ASHWOOD FERTILITYCARE CENTER

Kari Beadner, CFCP

Last week I shared with you about my first well-woman exam at the age of 23 years old. If you missed it you can read it here.

Here is where I left off:

Now 4 years out from my last baby and turning 40 this year; I needed to schedule a well-woman exam and I chose to work with Certified Nurse Midwife and NaPro Technology trained, Courtney Heynen, CNM NFPNM. I personally prefer a female provider for my physical exams and I have some concerns about biomarkers on my Creighton Chart as well as many other concerning health symptoms so I made my appointment and waited in anticipation!

I scheduled out a day of childcare to travel to Sioux Falls, SD. It was a beautiful day. I pulled up to the Avera parking lot and enjoyed a new stroll to the women's health tower. I was meet my super sweet receptionists who went over and beyond to be sure all of my questions as a new ancient were answered.

Stacia, the nurse called my name and introduced herself. I sat down and began to share a summary of my medical and mental health history. She understood my references to my Creighton Model Chart and valued everything that I shared.
I didn't have to wait for long for Courtney to come. Stacia gave a wonderful summary to Courtney. She sat down next to me so we could view my Creighton chart together. I didn't feel rushed as I had a 1-hour appointment slot!

I was able to open up completely and Courtney was able to look at me and my overall health as a Whole integrated person!

I was given amazing recommendations of natural supplements to improve my overall wellbeing and the high anxiety and stress-filled life that I live.
Then, it was time for the pelvic exam and PAP smear. I've never been "excited" about a pelvic exam but this was my first exam with a NaPro Technology provider, so I was looking forward to it. My past NaPro Technology treatments have been all labs and hormone therapies. I was interested to see if some of the things I saw on my chart would correlate with what I have seen on the chart of some of my clients' charts.

During the exam, she was able to discover an internal adjustment that was needed that was attached to a long-time S.I. joint issue that I have been dealing with for 7 years since the birth of my 2nd child! This was an amazing relief to know that there was something that was able to be adjusted that had been causing discomfort for so long. With this information, I was now able to develop an even better plan of treatment with my amazing Physical Therapist, Tanya Rowenhorst at Refine Physical Therapy in Orange City. I cried tears of joy about this new development of hope of continued healing.
Courtney gave me a hug and then some recommendations for Breast Health and a few lab orders to confirm some of her concerns in my health.
I was greeted again and expressed my gratitude to her office staff and then made my way to the lab where I was greeted by the sweetest lab tech. She was a new mama and I had a beautiful moment hearing about her birth story. (You know I'm a sucker for a birth story!)
I left feeling so empowered and supported in my new outlook and plan for health and so excited to share my wonderful "annual exam" experience with all of you.

I'm not special!
Each woman deserves the type of care that I received in this healthcare visit!
If you are going to a health care provider who is not considering your natural cycles as a part of your overall well-woman check-up, I would love to help you to find the providers in your area that can support you! Just hit reply and I would love to explore your options with you. If you have not yet been introduced to the Creighton Model and NaPro Technology, I encourage you to join me for my next FREE Introductory Session to the Creighton Model FertilityCare System!

Remember Ashwood FertilityCare Center offers the Introductory Session of the Creighton Model FertilityCare System once a month for FREE because everyone deserves access to this information about her unique natural cycle.

If you are wondering how to get this type of care for your daughter as well, check out our Young Women Recourses here. Teen 16+ are more than welcome to attend the Creighton Model Intro Session and we encourage a parent to attend with them.

Do you have a story about your annual exam experience? I would love to hear it!

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Kari Beadner, CFCP

Do you enjoy your "Annual OB/GYN Exam"? I know most of you would say "No way!" and others may say what subject? I don't know about an Annual Exam, am I missing something?

For generations, women have visited their OB/GYN or primary health care provider for an annual exam. This is exam may consist of a pelvic exam, PAP Smear. Breast Exam and guidance in family planning (ie birth control).

I was told there was no reason for a young girl to visit the OB/GYN until she becomes sexually active or has a period issue. I do still agree with this advice as well.

My first OB/GYN appointment was when I was 23 years old and I was preparing to move to Japan as a Church Planting Missionary and needed to have a full health exam. My doctor was a lovely Indian woman who was very gentle. As I had my first pelvic exam and was a virgin; I remember breathing deeply and saying to myself, "This is for the Japanese people."

At this point, I really had no obvious period issues though I really had no idea how the ovulation cycles really worked outside of "I have a period because I'm not pregnant." During my first 4 months in Japan, I had no period. It wasn't until about 8 years later that I would learn that it was stress that delayed my ovulation and was the reason I had no period during that time.

At 29, back in the states, I was engaged to be married and was encouraged to go on the birth control pill because of some spotting issues that had begun and to avoid pregnancy in early marriage.
As I shared last week, it was a few months into my marriage that I discovered natural fertility regulation and stopped taking the pill, and navigated our fertility with a self-taught NFP method. When we achieved pregnancy at our 1 year of marriage mark I received early OB care there in California where we lived.

I experience a slow rise in HCG and experienced some spotting around 8 weeks (which I was told was completely normal).

After moving to Orange City, IA giving birth and learning the Creighton Model, and accessing NaPro Technology I found that my spotting before going on the birth control pill, early pregnancy bleeding, slow increase of HCG, and high blood pressure that lasted for a month postpartum were all signs of what was diagnosed as Type 2 Progesterone Deficiency.

Without a NaPro Technology Provider, I may have never received this diagnosis.

You see it is only through my Creighton Model chart that my NaPro Medical Consultant was able to see the patterns refer for Targeted Blood Work and recommend a cooperative treatment that would work with my natural cycle.

This care in itself is mind-blowing, I know!

Standard Medical Schools DO NOT TEACH physicians to look to the natural cycle of the woman's body to uncover the underlying issue and solve it with cooperative care.

I (and thousands of women thorough out the world) are so very thankful for Dr. Thomas Hilgers and his discoveries and development of NaPro Technology.

NaPro Technology-trained doctors supported me through my next 3 pregnancies with progesterone support. My primary provider is not NaPro trained so I accessed NaPro Technology alongside her standard OB care.

Now 4 years out from my last baby and turning 40 this year; I needed to schedule a well-woman exam and I chose to work with Certified Nurse Midwife and NaPro Technology trained, Courtney Heynen, CNM NFPNM. I personally prefer a female provider for my physical exams and I have some concerns about biomarkers on my Creighton Chart as well as many other concerning health symptoms so I made my appointment and waited in anticipation for my appointment!

I will share with you next week about my AMAZING experience of a well-woman check-up with Courtney. There is an amazing difference in being cared for by a NaPro Trained Midwife. I can't wait to share my experience with you!

Until then, I want to prepare mothers to guide their daughters through puberty and adolescence in a wholistic manner so that we can change the "Crazy of Puberty" to the "Joy of Puberty!"

Let's prepare to navigate young women through puberty with Joy.
My FREE Masterclass "Navigating your daughter's Puberty with Joy!" replay is now available. Please register to join us and invite any friends or family who would benefit from this Masterclass!

If you have not yet been introduced to the Creighton Model and NaPro Technology, may I encourage you to join me for my next FREE Introductory Session to the Creighton Model FertilityCare System !?

Who do you need to share with!?
Remember Ashwood FertilityCare Center offers the Introductory Session of the Creighton Model FertilityCare System once a month for FREE because everyone deserves access to this information about her unique natural cycle.

Find out more at www.ashwoodfertilitycare.com

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Why choose the Creighton Model FertilityCare System?

3/12/2021

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Elizabeth Wessling, FCP

The world of NFP (Natural Family Planning) has many different options to choose from. How does one choose one method over the other? The Creighton Model FertilityCare System is easy, inexpensive and does not take a lot of time. But that is not why I want you to choose this system. Today I am sharing with you the top 5 reasons why you should choose the Creighton Model.

No fancy equipment needed.
With the Creighton model the only tool you need are your own two hands. Some methods require the use of thermometers, ovulation kits or test strips. The Creighton model uses mucus, specifically cervical mucus, as the main biomarker of fertility. Using this biomarker alone has proven to be one of the most accurate ways of observing fertility. So, if you can test how much mucus stretches between your two fingers you can use the Creighton Model.

It is a shared system.
Both partners must fully learn how the system works so they can both be active participants in their fertility. The Creighton model has a saying… The woman observes, the couple uses. Yes, it is true, only the woman can make the observations, but the partner can help in other ways. Some men take the role of recording observations and making sure the chart is always up to date. In this way the responsibility of tracking fertility is shared but it does not stop there. The fertility of the day should be discussed as well as the intention of use (to avoid or achieve pregnancy). Together they put that intention into practice. Speaking of putting intentions into practice…

SPICE
If there is an intention to avoid pregnancy, then all genital contact on days of fertility is avoided. So, what does a couple do to connect on these days? It would not be healthy to just avoid each other all together. There are more ways to interact with our spouses that can lead to a deeper intimacy that does not include genital contact. Practicing chastity in marriage can be difficult but it can also be rewarding. That is where SPICE comes it. SPICE stands for the Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Creative and Emotion aspects of communication and sexuality. Attention to all aspects of our sexuality leads to valuing our spouses as a whole person whether we are avoiding or achieving a pregnancy. The CrMS values this and gives young women and couples the tools they need to foster the development of SPICE in their lives. The result is successful implementation of the system and a more personal level of communication between spouses.

It works for any reproductive category.
   The Creighton Model has successful instruction for so many different reproductive categories. Whether you are breastfeeding, post-pill, pregnant, or pre-menopausal the Creighton Model can be used. You might ask, “What if my cycles are not always regular?”. To that we say, “No problem!”. Women who have long, short, or regular cycles can all use the CrMS successfully. It’s that good!

NAPROTECHNOLOGY
   NaProTECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology) is a women’s health science that monitors and maintains a woman’s reproductive and gynecological health. It provides medical and surgical treatments that cooperate completely with the reproductive system. Specially trained medical providers like physician’s, nurse practitioners and physician assistants offer NaProTECHNOLOGY all over the United States. They have helped women who have Infertility, painful menstrual cramps, Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), ovarian cysts, irregular or abnormal bleeding, Polycystic ovarian disease, repetitive miscarriage, Postpartum Depression, hormonal abnormalities, chronic discharges and more. NaProTECHNOLOGY aims at treating the underlying cause of these problems without the use of hormonal contraceptives that only mask the symptoms. Using the charted cycles NaProTECHNOLOGY providers can precisely time testing, make diagnoses and order specialized treatments. No other NFP method can do that! If you want to know more visit www.naprotechnology.com.

Can you see how this truly is a whole SYSTEM? I hope this article has shed some light on what the Creighton Model Fertility Care System can do for you. It has transformed the lives of so many people and I know it can do that for you too. If you are intrigued but still have some questions Ashwood FertilityCare has a sign up for free 15-minute Clarity Calls available on our website at www.ashwoodfertilitycare.com .

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Beginners guide to Living In Sync

1/28/2021

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As we come to the end of January 2021, some of us are moving forward in our goals and already seeing great amounts of growth as we take on this New Year and all that it has for us. Some of us are still in deep reflection of 2020 and sorting out where we want to go from here.

Over the past 4 weeks, I have been teaching more than 70 women in our 30-Day Seed Cycling Challenge about the functions and beauty of the natural hormones of the female menstrual cycles.

This 30-Day Challenge has been less about Seed Cycling and taking a supplement with promised results of "balance" and life-changing results after "Just 30-Days"; and much more about bringing awareness and reflection to each woman's unique natural cycle.

This week I reminded the challenge members to STOP and remember not to get overwhelmed in our quest to see a massive change in our menstrual cycles.

Remembering to focus on our mindset:

I have a Good Body, with a UNIQUE natural cycle!

Don’t label your cycle normal or abnormal, healthy or unhealthy, balanced or unbalanced. It is unique and it is yours.

We have the choice to Understand it, Embrace it, and Love it! Even though it can at times be challenging.

Understanding and being aware of where we are in our cycle is the first step in even thinking about "Living in Sync" or Embracing our cycle.

4 weeks ago most members of our 30-Day Seed Cycling Challenge Group most likely were not open and regularly talking about their natural cycles. But these women (some for the first time) are now shouting out in our Facebook group; #TeamEstrogen and #TeamProgesterone describing the phase of their menstrual cycle they are currently experiencing.

Each woman is becoming more aware of her natural cycle. Her normal, natural, and unique cycle!

If you have heard of "Cycle Syncing", you may have thought, that sounds like a lot of work! "I’m not cut out for that!"

Well frankly, I’m not cut out for bad PMS and high anxiety! So I choose to lean in and become more aware of what phase of my cycle that I'm in and how the cyclic variation of natural hormones are affecting me. I am then able to maximize my powers in each phase of my cycle instead of working against them and just trying to survive!

Learning a lot of information and wanting to take all of the massive action all at once will cause exhaustion and burnout. When we choose to make a massive change in our lifestyle we need to pick one or 2 goals at a time and build one more on at a time. This then allows us to know which changes are actually benefiting our system and which changes perhaps are not making a difference at all.

Step #1
The first step to "Living in Sync" with our natural cycles is to learn how to identify ovulation and tracking it. If you have not yet attended a FREE Ashwood FertilityCare Introductory Session of the Creighton Model FertilityCare System, then we invite you to do so or invite a friend that you know NEEDS this information. (Hint, every woman you know NEEDS this information!)

Next Steps
The next steps for "Living in Sync" are considering what we eat, how we exercise and practicing self-care in each phase of our cycle. This allows us to optimize how we feel and function in each phase!

Want to learn more about what to consider in your nutrition, exercise, and self-care throughout your cycle?

You can join our 30-Day Seed Cycling Challenge and enjoy all the past 4 weeks of teaching or enjoy this replay video from Week 4 - Living In Sync.

You can even Join in the challenge and complete this week's Action Step

Week 4 - Action Steps - #LivingInSync

Create a post on any social media account this week and Shout out how you are #LivingInSync with your natural cycle. Please tag @ashwoodfertilitycare in your post.

I'm so excited to see this growing movement of women joining together to normalize ovulation and menstruation! Today we look back and are grateful for the women who fought for women's right to vote. I hope that our daughters will look back and be grateful for how we fought for women's right to live fully in their natural cycles.

Are you with me!?

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Birth control for my teen daughter

1/21/2021

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Kari Beadner, CFCP, CBD (cbi)

Founder of Ashwood FertilityCare Center and Author of "Charting Health for Young Women"

You have heard me say it before... the most frequently asked question I get asked as a Wholistic Women's Health Advocate is: "Why didn't anyone tell me about naturally navigating my fertility and menstrual cycles sooner?"

Most recently I have observed mothers asking about what type of birth control others would recommend for their teen daughters. In mom's groups, I see hundreds of responses of the different birth control recommendations and then I respond with a comment about teaching their daughters about the natural cycles and seeking NaPro Technology for their challenges. Usually, my comment is overlooked in the sea of Birth control pill types, IUD suggestions, and stories for how "life-changing" birth control has been for their daughters in taking away their pain and "lightening their periods." my heart is in a puddle of tears as I know the "life-changing effects" these young women will have the longer they stay on birth control.

Last night was different!

A mom of a 13-year-old asked for help for her daughter's heavy periods and painful cramps. I commented: "Please don’t put her on birth control. I work with young girls and help them get access to NaPro Technology. I have a period tip sheet of how to deal with this that I can offer you. PM me"

I received a flood of PMs and requests for help! It is amazing to see that such a large number of women and moms are being told that the Birth Control Pill is the only help for their "period problems!"

What is more alarming is that moms believe that this "band-aide" approach is the best help for their daughters

Was this your story? Were you given Birth Control Pills as a young woman? Were you told this was the only fix for your period problems?

My client load is full of women who are dealing with the ill effects of Birth Control Pill use. Nutritional deficiencies, Hormonal imbalances, Anxiety, Depression, Infertility, and Miscarriage. Some have never known life with a natural menstrual cycle because they have had a synthetic hormone running the show for the majority of her life!

Most alarming still is that women have accepted this lie for now more than 60 years!!

For 60 years women have been told that Birth Control would give them the freedom that they desire and make everything better for them. From that point on education about our natural cycles and the very important fact that it takes 3-5 years for young girls to observe "normal cycles" have been brushed under the rug.

Women have accepted the Lie that to be a woman is to be: " in pain, dealing with PMS, Period problems and being hormonal" It some women have come to the point of saying "I hate being a woman and I hope I never have a daughter!"

But I want to scream from the mountain tops... There is a BETTER WAY!!

What if we reject the Lie!?

How would our work be different if:

We began to speak truth to women of all ages that they have been created with a good body with a unique natural cycle!

What if we told women that charting and navigating the beautiful natural cycles of fertility are what it is to be a woman?

What if it was normal for mothers to teach their daughters about all the beautiful reasons that they love being a woman because they have all been able to Understand, Embrace and Love their Natural Cycles?

What if mothers became excited to pass this life-giving information down to their daughters?

What if they knew that there are well-trained quality medical providers who are willing to listen to the menstrual challenges and work cooperatively with their bodies to find REAL SOLUTIONS to the underlying causes of any discomfort?

THIS IS NOT JUST A DREAM!
This is the true reality for ALL of our
Ashwood FertilityCare clients and our daughters!

Join the Movement!

If you have not yet learned how wonderful your body is join us for a FREE Intro Session of the Creighton Model FertilityCare System LIVE webinars available!
There is also still time to Join our 30-Day Seed Cycling Challenge where I have been giving a FREE Weekly training All about natural Hormones.
Sign up to get the replays!

If you have a daughter of any age begin learning about my
Young Woman Education Programs
for guiding your Daughter through Puberty, Adolescence, and Womanhood
without Birth Control!

If you have not yet been blessed with a daughter of your own,
think about the other Mothers and Young Women in your life
who need this "Life-changing" information.

HINT: Everywoman you know needs this!

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What I whis I had known before I began teaching fertilitycare

1/13/2021

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Kari Beadner, CFCP, CBD (cbi)

Founder of Ashwood FertilityCare Center

No matter how long you have been following my work as a FertilityCare Instructor and Doula, you know that I am passionate about women learning about how their natural bodies work.

In 2012, I was 31 years old, a new mom, and inspired to begin teaching the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. Inspired by my own need to KNOW how my body worked and a natural way to navigate my fertility, I also needed a "part-time" job.

Fast forward, 8 years I wish I had known that this NEED I had in my own heart to KNOW and UNDERSTAND my natural cycles and fertility is in every woman and this knowledge of her true interworking is so very important for her understanding of her identity, her wholeness, and her contribution to our world and the kingdom of God.

I wish I had known that as I began my fertility care work that I was entering into the true "War on Women".

It didn't take long to begin hearing the pleas:

"Why didn't anyone tell me about this sooner?"
"Why didn't anyone tell me the pill had so many damaging effects on my health?"
"I didn't know there was a reason for my infertility!"

These same questions continued to echo in my ears.
From 2015-2019 I thought the answer was to create more programs and to promote organizations that promoted a "Pro-Life" agenda.

Halfway through 2019, I realized that the "War on Woman" was more than fighting for the freedom to ovulate, gestate, and lactate but MORE! The FREEDOM to live in our broken culture as a light in the darkness, fanning my own flame and those around me became my focus. I began offloading roles from my very full plate to prepare for what God was preparing me for. This burning in my heart was a dream that God was cultivating and preparing for me.

As 2020 began and the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread, God met me and blew on my flame. Resources and tools came to keep the fire growing.

My goal is to focus on WHOLENESS and a Life of FREEDOM to serve the world and our culture out of this Wholeness and not out of burnt-out and depletion of trying to do it all.

I believe that the solution for our "out of control" world is in the heart of every woman.
As women are the center of life in our world we can fan the flame in each woman in the FREEDOM of growth to WHOLENESS and dignity of her life and the life that can come from her (spiritually or physically).

I'm excited to share more with you throughout 2021 about my quest for WHOLENESS and equipping you with the resources and tools that have been a fuel to my flame. If you are inspired to explore or begin your journey to WHOLENESS in your womanhood to experience a beautiful life and to inspire this in others I would encourage you to take the WHOLENESS QUIZ. Then let me know how it goes! I would love to hear about your score and what you may have learned about yourself.

My word for 2021 is THRIVE! I want to THRIVE in every arena of my life and I hope to be an inspiration to you as we travel this journey towards WHOLENESS together.

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Dr. Benjamin Paul, DO, CFCMC

12/29/2020

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Ashwood FertilityCare Center is honored to Feature NaPro Technology through 4 amazing Medical Consultants!
We would like to introduce you to each one of them. Please share your stories of how these amazing Medical Providers have cared for you with NaPro Technology and Restorative Reproductive Technologies which work cooperatively with the woman's natural cycles using the woman's Creighton Model FertilityCare chart.
Dr. Benjamin Paul, DO, CFCMC joined the Ashwood FertilityCare Team this year after completing his residency at University of Minnesota-Mankato. In September Dr. Paul completed his NaPro Technology training at the Saint Paul VI Institute for Human Reproduction.
Dr. Paul and his wife, Ashley (who also serves as a FertilityCare Practitioner) have made Humboldt, IA their home and they are excited to serve the women/couples of Humboldt county and beyond! The Pauls have 2 beautiful daughters and they serve as a family.
Dr. Paul says: "I chose family medicine because it is a specialty that focuses on the individual person and I cherish the relationships I have with my patients. I provide courteous holistic care where I am loyal to my patients."
"I felt called by God to be a physician and have been given the opportunities and skills to follow that calling. My passion is to assist others to find health, so they can pursue their own passions."
The first step to receiving a referral to a NaPro Medical Consultant is to begin charting with the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. Ashwood FertilityCare Center offers free monthly Introductory Sessions to begin the journey of learning the charting process to be used in the testing, diagnosis and cooperative treatment of most underlying menstrual cycle issues including PMS, unknown infertility, PCOS and Endometriosis.
Join us at our next Intro Session Webinar to learn more! www.ashwoodfertilitycare.com/get-started

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Life is a Journey... and it ain't always pretty

10/16/2020

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Melissa Rupp, FCPI

Written 9/6/2016

Life has definitely flown by in the last few years!
Just a little update on our lives:
I am still at my office and truly love my passion for helping people get well. I still am a Wildtree Representative and love using their products daily in our kitchen. I am also still a Young Living Distributor but more than that, I am an Oil Addict... John is now the owner of his own business and keeping very busy. Jack and Penny are still driving us crazy on a daily basis and are still escape artists! We are on an infertility journey that we never expected to be on. That is where we start... Over the next few weeks I will be writing regarding what has brought us to this point,
but today I want to begin with May 2015...

This is the day that I decided I wanted to take control of my own fertility... or so I thought. I had been having a lot of female related problems for years, but they had gotten much worse over the past few months. I remember having a period so heavy and intense that when my husband came home from work I was sitting in the chair in a complete daze. He was worried, said I was incredibly pale and for him to worry was the last draw for me. I made an appointment the next day to see my doctor.

I met with my doctor, who referred me to another physician and so the fertility journey begins. I was informed that I had 2 options, become pregnant or go on birth control (again). I knew that I would not be going back on BC, after so many years of being on it and the horrible effects it had on my mood, I just couldn't do it again. I also felt that it just wasn't the right thing for me. We had also been trying for quite some time to get pregnant but to no avail. I was tracking my temps, ovulation, and my symptoms like a hawk, but something wasn't right. I was not ovulating... at least not when I was "supposed" to be according to my charting (more on that another time!). My doctor decided that I should try Clomid, so we did. We jumped through the hoops, just like anyone else would feeling like this is your only shot at the one thing that you want more than anything else in the world. Let me tell you though, Clomid is not for the faint of heart. It made me angry, I mean really angry, depressed, uncomfortable in my own skin, my hair fell out, my face broke out, my body was a disaster, and I gained 12 lbs in the first 2 months. I have not considered myself "overweight" until my doctor decided to put me on a different medication on month 4, because I was now in a higher BMI bracket. (Due to the Clomid mind you!!!) We did all of the meds as directed for 4 months. Did they work? Technically Yes! But ultimately NO, because they were not treating any cause, just effects. Did I ovulate, Yes. Did I get pregnant, No. Were the side effects worth it? In my mind, for me. No.

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Ashley Beadner

10/15/2020

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Kari Beadner

Author - Certified FertilityCare Practitioner and Birth and Bereavement Doula

Kari Beadner, CFCP shares today about the miscarriage of her daughter, Ashley:

On 1/25/16, we learned that our precious baby girl had died in my womb at around 6 weeks gestation. She was then born on 2/6/16 at home. This is what began the longest 14 days of my life as I waited to deliver my baby who was no longer alive.
I never was able to see Ashley’s little face. We never saw or heard her heartbeat but she was undeniably alive. Today this little baby still leaves a huge hole in our family that has thankfully been filled with Love and Grace from our Father God and our Life-Affirming community.
What an impact this little 6 week old baby has on our family and community!
It breaks my heart more that there are people who would say my baby has no dignity. That there are those who even after seeing or even hearing a beating heart would say that a baby of any gestation is not alive. I grieve for my baby and I grieve for all of the babies who have passed through our world with no one to grieve for them. I am thankful that my baby is loved and though a surprise, so very wanted. I mourn for those who were not loved and died by dehumanizing hands telling their mothers that their little lives have no value.
I proclaim TRUTH that every life is worthy of dignity and that LIFE does very well begin long before birth and at the very moment when sperm meets the egg!
I have dedicated my life to educate young people the value of their lives and the dignity of ALL people no matter, age, skin color, location or belief system.
This will only be possible by an organic culture shift, beginning with education of young people about how their bodies have been made Good and that they have the ability to dignify others. That their bodies work and that we can celebrate and support their natural functions! In this knowledge men and women can make educated choices for their health and future families.
#miscarriage
#pregnancyandinfantlossawerness
#AshleyBear
#TeamBeadnerPartyof6

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Simon Paul

10/12/2020

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Author - Ashley Paul, FCPI

Life is full of miracles that change our world forever! Our little son Simon was nothing short of that miracle to our family! Our story of pregnancy began as anyone would expect. Having been newly married in June of 2016, being open to life and finding out our family was growing by one in the fall of 2016 and anxiously dreaming and anticipating our growing family was an exciting and unknown chapter that we had never yet entered.
Our pregnancy seemed nothing short of ordinary until I began noticing having increased swelling of my lower legs and slightly increased puffiness to my face. Assuming this was just a typical response to the later stages of pregnancy, I took steps of wearing compression socks and elevating my legs to help with increased inflammation. Not long after however, my symptoms began to worsen. One morning I woke up with a splitting headache and just feeling "off". My husband took my blood pressure and we soon realized that my pressures were highly elevated. I called my OB for triage and fortunately was able to be seen that afternoon for an urgent OB clinic visit; labs were ordered, urine analysis undergone, and an ultrasound was performed to check on our son. It was then that our OB doctor walked in and shared the news that our son was not receiving the proper blood flow to grow properly, there was excess protein in my urine, abnormal blood levels, and that our next step would be to transfer emergently to a larger city with a NICU available as both our son and I would need added support with a critical timeline. So many thoughts were racing through my head. Would our son be healthy enough to survive delivery? How would I be able to deliver our son when we hadn’t even had a chance to attend any birthing classes yet? What were those first moments as a family going look like at his birth? These questions along with so many others came over me.

We made the decision to rush by our own vehicle to St. Louis (a 2-hour drive from where we were currently living at the time) to be admitted to the hospital on bedrest and close observation. Over a 24-hour period, our pregnancy went from uneventful to life altering when our son was just 26 and 5 days old gestationally. I couldn’t help but wonder, how could this be happening to our family and why was my body not able to do what I always imagined pregnancy and giving birth to look like? I was given the diagnosis of severe pre-eclampsia which progressed quickly into HELLP syndrome and subsequently caused our son to have fetal growth restriction of weight below the 10th percentile for his age called IUGR. Our prognosis was poor and the plan to begin corticosteroid injections to stimulate our son's lungs, medications to manage blood pressure, constant fetal monitoring, and complete bedrest was begun. Delivery was anticipated to be anywhere from immediately to 3 months from admission to await our son arriving as close to term as possible. Our hearts were yearning for his delivery to be as close to term delivery as possible, but the medical signs remained to show us otherwise.

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