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This week, we have the pleasure of interviewing one of the UK's leading fertility specialists and acupuncturist, Ian Stones. Ian has 14 years of fertility treatment experience, and is the director of Hove Fertility & Wellness, co-founder of Fertility Network UK's male fertility support, and facilitator of the HIMfertility support group. https://hovefertilityandwellness.co.uk/https://fertilitynetworkuk.org/https://www.himfertility.com/

It's been about 8 months since we started our preconception journey, so this week we're getting honest with ourselves and each other about how it's been going so far. We revisit the topics of mental health, movement and exercise, and diet and nutrition discussed in Episode 2 "Preconception Care," and check in about how well we've been preparing for pregnancy.

This week, we're tackling how to balance the planning and preparation involved in preconception health with letting go of timelines and expectations for conceiving. 

Just Trey talking about male fertility and this webinar that he watched.Mentioned Webinar Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwoGiVKpKOw

This week, we're sharing and reviewing a few of the books that have inspired us in our preparations for pregnancy and parenthood.Books mentioned in this episode:What to Expect Before You're Expecting by Heidi MurkoffLast Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard LouvThe Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative by Florence Williams

This week, we talk about the "where" of family planning from our home to our community.Also mentioned in this episode are some of the inspiring parents we've been following on YouTube:EMBERS & ASHCelia DWHapa FamilyLoeppskysLifeRawBeautyKristiTamara LeeKitty CottenCarissa Cleans It All

This week, we're talking about career planning alongside family planning.https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2020/05/01/new-study-millennial-women-are-delaying-having-children-due-to-their-careers/amp/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/03/31/working-while-pregnant-is-much-more-common-than-it-used-to-be/?amp=1https://www.google.com/amp/s/medicalxpress.com/news/2019-04-pregnant-women-jobs.amp https://www.nature.com/articles/nj7500-389a https://www.outsideonline.com/2423714/amelia-boone-motherhood-essay

Getting pregnant is not always as quick and easy as one might hope. So this week, Astrid and Trey are talking about a few of the first options available for folks with irregular menstrual cycles and difficulty ovulating, as well as the emotional toll of TTC.https://www.miracare.com/

It's no secret - baby gear can get expensive. So this week, we're exploring some of the economic and environmental reasons to buy second-hand, how to decide if something is safe to purchase used, and where you can find pre-loved gear.

This week, Astrid and Trey wrestle with the question of how soon is too soon to take a leap; to pick a name, seek fertility treatment, create a baby registry... or tell the whole world you're trying to have a baby by making a podcast about it.

In this two-part series, we're flipping the script. After interviewing parents and talking about eventually becoming parents, we're stepping back a bit and reflecting on what it's like on the other end - to be a kid. In this episode, Trey asks Astrid about growing up in New York City, seeing her parents raise her little sister, and how their parenting inspires her.

In this two-part series, we're flipping the script. After interviewing parents and talking about eventually becoming parents, we're stepping back a bit and reflecting on what it's like on the other end - to be a kid. In this episode, Astrid asks Trey about his childhood growing up in rural northern Michigan, his relationships with his parents, and how their parenting inspires how he hopes to be as a father.

This week, we're chatting with our dear friend, Minh, whose kids Trey was a caregiver for during his college days. Minh walks us through his partnership with his wife and high school sweetheart, raising a multiracial family, and challenging conventional gender norms. 

In this episode, we take a break from weekly deep dives into journal articles and have a true heart-to-heart guided by seven questions ranging from how raising a child might compare to fostering kittens to what we would ask a crystal ball if given the chance.

We're back after a break! This week, we provide a new update on our baby fever journey. We talk about upcoming doctor's office appointments, vacation, and CDC/COVID with new studies or lack thereof.  Also, we reveal the pieces of inspiration that are currently providing us with positive energy.Sources:https://www.cdc.gov/https://vajenda.substack.com/p/the-covid-19-vaccine-and-menstrualhttps://www.tiktok.com/@once.upon.a.mama?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1Affiliate Links:https://natalist.com/?ref=astridburke

This week, we're tapping into the topic of healthcare access in the United States as a birthing person. We walk through healthcare options for those who are uninsured before pregnancy, preconception medical care as a privilege,  coverage for complications after birth, and the disparities of healthcare access for communities of color.Sources:https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/10/uninsured-rates-highest-for-young-adults-aged-19-to-34.html#:~:text=People%20in%20this%20age%20group,0.4%20percentage%20points%20to%2015.6%25.https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5506a1.htmhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6142132/https://www.cdc.gov/preconception/index.htmlhttps://www.medicaid.gov/state-overviews/scorecard/postpartum-care/index.htmlhttps://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/maternalinfanthealth/smm/smm-after-delivery-discharge-among-us-women/index.htmhttps://journals.lww.com/mcnjournal/Abstract/2021/01000/Pregnant_Women_s_Reports_of_the_Impact_of_COVID_19.4.aspxhttps://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Abstract/9900/The_2014_New_York_State_Medicaid_Expansion_and.64.aspxhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7869038/https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(20)31180-7/fulltexthttps://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01678

This week, we confront a topic that, although universal, is not typically spoken about in family planning: fear. From trying to conceive to parenting, we share some of our greatest worries and fears about the journey ahead.

This week, we're tackling the topic of prenatal vitamins and, more specifically, why it's important to begin taking them while trying to conceive. We discuss the most crucial vitamins and nutrients to boost before you even know you're pregnant, how to choose between the overwhelming number of prenatal vitamins out there, and what may help you make an informed decision about finding the best prenatal for you.

In this episode, we're celebrating World Doula Week with an interview with our dear friend, birth and postpartum doula, Michele Mirisola. Michele walks us through the services birth and postpartum doulas offer, how their work differs from other birth workers, such as obstetricians and midwives, and what personally drew her to become a doula.Contact Michele at www.micheledoula.com.

This week, we're dedicating an entire episode to updates big and small. We discuss starting on prenatal vitamins, exercising, making informed personal choices about the COVID-19 vaccine, and getting ready for a preconception counseling appointment with a midwife.Sources:https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.htmlhttps://www.uab.edu/news/youcanuse/item/11864-addressing-fertility-questions-and-concerns-with-the-covid-19-vaccineMentions:Natalist Prenatal VitaminsOula Health