Fertility Care That Starts With Better Questions

When you have been trying to conceive and keep hearing that everything looks “fine,” it can be hard to know what to ask next. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Gabriela Rosa about the value of understanding your own health information and finding care that considers your full story.

Gabriela explains why a test result needs context, why sperm health belongs in the conversation when applicable, and why repeating a treatment without understanding the reasoning can leave people feeling stuck. We also talk about the emotional weight of fertility challenges and how to prepare for an appointment so you can take a more active role in decisions about your care.

There is no universal checklist or guaranteed path to pregnancy. My hope is that this conversation helps you feel more able to ask for an explanation, a copy of your results, or another perspective when something does not make sense.

In This Episode, We Cover

• Why “normal” or “fine” test results in typical fertility assessments may need more explanation
• Looking at both partners’ histories and test results when relevant
• How a fuller health history can guide questions about next steps
• Preparing specific questions before an appointment
• Finding support without taking on the burden of figuring everything out alone

Resources Mentioned

Dr. Gabriela Rosa’s free Fertility Challenge

Fertility Breakthrough, available in audio on Spotify

Gabriela Rosa Fertility on Instagram

This conversation is educational and cannot replace care tailored to your circumstances. You deserve room to ask questions and make decisions with a qualified clinician who knows your history.

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

Preparing for birth matters—but it is only one part of preparing to become a parent. In this episode, I sit down with Nina Spears, founder of Baby Chick and a certified baby planner, birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, newborn care educator, infant massage instructor, and perinatal nutrition expert.

Together, we talk about matrescence and patrescence, why postpartum planning must go beyond freezer meals and baby gear, and how partners can become proactive co-parents instead of waiting to be assigned tasks. We also discuss mental health preparation, visitor boundaries, sleep, household responsibilities, and the support systems that can make the transition feel less isolating.

In This Episode, We Cover:

Why childbirth education matters—and why preparation should continue beyond labor

The identity shifts of matrescence and patrescence

How expectations, exhaustion, and the invisible mental load can affect relationships

Conversations to have about sleep, feeding, parental leave, household work, and intimacy

Why partners should notice, learn, and take ownership before being asked

How to build a postpartum support plan for meals, older children, visitors, and check-ins

Preparing for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders before support is urgently needed

Why a positive experience means feeling informed, prepared, and supported—not achieving perfection

You do not have to predict every part of birth or parenthood to prepare well. The goal is not control or perfection. It is to build enough knowledge, communication, and support that you can meet change without feeling completely alone in it.

Resources Mentioned

• Baby Chick resources and Nina’s pregnancy book: https://www.baby-chick.com
• Check out a Path to A Powerful Birth Class that includes an entire module on preparing for postpartum: www.clearlightbirth.com/classes
• Episode 197: What No One Told Me About Postpartum—and Why I Became a Postpartum Doula- with Sam Byington

If this conversation is helping you see that preparation continues long after labor begins, listen to the full episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast. Nina’s resources can help you think through pregnancy and parenthood week by week, and my childbirth classes can help you build an evidence-informed foundation for birth, partnership, and the early postpartum transition.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.

A birth plan can change without taking your power away. In this episode, I welcome Dominique and Kevin back into conversation to revisit the birth of their daughter, Nora—a story I had the privilege of supporting as their doula. Their journey was shaped by pregnancy after loss, an unexpected cholestasis diagnosis, an induction, and the steady support that helped them stay grounded when their original vision shifted.

Dominique, a pelvic floor physical therapist, entered pregnancy with a strong understanding of the body and a hope for spontaneous, low-intervention labor. When cholestasis changed the plan, I supported Dominique and Kevin as they learned about their options, spoke with their care team, and revised their birth preferences without giving up their autonomy.

Together, we talk about what an induction can actually look like, why the language we use during labor matters, and how Kevin approached his role as a birth partner with calm, reverence, and full attention. I also invited Dominique to share what becoming a parent taught her about postpartum recovery—even as someone who professionally supports pregnant and postpartum patients.

In This Episode, We Cover

• How two pregnancy losses shaped Dominique and Kevin’s next pregnancy and care decisions
• The itching that led to Dominique’s cholestasis diagnosis and a change in their birth plan
• How birth education helped them understand induction options and retain a sense of agency
• Using rest, movement, position changes, breath, and supportive language during labor
• The moment Dominique moved from panic and self-doubt into pushing
• How Kevin stayed present without taking over Dominique’s decisions
• Why choosing pain medication—or changing your mind about it—is never a failure
• What Dominique’s own postpartum recovery taught her about slowing down and listening to the body

I hope you carry from this episode is that an empowered birth is not one in which every detail unfolds exactly as planned. It is one in which you feel informed, respected, supported, and able to participate in the decisions along the way. Flexibility and autonomy can exist together.

Resources Mentioned

• A Path to A Powerful Birth Class, more info atwww.clearlightbirth.com/classes
• FREE Birth Preferences/ Birth Plan Template: www.clearlightbirth.com/plan

If your birth plan has changed—or you simply want to feel more prepared for the possibilities—I hope my conversation with Dominique and Kevin reminds you that you still have choices. Listen to the full episode of The Mindful Womb Podcast, and explore my childbirth classes if you want grounded support for both the expected and unexpected parts of birth.

***If these topics light you up, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you’re listening.

After you review the show - snap a pic and upload it here - and I’ll send you 70 printable affirmation cards as a thank you.

Your feedback helps this podcast grow, and I am so grateful for your support!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized advice.