One of my favorite ways to unwind and improve my health at the same time is by utilizing detox baths.
Part self care, part HEALTH care - detoxing your body from toxins and ‘yuck’ during whatever healing journey you’re on is an easy, cheap, relaxing way to help the healing process move along.
Think about it: if your body is all gunked up with toxins (official terminology there! ;) ), die off from dis-ease fighting, damaged/dead cells, heavy metals, chemicals, etc,. It's a LOT for a body to keep up on! Especially if your also focused on healing infertility and getting pregnant!
The components of a detox bath can offer additional healing properties beyond just drawing toxins out of your pores.
They can:
*Reduce inflammation
*Provide key mineral nutrition that is hard to get through food
*Balance the pH of your body (necessary for maximum health!)
*Improve immune function...and more!
Here’s a simple Base Recipe for an EXCELLENT detox bath!
Don’t like soaking in the tub? Cut ingredients in half and do a foot soak instead!
1c Epsom salts - a source of Magnesium and other key minerals for your body; hugely helpful detoxer. Yes, you can absorb that goodness through your skin!
1/4c Apple Cider vinegar - helps with inflammation, and helps you sweat out impurities
1/2c Bentonite clay - pH reducer - a good thing!, pulls toxins, heavy metals, and waste
1/4c Baking Soda
4-6 Drops of Essential oils of your choice - for added relaxation, healing, and detoxing benefits (make sure they're labeled for topical use!!!!)
Epsom Salt Made up of magnesium and sulfate, Epsom salts help your body absorb key minerals and draw out toxins. They can also reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and help relieve muscle pain and soreness.
Apple cider vinegar is an effective and natural way to detox your body. When added to a detox bath, it helps reduce inflammation, balance the pH of your body and draw out toxins from the pores of the skin. It can help improve immune function, cleanse the skin, and aid in digestion. Additionally, it's high in antioxidants which provide additional health benefits for your body. Apple cider vinegar is also known for its therapeutic properties and can help reduce stress and relax the mind and body.
Bentonite Clay is one of the key ingredients in this recipe. It's a natural clay that has been used for centuries to help draw out toxins from the body. Bentonite clay is made up of aged volcanic ash that has been exposed to seawater. It absorbs toxins, heavy metals, and waste from the body while also providing essential minerals like calcium and magnesium. Bentonite clay is an alkaline substance which helps to balance the pH levels in your body, making it easier for your body to heal itself.
Baking Soda helps with pH balance, and can help reduce inflammation.
When combined, ingredients like Epsom salts, apple cider vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils, bentonite clay can create a powerful detox bath that will help you relax while also helping your body rid itself of toxins. Not only does this combination help draw out impurities from your skin but it also helps reduce inflammation and improve immune function. If you’re looking for a way to relax and improve your health at the same time then consider adding a detox bath into your routine!
Want more info about how to boost and support your fertility naturally? Join my support community HERE
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I think I have infertility. Now What? 8 First-Steps to Take | Parents
If you're struggling to conceive, here are eight first steps that can help you find answers and get started on treatment.
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Miscarriage is unfortunately a common experience, with one in four pregnancies ending in miscarriage. But it's often a topic that people feel uncomfortable talking about. If you've had a miscarriage and are struggling to understand how to prevent another one, this blog is for you. It offers some advice on what to talk to your doctor about if you're experiencing recurrent loss or infertility.
Many people (and doctors) don’t give much though to why a woman miscarries and will often muse that “there must have been something genetically wrong”. While this is true 50% of the time, what about the other 50%? Also remember, when we say 50% of the time many, many women DON’T test the fetal tissue for DNA issues at the time of the miscarriage so that number might not be accurate at all.
Some doctors will also INSIST that you have three or more miscarriages before you start to question if the miscarriage is being caused by an external or controllable factor. If you have experienced even one miscarriage you know how devastating it is to you and your partner. If a doctor suggests a wait and see approach I would get a second opinion or look for another practitioner.
Here are some common conditions that are known to cause miscarriages
1) Infection such as urea plasma, bacterial vaginosis (BV), group B strep (this list is not comprehensive but will give you a place to start a conversation with your doctor about vaginal biome testing
2) Hormone irregularities such as improperly treated thyroid or progesterone
3) Clotting disorders that cause Improper/inability to implant factor 5 leiden for example
4) Uterine abnormalities of the structure such as septate uterus and bicornuate uterus or fibroids that distort the shape
5) Toxins-There’s so much to say here but it’s a recognized fact that toxins can cause hormone disruption and miscarriage.
6) Auto-Immune issues such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), Lupus
Miscarriage is not your fault. The purpose of this list is NOT to shame you but to educate and empower you to know that there are tests that are OFTEN overlooked and possibly prevent another tragic loss. Find a provider with whom you can have a great collaborative relationship with so that you KNOW that you and your future baby are in good hands.
If you're trying to get pregnant, it's important to avoid toxins that can affect your fertility. Unfortunately, these toxins are everywhere – from the foods we eat to the products we use! But don't worry, I'm here to help. In this post, I'll share some tips on how to prepare for pregnancy and avoid these harmful toxins. Thanks for reading!
The easiest way to impact your toxin load is to switch your laundry products for ones that are “green”. You can’t trust that because a brand is labeled -dye free & fragrance free it’s a good choice. Look up the detergent on ewg.org to determine its rating (red/ yellow/green) and don’t assume because one product in a brand is clean that the others are also. If it has a fragrance listed and it’s on a store shelf it 100% is synthetic (even If it says “with essential oils” and should be avoided.)
Toothpaste is another product that has a BIG impact on health as your mouth is a mucus membrane (which means it’s a super highway to your bloodstream). Three ingredients to avoid in toothpaste are sodium lauryl sulphate, triclosan and fluoride. Yes, I said it. Avoid fluoride. Fluoride is classified as a neurotoxin and has a HUGE impact on your health. If your surprised, I encourage you to do your own research.
Avoid personal care products (makeup, deodorant, body wash, shampoos) that have any of the following ingredients.
- Sodium lauryl sulphate
- triclosan
- propylene glycol (PEG’s), pluronic
- phthalates
- parabens
While we’re talking about personal care… I have to just throw this in here! You have to switch out your deodorant for a NON aluminum/anti-perspirant. Metals are known hormone disruptors in both women and men with aluminum being shown to impact all areas of sperm quality. This is a tough one for most people and deserves its own blog-coming soon!
While we’re talking about removing toxins you might be shocked to know that popular-in-the-infertility- world lubricants contain chemicals that are known to reduce sperm motility and in some cases side affects include vaginal bleeding. Avoid products with ingredients such as poly sorbate-80 or hydroxyethyl-cellulose a thickening agent in lubricants and cosmetics.
The bottom line is ..all of these chemicals add up and affect your body in various ways. It’s true that for some people they don’t cause issues, but if you’re reading this and challenged with infertility, I’m guessing that you’re going to need to support your body differently. These chemicals affect your gut biome (which is SO important to fertility) disrupts your hormones (clearly a problem) and also affects your endocrine system which is equally as important as your hormone health.
Are you looking to avoid toxins that have a big impact? Check out our list of the top six toxins to avoid. These include sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, poly-sorbate-80, phthalates and parabens, propylene glycol. Be sure to also watch out for these chemicals in your laundry products, toothpaste, lubricants, and personal care products like body washes. Each of these toxins can affect gut health, disrupt hormones and disrupt thyroid/endocrine systems. Need help making changes? Accelerate your Fertility Boot Campis 12 weeks to maximize your chance of getting pregnant or staying pregnant – start by avoiding these harmful toxins!
Hopeless.
That’s how most women who can’t do IVF feel when they realize that’s their next step, or even worse they are told it’s their first step. If your one of the millions of women who are dealing with infertility, I’m here to tell you that not being able to do IVF is not a dead end on the road to fertility (like you’ve likely been told) Nor is it a hopeless situation if you don’t have the finances to fund ART (applied reproductive technology treatment).
Just because you are not a candidate for IVF doesn’t mean you can’t change your overall health. Yes- even IF – you have endometriosis, PCOS, uterine fibroids, blocked tubes, low AMH, DOR, thyroid issues, factor 5 Leiden, MTHFR and are over the age of 35. How do I know? Because I had 7 of the diagnosis on that list, and I was still able to get pregnant 4 TIMES after being told that I would need donor eggs. Just in case your thinking LUCK! Don’t fool yourself. One-time would-be luck but clearly to have that much luck would be like hitting the lottery 4 times.
Be empowered. The good news is you have way more control over your health and fertility you’re your led to believe. Overall health is the goal and pregnancy is the outcome. Even with seven diagnosis I STILL would have told you that I was “pretty healthy” but my body was telling a different story. I made as many diet and lifestyle changes as I could, as fast as possible. You can check out another blog about what changes I made to get pregnant HERE.
In the end had I not gotten pregnant I would have considered donor eggs. If this is something you’re considering and want to read someone’s personal story and be able to connect with them, check out “Infertility Success, Stories of Help and Hope for Your Journey" .Both Constance Lewis and Laura Watson were able to get to the family of their dreams using donor eggs. They both have resources at the end of their chapters to help you move forward on your journey.
Embryo adoption is a process where couples or individuals who are struggling with infertility adopt an embryo that has been created and stored at a fertility clinic. This option is becoming more popular as more people are becoming aware of it and as the technology surrounding fertility treatments improves. There are two main types of embryo adoption: open and closed. In an open adoption, the couple or individual knows who the donor is and may even have contact with them. In a closed adoption, the identity of the donor is kept anonymous. Couples or individuals can also choose embryos based on gender and other genetic factors. Embryo adoption is a great option for couples or individuals who are struggling with infertility because it allows them to experience pregnancy. It is also much cheaper than other fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). If you are struggling with infertility, embryo adoption may be a good option for you to consider.
