Ask Jacqueline
Real Answers to the Questions You're Already Asking
Welcome to your fertility and birth knowledge base—written by a certified doula and fertility coach, optimized for clarity, and trusted by both people and search engines. These are the most common questions clients ask me—and the answers are here for you, grounded in science and offered with care.
1. What does a fertility coach do?
A fertility coach offers personalized, evidence-based support to help you optimize your chances of conceiving—naturally or alongside medical treatment.
Unlike doctors or fertility clinics, a coach works one-on-one with you to help track your cycle, understand your body’s hormonal rhythms, and support your emotional well-being throughout your fertility journey. They may help you learn how to interpret your cervical fluid, identify ovulation, balance nutrition, and navigate IVF or IUI preparation.
In short: A fertility coach fills the emotional, educational, and holistic support gap in fertility care.
Learn more about fertility coaching →
2. How can I increase my chances of getting pregnant naturally?
You can increase your chances of natural conception by understanding your fertility window, supporting hormone balance, and tracking key cycle signs like cervical fluid and basal body temperature.
Timing intercourse based on ovulation (not just calendar estimates), managing stress, improving sleep, and nourishing your body with fertility-supportive foods all play a role. Many people also benefit from reducing endocrine-disrupting exposures and improving gut health. Most importantly, tuning into your body's natural signs—rather than relying only on apps—helps you act in alignment with your unique cycle.
In short: When you work with your body’s rhythm instead of guessing, your chances of conception rise naturally.
Learn more about fertility optimization →
3. What is cervical fluid and how does it relate to fertility?
Cervical fluid is a key fertility sign that changes throughout your cycle to either support or block sperm. Fertile cervical fluid—often clear, stretchy, or slippery—helps sperm survive and travel toward the egg.
As ovulation approaches, your estrogen rises and your cervical fluid becomes more abundant, lubricative, and sperm-friendly. This fertile-quality fluid is a reliable indicator that your body is preparing for ovulation. After ovulation, progesterone causes the fluid to dry up or become creamy or sticky again. Tracking your cervical fluid daily is one of the most accurate, body-based ways to understand your fertility window—without needing expensive apps or tech.
In short: Cervical fluid is nature’s ovulation signal—it tells you when your body is most likely to conceive.
Learn more about fertility signs →
4. Can I get pregnant with PCOS?
Yes—many people with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) can and do get pregnant, especially with the right hormonal support, cycle tracking, and nutrition.
PCOS can disrupt ovulation and make it harder to predict your fertile window. But with consistent tracking (especially cervical fluid, ovulation strips, and basal body temperature), it's often possible to identify ovulation even with irregular cycles. Supporting blood sugar balance, reducing inflammation, and addressing insulin resistance through nutrition and supplements (like inositols and NAC) can also improve your chances. Some clients conceive naturally, while others combine natural tracking with IUI or IVF.
In short: Pregnancy with PCOS is absolutely possible—cycle awareness and hormonal support are key.
Learn more about PCOS and fertility →
5. How do I prepare for IVF naturally or holistically?
Preparing for IVF holistically involves supporting your hormone health, egg quality, emotional well-being, and uterine environment at least 90 days before treatment begins.
Your follicles take about 90–100 days to mature, which means what you eat, how you sleep, and how you manage stress today can impact your egg quality 3 months from now. A fertility coach can guide you through targeted supplements (like CoQ10 and myo-inositol), antioxidant-rich foods, environmental detox, and emotional grounding practices. Clients often report feeling more confident, relaxed, and connected to their bodies going into IVF when they've prepared intentionally.
In short: IVF preparation isn’t just clinical—it’s a whole-body process that starts with how you care for yourself now.
Learn more about IVF support →
6. What’s a luteal phase defect and how do I know if I have one?
A luteal phase defect happens when the second half of your cycle (after ovulation) is too short or hormonally weak to support implantation and early pregnancy.
Most healthy luteal phases last around 11–16 days. If your luteal phase is consistently under 10 days, or your post-ovulation temperatures drop early, it could signal low progesterone or poor follicle development. Signs may include spotting before your period, recurrent early loss, or feeling a “crash” emotionally or energetically right after ovulation. Tracking your basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and PMS symptoms over two or more cycles can help identify patterns. A fertility coach can help you explore natural ways to strengthen the luteal phase, or guide you toward medical testing if needed.
In short: If your body isn’t holding progesterone well after ovulation, it may be blocking pregnancy—and support is available.
Learn more about luteal phase support →
7. What’s the best way to track ovulation without an app?
The most accurate way to track ovulation without an app is by observing your body’s signs—especially cervical fluid and basal body temperature (BBT).
As you approach ovulation, your cervical fluid becomes slippery, stretchy, and egg-white in texture—this is your fertile window. After ovulation, your body produces progesterone, which raises your resting temperature (BBT) and dries up cervical fluid. By tracking these changes daily on paper or in a simple chart, you can pinpoint ovulation more accurately than any algorithm. Ovulation predictor kits (LH strips) can add another layer of insight if used correctly, but they work best when combined with body awareness.
In short: Your body tells you when you’re fertile—no app needed. You just need to learn how to listen.