You’re Allowed To Complain
A follower who has been suffering for years with infertility, and recently got pregnant wrote this to me, after reading how some people are triggered when hearing people complain.
No Control Over My Body
I hate that I have no control over my body. I hate waking up early two weeks a month so that I can have the pleasure of being poked and prodded. I hate being told when we can and cannot be together.
You Can Survive
But, I’m here to tell you that you CAN survive. I don’t know how I did it, but I did. The pain and anxiety was crippling so many times. But I’m here.
Infertility and Loss Are Not Shameful
I suffered deeply through 6 years of infertility and three miscarriages, and I’m tired of the whispered phone calls I get. Infertility and loss are not shameful.
My Heart Is Heavy & It Hurts
“My heart is heavy and it hurts I feel a physical painful sensation inside Tears are beginning to form in my eyes, but I hold them back. I feel sad, quiet and a feeling of despair washes over me.”
The Joy of Just One More Baby
Will I ever have the joys of a large family? Will I ever have the joy of just one more baby? Will I ever get the chance to say ‘children’ and not just ‘child?’⠀⠀⠀
Infertility & Feeling Inadequate
Another younger sister is BH (Gd willing) getting married next month and I sometimes worry if they too will have kids before us. I try not to worry about the future, I just can’t bring myself to be together with them.
I Am Angry at G-d
And as a Jew, I know He loves me even when I’m angry at Him. And even though I’m angry at Him, He still continues to shower me with His love.
Stop The Blame Game
So many people are writing in that they tried so hard to do all the ‘right thing’ (religion wise) and they feel they’re not good enough because no matter how closer to God they are, he still hasn’t answered them.
Covid Thoughts
“It’ll be years before there is enough data to say if COVID is responsible for an increase in pregnancy loss. Nevertheless, it's been the chatter amongst OBGYNs for months.”
Self Care Is a Necessity
Read that book that’s been sitting on your night table. Have a conversation without getting distracted by that rectangle thing that keeps sending you notifications. Breathe. Take a walk outside.
Changed By Infertility
“Because so many things that we’ve tried have failed, I have lost confidence in the fact that one day I will be a mother. I worry constantly about what that might look like for someone and it scares me.”
“I Wanted This Baby”
“And that entire time I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs, ‘ I WANTED THIS BABY! I PRAYED FOR THIS BABY.’ But I sat in silence and cried.”
Finding a Balance
And that’s exactly my message to all of you. I will keep sharing the hard, the pain, the horrible, the suffering and the awful. But I will also share the good.
Stop Saying Never Give Up
Sometimes you need to step back and take a break. A long break. Or change course. Or try something new. Or stop trying altogether. So I beg you, fertility community- let’s stop saying, “Never give up.”
Don’t Ask. Ever
I’ve been talking a lot about the expectations vs reality of what your life looks like. But what about families in your community? Why do we speak in hushed tones about those couples who have small families?
Hurtful Comments
But when those comments come from someone you love, you trust, you deem as “safe,” it’s much harder to do the reframing. These are the people who know the depths of your pain.
My Secret Menorah Poem
“I am a single woman with a very close friend that has gone through and is currently going through infertility and loss. I am with her on this journey and she sent me the poem.”
To My Dearest Embabies
“Lastly, dear embabies of mine, I want you to know that mommy loves you more than anything in the world! I am so proud of all of my brave, strong and beautiful babies.”
I’m Tired
“I’m tired of being poked and prodded. I’m tired of sharing my medical history yet again. I’m tired of throwing money down the drain. I’m tired of not being able to breathe. I’m so tired.”