The Science of Motherhood

The emotional side of a fertility journey is real, and it's the part that often goes unspoken. You can walk into treatment prepared with every medical question imaginable and still feel blindsided by the weight of the waiting, the uncertainty, and the grief that can come when things don't go to plan.
That gap deserves more airtime than it gets.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Giselle Crawford, fertility specialist and gynaecologist with more than ten years of experience in obstetrics, gynaecology, and infertility care, to explore the emotional terrain of fertility treatment and what genuinely good care looks like from the inside. They cover everything from managing expectations through the IVF process, to navigating grief, supporting your relationship, and knowing when to pause.
This episode is Part 5 of the Trying to Conceive series on The Science of Motherhood.
You'll Hear About:
Why emotional preparation matters as much as medical readiness
How to understand the concept of attrition in IVF
What stress actually does (and doesn't) do to fertility outcomes
How partners can move from spectator to co-pilot
Why stopping treatment isn't giving up

Having language for what you're going through makes it easier to carry. This episode gives you that, alongside the science to back it up.
If someone you love is navigating fertility treatment right now, this is the episode to share with them. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links:
📲 Follow Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services: ifillyourcup.com
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🌐 Dr Giselle Crawford's website: www.drgisellecrawford.com.au
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart, and Perth.
Disclaimer: The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

If you've been trying to conceive for a while, you've probably found yourself down a research rabbit hole at some point, reading forum threads at midnight and trying to decode acronyms you barely know. IVF, IUI, FSH, ICSI. The information is out there, but it doesn't always feel like it was written for you.
Understanding the difference between your options, and knowing the right questions to ask, can make a conversation with a fertility specialist feel far less overwhelming.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Denise Nesbitt, obstetrician, gynaecologist, and fertility specialist at Hunter IVF, to unpack the key differences between IUI and IVF, including when each is recommended and what to actually expect from both processes. They explore sperm health, egg freezing, success rates, and what's really happening during the two-week wait.
This episode is Part 4 of the Trying to Conceive series on The Science of Motherhood.
You'll Hear About:
How doctors decide between IUI and IVF
What actually happens during each fertility cycle
Why sperm health matters more than most people realise
What success rates mean and what influences them
How to emotionally prepare for the two-week wait

Starting this journey is brave. Having the right information means you can walk into that appointment knowing the right questions to ask, and feeling far less alone in the process.
If you know someone who's navigating fertility treatment, share this episode with them. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Follow Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_ 🌐
Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Learn more about Dr Denise Nesbitt and book an appointment at Hunter IVF
🔗 Your IVF Success — calculate your personalised IVF success rate using Australian data
🔗 Egg Freezing Australia — calculator to help you understand how many eggs you may need
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

You've probably been told to "just relax" at some point on your fertility journey. Maybe by a friend, a family member, or even a health professional. And if you're anything like most people trying to conceive, you probably wanted to throw something at them.
That advice isn't just unhelpful. It's both slightly right and completely missing the point.
In this episode, Dr Renee White unpacks the real science behind stress, mindfulness, and fertility, cutting through the noise to tell you what the evidence actually supports, what it doesn't, and what's genuinely worth trying.
This is part three of our six-part Trying to Conceive series.
You'll Hear About:
Why stress and reproduction are biologically competing systems
How chronic stress disrupts your cycle and hormones
What mindfulness reliably improves (and what it doesn't)
Why pregnancy rate claims need more evidence behind them
Five evidence-backed practices worth integrating now

The fertility journey asks so much of you. It can feel like your body is working against you, when the science tells a more nuanced story. Your nervous system and your reproductive system are in conversation, and understanding that relationship puts something real back in your hands.
Share this episode with someone who's been told to "just relax" and deserves a better answer. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Follow Renee on Instagram: fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer
The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

Most of us weren't taught that what happens before conception matters. You were told to take a folate supplement, book in when you got a positive test, and go from there. But there's a window of time before you even start trying that can shape not just your pregnancy, but your child's long-term health.
The science on preconception care has moved significantly, and most people still aren't hearing about it.
This is Part 2 of our six-part Trying to Conceive series.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Eliza Hannam, GP, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and founder of Nurtured Medical, a specialised perinatal clinic in Sydney, to explore what genuinely evidence-informed preconception care looks like. Together they unpack what the periconception window actually means, what testing is available and when to seek it, and what both partners can do to optimise health before pregnancy begins.
You'll Hear About:
Why preconception health affects your child's long-term metabolic health
What a thorough preconception GP appointment covers
Which supplements and nutrients matter most before conception
How to read your cycle beyond what any app can tell you
When to seek fertility support without waiting 12 months

The periconception window is a gift of time, and knowing how to use it well changes things. You don't need to be a biochemist to understand it. You just need the right conversation.
If you know someone who's thinking about starting a family, share this one with them. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Dr Renee White:
📲 Follow Renee on Instagram: fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Dr Eliza Hannam:
🌐 Website — www.nurturedmedical.com.au perinatal GP clinic, Sydney Inner West (telehealth available Australia-wide)
Follow Eliza on Instagram: @dr.eliza.hannam | @nurturedmedical
Start the Trying to Conceive series from the beginning — head to Episode 227 on The Science of Motherhood feed.
Mentioned in this episode:
Mackenzie's Mission — government-funded carrier screening for cystic fibrosis, fragile X, and spinal muscular atrophy
Mothersafe — free medication helpline, NSW
In the Flow by Alisa Vitti

This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer: The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

Fertility preparation begins months, sometimes years, before you start trying to conceive. Knowing what to look for, and when, could change the entire shape of your conception journey.
If you've ever wondered whether your body is actually ready for pregnancy, or whether there's something your results aren't telling you, this conversation will change how you think about your health.
In this episode, Dr Renee White sits down with Megan Haralampou, degree-qualified Naturopath, Nutritionist, and Biomedical Science graduate, to unpack what a truly comprehensive pre-conception blood panel looks like and why the standard tests often aren't enough. Together they explore iron absorption, thyroid antibodies, cycle tracking, postpartum blood work, and how to read your results through an optimal lens.
This is episode one of our six-part Trying to Conceive series.
You'll Hear About:
Why "normal" blood results can miss a fertility concern
What a complete iron picture actually looks like
How to track your cycle beyond a period tracking app
When to get blood tests done after having a baby
What postpartum thyroiditis has to do with depression

Understanding your body before pregnancy, and after, is one of the most practical things you can do for your health. You deserve care that looks at the full picture, not just what fits inside a reference range.
Share this episode with anyone who's thinking about trying to conceive and wants to go in prepared. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Renee
Follow Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Megan
Website: thebiomedicalnaturopath.com.au
📲 Follow Megan on Instagram: @thebiomedicalnaturopath
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.