For the whole first year after having my daughter, Mari, I couldn't imagine ever being ready for baby #2. I knew I wanted another child eventually, but I wondered when my body would ever feel ready to do it all again.
Mari was exclusively breastfed, she wasn’t the best sleeper, and I was dealing with pretty severe postpartum anxiety. During those early months—and honestly, the first year—I struggled to understand what this new chapter of my life was supposed to look like. I was so hard on myself for struggling with the transition. Wasn’t this what I’d desperately wanted?
On top of it all, I was growing my nutrition business while figuring out how to balance motherhood and work. I knew I wanted to be home with Mari as much as possible, but I also wanted to help women and grow my business.
Eventually, I realized that it's okay to have conflicting feelings about motherhood. You can struggle while also feeling immense joy.
The First Year of Motherhood & My Menstrual Cycle
All that said, the first year of motherhood took a toll on both my mental and physical health. I realize now that it was meant to be that way, I needed to go on this journey of self discovery so that I can come out a stronger person with a better understanding of what is actually important.
At 15 months postpartum, I was thrilled to have my period return. For anyone wondering, it’s completely normal for your period to take 15-18 months to return if you're exclusively breastfeeding.
However, my cycle wasn’t quite back to normal. My luteal phase was short, my follicular phase was long (indicating that my body was taking longer to ovulate), and I knew I needed to give my hormones time to adjust. This was a wake-up call to focus on my health and prepare my body for baby #2.
Why We are Preparing 3-6 Months Prior to Trying to Conceive
Kyle and I have discussed having baby #2 for a while now and as M's second birthday approaches, we’re starting to feel ready.
And even though we are not trying to get pregnant for another 2-3 months or so, we have already started to make some changes to prepare our bodies.
As a reminder, the sperm lifecycle is about 74 days, which is why I always recommend starting prep at least 3 months ahead of TTC. This timeline extends if sperm quality or other health metrics need improvement.
For women, eggs take around 90 days to finish developing, so I recommend women start at least 3-4 months prior as well.
So what this means is that the changes you make today…. will show up in your egg or sperm quality in about 3-4 months.
How We’re Supporting Our Bodies for Baby #2
For Both of Us
Open Communication: We’ve made it a priority to communicate our needs to one another to ensure we’re both on the same page.
Weekly Planning: Every week, we set goals together and plan how to achieve them, making it easier to stay on track.
Targeted Supplements: We focus on specific supplements based on our needs, avoiding random, unnecessary supplementation.
Detoxification & Lymphatic Support: Supporting our bodies in eliminating toxins is crucial for fertility.
Labs: We’ve both gotten labs done to identify areas that need focus and to ensure we’re taking the right steps with supplements.
As a busy mama and business owner, I realized that things don’t just “happen”—we needed a plan. This structured approach has been key to feeling supported in our fertility journey.
Kyle got his labs done through our primary care physician, and I analyzed the results through an optimal fertility lens. I also ran some lab tests, including a GI MAP stool test for gut issues and a DUTCH test to monitor my hormones. I’m also experimenting with the Mira device to track my hormone levels and confirm that my progesterone is at optimal levels for conception. I will write a blog post about this in the next month or so!
Fertility Prep for Me
Breathwork & Stress Management: Daily or regular breathwork, gratitude practice, and positive affirmations help me stay grounded and manage stress—key factors in fertility.
Gut Health: After completing a GI MAP stool test, I discovered imbalances in my gut microbiome that I’m addressing with increased fiber and a gut cleanse.
Blood Sugar & Nervous System Nourishment: I focus on stabilizing my blood sugar and nourishing my nervous system with balanced meals and snacks.
Ferritin Levels: Postpartum, I had low ferritin levels, so I’m working on raising these to ensure optimal fertility.
Thyroid Health: I track my thyroid to ensure it’s in the optimal range for fertility, supporting it with diet and lifestyle.
Tracking My Cycle: I track my menstrual cycle, cervical mucus, and basal body temperature to confirm ovulation and ensure my luteal phase is long enough (ideally 13-14 days). A short luteal phase can impact implantation and pregnancy.
Nourishing my nervous system is a priority—if I don’t eat enough, my body perceives stress, which can disrupt my hormones. Three balanced meals with protein, fat, and fiber, cooked at home, and a protein- or fat-rich snack when needed has been one of the most effective ways I’ve supported my hormones and fertility.
Fertility Prep for Kyle
Strength Training: Regular strength training supports mitochondrial health and overall fertility.
Incorporating Anti-inflammatory Foods: Kyle focuses on reducing inflammatory foods and habits to optimize sperm quality.
Omega-3 Support: Ensure sufficient omega-3 intake to support healthy testosterone levels.
Antioxidants for Sperm Quality: He prioritizes antioxidants by eating colorful vegetables, fruits, and nuts to support sperm health.
Since Kyle had low-normal testosterone levels in the past, we’ve been working to optimize his habits—regular strength training, omega-3s, and antioxidant-rich foods have been key to improving his sperm health.
Hint...We didn’t do ALL of this at once.
This is why taking 3-6 months to prep is so helpful. Not only because it takes that long for your changes to reflect in sperm and egg quality, but also because change takes time.
Take time to understand where you need to focus, make a game plan, and concentrate on 1-2 changes at a time.
Wondering where to start?
I’ve compiled a list of 23 actionable fertility tips and hormone health strategies, plus 10 common fertility mistakes to avoid, in my NOURISH YOUR FERTILITY GUIDEBOOK. Click here to download it instantly and get started today.