Woven Well: Natural Fertility Podcast

When it comes to balancing reproductive hormones, it’s hard to know where to start. There are so many things that impact our women’s health and wellness. I’ve invited Dr. Kela Smith, a holistic integrative fertility and hormone doctor, to share 5 effective strategies for balancing women's hormones. Dr. Kela shares her personal journey with infertility and the foundational principles she devel...

Can we talk about stress? We all have it, but do we all know how it can affect our cycles and reproductive health? It’s so common that we underestimate the influence it has on our lives. Without this knowledge, we’re stuck feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and confused. Today’s episode dives into how to recognize stress, ways to reduce it, and when to honor it. NOTE: This episode is appropriate for...

Did you know that gut health and blood sugar affect your reproductive hormones? Did you know that Creighton model cycle charting can point to digestive health issues and glucose/insulin irregularities? Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Rita Johnson, packs this episode full of stories, explanations, and practical tips that help us all notice the connection and prioritize our health through the thin...

A positive pregnancy test comes with a tidal wave of emotions and, sometimes, fears. Will everything be okay? How will we afford this? What if something happens? New struggles emerge as you approach labor and delivery. Can I do this? How will I handle the experience? What if something goes wrong? While these may seem like practical questions about pregnancy and delivery, they are also deeply spiri...

Pimples aren't just for teenagers, especially when they are caused by hormones. Women struggling with hormonal acne are often given one option and one option only: birth control. But what if you don't want to use birth control? What if you want to get to the root of the problem? Is it possible? Is there a solution for hormonal acne? These were the questions our client Maddie faced after...

Painful intercourse is a horrible experience for many reasons (especially when you're told to just relax or that it's all in your head...). Our guest today, Occupational Therapist Jess Seitz, shares how she uses her degree and personal experience overcoming 8 years of vaginismus to walk women through healing. This isn't just for the married ladies, though, but any woman experiencing...

When it comes to reproductive rights, we often think of birth control and abortion -- maybe even IVF in more recent days. But are those things truly the pinnacle of women's health? Or is there more available to us? This episode explores how a perspective shift on women's empowerment could have the power to change the fertility education, healthcare advocacy, and confidence of generations...

We tend to think of women's health as it relates to getting pregnant, not physical health or even health later on in life, but Caitlin and Laura sit down to discuss how estrogen impacts everything from bone health to cognitive function, and why it's vital for both reproductive and overall well-being. We talk about natural ways to improve estrogen levels (like weight-bearing exercises) an...

Imagine being weeks out from your wedding and your doctor telling you you have to stop your birth control immediately. How terrifying! Not only is your health a concern, but what about the honeymoon?? How will you not get pregnant (if that's not your goal)? This is what happened to Robyn when she was still in medical school and just weeks away from marrying her husband. Full of questions, she...

We're told birth control is safe and effective and side effects should be temporary, but what happens when that's not our experience? How can we know what's a side effect from birth control vs unrelated? Doctors often evaluate physical side effects like bleeding or cramping, but mental and emotional side effects are just as important to our quality of life! Today Caitlin and Grace c...

The first thing many doctors do when a couple is struggling to get pregnant is run some lab work. AMH is a common lab run that suggests your "egg count" and is often interpreted as your future ability to get pregnant successfully. Dr. Codruta Pandaleche, a restorative reproductive physician previously working with THE leading RRM clinic in the world (NeoFertility in Ireland), shares why...

When thinking about women's health, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. Tori Black is a Hair & Tissue Mineral Analysis tech who helps her clients focus on the foundational aspects of our body's building blocks, which affect every system of our bodies. In this episode, she talks about what HTMA is, how it can help prioritize where to begin, and what it can reveal.  GUEST...

Weddings are the start of so many new, wonderful things -- and it's also the first time you and your spouse have the possibility of having a baby! There's so much to consider. This episode explores some of the main questions related to using a natural birth control system on your honeymoon!  Will a fertility awareness method actually work for us on our honeymoon?  How far before our wedd...

Insulin resistance is increasing in the American population especially (and surprisingly) among young women. Is this just women with PCOS? Can you have it if you don't have pre-diabetes? Can you have insulin resistance without weight concerns? Laura and I tackle this topic because it impacts so many women -- their overall health, women's health, cycles issues and infertility. We talk abo...

Loren struggled to conceive and was told IVF was her best hope. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. But it took a lot of courage -- and investigation -- on her part to find out exactly what she and her husband needed. Today, she joins us to share her story with our listeners in order to provide hope and encouragement along the way.  NOTE: This episode is appropriate for all audiences, but does...

There are ways to preserve your fertility without freezing your eggs! This is good news, because egg freezing is expensive (both the procedure and the storage!), invasive, uncomfortable, and -- unfortunately -- no guarantee of future pregnancy. Today's episode gives you practical suggestions for how to naturally preserve your fertility without egg freezing or any other artificial reproductive...

Dr. Amy Hogan has been in the women's health field for many years and strives to optimize and preserve female fertility through a holistic approach and restorative, NaProTechnology focused care. She joins us on the podcast to share her recommendations for the TOP supplements she recommends for women's health. She doesn't just give us names, she explains why they are so critical to b...

I can't tell you how often I hear: "I wish I had known this when I was in college!" Those years of a woman's life are SO significant for relationships, life direction, career choices, etc, but often they FALL FLAT when it comes to becoming more educated and empowered about women's health. We want to change that. College students NEED this information, regardless of their r...

Courtney was on birth control to prevent pregnancy when she and her husband got married, but had a nagging suspicion that it may not be the best choice for her health or her marriage. After her friend shared with her about Woven Natural Fertility Care, she began a new journey -- but had no idea all that she would discover! Courtney was surprised by all that there was to discover about her health a...

I’ve been in the fertility awareness field for 8 years as a Certified FertilityCare Practitioner and I know exactly what makes a fertility awareness client successful — and what causes them the most problems. I’ve thought back over my years of teaching and narrowed it down to the 3 biggest mistakes you could make when using a fertility awareness method. If you’re new to fertility awareness or an o...

Copper IUDs (commonly the Paragard IUD) are the #1 OBGYN prescribed non-hormonal form of birth control, but that doesn't mean it's the right choice for everyone. It's important to make informed decisions about what type of birth control you use and to be aware of any and all side effects and risks before you use it. Mineral and Copper expert, Rick Fischer, joins us today to talk abo...

DHEA is a bit of a secret weapon when dealing with estrogen and progesterone deficiency. If you're looking to naturally boost your fertility, you need to know about this supplement. But don't begin taking it without guidance! In today's episode, Caitlin talks with a good friend of the show, Nurse Practitioner and FCP, Laura Ducote, about DHEA and the role it can play in improving ho...

I love client stories like Braelyn's. She and her husband were struggling to conceive a pregnancy and her OBGYN sent her to a Reproductive Endocrinologist for fertility treatments. The options she found there weren't what she expected. In today's episode, she shares their story of walking through fertility treatments unsuccessfully and eventually changing direction to focus on conce...

Is it okay to use the pill? Why do some Christians and denominations have issues with birth control while others don't? There was one MAJOR EVENT that caused a shift in the perspective of many Christians on the issue of contraception and, if you're a Christian deciding about birth control use, you deserve to know about it! This episode dives into the longstanding Christian stance on birt...

Caitlin welcomes Director of Ongoing Spiritual Formation, Jen Settle, back to the show to discuss the complexities of family planning and the discernment process couples face when considering pregnancy. Family planning isn't easy, but you're not alone! In this episode, Caitlin and Jen explore serious reasons for avoiding pregnancy, the weight of bringing new life into the world, and prac...