I can still remember the day Vida called me to tell me she had a miscarriage. I was shocked, sad, and couldn't believe it happened to her again. While consoling my best friend, I had so many questions for my own doctor about why these things happen. One week later I walked into my own routine checkup for my pregnancy at 11 weeks and I saw my OBGYN fidgeting around nervously. My heart started to race and when I saw her face drop, I felt my world crashing down. All I heard was the devastating line no one wants to hear, “I'm so sorry, there is no heartbeat.”
I was in denial. While I saw it happening to my friends and family around me, I never in a million years thought it could happen to me. I worked for one of the best functional medicine doctors, I lived and breathed wellness, I did “all the things” that were supposed to prevent miscarriages from happening… or so I thought
That day changed the course of my life. I obsessively started to research anything I could to understand why this is happening to so many people and what we can do to help prevent it. The research actually showed there are so many things individuals and couples CAN do to take charge of their fertility - but the information wasn’t readily available or reflected in quality products - so we made them… and that’s how WeNatal was born. WeNatal is a community centered around empowerment through education - to put an end to these common fertility myths and misinformation so that everyone can have the fertility foundation they deserve.
The top 3 myths:
MYTH: Fertility is a women's health issue.
TRUTH: Fertility is a team sport where both partners need to take part in preparing their body and their lifestyle for preconception.
MYTH: As women, we are stuck with the eggs we have and there is nothing we can do about it.
TRUTH: There is actually SO much you can do ladies, and we are here to share all the research and tools that we wish we had
MYTH: Age is the main factor that determines your fertility.
TRUTH: Age is one factor, but there are so many more that can dramatically improve egg and sperm quality in the months leading up to conceiving.
Unsatisfied with this explanation, my Functional Medicine background compelled me to dig deeper. Drawing on my work with Dr. Mark Hyman, I recognized that there's often a root cause to challenges. I delved into research, beginning with the book "It Starts with the Egg" by Rebecca Fett. My quest was to understand how I could improve the quality of my aging eggs.
The shocking truths we learned from Rebecca Fett:
As I journeyed through the research, I stumbled upon a pivotal realization: men's health has a profound impact on fertility and pregnancy, constituting 50% of the equation. The shock was palpable. The revelation that men taking antioxidants like L-carnitine, vitamins C and E, N-acetylcysteine, zinc, could increase their partner's chances of conception and live birth by more than four and five times, respectively, was a game-changer.
Also, there was so much hope and optimism around what women can do at any age to improve their own chances of a healthy pregnancy and child. I learned that improving mitochondrial health is crucial for fertility because it affects egg quality. Chromosomal abnormalities in eggs don’t gradually accumulate with age, but actually actually occur in the months leading up to ovulation. Aging creates conditions that can cause eggs to mature incorrectly due to mitochondrial dysfunction. By supporting mitochondrial health, you can help ensure that eggs develop with the right number of chromosomes, enhancing fertility and increasing your chances of a successful pregnancy.
Right away I put my husband and myself on an intensive regimen of fertility boosting nutrients that the research suggested. A mix of antioxidants, CoQ10, NAC, omega-3, and our prenatal multi became part of our daily routine. I learned the nuances of what men and women can do to level up their bodies during this crucial time frame. This became the cornerstone of what later evolved into WeNatal's formula for him and her.
When we partnered with the leading doctors and experts, we started with the prenatal supplements for her and him as the foundation of our brand. Everyone needs and deserves a better option, one we didn't find on the market. As we began helping more and more couples start their families, we wanted to continue developing products that are research backed and can support and aid each persons journey. Egg Quality + was something Vida and I wish we had in order to help us level up our egg quality. We were both considered ‘geriatric pregnancies’ and had our own background of fertility challenges. We wanted to do everything we could to improve our chances.
Here is how we both leveled up our preconception health. I went to acupuncture 2x per week and let my body heal for 3 months. I took the best quality prenatal that I could find and had to add the missing ingredients and certain fertility boosting antioxidants. We learned that taking a good quality prenatal is important to ensure that you don't have any nutrient deficiencies and sets the foundation for fetal development.
Then I added key nutrients that help improve egg quality. Here’s a breakdown of how I took and why:
CoQ10: Is a molecule that is found in every cell of the body , including your eggs.
Science shows that this molecule is crucial to preserving egg quality and fertility because it helps support your mitochondria (and good functioning mitochondria is crucial for reducing the chances of chromosomal abnormalities)
Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA): helps turn nutrients into energy and reduces inflammation.
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC): boosts levels of glutathione, a key antioxidant, which supports healthy egg growth and ovulation.
Both ALA and NAC have antioxidant properties which help neutralize and reverse oxidation stress which is a major driver of damage to the egg.
The journey was far from easy, but we both persevered. Emma, my rainbow baby, arrived just four days after my 42nd birthday. Vida had her rainbow baby at the age of 39. Their presence was a testament to resilience, hope, and the power of preconception care.
I know this is not an easy journey and I am sending you all so much love during your journey.
Xoxo,
Ronit
We put together this page of resources for anyone who has experienced loss.
