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Preparing for Pregnancy with Autoimmune Diseases: What Women Need to Know

If you’re navigating an autoimmune condition and thinking about starting a family, you’re not alone. Many women with autoimmune diseases can and do have healthy pregnancies—but it takes a little more preparation and support. At Connected Healing, we specialize in fertility care that blends functional medicine and Chinese medicine to support the body holistically. Whether you’re in Milwaukee, elsewhere in Wisconsin, or connecting with us virtually, this guide walks you through how to prepare your body and mind for a safe, supported pregnancy journey with autoimmunity in the picture.

This is for you if...

  • You’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition like Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or celiac—and you’re feeling unsure about how it might affect your fertility or pregnancy.
  • You’ve tried Googling, asking doctors, or joining forums… but still don’t have a clear plan that feels tailored to your body.
  • You’re thinking about starting a family soon (or trying now), and you want to feel confident that your body is in the best possible place to support a healthy pregnancy.
  • You’re tired of being dismissed or given vague answers—and you want a practitioner who truly understands the layers of autoimmunity and women’s health.
  • You’re open to a whole-person approach that blends nutrition, root-cause functional testing, and lifestyle support (not just managing symptoms).
  • You want to work with someone who will look at the full picture—your labs, symptoms, history, and goals—and help you build a plan that’s clear and doable.

Understanding Autoimmune Diseases and Fertility

Autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or celiac disease can affect your fertility, hormonal balance, and inflammation levels. These conditions often cause the immune system to overreact or target the body’s own tissues, which can disrupt ovulation, implantation, and hormone regulation. Understanding your specific diagnosis and how it interacts with your reproductive health is the first step toward a successful pregnancy.

Conventional medicine isn’t designed to find the root cause.

do any of these sound familiar?
  • Your lab results are "normal", but you struggle daily with symptoms that affect your quality of life
  • You've seen multiple doctors and are no closer to getting answers or relief
  • Your physical/mental health keeps you from living life the way you want to
  • Your doctor has told you "you'll just have to live with it"
  • You're looking for an option besides prescription medications or invasive surgery
  • You're beginning to wonder if you'll ever feel like yourself again

...you’re not alone. Most care models focus on symptoms (not systems), and they often miss the full picture and rely on
generalized protocols that don’t work for everyone.

That’s why at Connected Healing we do things differently

We bring together the best of functional medicine, Chinese medicine and holistic health to get a full-body picture of what’s happening at a foundational level so your body's naturable abilities are restored.

Functional medicine

gives us the science using labs, data, patterns, imbalances, and deeper insight into your hormones, nutrients, thyroid, gut health, and more.

Chinese medicine

brings the wisdom by addressing the energetic patterns, organ systems, cycle observations, and subtle signs your body’s been giving you all along.

Together, these two systems allow us to see the whole you. Not just your ovaries. Not just your labs. But your stress, your digestion, your sleep, your cycle, your energy, your resilience and everything in between.

About Connected Healing

Connected Healing is an holistic health and integrative clinic based in Milwaukee, offering personalized fertility, hormone, and reproductive health support through a root-cause lens. Our care combines the science of functional medicine with the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine addressing not just lab results, but the full picture of your health: your cycle, symptoms, nervous system, lifestyle, emotional well-being, and beyond.


Whether you’re working with us virtually or in person, our team is here to guide you with thoughtful strategy, compassionate support, and a plan tailored to your body.

You deserve care that’s built around your body, not a checklist.

We’re not here to rush your journey or push a one-size-fits-all solution. We're here to listen, to dig deep, and to walk with you toward clarity, healing, and hope so you’re one step closer to holding the baby of your dreams in your arms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Preconception care is especially important for those with autoimmune conditions. A root-cause approach gives you the time and space to reduce inflammation, rebalance nutrient deficiencies, stabilize hormones, and get your medications or supplements dialed in before conception. We typically recommend starting this process at least 3–6 months before actively trying to conceive, depending on the severity of your symptoms.

If you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition and are planning to conceive within the next year, now is the perfect time to reach out. Early support leads to smoother transitions, fewer surprises, and a more empowered experience. Whether you’re already working with a rheumatologist or unsure where to start, we can help bridge the gap with integrative care.

Still have questions?

We’re happy to help. Feel free to reach out or give us a call at (414) 238-4511 and our team will guide you in the right direction.

What kind of support do you need?

* Our Functional Medicine Programs are available virtually nationwide and in-clinic *

Functional fertility care

For women trying to conceive, have unexplained infertility, failed IVF/IUIs, or are planning to start trying to conceive soon

functional medicine care

For women dealing with hormone imbalances, fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, or symptoms that feel “off” with no clear explanation

We don’t chase symptoms. We uncover what’s underneath.

Most conventional care treats symptoms in isolation. We take a different approach and look at your body as a whole system. Whether you’re coming in for acupuncture or functional nutrition, we work to identify the patterns behind your symptoms and guide your body back to balance using time-tested modalities and modern lab insights.

Local to Milwaukee? We offer in-person acupuncture and integrative therapies, too!

If you're based in or near Milwaukee, we offer a full range of in-person services including acupuncture, cupping, guasha, microneedling, and more. These therapies can be layered into your functional medicine plan or booked on their own for support with pain, stress, hormone balance, and skin health.

Connected Healing is a leading integrative therapy, Chinese medicine, and functional medicine practice based in the Franklin, Wisconsin that specializes in fertility, acupuncture, women’s health and whole body, integrative care.
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7441 S. 27th Street, Suite 102, Franklin, WI 53132
contact@connectedhealingllc.com

(414) 238-4511

serving the greater milwaukee area and virtually nationwide