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! 
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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!
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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!

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?

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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

Elizabeth Wessling, FCP