Wolfe says: "Nutrition counseling goes beyond fertility treatment; I want patients to take these new habits into their pregnancy and beyond because it impacts the health of the baby and the family in the future.”
Norwalk, CT (PRWEB) July 08, 2015
Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMACT) has hired Laura Wolfe, RDN, CDN, CDE, as their second nutritionist to meet with patients in both the infertility and the polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) programs. Since starting its Nutrition Program in 2009, RMACT has had an increased need for nutrition counseling, and these services have had a significant impact on patients’ ability to conceive.
“Good eating habits are essential to giving patients the best possible chance of successful fertility treatment,” says Wolfe, who has extensive knowledge and practical patient experience with metabolic conditions such as PCOS, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. “Nutrition counseling goes beyond fertility treatment; I want patients to take these new habits into their pregnancy and beyond because it impacts the health of the baby and the family in the future.”
Wolfe has been a practicing nutritionist since graduating the University of New Haven in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. She has also earned several certifications: Registered Dietician (2011), Certified Dietary Nutritionist (2012), and Certified Diabetes Educator (2014). She has a special interest in family counseling, particularly for diabetes and prevention of chronic disease, pediatric obesity and gestational diabetes. Wolfe counsels in group settings, as well as one-on-one with a gentle approach to provide guidance about healthier eating behaviors.
RMACT recommends balanced nutrition and a healthy lifestyle for all fertility patients. Nutrition management is particularly important for patients with PCOS, anemia, and elevated blood sugar levels, as well as patients who are underweight or overweight. There is a strong link between diet and fertility because eating habits affect how our bodies function, including our hormonal health.
“I’m excited to have Laura on the team because she understands that comprehensive wellness can improve fertility for both partners, shorten time to pregnancy, and result in a healthier pregnancy and healthy child,” says Carolyn Gundell, MS, the lead nutritionist who started RMACT’s Nutrition Program six years ago. “By working in conjunction with RMACT’s reproductive doctors and fertility nurses, we have a complete understanding of each patient’s overall health and fertility treatment plan.”
RMACT’s Nutrition Program is part of the fertility practice’s Integrated Fertility and Wellness (IFW) Program, which includes acupuncture, yoga, support groups, counseling and mind-body coaching. These comprehensive services support patients’ emotional, mental and physical well-being while undergoing infertility treatment, all in one location with a team of medical providers who consult with each other.
“The more medical research that scientists conduct, the more importance we place on a holistic approach to reproductive care,” says Spencer Richlin, MD, a fertility specialist and partner at RMACT. “It’s not enough to offer IVF; we have to understand our patients and their reproductive health. Our comprehensive team includes physicians, nurses, nutritionists, and counselors because there is an undeniable link between nutrition, hormone production, reproductive health and fertility.”
About Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMACT)
RMACT specializes in the treatment of infertility, including assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilization (IVF), and Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening (SelectCCS). RMACT, Fairfield County’s largest fertility clinic and egg donation center, is one of 11 leading In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) centers nationwide chosen by In Vitro Sciences to participate in its Centers of Excellence program. RMACT has offices in Norwalk, Danbury, Stamford and Trumbull, and an affiliate New York fertility clinics serving Putnam and Dutchess counties. RMACT also offers infertility treatment financing and support services, such as nutrition counseling, massage therapy, psychological counseling, acupuncture and yoga, through RMACT’s Integrated Fertility and Wellness Center.
The RMACT team includes lead physicians Drs. Mark P. Leondires, Spencer S. Richlin and Joshua M. Hurwitz, as well as fertility specialists Drs. Cynthia M. Murdock and Shaun C. Williams. All five physicians are Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologists and are members of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the Fairfield County and Connecticut Medical Societies. Each has received numerous awards, and all five are Castle Connolly "Top Doctors." RMACT’s IVF laboratory is accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and CLIA; other accreditations include the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and the American Institute for Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). For more information visit http://www.RMACT.com or find us on Facebook.
