A Black Mother’s Journey P2
In some spaces, strength is defined by how much we can carry in silence.
But for many Black women, that "strength" can feel like a heavy requirement with an unspoken pressure to just push through.
Thank you, Aliza Bracha, for sharing your powerful voice and story. This is part 2 of 2.
@alizabracha holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oakland University and a master’s in social work from Wayne State University. She is also pursuing a second master’s degree in edu from @michiganstateu in P-12 schools and postsecondary leadership & special ed. She's held leadership roles in several metro Detroit Jewish orgs and is dedicated to supporting her community through both clinical work and advocacy. She lives in Oak Park, MI with her husband, Aryeh, and their twins, Meira Chana & Shlomo Aharon.
A Black Mother’s Journey P1
In some spaces, strength is defined by how much we can carry in silence.
But for many Black women, that "strength" can feel like a heavy requirement with an unspoken pressure to just push through.
Thank you, Aliza Bracha, for sharing your powerful voice and story. This is part 1 of 2.
@alizabracha holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oakland University and a master’s in social work from Wayne State University. She is also pursuing a second master’s degree in edu from @michiganstateu in P-12 schools and postsecondary leadership & special ed. She's held leadership roles in several metro Detroit Jewish orgs and is dedicated to supporting her community through both clinical work and advocacy. She lives in Oak Park, MI with her husband, Aryeh, and their twins, Meira Chana & Shlomo Aharon.
5 Years-Shoshana Stavsky
Hey Aimee,
It’s been a while
Life has been lifeing
But something was off today
And then I realized why
So obviously I have to share with you what I wrote
Xoxoxox
Shoshana Stavsky
Voices from the community | your story | infertility | loss | pregnancy and infant loss | grief | death anniversary | due date | stillbirth | miscarriage
That time of the year
This time of year is so complex and filled with such a mix of emotions. This submission so beautifully captures what’s been on our hearts during these weeks.
Infertility and loss community | fertility journey | Jewish women | high holidays | hope | infertility life
Baby Blues
This anonymous author beautifully outlines the many emotions this time of year ❤️🩹
Give yourself the space to feel it all, we’ll be here to hold you through it
#jewishnewyear #ivf #miscarriage #ttc #primaryinfertility #jewishwomen
Rosh Hashana Story
“I thought that after everything I have been through - my mother’s cancer, getting married at 36, losing my job last year, my husband finding out that he had no sperm, doing all the tests and procedures, waiting and waiting and waiting, that this year would finally be our time. We had so much hope.
And now, I have nothing. We keep getting bad news after bad news, and I don’t know how much more I can take.
I really thought I was going to be pregnant by this year, and now I just don’t know what to feel.
I’m angry, sad, and numb most of the time. I hardly go out. And I don’t even know if I can go to shul (synagogue) on Rosh Hashanah.
I’m writing to you because I see how many people are out there suffering in this community, but I just feel so alone all the time because everyone I know has so many kids already. I know that I should feel lucky because I have my husband (a few of my friends are still single), but instead of feeling grateful, I’m just feeling depressed.
Is there anyone who can give me any strength or hope that this will get better?”
—Anonymous
#primaryinfertility #infertilityjourney #ttc #jewishwomen #jewishholidays #roshhashana
11 posts I saved this
Sending love to all of you.
Please rest…
Good shabbos-
Xoxo,
Aimee
#fridayfeels #fridayvibes😎 #fridaymotivation #fridayfinds
Back-to-school season
Does this sound familiar?🫠
Reminder: We know this time of year is busy… but please don’t make your friends who are single/don’t have kids/don’t have as many kids as you feel less-than with comments about how stressful and crazy your life is because of your children.
#backtoschool #infertility #miscarriage #stillbirth #secondaryinfertility #jewishwomen #jewishfamily
Back to school night
Back-to-school night in the infertility and loss community looks and feels different ❤️🩹
Swipe to read through this follower’s experience.
#secondaryinferility #backtoschool #pal #pregnancyafterloss #infertility #jewishwomen #jewishlife
My Purim Story
“Purim was always hard. I was sort of the aftermath of a tragedy. My father died when I was a year old. My mother never really recovered. But I didn't remember anything. “
Struggling With Personal Fertility Journey as an OBGYN
“The job of delivering healthy children to beaming parents all the while doing the herculean task of squashing your own bleeding internal wounds.”
Male Factor Infertility and Relationships
“After our diagnosis of severe MFI (male factor infertility), I told my husband the ball was in his court, and if he wanted kids he needed to take control and figure things out.”
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
“Every baby I deliver with my enthusiastic and charismatic smile and congratulations is a drip in the bucket. Every patient I see in the office, every heart beat I elicit with the doppler, every ultrasound I perform”
Dear Infertility
Dear Infertility, You never even bothered to announce your presence. One day I just turned around and realized there you were. And you were everywhere!
SIDS Story 30 Years Later
Thirty years ago, if you lost a child you were treated like a pariah. No one wanted to talk to you. They crossed the street when they saw you coming, because they didn’t know what to say.
My Endometriosis Journey
“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.”
Personal Stillbirth Story
“But I won't stop growing. I now have three healthy living children. Each pregnancy came with its own problems and losses in between. Many nights in the labor and delivery triage room getting monitored”
Our Primary Infertility Story
“We started our fertility journey dreaming and wondering what it would be like to have a family, to have little ones bouncing around, so we started to make that dream happen.”
Neurofibromatosis and IVF
“Once I got to high school, it was probably about 11th or 12th grade where my parents told me I would have to go through IVF to have kids. In my mind I was like, ‘Okay- No big deal.”
Being a Carrier for a Genetic Disease
“People talk about infertility and pregnancy loss as reasons they don't have the family they dreamed of. I've never heard of anyone talk about the genetic carrier issue.”