Create a Fertile Life: Everything you need to know to get pregnan

Everything you need to know to get pregnant naturally, boost your fertility, prevent miscarriage, and improve your success with IVF.

There is no doubt that trying to conceive is an incredibly emotional and stressful journey for couples to whom it does not come easily. Family-making seems like our given right and when it fails to happen as expected then it can feel remarkably unfair, especially when many couples appear to conceive effortlessly.

This book outlines practical and specific changes in food and lifestyle choices that will dramatically improve your health AND optimise your chance of conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Making these changes now will positively impact the health of the eggs and the sperm and fast-track your chance of getting pregnant.

Based on current scientific evidence, it will reduce risk of pregnancy issues such as miscarriage, gestational diabetes or preeclampsia and give your child the best start in life, minimising their risk of childhood illnesses too. It's helpful for anyone with fertility challenges including polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS, or endometriosis and people considering or already down the path of IVF.

Written by a team of health professionals - naturopaths and acupuncturists - at Fertile Ground Health Group whose work focuses on the care of people struggling with fertility issues and longing to make a family. Over the last 20 years they have provided health solutions to fertility problems and have supported many women and men in their journey to create a healthy family. This book reflects the well-researched approaches they use with all patients, in collaboration with other fertility and medical health-care providers.

Praise for the book

"For 20 years the extraordinary health professionals of Fertile Ground have provided care as naturopaths and acupuncturists to my patients. The evidence-based approach to their practice has provided me with the reassurance that my patients, who almost always have high-risk pregnancies, will receive safe, considered and compassionate care. I commend this book to women planning or embarking on a pregnancy." Professor Mark P. Umstad Director of Maternity Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne

"A truly holistic and comprehensive book on maximising fertility. I especially appreciated the scientific references and the advice on environmental health, sleep and nutrition." Dr Natasha Andreadis, Fertility Specialist, Gynaecologist, Reproductive Endocrinologist and Clinical Lecturer at the University of Sydney

"Create a Fertile Life is a wonderful companion for any couple on their fertility journey." Lara Briden, author of Period Repair Manual

"A must-read before you see your fertility specialist - it will help you ask all the right questions!" Dr Manuela Toledo, Fertility Specialist, Gynaecologist, Melbourne IVF

"A wonderful, thoroughly researched and easy to implement guide for anyone wanting to fall pregnant." Tasha Jennings, author of The Fertility Diet and Your Fertile Pantry

"A practical, reader-friendly, comprehensive guide to fertility - highly recommended for anyone trying to conceive." Dr. Leila Masson M.D., Paediatrician & Lactation consultation and author of Children's Health A to Z

Gina Fox is a fertility focussed naturopath with nearly 20 years experience working at Fertile Ground Health Group (www.fertileground.com.au). She trained under Francesca Naish (author of Better Babies) and has a Masters in Reproductive Medicine. As well as being an experienced clinician she is a speaker, writer, naturopathic lecturer and student clinic supervisor. Gina is highly skilled in providing naturopathic care for women's health issues, pre-conception health, infertility, IVF support, pregnancy care and through menopause. She treats a wide range of issues including recurrent miscarriage, thyroid, auto-immune antibodies and she has seen good results working with men to improve sperm quality. She also enjoys the post birth appointments with mother and baby, maximizing wellness for the whole family and educating parents on how to manage many common childhood illnesses. Her professional approach involves working in collaboration with doctors and specialists to create an effective co-ordinated treatment. Gina loves to help couples achieve full-term pregnancies and give birth to beautiful healthy babies. Gina excels at addressing underlying stressors while couples achieve their optimal fertility. Her own meditation practice led her to become a meditation instructor and co-develop the Be Fertile series of guided relaxation CDs for women around conception, IVF and pregnancy support. (www.befertile.com.au)

Charmaine Dennis is a naturopath, fertility and health expert, mentor, writer, mother, and businesswoman. She is the founding director of Fertile Ground Health Group (www.fertileground.com.au), co-creator of the Be Fertile guide relaxation series (www.befertile.com.au) and co-author of The Breakfast Project among other health inspired projects. Her greatest gift and inspiration is making health, wellbeing, and passionate living accessible, inspiring and achievable for everyone. Charmaine has 20 years working as a health professional with skills across a broad range of areas from naturopathy, massage, and nutrition to writing, meditation, and marketing to personal development and business success, to yoga and birth attending. There is a rare depth and breadth of experience here that enriches every aspect of her work. In seeking a life of purpose and fulfilment she followed her heart with open curiosity to create a business beyond her own expectation. Charmaine continues practice and active leadership of FGHG and is committed to reaching out to form collaborative relationships with colleagues in Western medicine through public speaking, education and other relationship-building opportunities. She is also an enthusiastic mentor of practitioners and students to help them realise their full potential as natural medicine practitioners. Charmaine runs retreats and workshops for practitioner to support their business and personal development.

Rhiannon is an experienced naturopath and nutritionist, with post graduate qualifications in Fertility Education. Specialising in male and female infertility, IVF support and pregnancy care, Rhiannon expertly supports couples and individuals in their successful efforts to overcome fertility challenges. Her care philosophy extends to supporting her patients to achieve healthy and uncomplicated pregnancies and births and healthy, happy infants and children. She particularly enjoys working with single women and same sex couples as they navigate their way through their fertility journey. Optimising male fertility and health is also an area of significant focus in Rhiannon's practice. Underpinning Rhiannon's work is a passion for health and a belief that every child deserves the best start in life. Thorough and approachable, Rhiannon's commitment to understanding each person as an individual is much appreciated by her patients. Rhiannon is committed to the successful integration of natural and conventional medicine, and believes ideal outcomes are achieved for patients when all their health care providers are working together. She incorporates the use of lifestyle counselling, nutritional supplementation and herbal medicine to achieve optimum results for each individual patient. Having completed birth attendant training with Rhea Dempsey, Rhiannon also assists patients in making important decisions around their birth choices. After her many years of experience and education in the area of infertility and IVF support, Rhiannon now provides professional mentoring for naturopaths in both group and individual sessions. This highly specialised area is outside the scope of standard naturopathic education and as such, her mentoring program at Fertile Ground Health Group is a rare opportunity for naturopaths to further their skills.