The Fertility Bites: Recent Episodes
The Fertility Bites
The Fertility Bites with Perinatal & Reproductive Psychologist Lisa Ransome is a space for anyone who is -trying to conceive -undergoing fertility treatment -pregnant after fertility treatment -experienced pregnancy loss, at any gestation -pregnant after loss -a new mum -experiencing perinatal anxiety or depression.
The Fertility Bites brings you uncomplicated & accessible information to increase your knowledge, support your mental health, & overall wellbeing through the perinatal and reproductive years.
The Fertility Bites is presented in "bite" sized episodes to fit around your busy life
We all have a reproductive story - a term described by Janet Jaffe - as the story we have created, envisaged and dreamed through our formative years.
But what happens if that story does not go as anticipated?
Our Reproductive Story can come with many challenges - loss, infertility, not having a partner, all which need to be grieved to move forward with what our reproductive story eventuates to be.
For more Information:
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeedsforHopePerinatal
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
What on earth do coloured elephants have to do with anything in the world of thoughts?
Do you fight with your thoughts? Do they seem to become more focused in your mind as you fight with them?
What are the alternatives? How can we quieten our thoughts without feeling like we have done 10 rounds in the boxing ring?
Listen in to identify some tools to help with reducing frustration with out thoughts.
For more information:
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
We all experience anxiety, from the day we first stood in front of our class for a presentation, to being alert to our surroundings to ensure we don't place ourselves in danger. Anxiety is a natural part of our existence, and is there to keep us safe, however, sometimes it can go a little haywire.
Anxiety is often present when we are navigating reproductive challenges from trying to conceive, fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, and pregnancy after loss - and it is understandable, our experiences are a threat to what we desire for our lives now and into the future.
Strategies can be variable for how to manage anxiety, and through this episode I discuss acknowledging anxiety, and returning at a later stage to reflect, contain and provide ourselves permission to work through and with our anxiety.
For more information and content:
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
Spirituality and Religion are often downplayed within the Australian and other similar Westernised cultures and countries. But they play an important role in searching for meaning, understanding and purpose in out lives.
Spirituality and Religion can support us through incredibly challenging times, and connect us to ourselves, others and out world in ways we did not expect, help to health and soothe out minds, hearts and bodies when navigate the incredibly challenging spaces of Infertility and loss.
For More about The Fertility Bites and Seeds for Hope Perinatal Psychology:
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
March is endometriosis awareness month, and 8th March is International Women's Day. While endometriosis doesn't only impact women, non-binary and transgender men can also be diagnosed, we continue to inequality in treatment and diagnosis of endometriosis due to limited understand of the illness in a male dominated medical and research model. We know endo is more than a physical illness, it impacts on our functioning and out mental health due to its physical impact, it is a whole person illness with far reaching implications. While not fool proof I discuss some mental health strategies which can be helpful for navigating management of endometriosis. Please keep yourself informed and continue to advocate more research and understanding of this awful disease. For more information please follow along at Instagram: @seeds_for_hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology Website: seedsforhope.com.au Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
We all listen to music in one form or another, but do we truly pay attention to what is being sung?
Music has the power and ability to transport us back to the past, to times of joy, and times of sorrow. We all have songs which conjure up memories and push strong visceral reactions for us. But so often we dont truly tune into the words. The past few weeks I have been truly tuning into the lyrics, and there are some powerful lyrics in the world, that make us stop and think.
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/missyhiggins/steer.html
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/xavierrudd/followthesun.html
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
For anyone who has been trying to conceive for a few months or more, and when the transition to treatment and intervention comes, we all experience the rollercoaster of emotions associated with cycles, hope and disappointment, excitement and distress.
Today I discuss a few strategies which might be helpful for you and your partner as you navigate TTC and fertility treatments, but it OI, IUI or IVF.
So buckle up as we discuss the emotional ride which is the fertility rollercoaster
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
AT LEAST..... we've all heard the words come out of someone's mouths and we know its not going to end well. The words follow will end up diminishing our experience somehow.
How can we respond? Hopefully, not by punching them in the face - although it can be tempting.
For more follow along at:
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or CBT, is the "gold standard: of psychological interventions and therapies, it looks at the connections between out thoughts (cognitions), feelings (emotions) and behaviours, identified where the "faulty" cognition is and we gather evidence for and against this "faulty" thought.
Great when there is a scenario where evidence can be stacked up on both sides, not so great when your evidence is one sided or your reality cannot be challenged.
CBT is great, but it is incredibly frustrating (and almost pointless) when navigating infertility and pregnancy or baby loss.
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
The Why of the pre-IVF/IUI counselling appointment.
This episode explores and provides information about what the pre-IVF/IUI counselling appointment entails and what to expect in this appointment.
If you live in Victoria, before commencing IUI or IVF you will to have a counselling appointment with a registered Australia and New Zealand Infertility Counsellors Association (ANZICA) counsellor, who is linked or works within the clinic you are having treatment with. Typically the counsellor will have a degree in Psychology or Social Work.
Additionally, anyone in Australia who is using donor eggs, sperm or embryo to conceive, will need to have a minimum of two counselling appointments to discuss donor conception, donor registers and donor conception disclosure.
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
Today I'm chatting about why the name "The Fertility Bites" - its pretty short and sweet how I arrived at it. The main focus is on the descriptor terms I use of "perinatal" and "reproductive" before the title of psychologist. NOTE in Australia the title of psychologist are protected and regulated, you MUST have the required qualifications and training to call yourself a psychologist, descriptors however can be used based on additional training and skills, as long as they are not endorsed areas of practice - of which neither of these descriptors are (unfortunately). Instagram: @seeds_for_hope Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology Website: seedsforhope.com.au Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
This episode briefly discusses why you might need or want to make an appointment with a perinatal and reproductive psychologist. Its by no means exhaustive in the reasons why you might make an appointment through this life stage, but it gives some indicators.
I also discuss the two main therapeutic modalities I work within - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Again it provides a baseline of information, and does not list all aspects of therapy interventions, what works for you might not be what worked for your friend or family member - so remember psychological interventions are tailored to you as much as we can!
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
How did I get here? No not into the world, but to the space of a psychologist working in perinatal, reproductive and fertility.
Today I speak a little about my general background in psychology, and my transition from working with 15 to 35 year olds to people who are trying to conceive, engaging in fertility treatment, experienced pregnancy, baby and infant loss, and perinatal mental health challenges.
What training I have found, how I use it, and what I am thinking of next!
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au
Hello! And welcome to the first episode!
Today I'm talking a little about me, and my background as well as why I decided to start a podcast.
For more information about me you can find me on:
Instagram: @seeds_for_hope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seedsforhopeperinatalpsychology
Website: seedsforhope.com.au
Email: info@seedsforhope.com.au