you would like to attend one of their birthing or postpartum classes go to their website to find 1) pre-recorded, on-demand classes, 2) classes over Zoom, and 3), in-person classes in a few select states. 

• Birthsmarter Website
• info@birthsmarter.com
• ashley@birthsmarter.com
• Instagram: @birthsmarter 

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club

Rosie Card is a local Utah mother, activist, and business owner. She talks with us about her experience of becoming a mother. It starts with her freezing her own eggs as a single woman, trying to conceive with endometriosis, how she felt during her pregnancy, starting on an antidepressant, the birth, and how life has changed since having her son. We discuss how things have changed for her since she had her son: personally, professionally, and relationally. Thank you to Rosie Card for spending time sharing her story.

• Rosie Card’s Instagram: @rosiecard
• Card Wear Instagram: @card.wear.co 
• Card Wear Clothing Website: https://www.cardwear.co/ 

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club

Holly Hill teaches us the biology of lactation, tips for latch and positioning your baby, and the correct flange size when pumping.  She is a wealth of knowledge, and if you are new to breastfeeding or you're having trouble figuring it out, listen to this episode for guidance and to learn the value of an IBCLC. Holly works as part of the Breezy Babies Team, but you can connect with her directly via her Instagram @light_up_lactation or her email holly@breezybabies.com.

Resources:

• Breezy Babies is the company Holly works with and is one way to find out more information.
• La Leche League helps breastfeeding mothers & parents worldwide with support, education, and encouragement.
• The Lactation Network to see if your insurance will cover lactation consultants. 
• Holly Hill’s Instagram: @light_up_lactation
• Breezy Babies Instagram: @breezy__babies

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club

** TRIGGER WARNING** We discuss pregnancy and infant loss throughout this episode.

Baylee Demars, the current Mrs. Utah America for 2023, shares her personal experience with pregnancy loss and how entering her first-ever pageant led to advocacy work and volunteer work with the non-profit organization Share Parents of Utah. 

Resources:

• Share is a national organization with over 75 Chapters in 29 states. If you don't see a Chapter in your state, there are other helpful organizations listed.
• Share Parents of Utah
• Volunteer with Share Parents of Utah
• The Butterfly Broadcast, Baylee Demars' podcast, on Apple and Spotify
• If you want to reach out to Baylee directly, here is her Instagram
• @mrsutahamerica if you're interested in connecting with pageants

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club

I know this is a click-bait episode title, but there is a reason for it. My hope is that you Snoopy Sarah's and Nosy Natalie's (no judgment, I am also Ms. Snoopy) will be curious enough to give the episode a listen. And either feel validated if you're going through something similar or learn how to support a loved one. 

Resources:

• Link to Nicole Carino's Fiverr page who created the new intro song. Thank you, Nicole!
• The Retrievals Podcast
• Natalie Crawford, MD: Education by a reproductive endocrinologist and how I educated myself throughout this whole infertility process.
• As a Woman Podcast by Dr. Natalie Crawford
• What is IVF? The video by Dr. Natalie Crawford I have sent to friends and family to help them understand the process. 
• Utah Infertility Resource Center: local Utah support groups for those who go through infertility
• Fertility Challenges Support Group by PSI
• Lucky Transfer Socks on Amazon (not affiliate link)

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club

Hannah Sawitsky is a therapist and a doula who has a private practice up in Logan, UT called Nova Therapy and Doula Services. We talk with her about emotions and embodying those emotions, specifically feeling mad. Hannah found that she started working with a lot of 40-something mothers who were feeling unsatisfied with their life, even though from the outside they felt like they had a great life. We draw parallels between newly postpartum women and women who are 15-20 years out from the postpartum experience. Much of their frustration stems from not getting their needs met. If you’re someone who has a difficult time feeling emotions, this will be an excellent episode for you. Let’s get started. 

Get to know Hannah on her instagram @thrivewithnova

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club

We are so lucky to learn from Amy-Rose White today. She is an LCSW who has worked in the perinatal community for decades, and started PSI Utah. Amy-Rose shares some of her personal experience with birth trauma and then teaches us about what birth trauma is, symptoms you may experience, and some treatment options. She also shares some of how the medical system could change to prevent birth trauma. If you are feeling anxious, her voice alone will help you feel more calm. 

Resources:

• Amy-Rose White's contact information
• ACES Screening
• Postpartum Support International
• When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women
• The Body Keeps the Score
• EPDS Screening Tool
• Birthsmarter

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club

Kim Perry is an LCSW and co-owner of Utah Adoption Specialists. If you are already in the throes of adoption, this episode may be less informative for you, but if you are considering looking into adoption this is a great place to start. Additionally, if you have a loved one who is going through the adoption process it may be supportive to learn a little bit about your loved ones’ potential experience.

We talk about the difference between private adoption and agency adoption, the cost of private adoption, and the logistical and emotional process people go through in the adoption process. Additionally, Kim tells us about why Utah Adoption Specialists require their adoptive families to go through education prior to adoption and some of what makes adoption ethical or unethical. Kim generously shares some personal experiences of why open adoptions can be empowering for adoptive children.

I learned SO MUCH from this episode, and I know you will too. Please check out their website to learn more or if you know an expectant parent who may be looking into adoption.

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club

Dr. Allyce Jones is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who specializes in reproductive psychiatry. She started her own private practice called Felicity Women’s Center which I have joined as of August. I have worked with her for the past couple of months and have learned so much from her. 

Today we discuss postpartum planning: making plans while pregnant for a more successful postpartum period. We touch on topics such as sleep, nutrition, feeding support, support with house and family, self-care, and therapeutic support. 

Links:

• Postpartum Planning PDF 
• Postpartum Planning Group through PSI 
• PSI support groups 
• Postpartum Frontloading by Thoughts on Thoughts 

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
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Dr. Betty DeLass is a passionate pelvic floor physical therapist and business owner in Utah. She owns Reborn Pelvic Health & Wellness and talks with us about why women should prioritize pelvic floor treatment, symptoms PT can improve, and treatments for different conditions. We talk about pain with sex, sciatica, symphysis pubis dysfunction, and peeing and farting when you don't mean to.  She talks about what to expect at a first appointment and the importance of consent along the treatment journey. Reborn specializes in working with pregnant and postpartum clients. To contact them go to their website for their phone number or follow them on Instagram @rebornpelvichealthandwellness.

Follow along on The Sad Moms Club's Instagram: @the.sad.moms.club
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