We’re surviving

By //  by 

Hey there,

I know it’s been awhile since you’ve heard from me.

I’ve been surviving this pandemic thing and staying at home. I’ve been trying to figure out how to support my kids with at-home-learning, while I also try to keep the house clean, and keep going with my business.

The biggest lesson I’m still learning is I don’t have control over everything. If I let go, I’m happier.

Let go of worrying about when the pandemic will end. Let go of trying to control my kids to be “perfect students” at home. Let go of when the government will make decisions.

It’s not always easy, but it’s helpful when I can.

If you are struggling as a mom and are wondering why, download my Isolated Monster Mom – The 3 REAL Reasons You’re Losing Your Cool. It’s got some valuable tricks that you can start using right away.

In the meantime, I’m here for you.

Whitney

We’re survivingRead More

You’re not broken, just grieving

By //  by 

I felt like if I could just find someone to date, to fill the void, to be a father for my daughters, it would make me feel better. Then I would be fixed and everything would be ok. ⁠
⁠
But the grieving doesn’t go away. ⁠
⁠
Let me tell you, it’s amazing to have a supportive 2nd husband who loves my kids and me. But at the end of the day, my girls are still missing Steve, their 1st dad. And I’m missing him too. They have 2 dads now. ⁠
⁠
The missing will never go away. I will never be “fixed.”⁠
⁠
I will have a heart with a bit of a scar on it from where it was broken. It won’t go back to how it was before. ⁠
⁠
But that also is good. Because I don’t want to forget Steve or stop loving him. ⁠
⁠
For those of you on your new widowed journey, you may be thinking about dating again. We’re all on our own timetables and journeys. ⁠
⁠
I just want you to know, it won’t fix you. You aren’t broken, just grieving. ⁠
⁠
Hugs,⁠
⁠
Whitney⁠

You’re not broken, just grievingRead More

Fertility Festive Funk

By //  by 

Infertility Sucks

It sucks even more when you’re surrounded by pregnancy announcements, adorable baby-dressed-as-elf photos, and merriment. You may end up in a “Fertility Festive Funk” because sometimes you just don’t feel like being festive.

A Holiday Miscarriage

One of my close friends miscarried right before Christmas a few years ago. Before it happened, she was excited to tell all the family at Christmas that they were expecting their first baby. But the rug was pulled out from under her. The future that she had imagined as soon as she got that positive test, was ripped away from her.

It was unfair. It’s always unfair.

Around the holidays can be even worse.

We were Christmas shopping together and she bumped into an old friend. There was the first few minutes of the conversation, how are you?! How are you? Then it turned real… “actually I just had a miscarriage…” Her friend responded “me too!” Hearing about loss is not something you usually get excited about but if you can share your grief with someone who get’s it, you’re excited to meet someone who’s walked in your shoes. Suddenly, my friend didn’t feel alone anymore.

Here are 3 things you can do to help survive the Fertility Festive Funk:

  1. Collect – Collect responses to those nosey questions from innocent family members. The ones who ask you, “so when are you starting a family?” or “are you having any more children?” You don’t have to answer them, or you can be blunt, or you can be evasive. It’s totally up to you. Before it happens, get prepared. Take your journal or a piece of paper and write out 5-10 responses you could say back to someone. Sometimes you’ll feel like telling the truth, sometimes you won’t. If you practice these responses to your partner or in the mirror, it will be easier when it happens. Also Collect ideas of how to take care of yourself during this time – counselling, massages, acupuncture with your favourite naturopaths at Rooted, meditation, or guided imagery for fertility. Make a list of things you can do to take care of yourself during this potentially stressful time. Look back at both lists every few days to remind yourself of what to say and what you can do.
  2. Correct – Correct people who feel it’s their business to know when you’re planning on procreating. It actually isn’t any of their business. Cut of conversations if you want to. Correct the thoughts in your head that say your family isn’t good enough without a baby. You can host the holiday dinner, you can go on a sleigh ride, you can sit on Santa’s knee if you want to. Choose gentle thoughts about yourself, your body and your situation. If you need help, come talk to us or your counsellor.
  3. Connect – Connect with yourself first. What do you truly want over the holidays? A big gathering? A small gathering? To hold all the babies? To not hold any of the babies? It’s totally up to you. First get quiet with yourself, grab your journal and really ask yourself how do you want to handle the holidays this season? How can you bring joy to your holidays for you while you’re still waiting to grow your family? How can you make this holiday season special despite this hole? Your family is still whole just as it is right now. Connect with friends and family who make you feel good. Who listen to you, who make you feel more positive than negative.

We’re here for you. Whatever you choose to do this holiday, know that you are ok, you will be ok, you’ve got this. If you’re new to Rooted, come on in for a free fertility introduction. We can chat about where you are, what you’ve done and how to support you on your baby journey especially during the holidays.

Talk soon,

Dr. Whitney Young, ND

 

Fertility Festive FunkRead More

To ultrasound or not to ultrasound

By //  by 

Hi there,

20 Weeks Whitney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somewhere between week 18 and 20 pregnant women usually go for an anatomy ultrasound to check how baby is doing and maybe find out the sex of the baby.

I had mine a week ago and we found out it’s a…..drum roll please…..sorry, you’re going to have to wait a little longer before I tell you. Yes, that was mean.

My ultrasound was with a new tech who was being coached by a more experienced tech. It was a nice experience because they were chatting about this and that about my baby. So I got to see and understand a bit more about what I was seeing when I was craning my neck to watch what they were doing for an hour.

Is ultrasound safe? 

It is generally believed to be safe for mom and baby, is painless, gives results quickly, and is convenient, however because “a form of energy and, as such, demonstrates effects in biological tissues it traverses (bioeffects).(1)”

50% of physicians and obstetricians polled believed ultrasounds in low-risk pregnancies should be kept to 1-3 and 70% disapprove of “keepsake/entertainment” ultrasounds (2). However, is this based on fact or generally held beliefs?

The risks of ultrasound are thermal and mechanical.

I tried to find more research about the exact mechanisms and some definitive answers for you but this was very challenging. I think this topic is a whole thesis that I could spend a lot of time on.

My general philosophy is to strive for the least amount of intervention necessary. If you need another ultrasound for medical reasons I think that’s very important. Discuss the risks and benefits with your health care provider to help you make up your own mind.

I thought I would just put this out there as food for thought.

Stay tuned for more highs and lows of pregnancy….I think my heartburn has just started and there is still so much time to go! I’m in trouble!

Talk soon,

Whitney

 

Sources:

1. Semin Perinatol. 2013 Oct;37(5):295-300.

2. J Ultrasound Med. 2007 Mar;26(3):319-25.

 

To ultrasound or not to ultrasoundRead More

Our new welcome video

By //  by 

We had a great morning filming this a few weeks ago. We invited some of our favourite people to star in our short welcome video with us. Erin Smith, RMT (705) 796-1489 and her husband Guy and little Henry. We also had our good friend Trudy who works next door at Therapeutic Mobility. She’s the one getting acupuncture and cupping. Our video was shot by Carole who is a lovely local videographer. She was so fun to work with.

Check it out and share with your friends!

Our new welcome videoRead More

33% of Women Want Twins

By //  by 

So the title of this article may be misleading but it’s an interesting fact from one study from the Journal of Reproductive Medicine in 2013 May-June.

I came across a study performed in Utah with women who were prescribed clomiphene aka Clomid. The researches conducted phone interviews with 43 women from local community clinics.

It was found that most women were prescribed clomid appropriately based on their fertility status and ovulation. What was found lacking was the monitoring of their cycles. This is where we come in. We help women even before they are prescribed Clomid to help monitor their cycles and help improve their cycles through acupuncture, diet, supplementation and more here at our clinic. It’s something we have a special interest in and extra training in to help our parents-to-be.

The interesting side note from the study was that  24 of the women (56%) said they would be fine having twins, and 14 (33%) said they would prefer to have twins if possible.

So why do you think a 3rd of women in this study preferred twins?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23763008

33% of Women Want TwinsRead More