Navigating Circumstantial Infertility and Mental Health
People think when someone gets married, that they're going to have kids right away. But so many times, that's not what happens.
Father’s Day: Infertility and Loss Affects Men Too
To all of the men in the IWSTHAB community, we know you are hurting too.
To all of the men in the IWSTHAB community, we see you.
To all of the men in the IWSTHAB community, we see you.
And you are allowed to grieve too.
Men Struggle With Hurtful Comments Too. Here’s How You Can Come In For The Rescue
We've been sharing comments about how men feel when dealing with fertility struggles, and some definitely do not have the thicker skin that society expects of them. Here are a couple things you can say to get him out of a sticky situation.
Overcoming Silence: Our Story with Ejaculatory Dysfunction and Marriage
Within a few months of marriage, we quickly realized something was not right. Based on what we learned in chosson (groom)/kallah (bride) classes we took before marriage, things weren’t happening the way they were biologically supposed to.
Small Wins When Things Get Heavy
Give yourself credit for the little victories. They matter more than you think ❤️🩹
Seven Fertility Mantras
Seven great Fertility Amntras that can help you get through this
Termination For Medical Reasons Is Not Uncommon
TFMR (termination for medical reasons - needing to end a wanted pregnancy for health reasons of either the mother or the fetus) is NOT an uncommon pregnancy loss - It is just UNCOMMONLY TALKED about…WHY?
In This Together
To all the men and all the women: it isn’t your fault and it isn’t mine.
We are in this together.
Pretending with Endometriosis
Like many chronic illnesses, endometriosis is a lot about pretending - looking one way on the outside while struggling on the inside.
And like many other chronic illnesses, endometriosis is a medical diagnosis, but so much more.
Six Things Not to Say to Someone With Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a complex and often misunderstood condition. Many well-meaning comments can unintentionally hurt those who are struggling. Here are six things NOT to say to someone with endometriosis.
Grief With Surrogacy
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.
Thoughts When You Consider Surrogacy
Let’s take a look into all the complex thoughts one has while they are considering moving forward with surrogacy.
Unsolicited Advice
We hope this doesn't need to be said about a surrogacy journey or *any* other kind of fertility challenge...
Less advice and more support, k?
Trust Issues When Navigating a Surrogacy Journey
And what is surrogacy? The very definition of lack of control. You are literally handing your embryo to another person to carry. And while you can stipulate all kinds of things in the contract, the reality is that this is the essence of lack of control.
Instead of Saying: “Why Didn’t You Just Adopt?”
Reason number 19,473,682 why saying “Why didn’t you just adopt?” or questioning anyone’s choices along their fertility journey is not okay: as a support person to your loved one, your job is to unconditionally love and support them through both their darkest and brightest times.
Privacy in Surrogacy
Surrogacy can be kept a secret.
It’s nobody’s business.
It’s up to the family (the parents) to decide how they want to choose to share this information… if they even want to share it. Yes, people are going to realize that someone was not pregnant, and suddenly they have a baby.
Jealousy in Surrogacy
It’s normal to feel jealous of your surrogate. She is living your dream.
She is the one that gets to feel the kicks, watch her belly grow, feel the cravings, and get all the attention.
If you feel jealousy, it’s okay.
Acknowledge the feeling and hold space for it.
You Can’t Keep Surrogacy a Secret
It’s impossible to be completely private about a surrogacy journey, one day you don’t have a baby and the next you do.
Conversations need to happen after the baby arrives.
Conflicting Emotions in Surrogacy
As with anything we talk about at IWSTHAB, there are multiple sides to every experience. This post highlights the many sides of the emotions one may experience throughout a surrogacy journey.