Updates from Erica Hoke

 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.

Struggling with infertility can be a daunting and emotional journey, but there are actionable steps you can take to navigate this challenge more effectively. Understanding infertility, closely monitoring menstrual cycles, and seeking professional assistance are key methods to improve your chances of conceiving. Additionally, simple lifestyle changes, such as diet modifications that include high-antioxidant foods and reducing inflammatory responses, can significantly impact fertility health.

In pursuit of enhancing fertility, incorporating quality whole-food supplements into your routine can also be beneficial. It's important to choose supplements derived from food sources rather than synthetic alternatives to avoid harmful substances and ensure maximum nutritional benefits. Detoxifying your living environment by selecting non-toxic cleaning products, especially laundry items that are in constant contact with your skin, can further support your reproductive health.

Exploring holistic approaches like acupuncture can offer dual benefits in increasing fertility and reducing stress, both of which play a crucial role in successful conception. Seeking emotional support through professional counseling or community forums can offer comfort and guidance throughout the infertility journey. Remember, facing infertility does not signify the impossibility of achieving your dreams of parenthood; with a dedicated approach and today's advancements, many paths lead to the joy of starting a family.

Miscarriage is a tragically common part of many people's journey to parenthood, affecting 1 in 4 pregnancies. This shared silence around the topic only adds to the pain and confusion for those experiencing loss, especially when faced with the prospect of recurrent miscarriages. It's vital to break this silence and seek understanding and preventative measures where possible, even after just one miscarriage.

The reasons behind miscarriages are often oversimplified, with genetic issues frequently cited as the cause. However, this explanation only accounts for about half of all miscarriages, and many cases go without proper investigation into other potential causes. It's crucial for individuals to challenge the notion that they must suffer through multiple losses before seeking answers, advocating for further testing and exploration into preventable factors.

Conditions such as infections, hormone imbalances, clotting disorders, uterine abnormalities, exposure to toxins, and auto-immune issues can all contribute to the risk of miscarriage. Understanding these factors empowers individuals to seek specific tests and interventions that may prevent future loss. By finding a healthcare provider willing to prioritize this investigation and care, one can hope to improve their chances of a successful pregnancy and begin to heal from past traumas.

Embarking on the journey to conceive requires careful consideration of your environmental exposures, especially to everyday toxins that could impact fertility. To protect your reproductive health, start with swapping your laundry products for greener alternatives, being wary of misleading labels such as "dye-free" and "fragrance-free". A crucial resource for evaluating these products is the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website, which provides a toxin rating to guide your choices effectively.

Personal care items, including toothpaste and deodorants, demand equal scrutiny due to their direct contact with the body's mucous membranes and skin, respectively. Ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate, triclosan, and fluoride in toothpaste have been identified as harmful to overall health, with fluoride notably classified as a neurotoxin. Similarly, transitioning to aluminum-free deodorant is vital, as metals like aluminum can interfere with hormone regulation, a critical factor for both female and male fertility.

Understanding the significant role that everyday chemicals play in our health is crucial, especially for those facing fertility challenges. The accumulative effect of toxins found in personal care and household products can disrupt the gut biome, hormonal balance, and the endocrine system, which are all pivotal for fertility. By conscientiously avoiding harmful substances such as propylene glycol, phthalates, and parabens, and focusing on cleaner alternatives, individuals can support their body's natural reproductive capabilities.

Facing infertility can feel like a roadblock, especially when options like IVF are out of reach due to financial constraints or health concerns. However, this doesn't mean the journey ends there. Despite the common narrative suggesting otherwise, alternatives exist beyond traditional avenues, offering hope and possibilities to those struggling with fertility issues.

Empowerment through health and lifestyle changes plays a crucial role in this journey. By focusing on overall wellness, individuals can significantly influence their fertility outcomes. This approach goes beyond mere wishful thinking—real-life success stories have shown that when faced with diagnoses like endometriosis, PCOS, and others, making informed diet and lifestyle adjustments can and has led to successful pregnancies.

For those considering options beyond their biological means, embryo adoption presents a viable and increasingly popular choice. This method not only offers the chance to experience pregnancy but it also tends to be more affordable than other fertility treatments. Regardless of the path chosen, the key message here is one of hope and empowerment, providing individuals and couples with the knowledge that their dream of starting a family may very well be within reach, through avenues they might not have initially considered.

CHAPTER EXCERPT FROM Infertility Success, Stories of Help and Hope for Your Journey

I grew up in a single-parent home with an incarcerated father, which brought about its own set of challenges and hardships. I was a typical little girl, playing house, pretending to be a mom, and caring for my life-like babies. I was naturally the nurturing type. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but I never imagined it would happen at such a young age. Shockingly, I was in junior high when I became pregnant after having sex for the very first time. I was 14 years old.

Figuring out how to raise and financially support another human was scary, daunting, and, honestly, didn’t seem possible. Without any support from my family, there was no way I could do it on my own, so my mom drove me to a clinic in a neighboring state, and I had an abortion. I was 12 weeks pregnant. I have a hole in my heart that only that baby can fill, and the pain, shame, and guilt still haunt me today.

I know my life would have been so different as a teen mom. Around the same time, I got to witness the struggle and sacrifice first-hand when one of my closest friends also became pregnant. She had the support of her family, went through with her pregnancy, and raised her baby. Walking that journey alongside her was a constant reminder of what I had done and the baby I didn’t have.

I graduated high school with honors and headed off to college, where I met my husband. We dated for 5 years before getting married. Shortly after we got married in 2010, I embarked on somewhat of a wellness journey when I started working for a holistic supplement company in the animal health industry. I became inundated with learning about preventative health and natural wellness, for both pets and people.

After waiting a year and a half, we wanted to start a family, I was 29 at the time. So, I stopped taking birth control, ditched the Adderall, cut out soda, and started taking a prenatal vitamin daily.

Sadly, five months into my fertility journey, my dad got diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I became his primary caregiver and together we made dietary and lifestyle changes to improve our health. We started buying more organic meats and veggies, choosing non-GMO products, eating less packaged food, and cutting down on processed sugar. We were more intentional with taking our supplements every day and were introduced to the world of essential oils and aromatherapy.

Surprisingly, two weeks after my dad finished his last day of treatment, we found out we were pregnant! We were ecstatic and over the moon with excitement! Having just gone through one of the toughest seasons of our entire lives, this news was such a blessing. We quickly made a doctor’s appointment to get confirmation, and the day we heard the heartbeat for the very first time, I experienced a wave of unexplainable joy and gratitude. I thanked Jesus repeatedly for hearing and answering our prayers.

We went out to eat with some family members to celebrate, but our celebration was short-lived. Not long after getting home from the restaurant, I started cramping and passing small blood clots in our bathroom. I had never experienced a miscarriage before, so I was unsure if that’s what was happening. I retrieved the clots from the toilet and we rushed to the hospital. After being admitted, an ultrasound confirmed there was no heartbeat. I was sent home to rest, get comfortable, and wait for my body to stop bleeding, which could take at least a week or more. The thought of having a miscarriage never really crossed my mind. We were completely devastated and with broken hearts, we buried our baby under the old bodark tree, not far from our dog, Bit-Bit, who had passed away earlier that year. It was a sad and difficult time, to say the least. If I’m being really honest, at that moment, I questioned whether I was even worthy of being a mom…

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