In the meantime
“My therapist has been helping me through the pain that is this journey and she gave me a prompt to write a movie about my life. I am going to share it here because if it can even reach another likeminded person and make them feel less alone I am here for it.”
-anonymous
Infertility | miscarriage | movie of my life | therapy | Jewish community | Jewish woman | Jewish women | IVF | iui | therapist
Sometimes I wish
Sending love to all of you out there who are still wishing…
Infertility | fertility journey | IVF | iui | infertile | primary infertility | secondary infertility | Jewish community | Jewish woman | Jewish | Jewish family
In their own words
Can’t we just buy groceries in peace?? 😖
Thank you to this follower for sharing. We’re so sorry this happened, and we’re holding onto your hope with you ❤️
#jewishwomen #jewishwoman #miscarriage #stillbirth #fertility #infertility #infertilitysupport #fertilityjourney #support #groups #loss #pain #grief #reminder #surrogate #surrogacy #tfmr #trimester #pregnant #pregnancy #pregnancyloss #recurrentloss #insensitive #comments #personal #story #community
Nervous System Healers
Regulating the nervous system takes many forms—breathwork, energy healing, movement, and of course, rest. Take a moment to slow down and listen to your body.
#jewishwomen #jewishwoman #miscarriage #stillbirth #fertility #infertility #infertilitysupport #fertilityjourney #support #groups #loss #pain #grief #reminder #surrogate #surrogacy #tfmr #trimester #pregnant #pregnancy #pregnancyloss #recurrentloss #rest #nervous #system #nervoussystemhealing #regulation #healing
Reminder to slow down
Save this for when you need a reminder to slow down 💌
#fertility #infertility #infertilityawareness #support #groups #emotional #support #secondaryinfertility #primaryinfertility #general #loss #grief #griefsupport #childless #childlessnotbychoice #tfmr #ivf #ivfjourney #pregnancy #pregnant #reminder #rest
7 Types of Rest
Rest isn’t just about sleep—it’s about restoring your whole self.
Which one do you need most right now?
#fertility #infertility #infertilityawareness #support #groups #emotional #support #secondaryinfertility #primaryinfertility #general #loss #grief #griefsupport #childless #childlessnotbychoice #tfmr #ivf #ivfjourney #pregnancy #pregnant #rest #relax #physical #spiritual #emotional
Reminder: Deep Breaths
Sometimes the weight of it all makes it literally hard to breathe.
The waiting. The wondering. The what-ifs.
This is your gentle reminder to pause — inhale deeply, exhale slowly. Even if it doesn’t fix anything, it can make the next moment a little lighter.
You are carrying so much. Let yourself breathe through it.
#fertility #infertility #infertilityawareness #support #groups #emotional #support #secondaryinfertility #primaryinfertility #general #loss #grief #griefsupport #childless #childlessnotbychoice #tfmr #ivf #ivfjourney #pregnancy #pregnant #rest #relax #selfcare #takecareofyou #takecareofyourself #breathe #deepbreaths #inhale #exhale
12 posts I saved this week
My weekly roundup, anyone relate?? 🫠🫂
Let that be enough today. 🤍
#friday #fridayfeels #shabbat #shabbatshalom #goodshabos #checkingin #hereforyou #selfcare #fertility #infertility #Jewish #community #judaism #ritual #quotes #quote #grief #loss #reminder #hope
Reminder to rest
You’ll never go wrong by listening to your body. Take care of yourself ❤️
Let that be enough today. 🤍
#fertility#infertility#infertilityawareness#support#groups#emotional#support#secondaryinfertility#primaryinfertility#general#loss#grief#griefsupport#childless#childlessnotbychoice#tfmr#ivf#ivfjourney#pregnancy#pregnant#reminder#reminders#family#rest#productive#productivity#lazy#choice
Rest does not equal laziness
PSA 🚨
We’ve been taught to measure our worth by how much we do. But what if the most radical thing we could do… is pause?
Rest isn’t giving up. It’s tuning in. It’s saying, my body matters, my mind matters, I matter.
Let that be enough today. 🤍
#fertility #infertility #infertilityawareness #support #groups #emotional #support #secondaryinfertility #primaryinfertility #general #loss #grief #griefsupport #childless #childlessnotbychoice #tfmr #ivf #ivfjourney #pregnancy #pregnant #reminder #reminders #family #rest #productive #productivity #lazy #choice
Rest is productive
Just a gentle reminder: rest is productive.
In a world that glorifies productivity, it’s no wonder we second-guess even our downtime.
You’re allowed to pause without proving anything. 💛
#fertility #infertility #infertilityawareness #support #groups #emotional #support #secondaryinfertility #primaryinfertility #general #loss #grief #griefsupport #childless #childlessnotbychoice #tfmr #ivf #ivfjourney #pregnancy #pregnant #reminder #reminders #family #rest #productive #productivity
Gentle Reminders
Some MUCH needed reminders this week. Take what you need ❤️❤️
#fertility #infertility #infertilityawareness #support #groups #emotional #support #secondaryinfertility #primaryinfertility #general #loss #grief #griefsupport #childless #childlessnotbychoice #tfmr #ivf #ivfjourney #pregnancy #pregnant #reminder #reminders #family
Trip to the Mikvah
A heartbreaking anonymous story gives an insight into one woman’s feelings as she prepares for her visit to the mikvah (ritual bath), a necessity in orthodox communities before husband and wife reunite. This immersion happens after a woman finishes menstruating, and it renders her ritually clean to have sex again.
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This process is deeply painful for those who are not able to get pregnant or for those who have lost a pregnancy, as it is a monthly reminder that their bodies are not carrying a child. (When someone is pregnant, she usually does not menstruate, therefore she does not have to go to the mikvah).
This writer shares all of her emotions, as she dips in the water.
Halachic infertility
PSA: This next story about Halachic infertility is hard to read.
For those of you who spend every waking moment steeped in Jewish law, following its every edit with all of its nuances, it’s difficult to contemplate someone who doesn’t take it as seriously as you.
And we know that it’s probably going to be even more difficult hearing from some one who chose to turn away from Halacha (jewish law). This someone tried every possible way to stay within the confines of what the law was saying, but instead felt isolated, angered, depressed and shut down. She chose to do what she needed to do for her mental health.
And why are we sharing her story? Because IWSTHAB’s mission is to hold space, comfort and validate anyone who is struggling to have a child. And in this case, the anger and disillusionment are the emotions that need to be supported.
Also, we want to remind all of you that when you ask “How many children do you have?” you really have NO IDEA what people are going through, and how hard it is for them to get through one single day. Because if you had a window into our DM’s, you would see that this woman is not the only one who is trying her best to straddle her desire to have a family with the confines of jewish law.
Mikvah Attendent
The mikvah can be a deeply emotional experience—especially for those navigating infertility, loss, or pain. Even well-meaning comments can unintentionally cause hurt.
This post is a gentle reminder: when in doubt, keep it simple.
Be supportive. Be respectful. Most importantly, be quiet when silence is more healing than words.
That’s what Matters Most
That’s what matters most ❤️🫂
Dear Mikvah
Dear Mikvah—
Thank you @shoshanastavsky for your words. You are not alone 🫂
Mikvah Voices From The Community
For anyone who has ever dreaded the water, feared the touch, or cried alone in their car after doing “what you’re supposed to do”... You are not alone. You never were.
We’re sharing this with permission, so others might feel less invisible.
Mikvah Confessions
Mikvah Night isn’t always joyful…
“The world tells us mikvah night is magical. The night of possibility, of connection. But what if it’s also the night of pressure? Of dread? Of crying in the car on the way there because you’re scared of more disappointment? You’re not broken if it feels this way. You’re human.”
If mikvah night feels hard — what do you wish people understood?
Mikvah
Mikvah - it’s beautiful, it’s magical, it’s triggering, it’s complicated, it’s painful. It can be all of these things when you’re trying to have a baby.