Make a Baby With Hashimoto's

Our very own Chelsea Bernardez is answering all our questions regarding her journey with weight loss surgery and Hashimoto’s. Chelsea had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, which is also known as VSG. During this episode, Chelsea goes in depth on each step surrounding her surgery and healing process. We will discuss the follow topics: Chelsea made big mindset shifts throughout this experience which has helped her overcome the many challenges associated with the prep and healing of VSG with...

In this week's episode we are diving into the benefits of staying hydrated when TTC with Hashimoto’s! Our bodies need water in order to function properly, and ensuring you are getting adequate amounts is important. We know that our skin, brain, kidneys, lymphatic and reproductive system all thrive off of water. Water keeps things moving within our body and also allows for our kidneys to flush toxins out! When we stay hydrated, our reproductive system keeps our cervical mucus in optimal...

In this week's episode we are laying out the basics around balancing blood sugar. Blood sugar plays an extremely important role in our bodies ability to function and heal, so we will talk about what blood sugar (glucose) is and the role it shares with our pancreas, liver, adrenals, and thyroid. We will talk about how glucose and insulin have a “lock and key” relationship, and why our cells may have a more difficult time accepting insulin and glucose. We will explain common symptoms of...

This week's episode is about carbohydrates, which will wrap up our 3 part TTC with Hashimoto’s nutrition series! Carbohydrates are needed in our diet, in addition to protein and fats, to have a complete and balanced meal. Incorporating carbs such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains will help you feel energized, keep you feeling fuller longer, and help balance your blood sugar and hormones. All things we want and need while TTC with Hashimoto's! We will also be discussing carb tolerance...

Today’s episode is all about fats and their role when trying to conceive with Hashimoto’s. We know fats are an important aspect of our diets, so we’ll discuss the different types, anti-inflammatory and inflammatory, and how you can incorporate more of the anti-inflammatory fats to help support the many functions within your body. Anti-inflammatory fats are needed in Hashimoto’s women’s diets because they help decrease inflammation, support basic cell and brain function, boost the production...

In today’s episode we are talking about the importance of protein, more specifically animal-based protein, and its role in our nutrition when trying to conceive with Hashimoto’s. Protein is an essential nutrient and is the building blocks that make up our bodies! They contain many vitamins and minerals, such as B vitamins like niacin, riboflavin and B12, along with choline, copper, iron, phosphorus, selenium, and zinc. Our thyroid and reproductive system loves each of these nutrients, which...

This week's episode is about coming out of survival mode after the first year of postpartum. So much is happening during the first year- our bodies are trying to normalize through hormone shifts, lack of sleep, thyroid flares, cycles returning, along with adjusting to new routines and schedules. It is exhausting! At times, it might feel like you have lost yourself because you are so engulfed in taking care of this new human who is depending on you. We want you to know, this feeling is...

Our sweet babies are over a year old now, whoa! This first year of motherhood has been overwhelming at times, but also a huge learning experience and time for rediscovering ourselves. In today's episode, we are sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of motherhood. Chelsea shares how she is in a really great place with her thyroid health, and how it is only allowing her to move forward in all aspects of life. Chelsea feels more herself than ever, and is loving taking on her new coaching...

Cory Ruth is a registered dietitian and PCOS specialist who has helped hundreds of women overcome their PCOS symptoms and beat infertility. Her passion for helping women was ignited through her own personal experience with PCOS, which makes her an amazing resource and educator to women struggling with this condition. In today’s episode, we will discuss what PCOS is, the symptoms that are often associated with it, how to be diagnosed, and how PCOS affects women’s fertility. We want our...

We often do a question box on the @makeababywithhashispod Instagram story, so we are taking the questions our followers submitted and answering them on this episode! We will be talking about how to avoid a flare during pregnancy and postpartum, the link between Epstein Barr Virus and Hashimoto’s, our favorite nutrition tips and supplements we recommend when TTC, and our biggest piece of advice when it comes to pre pregnancy and TTC health! We will discuss why our bodies need a stable level...

This week's episode will be centered around breastfeeding and how Hashimoto’s plays a role in your milk supply! However, before listening, we want to put a trigger warning on this episode because we will be discussing the challenges associated with breastfeeding such as having an undersupply of breast milk. We will also talk about anxiety and depression during postpartum while breastfeeding. Women with Hashimoto’s can encounter an undersupply of breast milk, and we know that postpartum...

This week's episode is centered around men’s health and more specifically, their sperm health! Your partner's fertility matters too, and it might be worth keeping in mind when trying to have a baby. We are ready to shed some light on how sperm count, shape, and movement can all impact the sperm's ability to fertilize the egg. We will also discuss lifestyle choices that could negatively impact sperm health, while also providing recommendations on how to avoid this. Lastly, we’ll dive into...

This week’s episode is packed full of information on what to do when you finally get that big fat positive! We will explain the importance behind calling your OBGYN, telling them you have a thyroid condition, and then getting lab work done as soon as possible. Having these lab values help the doctors know exactly what your thyroid is doing and if it needs support with medication throughout pregnancy. We want you to be able to advocate for you and your child's wellbeing, and having a doctor...

In today’s episode we are talking about what to expect during a Hashimoto's postpartum flare. We know how tricky it can be to differentiate between postpartum and Hashimoto’s symptoms, as they tend to present and feel very similar to one another. To help you understand the difference, we will explore what a postpartum flare feels like, what symptoms you might experience, and how long you might expect this flare to take place. Postpartum encompasses a whole slew of things, which is why we...

In today’s episode we are addressing the burning question: “What diet should I be on when pregnant with Hashimoto's?” We are here to tell you, there isn’t a specific list of must-have foods or foods you must cut out. We know AIP (autoimmune protocol) is a hot topic, and we will share our personal experiences trying AIP and how it has influenced our eating today. We will also discuss how our bodies go through many changes when pregnant, which is why we emphasize listening to what your body...

In today’s episode we are having conversations about life as new moms and all it encompasses. We can attest that motherhood brings new challenges to our Hashimoto’s healing, and being in this new(er) territory of motherhood has reaffirmed the importance of asking for help! We have been known to be perfectionists, type A, over achievers but have learned that in order to manage our stress, we MUST surrender and ask for help. Oftentimes, this means we are leaning on our significant others,...

In today’s juicy episode, we are sharing our birth stories and how we navigated pregnancy and postpartum with Hashimoto's! We discuss how we each had very different experiences and challenges with pregnancy. As for Chelsea’s story, she tells how she managed a new diagnosis of PCOS, hyperemesis, and gestational diabetes throughout her pregnancy. She shares the ups and downs of these challenges and tells the story of how her daughter entered this world via cesarean delivery. Next, we dive...

In today’s episode we are talking about how to make your body a happy home for your baby! Trying to conceive with hashimotos can be very overwhelming, stressful and lonely, but we are here today to hopefully help you feel calm, excited and a lot less lonely throughout this process. We will go through our favorite techniques on how to relax, manage stress, proper nutrition, and make lifestyle changes to improve your overall well being and, hopefully, chances of falling pregnant… & SO MUCH...

In today’s episode we are talking all about lab work and its role when trying to conceive with Hashimoto’s! We will discuss the difference between “normal range” versus “optimal range” and what that can mean for you. We will also dive into how to improve thyroid lab values, such as TSH, T4, T3, and TPO antibodies through nutrition and lifestyle changes. We often rely on what our blood work is telling us, however thyroid lab values don’t have to be perfect in order for you to conceive! Want...

In today’s episode, we are having an open discussion on what NOT to do when trying to conceive with Hashimoto’s. We share our thoughts and experiences around using different fertility apps, being in TTC Facebook groups, and timing our sex! (That’s right, you aren’t the only one!) We know trying to conceive can bring on a lot of stress, which is normal, but not necessarily helpful, so remember to keep it simple and make this time in your life enjoyable and fun! Want more? Check out our...