From Miscarriages
to Motherhood
Being able to naturally conceive and birth a healthy baby is a beautiful gift. I believe it is a gift that is underappreciated, under-supported and overmedicated.
Fast forward 10 years… to my fertility journey. I never anticipated the emotional rollercoaster that pregnancy and miscarriage would come to bring. As a Naturopathic physician, I had all the tools at my disposable to create a healthy pregnancy, from good nutrition, regular exercise, the right nutrients, detox protocols and of course, a healthy donor – my husband!
However, my first pregnancy resulted in a miscarriage at 11 weeks and I was devastated. I know many women can relate – and even so – this is a quiet epidemic that is not openly discussed in our communities. Sometimes it is not even openly discussed within our immediate family. As such, many woman and many couples process the loss of a baby alone, quietly, and even with guilt. In sharing my experience, my hope is to create more awareness around this quiet but increasing issue and perhaps it will help ease the guilt too.
Fortunately, I went on to have 3 more pregnancies, in the order of one healthy baby, followed by another miscarriage and then finally a 4th and successful pregnancy. With the support of Malachite Midwives, I was able to experience two beautiful, natural home-births at the so-called “advance maternal age” of 34 and 36.
My understanding of miscarriage today is that this is now the new normal. It does not immediately warrant expensive fertility treatments. But at the same time, good health over the age of 30 is no longer good enough. I was forced to re-evaluate my lifestyle, look at my genetics, make a concerted effort to mitigate my stress levels and take the right nutrients. It took some work!
Conception and family planning is a highly stressful time for couples. The nuances that stress and environment play into fertility are subtle but powerful and they demand our attention.
I enjoy helping my patients through their journey of family planning. Naturopathic Medicine is well-suited to support both natural and medically-assisted pregnancies.