For some women the road to pregnancy includes a wild night of passion and not much else, but for so many more the road to pregnancy is a process. A process filled with fears, doubts, shame, financial burden, medical intervention, support and hope.   About 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the US ages 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant, according to the CDC. Today’s episode is for the 6.1 million women who have had and the millions of women who will experience difficulty with conceiving and birthing a child. Myself and today’s guest, Shalmeka Sweet, are part of the 6.1 million women. This episode is for us.   Shalmeka is a counseling faculty member at South Mountain Community College teaching an array of psychology and counseling classes along with providing counseling services to students. She is also co-host of The Beyond Conception podcast, in which, she her husband share their 9-year infertility journey with a dose of faith, hope, love, and laughter to help couples conceptualize everything that is beyond their conception Want to connect with Shalmeka? Visit her on IG: be_conceptionListen to her podcast: The Beyond Conception Podcast on all major podcast platforms   Tune in to the Sugar Free Podcast everywhere podcasts are available: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/.../the-sugar.../id1573862487 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/.../aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3VnYXJmc... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0G7127VhGnhnD36X0t72gm Amazon/Audible: https://music.amazon.com/.../ebc55.../THE-SUGAR-FREE-PODCAST   ADVERTISEMENTS: Shop with The Sugar Free Podcast advertisers: The Lip Bar – Want lipsticks that pop on EVERY shade of black and brown? Enjoy 10% off at The Lip Bar when you click this link https://thelipbar.com/pages/_go_?ref=4474:355417&discount=SugarFree&utm_source=Affiliates&utm_medium=Homepage or use code SugarFree at checkout. Formally Forms– Need contract templates and forms for your business? Visit www.formallyforms.com for easy-to-use contract templates and forms for your business. Use code: SUGAR to receive 20% off your next purchase Building Bread—Want to start investing in the stock market? Purchase the Investor’s Toolkit by clicking this link: https://buildingbread.thinkific.com/courses/the-investor-s-toolkit?ref=85305c AND this link will also get you 25% off your purchase.   RESOURCES AND TOOLS Black Midwife services in Phoenix Metropolitan Area: LaKisa Muhammad IG : amothersworth   Arizona Black  Birth Workers of  Color IG: arizonabirthworkersofcolor The Black OBGYN Project IG: theblackobgynproject Resolve IG: resolveorg   Book on PCOS M.D., F. W., & Ryan, G. (2006). A Patient’s Guide to PCOS: Understanding--and Reversing--Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (1st ed.). Holt Paperbacks.   Naturopathic Medicine in Pheonix Metropolitan Area: Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences   *The Sugar Free Podcast does not endorse any of these resource, nor has it utilized any of these services and thus cannot attest to their credibility, fitness or effectiveness. Please do your own research prior to engaging a healthcare professional.