Our Founder’s Story
“The year was 2005 and I had just suffered my first miscarriage.
After two years of dealing with secondary infertility and finally getting pregnant with the help of Clomid and IUI, the loss hit me especially hard. Over the next eight years, the vicious cycle repeated itself, and I lost five more babies. At the time, miscarriage, infertility, and mental health were taboo topics, surrounded by shame, stigma, and secrecy. With no one and nowhere to turn, I struggled to cope with the grief.
Meeting Rebecca was a game changer. Having experienced multiple miscarriages, Rebecca understood my pain perfectly; she was the first to empathize with my unique brand of loss and sorrow.
She was the only one who understood that I was a mess. She never told me to get over it. She let me cry and cry and cry until I had no more tears left. And when that happened, while fighting back her own tears, she hugged me until I was ready to let go. At the time, it was exactly what I needed.
Understanding how important emotional support was in my healing process, I searched for similar resources in the Jewish community, but I couldn’t find any that fit perfectly. While there were various community programs, they felt far too public for someone in such a sensitive position.
I realized there was a major void. As both a medical doctor and someone who had experienced infertility, I was uniquely situated to fill it. And that’s how IWSTHAB was born.
In August 2019, I launched the IWSTHAB social media community on Instagram and Facebook to bring emotional support and comfort directly to those who needed it.
The forum was an immediate success. Stories poured in from around the world, with women clamoring to share their experiences, tips, and support. Finally, Jewish people struggling with infertility had a place.”