A quiet place to read, pause, and feel less alone. In the Reading Room, we write about the fertility journey as we’ve lived it – the body, the nervous system, the waiting, the grief, and the in-between. These essays are written by women who have been there, blending lived experience with gentle science, to offer steadiness when things feel uncertain.
How to actually relax when trying to get pregnant
Just relax' is useless advice when you’re trying to get pregnant. This piece explains why you can't force relaxation and what actually works instead. Understand where you hold tension (jaw, belly, breath), why modern life makes it harder, and gentle nervous-system practices that fit into what you're already doing.
Mindfulness & fertility: a nervous-system approach
Why meditation and breathwork actually work for fertility, explained through the nervous system. Learn the physiology behind mindfulness practices: how they shift cortisol, activate rest-and-repair, and help your body feel safe enough to conceive. Not another 'just relax' piece – this is about understanding what's happening in your body.
Stress, the nervous system & fertility
Trying to conceive can place a quiet, ongoing strain on the body – especially on the nervous system. This blog collection explores how stress responses, safety, and regulation shape fertility beneath the surface, offering a grounded, science-informed perspective without blame, quick fixes, or pressure to “just relax.” Start here to understand the foundation, then explore specific topics.