TTC Girls Stew Apples Now
Because sometimes the most low-effort ritual is the one your fertility needs the most.
fertility newsThe TCM Stewed Apples Era: Why Everyone Is Suddenly Simmering Fruit (And What It Actually Has to Do With Fertility)
What’s happening… Women on Instagram are simmering apples on their stove like it’s a personality trait and casually saying things like, “I’m Chinese now.” But also… why does this feel like something we all suddenly understand? Because underneath the aesthetic (and the slightly chaotic captions), something very real is happening. Women are quietly stepping into their Traditional Chinese Medicine era; and it looks like warm foods, less raw salads, and actually supporting your body. And honestly? That shift makes sense.
If you’re trying to conceive, or even just trying to feel like your hormones aren’t completely freelancing— you’ve tracked everything, you’ve taken the supplements, you’ve read the blogs and listened to the podcasts, and you’re still sitting there like:
Okay… what else can I actually do?
That’s usually where something like Traditional Chinese Medicine starts to feel interesting, because it looks at your whole body; which, for a lot of women, feels like the first time someone is actually connecting the dots.
So why is everyone suddenly cooking apples?… In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), digestion isn’t just digestion. It’s tied to your energy, your hormones, your blood flow, and your reproductive health. According to TCM, cold and raw foods can make digestion harder. Which means your body has to work overtime just to process what you’re eating. So instead of iced drinks all day, smoothies, plus raw fruit and veggies, TCM leans into: warm, cooked and easy-to-digest foods.
Which is where stewed apples come in. They’re warm, gentle on our digestive systems, nourishing and low effort for your body. When your body is already trying to regulate hormones or support fertility, this actually matters.
It’s not about the apples (but also, it kind of is)… Stewed apples are not a miracle cure to infertility, no one can say “eat stewed apples and get pregnant.” It’s more about what they represent. When you’re choosing warm, slow, intentional foods, you’re also calming your nervous system, supporting digestion, creating consistency, and adding warmth back into your body; and in TCM, warmth makes for better circulation, good circulation is better support for your reproductive system. Which sounds simple, but when you’ve been stuck in “do more, try harder, fix everything” mode, simple feels like a relief.
Ancient medicine, but make it make sense… Traditional Chinese Medicine has been around for thousands of years. It’s a full system that includes acupuncture, herbal medicine, body therapies and lifestyle adjustments. The core idea is that your body functions best when it’s balanced. In TCM, that balance is described as Qi (your energy) and blood flow. When those are flowing well, your body works better, and when they’re not, things start to feel off. If you’ve ever dealt with irregular cycles, hormonal shifts, and unexplained fertility struggles, you already know what “off” feels like.
The fertility question everyone is asking… Does TCM actually help? The answer is: it can. Research has shown that Chinese Herbal Medicine may improve natural pregnancy rates—and in some cases significantly. When paired with IVF, studies have found higher live birth rates when acupuncture and herbal support are added. Not a guarantee; but a supportive layer that more women are starting to consider.
Acupuncture: slightly intimidating, weirdly relaxing… If you’ve ever done acupuncture, you already know the progression; you’re skeptical, then you’re lying there thinking, “wait… this is kind of relaxing?” And for fertility, it’s doing more than just calming you down. It can regulate cycles, support ovulation, improve blood flow to the uterus, and reduce stress— which matters more than we like to admit, because stress and fertility are connected.
Herbal medicine… Chinese herbal medicine is personalized. Practitioners look at your cycle, your symptoms, your patterns, and create formulas specific to you. Common herbs like Dang Gui (for blood flow and ovulation) and Bai Shao (for regulating cycles) are used intentionally—not casually. Which is why it feels different than just adding another supplement to your routine.
The conditions women are actually using this for… Women are turning to TCM for real issues, including PCOS, endometriosis, irregular ovulation, painful periods and unexplained infertility. Basically, all the things we’ve been told are “just part of being a woman.” Because, maybe they don’t have to be.
The IVF layer… A lot of women aren’t choosing between TCM and IVF. They’re combining them. IVF is powerful—but it doesn’t always address the full-body environment. TCM focuses on blood flow, uterine lining, recovery and stress, which can support your body through a very intense process. It’s about building support for your body in every way you can.
Here’s where things get really simple... TCM recommends keeping your lower abdomen warm, eating warm, nourishing foods, limiting cold foods (sorry iced coffee lovers), and prioritizing rest. When was the last time our generation consistently did these things?
Why this is resonating right now… Because we’re tired of optimizing everything, tracking everything, hoping for results and feeling like we’re doing something wrong. TCM feels less aggressive and more supportive because it’s not asking you to do more. It’s asking you to do things differently.
So, are we all making stewed apples now?… Maybe. We don’t think it’s going to change fertility overnight for everyone, but it makes sense and it’s simple, grounding, warm, and actually doable. When everything else feels overwhelming… TCM is about doing something small—every day to support your body. Even if it starts with something as easy as stewed apples.
Related: The “Becoming Chinese” Trend: Why Hot Water, Boiled Apples, and Tea Are Everywhere Right Now And…How Keeping Your Feet Warm Boosts Fertility
what we're reaching for👏 The packing cubes that make life feel curated and calm—with everything tucked into its spot, we’re actually able to see what we packed, and suddenly the whole day vibes… a touch more peaceful and under control.
👖 Fertility hormones and bloating are literally the worst—getting dressed some days feels like your own body is sabotaging your vibe. So here’s our comfort-first guide to what actually feels good during fertility treatments—because if you’re already injecting hormones, the absolute bare minimum is pants that aren’t emotionally aggressive.
🌿 We’ve been using these and the difference in our face and ankle swelling is actually noticeable. It’s this blend of herbal ingredients that supports lymphatic drainage and helps your body move things along (which, honestly, we all need), and somehow it just works.
fertility news The Fertility Trend Everyone’s Secretly Booking
Cupping for fertility… Cupping is one of those things you see and immediately think, I’m not sure I’m ready for that. The marks. The cups. The whole situation. And yet… more women, especially those trying to conceive, are adding it into their fertility boosting routines.
Cupping comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine… It’s from the same world as acupuncture, herbal therapy, and yes… stewed apples. The idea behind it is pretty simple: your body works better when things are flowing. Blood flow, energy (Qi), circulation—when that’s moving well, your reproductive system has a better environment to function in.
For fertility specifically… Cupping is often used on the lower abdomen to help stimulate circulation to the reproductive organs and reduce what practitioners call “stagnation,” which is basically when things aren’t moving the way they should. It’s also used on the back and shoulders, which feels very relevant because that’s exactly where most of us carry stress—especially if you’ve been trying to conceive for a while and your brain has turned it into a full-time job.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine… There’s this concept of a “warm uterus.” It sounds niche, but it’s really just about circulation. Warmth supports blood flow, and blood flow supports implantation and hormonal balance. Techniques like fire cupping add a gentle heat component, which helps create that kind of internal environment—less tension, more support.
The experience itself is not as intense as it looks. It’s more like a deep, pulling pressure paired with warmth, and once you relax into it, it feels… surprisingly calming. The marks can happen, but they’re temporary and more about bringing circulation to the surface than anything else.
What makes cupping actually worth considering… Is that it’s not trying to override your body or force anything to happen. It’s working with your body—helping it release tension, improve circulation, and come out of that constant low-level stress state that so many of us are just living in without realizing it.
It’s not meant to be a standalone fix… Most women who use cupping for fertility are pairing it with acupuncture, fertility massage, or other supportive practices. Because at this point, we all understand this isn’t about one magic solution. It’s about creating the best possible environment for your body to do what it’s already trying to do. And honestly, that’s the shift. Moving away from “what else can I add?” to “how can I support myself better?” Because if your body feels constantly tense, rushed, and under pressure, it’s not exactly set up to thrive. But when you give it moments of warmth, circulation, and actual relaxation—even something as simple as lying there with a few cups on your back—it starts to respond differently.
Read more:How Cupping Helps With Fertility
the week at a glance 💌 Aubrey Plaza is reportedly expecting her first baby at 41 with actor Chris Abbott—and very on brand, it’s all happening without the usual oversharing. The two, who’ve worked together before, have kept things private, letting the news speak for itself.
💌 Actor Karishma Tanna is expecting her first child with her husband Varun Bangera — the baby’s due in August 2026. The 42-year-old shared the news on Instagram with a beautiful set of photos, and everyone’s been sending love and congratulations. Her pregnancy is also sparking important conversations across India about late-age motherhood and fertility, which is such a necessary discussion.
💌 Savannah Chrisley is opening up about her egg-freezing journey—and sharing that hasn’t been the effortless moment people imagine. From intense hot flashes to feeling bloated and uncomfortable, she’s sharing the very real side of IVF prep while also being clear about why she’s doing it.
💌 One woman turned her IVF journey into something unexpectedly fun by throwing what she called a “sperm shower”—basically a party where friends helped her choose a donor. It’s equal parts hilarious and actually kind of genius, turning a deeply personal (and sometimes overwhelming) decision into something supportive, light, and shared.
💌 The idea of a “biological clock” is starting to feel… outdated. More women are having babies in their 40s—and not as a last resort, but as a choice that fits their lives. From celebrities announcing pregnancies at 41 and 42 to more everyday women doing the same, the narrative is shifting.
💌 Surrogacy is rising, but in the U.S. rules vary by state. Without federal law, contracts, parental rights, and birth recognition depend on where you live. Thousands of gestational carrier cycles occur yearly. It’s a meaningful option but brings legal, emotional, and ethical complexities often not discussed openly.
💌 New fertility guidelines now recognize endometriosis as its own category—meaning women struggling to conceive with this condition may finally get more tailored care. Instead of being grouped into general infertility, this update reflects what many already know: endometriosis affects fertility in unique ways and deserves a more specific, thoughtful approach.
💌 There’s a new trend taking over men’s algorithms—and it’s all about “optimizing” sperm health. But somewhere between helpful advice and full chaos (yes, including extreme routines and questionable TikTok hacks), things have gotten a little intense. While awareness around male fertility is long overdue, the pressure to perfect it is starting to mirror what women have dealt with forever.
💌 After four miscarriages and nearly £70,000 spent on fertility treatments, Jessica Peacock became a mother at 47—and her son Oliver is exactly what she calls him: a miracle. Her story is one of heartbreak, persistence, and not giving up, even when the path feels impossibly long.
Photo: lobosworth/Instagram
‘Geriatric’ Pregnancy NewsLo Bosworth’s Fertility Journey Is the Kind of Story More Women Need to Hear
Lo Bosworth, just welcomed her first daughter, Nelle, in January 2026. And while the ending is beautiful, the journey to get there was… a lot—In a very real, very modern navigating fertility kind of way.
Lo started freezing her eggs at 33—which, as most know, is the kind of foresight more women are starting to consider. Her first round yielded nine mature eggs. Her second round at 35? Five.
As she moved into IVF, Lo ran into something a lot of women don’t discover until they’re already in the process of trying to conceive; Endometriosis. With something called a Receptiva biopsy—a test that can detect inflammation linked to endometriosis and implantation issues. And this is where her story started to shift from “fertility journey” to “oh, there’s actually more going on here.” Because endometriosis can impact egg quality, implantation and overall reproductive health; which, for Lo, meant IVF alone wasn’t the solution. She had to address the underlying condition first.
After her diagnosis, Lo underwent excision surgery to treat the endometriosis. And if you’ve ever been in any kind of fertility process, you know about the waiting, the recovery.
The timelines shifting, the constant recalculating of “what’s next.” It’s both physical and emotional; because every step feels like it matters—and also like it’s out of your hands at the same time.
Lo has been very open about the reality of IVF; the hormone injections, the physical toll, and the emotional intensity. And the part no one really expects… How consuming it becomes. Because once you’re in it, it’s not just a treatment. It’s your future, your schedule, your mental space and your daily routine. It’s everything.
After everything—the egg freezing, the diagnosis, the surgery, the IVF rounds—her first embryo transfer worked, which is what every woman hopes for, but also the part that doesn’t erase everything that came before it. Because when you’ve gone through that kind of process, you don’t just arrive at pregnancy carefree. You arrive aware of all it took to get there.
Even after welcoming her daughter, Lo has continued to be open about what comes next. Because postpartum isn’t always this clean, glowing chapter. She’s shared that she’s been dealing with a retained placenta and a large ovarian cyst, which is another reminder that women’s health doesn’t suddenly become easy once the baby arrives. It’s ongoing, and it deserves attention beyond just pregnancy.
One of the things that makes Lo’s story stand out is how honest she’s been about everything it took to get there. Because fertility struggles don’t always look intense from the outside; sometimes they look like doing everything early and still needing help, discovering underlying conditions later than expected, and navigating treatments that are physically and emotionally intense. If there’s one thing her story reinforces, it’s that you can plan, prepare and do everything “right,” and your journey can still look different than you expected; that just means it’s yours.
Stories like Lo’s are a reminder that behind every baby announcement, there often came quiet decisions, unexpected diagnoses, a lot of patience, and a level of resilience you didn’t know you had.
Related: Lo Bosworth Gets Real About IVF Journey: ‘We Are So Grateful’
what we're reaching for continued...🥂 When we wanted something to take the edge off without drinking—whether it was preconception, during any trimester, or honestly through this whole motherhood journey—we’ve reached for a calmer, cleaner option. This tincture was the one that worked.
🍊 Feeling bloated and just... off lately? Same. This is one of those tiny daily things that actually makes a difference—just a few drops and you feel like you’re at least trying to have your life together. We use it, our kids use it, and it’s officially part of the routine.
🤍 A space for women fully in it—IVF, pregnancy after loss, high-anxiety pregnancies—the emotional roller coaster no one warned you about. It’s everything the “just relax” crowd doesn’t understand.
Health & WellnessYour Sugar Habit Might Be Aging You Faster Than You Think
That daily sweet treat? It might be doing more than you think… Scientists are warning that sugar can trigger a process called glycation, where proteins in the body become damaged and essentially “caramelize” over time—yes, like actual sugar. These compounds, known as Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs), can speed up internal aging and have been linked to everything from heart disease and cognitive decline to fertility challenges and overall cellular health. And it’s not just obvious sugar—juices, cereals, and even “healthy” processed foods can contribute. When it comes to long-term health (and even how your body supports hormones and fertility), what’s happening beneath the surface matters more than we’ve been taught to think about.
Read more: How sugar “caramelizes” your body and accelerates aging
Perimenopause Is the Phase No One Prepared Us For… Yet
The years before menopause that women are finally starting to talk about… Most women know menopause is coming—but perimenopause, the years leading up to it, is where things actually start to shift. Think unpredictable cycles, mood changes, sleep issues, and hormonal ups and downs that don’t always make sense. While women in Western countries are starting to have more open conversations about this phase, many are still navigating it without clear guidance or support. Now, with more public figures speaking up, the conversation is slowly changing. Because understanding what’s happening before menopause isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for feeling in control of your body during a time that can otherwise feel completely unpredictable.
Read more: Perimenopause explained: What every woman in her 40s should know
From the ‘Geriatric’ Moms Group Chat👰♀️ Married people will understand…
👀 POV: Doing the dishes but you’re a mom.
👯♀️ The kind of sensory overload only we can understand.
🩷 When he sees the labor we put into making holidays special.
📸 Don’t talk until we have at least 3 useable options…
👩💻 For the work from home parents…
Fertility NewsIVF Just Hit a Major Milestone in the U.S…. For the first time ever, more than 100,000 babies in the U.S. were born through IVF in a single year—marking a major shift in how common fertility treatment has become. Read the full story.
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