Infertility And Me: Stories of Infertility Survivors, IVF, & TTC

Have your or someone you know experienced devastating pregnancy loss or miscarriage? Are you taking the necessary steps to healing? 

Narelle's TTC story began when her husbands vasectomy reversal operation was unsuccessful. They started IVF and became pregnant after five cycles. Unfortunately, they suffered great loss at 23w gestation. Their baby boy River, did not survive. This episode is for you, if you have experienced a loss/es during your path to family expansion.

Narelle Hudson is the owner of a Counselling and Natural Therapy Practice ​in Brisbane Australia, which offers treatments for the mind, body, and soul. Narelle is also the author of a book called: The Baby Dream- Learning to Live with Infertility and Loss.

Time Stamps:

00:00:00- Intro

00:02:41- Narelle

00:19:24- Pregnancy concerns and premature labor.

00:31:54- Healing through grief however you need to.

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Have you suffered from fibroids, endometriosis, or surprise diagnosis? Our guest Brittney Jackson has.

Brittney and her husband began their family expansion in the late summer of 2017 when Brittney stopped birth control. Brittney was no stranger to reproductive organ issues before 2017. She states that her menstrual cycles were painful for much of her life and she suffers from fibroids and recurrent cysts.

Brittney sought the help of her ob/GYN after some time and in 2019 she and hubby completed a few rounds of medicated clomid cycles, unsuccessfully. Shortly after, Brittney was diagnosed with a blocked fallopian tube. While her doctor performed surgery to remove her blocked fallopian tube, endometriosis was found, which explained the years of painful periods. Through all of this, Brittney remained a faithful and devoted bonus mom of two. 

Brittney is the host of "Fertility Aint Fair." A community that acknowledges that all fertility is not created equal. The mission is to normalize the conversations around infertility, reproductive health, and motherhood for all. Real. Raw. Unfiltered. Follow on social!

-Eggs Over Easy Film  

-Hannah's Daughters 

-Fertility For Colored Girls  

-The Tinina Q. Cade Foundation  

-Sisters In Loss  

-Kellee Stewart  

-The Broken Brown Egg  

-Coach Gessie 

-Nichelle Polston  

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Would you continue trying to conceive after 10 years with no luck? Our guest Vijaya Javali did! (success story)

Vijaya suffered through 10 years of unexplained infertility before getting a BFP. She and her husband began trying to conceive a year and a half after marriage. In the fall of 2006, she went for a fertility consult with her ob/GYN. Over the next few months, she would complete numerous tests and laparoscopic surgery to rule out any hidden medical issues. In the spring of 2007, she would endure an unsuccessful IUI (intrauterine insemination), which would be followed by more unsuccessful attempts and no explanation for not getting pregnant.

After some years of TTC(trying to conceive) naturally, 12 months of consistent Ayurveda medicine, more testing by a new reproductive endocrinologist, egg retrieval that resulted in three embryos, and a fresh embryo transfer of all three embryos, Vijaya conceived naturally in August of 2017 with her son. 

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Are you over the age of 35 or 40 and trying to conceive?

Shelley Tokish, a mixed-race (African American/ Caucasian), is a 42-year-old female with a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. She has been TTC for 3 years, which included 3 fibroid surgeries and 2 rounds of IVF. She got pregnant with twins after transferring 2 untested embryos from her second round of IVF. Unfortunately, Shelley lost one of the babies at 10 weeks. She gave birth to the surviving twin and her daughter is now 17 months. 

Recently, she's been TTC again and is now dealing with secondary infertility. Shelley transferred her last 4 embryos in two separate transfers. The first was unsuccessful, the last one she got a BFP, but lost the baby the week before Thanksgiving, at 6 weeks gestation. Shelley is passionate about sharing her story to encourage older women who are trying and/or trying again to conceive. And for women who have had reoccurring losses.

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Are you feeling less than excited about the New Year and your continued road of infertility? 2021 has been a year of many ups downs. Living with infertility during a pandemic, aka COVID-19, is not only stressful, but down-right bullshit!

Monique shares helpful, compassionate, and simple reminders that you can implement today and take with you into 2022. Happy New Year friend, this show and community would be NOTHING without you;) You can watch this episode and others here! Don't forget to Follow on social.

*Please be advised that Monique is NOT a mental health professional. All commentary is life experience-based.**

00:00:00-Intro

00:02:40-Shoutout to all of the amazing 2020 friends who shared both publicly and anonymously on the show: Stacey Brown, Barb (anonymous), Mia Clermont, Sarah (anonymous), Aiza Frayer, Veronica (anonymous), Sondra Wyckoff, Nina (anonymous), Cassandra Conley, Aaliyah( anonymous), Tiffany Lewis, Meaghan Shaffer, Ashley Hardy, Jessi Shuraleff, Bethany Jewell, The ladies of Infertilidad Latina Podcast: Audrey, Jasmine, Blanca, Denise (anonymous), Krystle Chavez, Emily Ginn, Gianna (anonymous), and Dr. Natasha  

00:05:40-Topic: infertility and a New Year

*shirt and hat in episode video from: Intertile Tees

00:16:40-Give your spouse the gift of being a safe-space.

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Have you suffered from recurrent miscarriages? In this episode, Dr. Natasha shares her story of loss and unexplained infertility. She was diagnosed with unexplained infertility, possibly, due to Ashermans syndrome. Dr. Natasha has had five losses, two of which were tubal ectopic pregnancy and one cervical ectopic pregnancy. After two rounds of IVF and many canceled transfers, she and her husband welcomed their first daughter and four years later their second daughter. 

Dr. Natasha uses her pharmacology expertise to educate men and women that suffer from fertility struggles.

**Please be advised that Monique is NOT a mental health professional. All commentary is life experience based**

Topics discussed:

• Miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Mental Health Therapy
• Ashmermans syndrome
• Successful IVF treatment
• Importance of medication education

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If you enjoyed this episode, share with a friend maybe even two;)

Have you noticed a change in the way you view yourself since your fertility struggles began? After being diagnosed with infertility, we second guess who we are. Things we were once passionate about don't seem to bring joy any longer. In this episode, Monique shares tools and tactics she used to help rebuild low self-worth, after being diagnosed with infertility. 

**Please be advised that Monique is NOT a mental health professional. All commentary is life experience based**

00:00:00-Intro

00:01:52-Topic intro and recommended episodes mentioning BMI discrimination from reproductive endocrinologists. 

1.) Denise-3/26/21-Trying to conceive when you're a single woman

2.) Ashley-8/21/20-I'm still in here: PCOS, fibromyalgia, and lupus survivor

00:04:22-Self-esteem and Infertility

• 00:08:07-After the diagnosis.
• 00:09:46-Assess whether you had feelings of low self-esteem before pregnancy loss and infertility.
• 00:12:43-Healthy ways of coping that won't create more toxicity.

1. Keep up with meditation/praying if you can. 
2. Continue exercising, keeping in mind your Dr's recommendations. Otherwise, low-impact exercise such as walking can have the same physical and mental effects.
3. Indulge in hobbies and passions.
4. 00:16:40-Have honest discussions with your spouse about how you're feeling about your self-imagery.
5. 00:19:46-Increase intimate moments with your spouse if it applies, that is nonsexual.
6. The way you speak to yourself matters subconsciously.
7. 00:22:26-Remember, you are worthy of self-love. Infertility and loss does not make you less of a woman or man.

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You can watch this episode and others, here!

Connect with Monique on social!

If you enjoyed this episode, share with a friend maybe even two;)

Share your thoughts about the show, here!

In this episode, Monique shares what's been going on in her personal life and if she'll seek IVF treatment for another chance at motherhood. She also gives practical tips and thoughts on how to navigate the Holidays and family, emotionally. Lastly, Monique shares a few answers from others in the community and how they're coping with infertility. Answers were received from questions she asked on Instagram stories. Tune in for your dose of validation. **Please be advised that Monique is NOT a mental health professional. All commentary is life experience based**

00:01:15-Catching up and what has been going on.

00:09:45-Topic:

• Why do we get depressed?
• Healthy boundaries with family.

a.) Saying no to conversations you can't entertain.

b.) Limiting your time at your family's house.

c.) Consider staying home.

• The reality is, we cannot avoid loved ones forever.

a.) Isolation during fertility treatments is real and emotionally taxing.

You can watch this episode and others, here!

Connect with Monique on social!

If you enjoyed this episode, share with a friend maybe even two;)

Private Communities mentioned in this episode:

@sistersinloss -Private facebook & podcast community that is  Christian/Faith based

@infertilityunfiltered -Private community platform

@fertilityrescripted -Private community platform

@fertilityrally -Private community platform

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How many times have you felt alone during your path to parenthood or family expansion? Too many to count right?!? Anonymous guest Gianna is a 30-something entertainer abroad and has been trying to conceive for five years. After two unsuccessful cycles of IUI's(intrauterine insemination), Gianna states that she began to feel an overwhelming sense of grief.

The grief of not finding love in a partner and that becoming a mom was going to be much harder than she anticipated. Gianna paused trying to conceive for two years to focus on her mental and emotional health with the help of a therapist. Gianna has resumed treatment and if her current IUI cycle is unsuccessful, she plans to move forward with IVF in August.

Email Monique at [email protected] to submit as an anonymous guest. Get social with Monique on Instagram If you like Infertility And Me Podcast

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Have you grown tired of people telling you: "you should be grateful," "It will happen when you least expect," and "think positive thoughts?" If so, this episode is for you. Emily Ginn joins us again on the pod to discuss the subliminal toxic positivity we absorb through social media and everyday culture. We also delve deeply into how toxic positivity doesn't allow one to experience their negative emotions and its dismissiveness. 

Links to things talked about: Connect with Emily

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Enjoying the show? Please leave a rating & review—just one sentence helps tremendously!You can watch this episode and others, here On YouTube