My wife and I had a 10-year journey of infertility involving both male and female infertility. First, my wife has fertility problems and when they were finally all resolved we found out I was infertile. We’ve seen infertility from most angles! However, we went on to conceive our son against all odds. And while we …
Coping with infertility
The bitter-sweetness of infertility – how to cope
“Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” These words of wisdom were spoken by the famous modern-day philosopher Forrest Gump in the 1994 film of the same name and character played by Tom Hanks. And it rings especially true when learning how to cope with …
Ways to nurse a waiting, hurting heart (surviving infertility during the holidays)
This time of year can be hard on a broken, waiting heart. There is something magical about this season, and the weight of infertility seemingly strips away the magic and wonder of Christmas. We see their smiles and hear their giggles, and we’re reminded of just how much Christmas spirit children bring to the world. …
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Feeling like my body is broken
Infertility is painful in many ways, but feeling like my body is broken is especially problematic. I feel like I’m fighting against it. No matter what I do it won’t conform to “normal”. I feel like a failure. The changes “they” tell me to make are overwhelming at best. And what if they don’t work? …
Facing infertility – coping with infertility grief
Holistic Hivemind, episode number five, we’re talking to Natasha Metzler, author of the recently published book Counting Grains of Sand (available on Amazon). It is a fantastic book about her story with infertility and in our video chat below we talk a lot about coping with infertility grief. I also read another one of her books, Pain Redeemed (also available …
Connecting with your spouse through massage
If there is one thing that almost every couple dealing with infertility goes through, it’s the loss of intimacy and connection with their spouse. Infertility can take a toll on many aspects of our life, but our relationships can suffer the most, especially in the area of sexuality and intimacy. It can lower our self-esteem …
Practice gratitude, weekly challenge #13
It’s easy, you know. To complain and whine and focus on all that’s gone wrong. I could never understand when people told me that you can experience joy in the midst of suffering. When something goes wrong, or I feel like things aren’t going my way, I can wallow deep. And the longer I stay …
Benefits of journaling during infertility (weekly challenge #8)
Infertility, or even simply the thought of becoming pregnant, can bring about BIG feelings. Hard feelings. Since the benefits of journaling is well-known, I thought our newest weekly challenge should be one where we look at those feelings and get them out. We can hash out what we truly think about the situation we find ourselves …
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Why we keep quiet about infertility
National Infertility Awareness Week is April 20-26, a week in which many of us in the infertility community commit to sharing our stories, spreading awareness, and bringing much-needed attention to the disease that affects an estimated seven million Americans. But some who carry this burden – who walk this journey, do so silently, quietly, and …
The decision of trying to conceive during chronic illness
All of my life I dreamed having a large family. I must have been sheltered because I never once remember hearing things like ‘miscarriage’, ‘PCOS’, or ‘chronic illness’. I thought if you wanted a baby, you would have one. My bubble of security was busted after my first miscarriage. My feelings were all over the …
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Dreaming of babies: the realities of infertility
I was in the shower when I realized that I was having a baby. I didn’t even know I was pregnant, but it was obvious that I was giving birth. I screamed for my husband to come take me to the ER. No one answered. I kept screaming for help until finally my mom showed …
Infertility’s Identity
“You’re here to see the doctor about your infertility, right?” The nurse asked a seemingly casual question, but deep inside me it stung. It hurt. It burned my spirit with a searing brand of bitterness. It was the first time I had been labeled “infertile.” Up to that point my doctor visits had been pretty …