Jillian shares her fertility journey from five miscarriages in three years and repeatedly being told her age was the problem to finding a more supportive medical team and giving birth to a healthy baby girl four days after her 44th birthday.
After conceiving her first daughter naturally at 37 and giving birth at 38, Jillian never expected that growing her family would become so difficult. Her first miscarriage happened at 39, followed by four more early losses. An American living in Rome, she saw multiple doctors, tried prescribed treatments, and began to feel increasingly discouraged by the message that IVF or donor eggs were her only remaining options.
But Jillian felt there was more to her story.
At 42, she joined Aimee’s group coaching and fertility eCourse. Together, they looked more closely at her history of pregnancy loss, family history of autoimmune disease, physical symptoms, nutrition, and emotional well-being. Aimee connected her with Dr. Vidali, whose referral led Jillian to a doctor in Rome who pursued more extensive testing and identified additional immune-related findings.
We discuss the fear of taking a break from trying, the emotional impact of being told you are too old, and the importance of finding practitioners who take your concerns seriously. Jillian also shares how nutrition changes, meditation, visualization, and boundaries around online fertility groups helped her feel more supported throughout the process.
Jillian became pregnant at 43, approximately three months after starting the additional treatment prescribed by her specialist. With close medical monitoring and continued support, she welcomed her second daughter at 44. Her story is an honest conversation about pregnancy after loss, self-advocacy, and learning to trust yourself while finding the care you need.
Key Topics
* Jillian had her first daughter in 2016 after conceiving naturally at 37 and giving birth at 38.
* Her first miscarriage happened at 39, beginning a period of five early pregnancy losses over approximately three years.
* Although the losses happened around five or six weeks, Jillian describes them as devastating.
* As an American living in Rome, she was navigating fertility care away from her home country, with the pandemic adding another layer of difficulty.
* Jillian saw approximately five different OBs and repeatedly heard that her age was the main explanation for her losses.
* Doctors introduced blood-thinning medication and progesterone, but Jillian experienced three further miscarriages while following that treatment approach.
* A family history of autoimmune disease led Jillian to wonder whether something beyond age needed to be investigated.
* Her own research introduced her to Dr. Braverman’s work, but she still felt stuck and unsure how to access the right support.
* At 42, Jillian joined Aimee’s group coaching and fertility eCourse, which she describes as a turning point.
* Aimee explains why Jillian’s history prompted her to seek a more detailed evaluation of possible immune-related contributors to her losses.
* They paused trying to conceive while pursuing additional testing and making changes to Jillian’s nutrition and lifestyle.
* Taking a break felt frightening because Jillian was already worried about time and getting older, but she also knew she needed a different approach.
* Aimee connected Jillian with Dr. Vidali, whose referral helped her find a specialist in Rome.
* Her new doctor ordered more extensive testing and took her concerns seriously after she had felt dismissed by other practitioners.
* Jillian describes feeling discouraged by her AMH and FSH results, but says her specialist helped her stay focused on the broader treatment plan.
* Aimee and Jillian review symptoms beyond fertility, including eczema, dry skin, fatigue, digestive concerns, and a history of heavy periods.
* Jillian followed Aimee’s nutrition plan for approximately six months and continued it into early pregnancy.
* She prepared her own bone broth and adapted the plan to the foods and supplements she could access in Italy.
* Their conversation also covers supplements, acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and abdominal massage as parts of Jillian’s individual care experience.
* Mindset work included noticing ways her body was supporting her and working through anger and the feeling that her body was failing.
* Aimee encouraged Jillian to protect her energy and hope by setting boundaries around fertility groups that increased her fear.
* Although Jillian is a therapist and coach herself, she recognized that she still needed support rather than expecting herself to figure everything out alone.
* Meditation and visualization became regular practices that helped Jillian reconnect with hope during a painful period.
* Additional testing identified immune-related markers, and her specialist added medication discussed in the episode as Neupogen.
* Jillian reports becoming pregnant approximately three months after starting that additional treatment.
* Her specialist monitored her closely during pregnancy, including regular bloodwork, which helped her feel more supported despite her anxiety.
* Jillian discusses continuing prescribed medications during pregnancy and the reassurance of having an individualized medical plan.
* She later transitioned to an OB and midwife whom she describes as supportive and shares the story of her second daughter’s birth.
* Her baby girl was born four days after Jillian’s 44th birthday, within approximately 18 months of beginning her work with Aimee.
* Jillian reflects on how the experience changed her personally and shaped the mother she became.
* She describes how repeated messages about being too old affected her confidence, and how coaching helped her question those beliefs.
* Choosing a small number of trusted practitioners and supportive communities helped reduce information overload.
* Jillian says she felt better with the nutrition and lifestyle changes, noticing improvements in her skin and reconnecting with activities that brought her joy.
* Aimee and Jillian discuss approaching nutrition as a form of care rather than punishment.
* Jillian shares why investing in support was difficult to justify at first and why she ultimately felt it was worthwhile.
* Aimee emphasizes that Jillian needed additional medical support alongside the nutrition, lifestyle, and emotional work.
* Jillian’s message to other women is to trust themselves, seek meaningful support, and make room to invest in their own care.
Timestamps
00:00 - Welcome to The Fertility Authority and Aimee’s root cause approach
01:48 - Introducing Stories of Hope
02:28 - Jillian’s story: five miscarriages and a baby at 44
04:11 - The conversation begins: learning to advocate for yourself
05:00 - A first daughter at 38, followed by five early losses
05:45 - The first miscarriage at 39 and being told it was age
06:11 - Seeing multiple doctors and trying prescribed treatments
06:45 - Researching other explanations and a family history of autoimmune disease
07:37 - Finding Aimee’s group coaching and fertility eCourse
08:20 - Connecting with Dr. Vidali and looking more closely at Jillian’s case
09:26 - Previous treatment, a clotting factor, and the decision to pause
10:03 - Why taking a break from trying felt frightening
10:15 - Sponsor break: Aimee Raupp Beauty
11:21 - Taking a leap of faith and trying a different approach
11:35 - Finding a specialist in Rome through Dr. Vidali
12:58 - More extensive testing after feeling dismissed
13:26 - AMH, FSH, and the emotional impact of discouraging results
14:23 - Following Aimee’s nutrition plan
14:30 - Looking at physical symptoms beyond fertility
15:51 - Committing to the diet and preparing food in Italy
16:30 - Reviewing Jillian’s supplements and complementary care
17:42 - Mantras and rebuilding trust in her body
18:24 - Setting boundaries around triggering fertility groups
18:39 - Why therapists and coaches need support too
19:04 - Meditation, visualization, and mindset work
19:59 - Additional immune-related findings and a change in treatment
20:36 - Pregnant approximately three months after starting treatment
20:58 - Close monitoring and support during pregnancy
21:50 - Pregnancy care and conversations about age
22:20 - A supportive OB, midwife, and Jillian’s birth story
23:47 - Life with a healthy baby girl and reflecting on the journey
24:30 - Jillian’s message about mindset and self-trust
25:39 - Building a trusted support team
26:07 - Reducing notifications and information overload
26:39 - Feeling better through nutrition, lifestyle, and joy
27:55 - Making the decision to invest in support
29:03 - Finding doctors who listen and care
29:56 - Bringing medical care and lifestyle support together
30:46 - Jillian’s final advice: trust yourself and invest in your care
31:33 - Giving birth four days after turning 44
32:51 - Where to find more from Aimee and share your own story
33:26 - Closing encouragement, Substack, and next steps
Resources / Helpful Links
* Aimee Raupp Fertility Books
* Aimee Raupp Substack
* Aimee Raupp Beauty — Sponsor offer mentioned in this episode: use code PODCAST20 for 20% off.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aimeeraupp.substack.com/subscribe
