Whole Fertility:
In-Home Bodywork & Guidance to Support Conception
Compassionate Fertility Support
For the Whole You
The process of trying to conceive brings an unending list of questions. Whole Fertility sessions look at the whole picture, from multiple angles, start to finish. Fertility bodywork plus fertility coaching, in the comfort of your own home.
I’ll bring the tea, and first we’ll talk. About your timeline, what you’ve been trying so far, ideas for what to include next. We’ll discuss cycle charting options, and look at your previous charts each visit. We make a plan for herbs and supplements. We can talk about options for sperm donors, home or clinic inseminations and IUI, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, or surrogacy. And when we’ve finished our tea and talk, each appointment features a full-hour fertility massage that incorporates techniques from multiple sources, all focused on optimizing your body for conception. You get to choose between scent-free body oils, and an oil containing a custom blend of fertility herbs. We’ll also discuss therapeutic techniques you can continue at home.
And for folks wanting to be as thorough as possible, I also offer optional internal pelvic floor assessment and treatment as part of this integrative fertility package. I’ll leave you with some presents, too.
Timing is Everything
About Fertility Charting
Regardless of whether you're doing home inseminations, IUIs, or the direct deposit method (sex that includes a possibility of pregnancy), odds are best if you get the sperm there waiting for the egg when ovulation happens. The best way to get that timing right is to monitor your fertility signs: usually some combo of basal body temperature, cervical fluid and position, and ovulation predictor sticks you dip in pee a few times a day (OPKs). I am of course happy to talk with you in person about it, but for those looking to get started right away, I highly recommend the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It is a huge book, does contain cis-normative and occasionally hetero-normative language, but is absolutely the best book out there on the subject. It was even a textbook for us in midwifery school. Important note: although TCOYF is the hands-down best book for charting...their app and the support around their app are problematic and I do not recommend it.
Support Local Bookstores!
If you're interested in a copy of TCOYF, you can grab it from one of these neato Portland bookstores:
Which Leads Me To:
Fertility Charting Apps
For fertility charting, you can do it with pen and paper, but most folks want an app. I've actually tried and reviewed many fertility charting apps, so you don't have to. The short version: although they don't have Clue's amazing stance on gender, and they are a bit heteronormative at times, even a bit pink, you can't beat Fertility Friend for accuracy, features, and ease of use. I used to be in love with Lily, and double-charted using both Lily and Fertility Friend, but as time goes by, the more cycles Lily doesn't pinpoint my ovulation correctly (or at all), and Fertility Friend does, every time. They have the best algorithm, which is my top priority when it comes to getting folks pregnant.
Prices, Add-Ons, & Logistics
Integrative Fertility sessions are usually about two hours long--one hour for discussion and one for bodywork. Sessions are $200 each and include tea and the supplies for your self-care "homework." Subscriptions available with a discounted rate, and can be rolled over into pregnancy massage subscription, when relevant.
I also offer massage extensions, for folks who want to add a half hour of work on another area of the body, for $25. To add fertility bodywork for your partner (if they are the sperm maker or if they are also trying to get pregnant), we can do an hour session as part of your Whole Fertility appointment for $100.
You may be wondering if partners/ co-parents are invited to our sessions: the answer is yes. I love to include partners in our discussions, because it's important for them to feel a part of the process if they so choose. Many partners feel a little removed from the process already, as the non-gestational parent. We can even discuss ways they can help with your self-care. I'm happy to discuss sperm health strategies with sperm-making partners, or for clients to pass along to their known donors. (Thanks, known donors! You're awesome!)
When to Schedule?
Fertility bodywork is best done after your bleeding has stopped but before you've ovulated. I make a point of making myself available to folks within this window, so just reach out when your bleeding is tapering off, let me know what day you're on and (if we haven't worked together before), how long your cycles are, so we can make sure to see you during that window. I find this timing also works really well for folks trying to conceive in general, because it's the perfect time to review your last chart, see how your timing lined up with your signs, and make adjustments if needed for the upcoming ovulation.
I am also happy to see folks during their luteal phase, after ovulation. Maybe you ovulated earlier than expected, or maybe you're taking a break from trying to conceive. If you've already ovulated and there's a chance you could be pregnant (I call the two-week wait Schrödinger's uterus) we would modify our session accordingly.