Top 9 Things that affect fertility: Here is a quick review of the 9 causes of infertility!! Listen to our podcast for more details around each of these topics! 

Get your free preparing for pregnancy download here! 

Irregular or absent menstrual cycle: a “normal” menstrual cycle is 21-35 days.  There are many things that can affect your hormones that control both ovulation and your uterine lining.  We will discuss many of these in today's podcast!! Anything that affects ovulation or your uterine lining can affect your ability to get pregnant.  

Ovarian reserve is a very important piece of the puzzle.  Women are born with all of the eggs we will ever have, and they decrease with time, not only because they are released, but they also degrade over time.  

Age: Women in their late 30s are approximately 40 percent less fertile than women in their early 20s and this is primarily because advancing...

Diastasis Recti:

Diastasis Recti is a separation of the rectus abdominus muscles, that run up and down in our abdomen, known as the “six-pack” muscles.  It occurs during pregnancy due to stretching from a growing uterus and baby and a weakening of the connective tissue that holds them together.

Did you know that all women at term have a Diastasis recti??? Does that mean it is going to continue postpartum?…no…

Kim Vopni, The Vagina Coach, joins me on our podcast to discuss the importance of training for birth, just like any major life event, such as a marathon, and how this can improve our outcome when it comes to Diastasis.

We discuss the risk factors, how to diagnosis diastasis,  and what we can do postpartum to help improve it!

We also discuss her amazing course, Prepare to Push, and how she educates pregnant women about their anatomy, and gives exercises to help strengthen their core, pelvic floor...

Did you know that there is a difference between water immersion and water birth? 

Water immersion is spending time during active labour in a tub, whereas water birth is actually birthing your baby in the tub underwater. 

In our podcast, Heidi, a registered midwife in Victoria, BC, and Dr. Alicia review the evidence around the safety, risks and benefits of both water immersion and water birth for both the delivering person and the newborn baby!

We review what factors about the pregnant person and the neonate may come into play around deciding whether labouring or delivering in water is appropriate. 

We also review what are the safety factors that your care team has to support you with to help you have the best and safest experience for both you and your baby!

Join us in our podcast to dig into all the evidence around water immersion in labour and birthing in the water! 

So, what is anemia? 

Simply put, Anemia is a reduction in hemoglobin (red blood cells) that causes a decreased ability of your blood to carry oxygen to your cells. 

Is anemia normal in pregnancy? 

Yes! During pregnancy, a degree of anemia is actually normal! 

Now, it’s important to understand that some people may have a pretty big drop from their baseline hemoglobin without crossing these thresholds, so if your levels fall within ‘pregnancy normal’ but you’re feeling quite fatigued then it’s definitely worth pursuing further. 

How common is anemia? 

Well, we know about all reproductive-age women (pregnant and now) ~ 30% worldwide are anemic at baseline. We know that during pregnancy, this number is even higher and the WHO estimates that over 40% of pregnant people globally are anemic. 

So how do we know what anemia needs treatment and what anemia doesn’t? 

We need to figure out the cause of the anemia. Is...

For some people, pregnancy brings a glow to their skin while others can struggle with worsening acne. 

If you've got questions about skincare in pregnancy, what's safe and what's not; if you're wondering what treatments are available for common skin conditions like acne, perioral dermatitis and melasma then have a listen to our podcast all about skincare in pregnancy with Dr. Bri. 

Are you pregnant, breastfeeding or TTC? Wondering what to do about the COVID 19 vaccine? You're not alone...nor should this be a decision you make alone! 

There is a lot of information out there about the vaccine, some of it reliable, some of it not. And it can be hard to weave through. That's why we are here! 

Dr. Sierra Richards, PharmD, and Dr. Sarah Lea took the time to weave through the evidence and clinical guidelines and summarize the most up to date recommendations to help you guide your decision making. 

They touch on everything from understanding how the vaccine works, explaining its ingredients, a brief overview of the trials, and what the recommendations are for the perinatal population. 

Want more information? Check out these recommendations and consensus statements: 

Academy of Breastfeeding Statement: Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination in Lactation

Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada...

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes is defined as Diabetes occurring during pregnancy, that was not present prior to becoming pregnant. In our most recent podcast, we discuss gestational diabetes tips and gestational diabetes diet.  We also review what are the risk factors for gestational diabetes and how your baby can be affected by gestational diabetes.  Here is a quick review of what we cover, but be sure to listen to our podcast to get more information on all of these areas around gestational diabetes in pregnancy. 

If you want to create a birth plan get our free download here! 

The major hormone involved in diabetes is Insulin. 

During pregnancy, our tissues become less sensitive to insulin, which means our body needs to secrete more and more of it to have the same effect.

We don’t understand entirely why this happens in Pregnancy, but it is related to hormones produced by the placenta, and also partly by other...

Did you know that Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome affects up to 10% of women? 

In our podcast, we review the hormonal issues that cause and result from PCOS and how PCOS affects fertility. 

We discuss how the first-line treatment is diet and exercise in an effort to balance your hormones and manage your insulin and sugar levels.  

By losing 5-10% of your bodyweight many women suffering from irregular cycles due to anovulation can start ovulating again and become fertile? 

Drs. Sarah and Alicia review the signs and symptoms of PCOS and management including both lifestyle and medications to manage this common condition. 

If you are trying to conceive, and feel like you may have PCOS, make sure to reach out to your care provider for help!!!

Krstya, from Cairn Physiotherapy, joins us to discuss the benefits of Pelvic Physiotherapy during pregnancy! 

We discuss the benefits of pelvic physio when it comes to training your pelvic floor for delivery.  Krysta also reviews many of the other topics she talks about with clients including setting up your environment, learning different positions to labour and push in, and how to train for those positions.  

We also discuss pelvic dysfunction and what this can look like in pregnancy, including constipation, urinary leakage and painful sex, and the role pelvic physio has in helping these conditions. 

We briefly touch on the role of pelvic physio in postpartum recovery, and when you should book your appointment to see them after delivery!

We hope you will listen to this week's podcast in full, subscribe and leave a great review! 

Also...don't forget to call your favourite Pelvic Physio!!!

 What happens when your baby ends up in the NICU after delivery, and you don't expect it?  So many questions come to mind!  Will my baby be okay?  How often should I visit my baby in the NICU? Will I be able to breastfeed my baby in the NICU?  How do I know my baby is okay? 

Dr. Jasmina and I both had babies that ended up being in the NICU after our labour and delivery experience, and neither of us expected it! In this podcast we discuss our birth story, and why our babies ended up spending time in the NICU. 

We review our top tips about how to improve communication with your child's care team including nurses, physicians and social workers, and how to ensure you can be involved in your baby's care as much as you are comfortable with. 

We discuss our top tips on how to make sure your milk supply is adequate and so you can supply your baby with their nutritional needs, even if you can't breastfeed your...