Happy Friday! We miss you all so much and cannot wait to share Season 3 with you in just two short weeks. We know podcasts can feel more one-way than interactive, but it means everything to share where we’re at in real time and what’s happening in our little Los Angeles fertility bubbles (hint: it includes more retrievals), especially when we get to hear back from you in the comments, emails, and on social media.
All this to say: we can’t wait for Season 3 (Episode 50!!!) to drop on April 24. Make sure you’re following us on Spotify & Apple so that you get notified as soon as it’s live.
As we are gearing up for some big and exciting pod things (merch!? new intro song!? the most inspiring doctors and experts!?), we are keeping this week’s newsletter short and sweet and fun. And what’s more fun than a little emotional support shopping (from bed, no less) while preparing for your next round of IVF? We’re calling it retail therapy, but make it fertility-core.
Here’s everything we bought this week for our upcoming retrievals this summer.
xo Amy & Kayti
🪩 We love this simple caboodle because it feels more minimal and elevated than the bright pink ones we used in past IVF cycles. Plus, how cute is the little flower detail, & it has so much storage space for needles, Band-Aids, etc. Stay organized, friends!
🪩 We both restocked our supplements this week, which felt equal parts triggering and satisfying (iykyk). We love WeNatal for their science-backed ingredients and thoughtful formulas, but also because we’re lucky to call the founders friends & they’re doing so much for the fertility community, especially in Los Angeles. The gorgeous glass jars and easy subscription refills justify the investment, especially with how stressful and depressing IVF can be.
🪩 I (Kayti) splurged on these pants to feel a bit more put together during retrievals in spring/summer. It’s also hot in Los Angeles, so it’s hard to get away with sweatpants when it’s 100 degrees out, and you feel super bloated. I have another pair of LOF pants that I’ve worn into the ground, so I know I will get my money’s worth out of these. Alternatively, these are my favorite $30 drawstring jeans that I wore through IVF & pregnancy in 2024 (and will be adding to the rotation again).
🪩 (Amy) Not a purchase but a download! This album feels like it was written for someone going through infertility. It’s giving hope, badassery, women banding together and resilience. I’ll have it on repeat while driving to monitoring appointments.
🪩 Boring but necessary: the best bone broth and electrolyte powders for pre and post retrieval.
🪩 These Allbird slides are 50% off and perfect for feeling a bit more chic yet still comfortable on monitoring, retrieval, and transfer day.
🪩 Do not - we repeat, do not - forget stool softeners (obvs chat with your doc about anything you’re taking though)
🪩 Likewise, make sure you have a heating pad! Our favorite one is this cute floral print (it has 12 heat levels and is machine washable). It’s currently on sale.
🪩 (Kayti) This may sound silly, but it’s a life hack I love: I bought myself a gift card to my favorite coffee shop in Los Angeles (shoutout, Stereoscope). This way, I can get a treat after IVF appointments or on hard days, and it feels like a “gift” because I already paid for it 😂
🪩 (Amy) My treat to myself was booking a facial! 🧖♀️ If I’m going to be poking myself with needles and riding estrogen waves all summer, I deserve a little spa day.
🪩 We just added these to our Amazon carts because, as you all know, we lovvveee our cooling undereye patches for early morning monitor drives.
🪩 (Kayti) I’m trying to be more intentional about my scrolling habits and stay off my phone in waiting rooms. I even got a Brick to help with setting social media boundaries, especially because I like to doomscroll and get on Reddit once I start getting results in. All this to say, I’m keeping books in my bag for appointments. Amy Gallo Ryan’s memoir about infertility and IVF is keeping me present and helping me to process big emotions during this journey (she may or may not be on the pod for season 3 👀), and, when I want fiction, it’s The Dream Hotel.
weekend mood:
Wait, I LOVE the life hack of buying a gift card to your local coffeeshop for appt day treats.
Also, I grabbed not one, but TWO pairs of those drawstring "jeans."