Any Questions? A Podcast About Conception, Pregnancy and Realistic Motherhood

Anyone who has been through a TWW (two week wait) in the throws of TTC (trying to conceive) knows how emotional and anxiety-inducing it is to take a pregnancy test. But why do we keep thinking they'll be negative if we want them to be positive? Why do we get our hopes up every time? How do we stop reading into every symptom? And what is actually the best way to take a pregnancy test and not feel c...

When you're TTC or dealing with infertility, it can feel like everyone on social media is pregnant and everyone you see on the street has a baby. But when it's your best friend, it's a whole different ball game! What do you do when your closest friend or family member announces a pregnancy? How do you handle all the emotions, protect your peace and still be a supportive friend? Plus, an emotional...

This week we're tackling: How much does timing matter when you're trying to conceive? While most of us know there are only a few days each cycle when you can conceive, what happens if your days change each cycle or you don't know your days (thanks PCOS!)? What happens if you're not available or don't have the drive or desire during those days? And how do you get over the guilt and shame of missing...

In today's episode we're talking all about prenatal vitamins! Do you need to take them and when should you start? What's the difference between folate and folic acid? Do you need iron or Omega 3s? And what difference do prenatals really make when it comes to conception and fertility? Let's dive in!  Resources:  https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/folic-acid-vs-folate https://www.mayocli...

Worried about travelling when you're TTC (trying to conceive) or when pregnant? What risks do pregnant travellers need to know about? Is Zika a concern? Is it worth travelling if you might miss your ovulation window? I dive into all of these travel while pregnant and travel while TTC questions in this episode. Bottom line: Dive into the data, assess your own risk level, and make the best decision...

Thinking about tracking for conception? When you're TTC (trying to conceive) it can be helpful to have all of the information and fertility trackers claim to give you all the info you need about ovulation - and then some! But are fertility trackers right for you? And if so, which one should you choose?  Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podcast? Have an episod...

And just like that, 2022 is over which means so is my first year of TTC (trying to conceive). If you had told me in Dec 2021 that by Dec 2022 I would still be trying to conceive and not have a baby - let alone not even be pregnant - I never would have believed you! But this past year has been a big process of learning what goes into fertility and conception, testing, getting diagnosed with PCOS an...

If you're just starting out on your TTC (trying to conceive) fertility journey, this episode is for you! (And even if you're not new to TTC, you should still give this one a listen!) In today's episode, I'm sharing 9 pieces of advice I wish someone had told me when I first started our conception journey. I had to learn these the hard way, but you don't have to!  Want to share your pregnancy o...

Welcome back to another episode of Any Questions - it's my Thanksgiving special! In honour of the American holiday (even though I'm Canadian), I'm looking back on all of the parts of TTC (trying to conceive) that I am grateful for. While I'm disappointed to not be pregnant yet, turns out there's actually a lot about my TTC and infertility journey that I appreciate!  PLUS: Sharing listener fee...

Planning for the future is always difficult but it's almost impossible when you're in the middle of the TWW (two week wait) and could potentially have a baby 9 months from now...or if you're still trying for your baby 9 weeks, 9 months or 9 years from now! So how the heck to do you live your life and plan your future when you have no idea when you'll be able to grow your family? In today's episode...

When you're TTC (trying to conceive), it can feel like everyone else in your life is getting pregnant! So how do you deal with all of these pregnancy announcements? In this episode, I'm sharing a pretty raw reaction to hearing about lots of growing families in my life, why emotional reactions are so normal, and some of the things I'm doing to process my emotions and refocus on my own fertility and...

If you're in the middle of the TWW (two week wait), you're probably wondering: When can I take a pregnancy test? Sure, you can take one anytime when you're TTC (trying to conceive) but when should you actually take one? You might not be able to find out if you're pregnant until 14 DPO (days past ovulation) but is it worth it to test early? Should you wait and test late to get a definite answer? Or...

A lot of people are scared of needles, don't like blood, fear hospitals or just don't feel comfy around medical procedures - and I am one of them! But most TTC, fertility and pregnancy journeys involve at least the occasional blood draw. So how have I handled the medical tests and procedures I've been through so far and what are my strategies for dealing with the medical side of pregnancy coming u...

Welcome back! This week I'm sharing an update on my current menstrual cycle (spoiler alert: we're well past 28 days!) and sharing some things that I've done to regulate my period and manage my PCOS symptoms in the past. But, since I'm not expert, I'm also sharing more advice for how to get your period back and keep your cycle regular when you're trying to conceive. Want to share your pregnancy or...

Welcome back! Last week we talked all about how expensive babies are and how much you may need to budget for things like feeding, diapering and childcare. But don't worry, I also shared some tips to save money! If you missed that episode, go back and listen now. This week we're following it up with part two, diving into the last few categories of baby expenses: feeding, breastfeeding/chestfeeding,...

In today's (very long!) episode, I'm breaking down all of the expenses parents have to consider in the first year of baby's life. We're talking childcare, breastfeeding, diapers, strollers and more! And, because there's just so much to buy, I've had to break this episode into two parts. But before you get overwhelmed, tune in as I'm sharing some ways for you to cut back on your baby expenses and s...

A few weeks ago I shared that my doctor was sending me for some fertility tests. Well, I've finished the tests and my results are in. In this week's episodes I'm breaking down what fertility tests I completed, how the tests went, what my results were and what this means for my conception journey. As always, I hope this episode is helpful if you are going through any fertility issues or testing and...

We talk a lot on this podcast about fertility, infertility, conception, ovulation and all that, but almost always from a female biological perspective. But what about the other partner? On today's episode, we're diving into how male partners (or whoever is providing the sp3rm) can get more involved in the TTC (trying to conceive) process and exactly what physical and emotional role they play in fe...

One of the most popular episodes of this conception, fertility and pregnancy podcast was all about the difference between implantation bleeding and regular period/menstrual bleeding. But turns out, implantation bleeding might not even be a real thing! In this week's episode, I'm diving into some of the research around implantation bleeding and what it actually means if you're spotting during the T...

Slightly longer episode this week to dive into a pretty meaty topic: How do you take parental leave (aka maternity leave) when you're self-employed? In this episode I'm talking through the finances and how to save up and self-fund time off with your baby, the timing and how to map out your timeline, and the actual work that you want to be doing before, during and after your parental leave. If you'...

Back in episode 24, I shared my reaction to some of the most popular baby names. So in this episode, I'm going through how you can actually choose a name for your baby! Whether you're pregnant, trying to conceive or just love hearing how people choose names, listen up for some expert tips plus my top 10 rules for choosing your baby's name. Expert tips: https://www.thetot.com/mama/10-expert-tips-fo...

Turns out that the TTC journey really is a journey! Trying to conceive has its ups and downs, with lots of moments of disappointment and optimism when it comes to fertility, conception and pregnancy. In this week's episode I'm sharing where I'm at in my journey, updates on my fertility tests and how I'm staying hopeful.  Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feedback for the podca...

In today's episode I'm talking all about my latest TWW (two week wait), PMS vs pregnancy symptoms, and what came of the call I finally got to have with a gynaecologist! After being diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) in the spring, I finally got to talk to a gyno and received some next steps for hormone and fertility testing.  Want to share your pregnancy or TTC journey? Have feed...

When do you announce a pregnancy at work? How do you tell your boss? And what sort of things do you need to discuss with them about your pregnancy and parental/maternity leave? I'm discussing all of that and more in this week's episode. Plus, I'm talking about how this works if you're self-employed (or a contractor/freelancer) like me! Even if you don't have a boss or work a traditional job, it's...

In this week's episode we're diving into social media when you're trying to conceive (TTC), when you're pregnant and when you have your baby. How do you find a supportive community on social media without comparing yourself to all the parents and pregnant people who are doing it better than you? How and when do you announce your pregnancy on social media? And should you share photos on your baby o...