Spilled Milx: Prenatal

Here at Milx, we field questions from women at every stage of their fertility journey. No matter where you’re at in your family planning, it’s never too early (or late!) to take control of your personal health. 

Thinking of freezing your eggs? Milx family member Morgan Calef recently went through the process after contemplating it for years. Below she shares the top 7 things she learned through freezing her eggs and why it left her feeling empowered. 

Being 34 and single, my biological clock really made an appearance this year. I had actually started to think about freezing my eggs a few years ago, but always had an excuse to push it off - mostly I didn’t know how to fit it in with a busy work/travel schedule, and was turned off by the financial commitment to something that might not even work. And while having to go into a doctor’s office 10+ times and have a procedure during COVID definitely wasn’t ideal, working from home made this whole process soo much easier. No one even had to know (unless I wanted them to) and I could be bloated in sweatpants in the comfort of my apartment. 

Before starting the process, I tried to do as much due diligence as I could before picking a clinic - I listened to podcasts, read a gazillion articles.. there’s so many options in NYC that I could have kept debating where to go for weeks, but I finally bit the bullet and made an appointment for a consultation at Kindbody. And from there, it all kind of happened quickly... but here are some things I learned along the way incase this helps anyone on the fence and/or anyone just looking for some more information or real life experiences:

1. Your fertility is addressed on a need to know basis, and you need to proactively look into your own. Gynecologists mostly focus on everything but (pap smear, breast exam, pelvic exam, etc.) even though your fertility can be checked so easily with an ultrasound and bloodwork. So unless you’re trying for a baby, or having problems getting pregnant, you really don’t know what your situation is. After my initial ultrasound and bloodwork at kindbody, they told me I had PCOS, which I didn’t know (even though makes total sense given my history) but my gyno never told me that. I probably need a new gyno...

2. The number one factor in fertility is age. Even though this one is obvious, I didn’t know how drastically your egg count drops around 35-36-37. At 34 and a half, my doctor said “the half was good” and to not wait any longer. That was scary to hear, but also a kick that I needed to just get this over with and stop putting it off. 

3. The injections are not so fun but every day I got a little better at them. For 12 days, I was taking hormone medications and giving myself injections. I didn’t know I would be doing 3 injections a day and/or that I would be mixing my own medications. The nurses gave me tutorials and I watched a video almost every night to make sure I wasn’t completely effing up, but I kept thinking how much room there is for error and would freak myself out that I did something wrong. And they hurt (despite everyone telling me they don’t), but I was so proud every night when it was over, I would send my family group text an announcement with many emojis. Kindbody also had a WhatsApp line that you can call/message 24/7, which I sure did several times! 

4. I was not the norm when it came to side effects. Almost every article I read - and all the pamphlets from the clinic - say the side effects are minimal, and you can essentially carry on with your daily life as normal. That was not the case for me. On the downside, I was INSANELY bloated, very tired, my boobs hurt, I had weird cravings, I had a few emotional meltdowns, etc. On the plus side, my hair was the thickest it’s been in my whole life, and I’ll forever miss those blessed 12 days of liking my hair and not having to wash it every day <3 After the procedure, it also took me a while - about 2 weeks maybe - to recover, when again all the literature says you’ll be back up and running the day after. It took a while for my ovaries to go back to normal size and I think I was more bloated after the retrieval than I was taking the hormones. It was hard to walk, hard to find a comfortable position sleeping, and also hurt when I had to pee because my ovaries had moved and were pushing on my bladder. I ended up having to go back to the clinic 3 or 4 times after the retrieval to get follow up ultrasounds and bloodwork, which is not the norm. Obviously everyone is different, and this was just my experience, but I felt a little like the side effects are downplayed and I wish I would have been more informed about the possibilities, so then when they happen you’re not freaked out and think something is wrong.

5. You find out how many eggs you got immediately after the procedure.  The actual process of extracting the eggs only takes about 15 minutes, and you are put under for it. It feels very scientific, with the endocrinologist (who was a man in my case but my surgeon was a woman yay) there ready to analyze and freeze your eggs immediately. When I woke up, they told me how many eggs they extracted, and a few hours later, how many were able to be frozen. It was really emotional too, hearing how many they were able to get after this whole process. I feel really lucky and pleased with the number I got; I kept thinking how so many women go through this over and over and get one or zero and how heartbreaking that must be. After you put your body through so much, it’s definitely emotional.

6. It’s not an “insurance policy” but I do feel like I have a small safety net. I have no idea what will happen with these eggs - I might never use them and get pregnant naturally (and then, the eggs would be donated to science), I might try to use them and none of them are viable. There’s no guarantee, but at least I have somewhat of a “back-up option” now, which feels really good. 

7. I have no regrets. Even though the whole process was a lot, I would do it again 1000%! I’m so happy and proud of myself I did it finally after years of thinking about it and pushing it off. And I may end up doing it again, pending what my situation is in a year from now. Especially now that I know what to expect, I’m sure the second time around would be easier. My only regret is that I wish I did it when I was younger and then maybe I would have gotten more (and better quality) eggs, but at least I did it now. 

Morgan wanted to share her experience to normalize egg freezing and to let women know that they can be proactive about their fertility health regardless of what life stage they’re at. If you want to learn more from Morgan about her experience, contact her at info@milx.mom. 

*If you are interested in exploring your fertility, please consult with your OBGYN. 

Whether you’re pregnant, nursing, or pumping there’s no reason you can’t enjoy one of our favorite, tasty mocktails to spice up your holidays and ring in the new year!

Being pregnant is a beautiful thing, but can also be a real "pain in the neck". Chiropractor Dr. Cynthia D’Amelio walks us through the benefits of Chiropractic care for both mom and baby. 

Throughout my career as a Chiropractor, I have treated many women prior to, during and after pregnancy. Chiropractic care has a countless amount of benefits on both the mother and baby. 

During the course of pregnancy, there will be many physiological and hormonal changes as your body prepares for the birth of your baby. A recent study found that more than 75% of pregnant women experience pregnancy-related low back pain, pelvic pain, or a combination; and that this pain increases as pregnancy progresses. Chiropractic care is a safe, effective, and drug-free way to manage these and other musculoskeletal symptoms during pregnancy.

What are the benefits of chiropractic prior to pregnancy? Promotes regular menstrual cycles Optimal uterine function Prepares body for healthy implantation Ensures proper nerve supply to reproductive organs

What are the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy?

SHORTER LABOUR TIME 

• Pregnant women receiving regular chiropractic care have a 25-50% reduction in labour time.

IMPROVED SLEEP

• Pregnant women who sleep less than 6 hours average 29 hours of labour. Those women who sleep 7 or more hours average less than 18 hours of labour.

OPTIMAL FETAL POSITION

• When a breech position occurs, an experienced prenatal chiropractor certified in a special technique called the Webster Technique, has a 92% success rate to reduce in-uterine constraint and by allowing more room to help the baby turn head down.

REDUCTION IN PELVIC PAIN

• During pregnancy, the hormones relaxin and progesterone loosen ligaments and joints, especially in the pelvic area. The extra weight and body changes in pregnancy along with these loosened joints and ligaments can cause muscle discomfort, pelvic imbalances and ligament pain, especially the round ligament. 

REDUCTION OF BACK PAIN AND BACK LABOUR

• During pregnancy, the body’s center of gravity moves forward increasing the lumbar (lower back) curve and placing extra strain and force through the lumbar spinal joints. 
• Growing baby and increased fetal movement creates expansion of lower rib cage which can aggravate mid back joints that connect to ribs.
• Increased breast size to prepare for lactation adds additional strain to the upper back.

HELPS RELIEVE HEADACHES AND NECK PAIN

• Modified posture through shoulders to offset change in center of gravity causes loss of cervical neck curve leading to headaches. 

REDUCE SCIATIC PAIN AND RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME

• Modified gait/walking becomes wide during pregnancy which can irritate and impinge nerves of the low back and pelvis causing sciatic nerve pain and restless leg syndrome (RLS)

STRENGTHENS THE PELVIC FLOOR

• Chiropractic adjustments give women greater control over the pelvic floor muscles, which in turn makes childbirth easier and recovery shorter.

REDUCED NEED FOR PAIN MEDICATION

• During pregnancy, women are limited with options of pain relief due to many medications found to be unsafe and increase the risk of birth defects. 
• Chiropractic care is a safe alternative and holistic treatment to help resolve and/or decrease pain in pregnant women. 
• In a hospital study that incorporated chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy, there was a 50% decrease in the need for painkillers during delivery.

 INCREASES POST-NATAL SUCCESS

• Chiropractic treatments help provide more comfort during breastfeeding and greater production of breast milk.
• Studies show less incidence of postpartum depression in those women undergoing chiropractic care. 

Chiropractic care can help make your pregnancy experience a more positive, healthy and comfortable one. 

Dr. Cynthia D’Amelio is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Webster Technique Certified, ICPA Training. She currently practices in Morristown, New Jersey. 

*Please consult with your OB/GYN to determine if Chiropractic care is appropriate for you.  

If you're anything like us at Milx HQ, you're at some stage in your motherhood journey, staring at your closet, trying to figure out what to wear to your next holiday party. Don't worry -- we've got you covered. Our resident fashion stylist Alessandra Carlin shares her favorite picks for each stage of pregnancy and postpartum life that'll leave you looking fabulous at your next soiree.

Stay healthy through your pregnancy with these fitness tips from our favorite trainer and founder of Long Lean Club, Christina Hathaway.