Rachel Shanken joins Aimee Baron, MD to talk about her journey to becoming an adoptive parent, something she never envisioned herself doing, the heartbreaking conversation as a single woman in her 30s when her doctors said that she may never have biological children and how she got married, but then struggled through the ups and downs of umpteen failed cycles to try to get pregnant.

What are some things that Jewish adoptees and families wish their communities knew?

This eye-opening resource comes from the Adoption and Jewish Identity Project @adoptionjewishidentity which was borne out of research they did, from surveys and oral histories they took from a diverse group of Jewish adoptees raised in American Jewish families.

Many people consider adoption not because they ran out of options.

They adopt because they want to give a child a loving home.

How does one move on from here? While her story is unique, there are so many pieces that are not. The fear. The pain. The loss of control. Powerlessness. Feeling that your body betrayed you. The unknown.

This is the a story of molar pregnancy. Please read with kindness and sensitivity in your heart, because this woman is in deep pain.

Read one woman's story about an extopic pregnancy and needing mental health support 10 years later because of the trauma it caused.

“I first started having symptoms back when I got my first period at 13. Ever since then, I remember excruciating pain and my Dr telling me to take 2 days off from school.”

“176 million women live with endometriosis and I am one of them. To me, this enigmatic and commonly misunderstood disease is a symbol of so much more than a simple illness.”

It’s not too late to extend another invite.

Thank you this follower for sharing this beautifully devastating poem.

The Silence of Infertility- From A Man’s Perspective

Try to let go of the “what ifs” and the idea that things could have happened differently.

Here are some of the infertility books that we have listed there — all from authors that we’ve personally interviewed.

Podcast Collaboration with Jscreen

Here are some grief books we recommend

Thank you to this follower for sharing this beautifully devastating poem 💔🫂

So many ups. So many more downs.

Thank you to this follower for sharing her story 🫂

I was given a pregnancy – and my pregnancy was taken away.

We know that what is visible on the outside is not always the full story.

Thank you to this voice from the community for perfectly describing this 😭😭😭

So many of you have written about your relationships and marriages being strained through the journey of infertility or after a loss, that it’s worth mentioning here.

“I’ve never told a single soul this, but the biggest reason I don’t want to do IVF is because I don’t think my marriage is strong enough to endure it.”

“Yet, we don't have kids to play with their kids at shabbos meals, go to afternoon activities with, or go to museums with. We have tried to fit in, but maybe it's better to not even try.”

Self care is so much more than what you may think 💞💞💞

Boundaries, boundaries, boundaries!!!

Swipe for some practical tips on how to set appropriate boundaries for Thanksgiving and every other holiday🧡

We think that self-care is about manicures and massages and walks in nature.

And it is.

But it is also sometimes about doing hard things. Having hard conversations. Dealing with people who you don't agree with. Attending an event when you would rather stay home.

Our advice - especially when things are rough?

Think about the those things and see what needs work. It can be transformative to focus on inner work when the world is spinning out of control. Because you can't make other people do what you want, when you want it.

But you can change yourself and the way you react the events around you.

It’s normal to feel jealous of your surrogate. She is living your dream.

As we’re highlighting our incredible Surrogacy Support Consultant, Aliza Konig, we’re zooming out on the realities of the experience.

Surrogacy gives many people the opportunity to grow their family when they otherwise couldn’t have and bring them the greatest joy. However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t grief and loss throughout the process.

And please remember, just because you didn’t carry this baby yourself, does not mean you are any less of a mother.

For all inquiries about surrogacy or to join a moderated WhatsApp group, reach out to Aliza Konig: Aliza@IWSTHAB.org

I will be honest and say that it took me a long time to be able to share my story without falling apart. But once I was able to, I have shared it so many times because I find that it gives people hope.

One of our followers says that this line usually shuts people up pretty fast.

However you choose to respond when someone asks if you are pregnant is perfectly okay.

Stop trying to figure out people’s fertility situation when looking at someone’s body.