The power of your voice

The principle behind sound healing is layered. The idea that sounds and vibrations heal has been fundamental to many, if not most, cultures for centuries. The concept starts with the idea that certain vibrations promote circulation and may even stimulate our red blood cells through vibration. The evidence is limited because it’s very hard to measure in a controlled way. That said, there is definite evidence that sound therapy, or even just music, increases endorphins and decreases cortisol. I know I lost music during the years I was caught up in pregnancy tests and loss but, yes, integrating music or vibrational sound can actually be an effortless way to give you a huge mental boost. A systematic review published in the Journal of Psychosomatic

Obstetrics & Gynecology found that music therapy improved anxiety, satisfaction, and pain in women undergoing fertility treatment (link to article). It also found that there was an increase in clinical pregnancy rate. The increased rate was not considered statistically significant, but it was consistently reported.

So with all that said, the thing I really want to focus on is the power of the human voice. How often do you just look in the mirror and tell yourself, out loud, "I am healthy"?

The reality is, one of our greatest tools is inside us. External self-talk is such a powerful way to activate our neurolinguistic programming. It's a way to focus the brain and ultimately shift our internal narrative. Part of the process is changing the inner dialogue from "I am infertile" to "I have a healthy pregnancy and baby." For an IVF cycle, it's as simple as saying out loud "I am pregnant with a healthy baby" each time you give yourself your hormones. You don't necessarily need to believe it fully, but saying it out loud slowly transforms the way you, and your brain, process. Before you write me off, remember it's all interconnected. The brain is what sends signals to your body to release hormones. Chronic stress, which comes from the negative self-talk of trying to conceive, shifts the hormonal balance. One systematic review and meta-analysis (link to article) (these are the best studies as they look at multiple independent studies) showed that cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improved pregnancy rates in IVF embryo transfer.

Reframing the way you talk to yourself is a huge step forward in starting your family. When someone says stop stressing and you’ll get pregnant, you can ignore them. That stress is normal and experienced by most women trying to conceive. The stress we want to focus on is a much deeper, more ingrained stress. One we can slowly transform with the right tools.

(Stay tuned to read about the really strong data behind the mind/body connection and fertility, nutrition, and choosing the right supplements.)

Keep smiling