PATH TO BIRTH RECOMMENDS...
Below are some resources I have found to be valuable in supporting fertility, conception, pregnancy and birth.
I hope you enjoy them!
Fertility
GETTING PREGNANT FASTER, Dr Marilyn Glendville - a great resource on how to prepare your body to naturally enhance fertility supporting both natural conception and ART.
If Not Dieting Then What, Dr Rick Kausman - the lifestyle changes with TTC can be hard and it can be easy to body shame yourself. This book is full of practical, easy to implement ways to gain a more healthy relationship with food - and yourself!
Journey to the Heart, Melody Beattie - not fertility specific but a beautiful book of daily, short inspiring meditations that I have found uplifting during my time TTC!
The Tao of Fertility, Daoshing Ni & Dana Herko - TCM, fertility food and Tao-ist principles for relaxation/mind-body techniques all rolled into one book!
Blossom & Bee - a UK based fertility and conception website with a number of renowned UK fertility practitioners contributing resources and information. Forums, support groups and webinars also!
Pregnancy
Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin - a beautiful book of real, natural birth stories, and information about birth from one of America's most famous Midwives.
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, Sarah Buckley - everything from pregnancy and birth choices to breastfeeding and early parenting!
How Will I Be Born? Jean Sutton - a book about optimising foetal positioning to make birth easier for mother and baby!
What Babies Want - DVD - a beautiful DVD about what babies want, from womb to birth to infancy.
Journey to the Heart, Melody Beattie - not pregnancy specific but a beautiful book of daily, short inspiring meditations that I have found uplifting!
Freedom for Birth, DVD - an interesting movie about the human rights side of childbirth and how birth has changed over the centuries, limiting women's choice to birth in the way they want to
Fertility
Fertility Revolution - website and FREE podcasts downloads. Loads of fertility experts from around the world and also people experiencing fertility struggles share their advice for TTC.
Angea Yoga & Fertility - Amazing fertility yoga and acupuncture in a supportive community of women and couples going through the same experience.
Nourish Melbourne - a wellness collaboration in Melbourne bringing together companies to provide awesome discounts to Nourish Members. Path to Birth is proud to be a member - ask about our Nourish discount!!
Resolve - American based fertility website with loads of information and support for those facing fertility challenges
Fertile Ground - A mecca for all things fertility and pregnancy. Melbourne CBD based this is a hub of practitioners across natropathy, acupuncture, psychology, massage and more - all focused on TTC and pregnancy!
Bub Hub - website for conception, pregnancy and motherhood. Great blogs, articles, advice and forums!
The Holistic Ingredient - Amy Crawford's wonderful website, blog and recipes for healthy wholefoods
Well Nourished - Georgia Hardings wonderful site with lots of whole-food recipes! I love her new Nourished Morning ebook
Quirky Cooking - Jo Whitton's awesome blog which has a real focus on working with intolerances to still make yummy foods. Lots of great Thermomix recipes too if you have one!
Lola Berry's 20/20 Diet Cook Book - a range of whole-food recipes covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, desert and snacks!
I Quit Sugar CookBooks - Sarah Wilson. Personally I'm not completely cutting sugar out but I do believe a fertility and pregnancy diet should be conscious of how much sugar is included owing to the impact it has on hormones. Sarah has some quick easy, yummy recipes and great time saving ideas!
Janella Purcell - naturopath and whole-foods website and blog - lots of great recipes and ideas!
Pregnancy
Hypnobirthing Australia - a wonderful resource to learn more about hypnobirthing and read beautiful positive birth stories from Australian Hypnobirthing mums!
Bub Hub - website for conception, pregnancy and motherhood. Great blogs, articles, advice and forums!
Nourish Melbourne - a wellness collaboration in Melbourne bringing together companies to provide awesome discounts to Nourish Members. Path to Birth is proud to be a member - ask about our Nourish discount!!
Fertile Ground - A mecca for all things fertility and pregnancy. Melbourne CBD based this is a hub of practitioners across natropathy, acupuncture, psychology, massage and more - all focused on TTC and pregnancy!
Mama Body Tea - beautiful herbal tea blends for pregnancy and new motherhood! Home grown and hand made with love, a must for your morning cuppa!
Spinning Babies - a wonderful website with resources about optimal foetal positioning in preparation for birth
The Holistic Ingredient - Amy Crawford's wonderful website, blog and recipes for healthy wholefoods
Lola Berry's 20/20 Diet Cook Book - a range of whole-food recipes covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, desert and snacks!
Quirky Cooking - Jo Whitton's awesome blog which has a real focus on working with intolerances to still make yummy foods. Lots of great Thermomix recipes too if you have one!
Well Nourished - Georgia Hardings wonderful site with lots of whole-food recipes! I love her new Nourished Morning ebook
Janella Purcell - naturopath and whole-foods website and blog - lots of great recipes and ideas!
I Quit Sugar CookBooks - Sarah Wilson. Personally I'm not completely cutting sugar out but I do believe a fertility and pregnancy diet should be conscious of how much sugar is included owing to the impact it has on hormones. Sarah has some quick easy, yummy recipes and great time saving ideas!
Fertility
Reflexology - Feet are amazing things - a trained reflexologist can use massage to de-stress, detoxify and regulate your hormones!
Acupressure/Acupuncture - pressure points that align with different energy meridians and organs to help stimulate blood flow, remove toxins, de-stress and also regulate hormones.
Affirmations & Guided Meditation - Helping to recharge and reset a positive mind set. Relaxation, time to connect with your body and visualise the outcome you want!
Yoga - Yoga, in my humble opinion, is the best! Great to connect with your body, your baby as well as to regulate hormones, de-stress, detoxify and stimulate healthy blood flow to the reproductive organs! Namaste!
Mayan Fertility Massage - a technique designed to help enhance fertility, improve cycles and de-stress. Can be done by a professional or you can be taught a version of self massage to try at home!
Moxa - smells like an old cigar but this is a wonder stick! Used to warm the uterus, stimulate blood flow to grow a healthy lining and follicles. Speak to your acupuncturist for the low down on how to use Moxa to enhance your fertility!
Pregnancy
Affirmations & Guided Meditation - Helping to recharge and reset a positive mind set. Relaxation, time to connect with your baby and visualise the outcome you want!
Pre-Natal Yoga - Yoga is an amazing way to stretch your body and help it adapt to the pregnancy changes, as well as prepare it for birth. Pre-natal yoga de-stresses you and
Pregnancy Massage - once you are into your second trimester a pregnancy massage can be a great way to relax and tend to your body!
Aquamum Classes - being in water can be a great way to relax your body during pregnancy. Doing a dedicated water exercise class with a trained professional where you can take the stress of your joints and muscles can be invigorating!
Acupressure/Acupuncture - pressure points that align with different energy meridians and organs to help stimulate blood flow, remove toxins, de-stress and also regulate hormones.