1 in 8: Fighting Our Way Through Infertility

05/14/2023

Mother’s Day is one of the hardest days when you are struggling with infertility. Think of all you, especially today.

Check out “A Mother’s Day Letter To My Infertility Sisters”

https://pregnantish.com/mothers-day-letter-infertility-sisters/

05/14/2023

Happy Mother’s Day to all the women out there who don’t have a child to hold in their arms. Today is your day as well because you are already a mom. You have a heart and soul of a mommy and you are enduring more then anyone will ever know and understand. 💗

12/19/2022

Telling someone who has lived or is living through a worst case scenario not to worry, will never help them feel safer. In fact, it only does the opposite. When someone is working through trauma they live in minute by minute safety increments. They reach one milestone and it feels safe momentarily, then they instantly go to the next. They will obsess about small details and worry about what if. The way to help is to validate the fear and talk about it. To walk them through it. Sit with them emotionally and help them carry the anxiety of it. Don’t make them feel ‘irrational‘ or ever second guess what they are feeling.

12/15/2022

How do I stop grieving infertility? While grief is not linear, support is critical. Vivian Nunez shares the difficult realities of infertility grief.

12/01/2022

Holidays are so hard when you are struggling to grow your family. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you know who could use some of your positive support. 🧡

How To Support Someone Struggling With Infertility During The Holidays 🌈🧡

1. Let them know you care. Ask how you can best support them during this time and offer to be an ear
to listen so they can vent and feel validated.

2. Don’t minimize their struggle or diagnosis. Infertility is not the same as a reproductively healthy couple taking longer than expected to conceive. Minimizing statements include:

“You just need to relax, you’ll get pregnant in no time.”

“You’re so young, you have plenty of time.”

“Are you sure you’re going it right?”

“You must be too stressed.”

3. Never offer unsolicited advice. If you’ve never struggled with infertility or are not their fertility
specialist, please never offer unsolicited advice. Again, struggling with infertility isn’t the same as a reproductively healthy couple trying to conceive.

4. Don’t complain about your children or pregnancies around someone you know who is struggling with infertility or life after pregnancy loss. Of course, your feelings are valid and you may need someone to vent to, but someone who is struggling with infertility is not that person.

5. Always ask if they are up for talking about their journey before asking questions and wanting to know more details. While they may be open about their journey, sometimes they are not always in the mood to talk about it.

6. Understand their decisions. No two fertility journeys are the same. Trust that they are choosing to do
what is best for their family. This can also be applied to their decisions on attending holiday gatherings or family events. Understand that they are making the right decision for their mental health.

7. Check in on your friends and family struggling with infertility and ask how you can best support them.
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10/06/2022

If you don’t know what to say when someone has experienced pregnancy loss, keep these in mind.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjVpcb1OpeS/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

10/05/2022

34 years ago on October 15, 1988, President Ronald Reagan declared October to be recognized as Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month.

On that day he said: “When a child loses his parent, they are called an orphan. When a spouse loses her or his partner, they are called a widow or widower. When parents lose their child, there isn't a word to describe them." This month recognizes the loss so many parents experience across the United States and around the world. It is also meant to inform and provide resources for parents who have lost children due to , ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, stillbirths, birth defects, , and other causes.

We know the loss you've experienced isn't just recognized during one month. However, it is an opportunity to join together as a community to break the silence and stigma of pregnancy and infant loss. For so many of you who have loved and lost, we see you. 🧡

09/22/2022

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

People with infertility are beyond exhausted.
Mentally.
Emotionally.
Physically.
Financially.
Spiritually.
That’s it. That’s the whole awareness message.
Exhausted.

08/23/2022

So true. Just listen.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Chm6drWOTOc/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

05/07/2022

If you have a friend who is a mom in the waiting or is a mom with empty arms, reach out to her. Let her know she is in your thoughts and that she is not forgotten.

Mother’s Day and infertility is a hard one. Yes, it may be one day but, when you live every day longing to grow your family and have a child of your own this day only amplifies your hurt and longing.

Mother's Day when navigating infertility and TTC

05/02/2022