In this episode I speak with Thando @andbathandwa, a 38-year-old, Johannesburg based stay-at-home parent to a 3 year old and an almost 1 year old both conceived via IVF. A former management and strategy consultant turned tech start-up founder that decided to change gears and pace following her fertility journey that culminated in the conception of her eldest. She shares her matrescence journey on her Instagram page. It was incredibly affirming speaking with Thando, she has this infectious conviction about her experience with infertility and IVF and it was a gentle reminder for me to really own my story. There is a bit where she says “there is always going to be some sort of an unmet need” which really struck me and framed the whole IVF journey differently for me.

In this episode, I speak with my Zim sister Laura @laurajones_official who is 27 years old and currently going through IVF. Laura has endometriosis which just adds another layer to her journey. Laura channels her struggle and turns it into good by sharing her experience of both endometriosis and IVF via her Instagram page. I’m in awe of Laura and how she is managing infertility and IVF at such a young age and I would like to use this moment to remind all of us in the IVF/TTC gang to be your sister’s keeper (when your capacity allows). With so few of us black women talking openly about this it’s so important that we make ourselves available to support each other. Laura runs her own business @dipped_official if you fancy doing your own nails at home as part of your look-good-feel-good self-care.

In this episode, I speak with Ola @fertilityconversations about her journey towards motherhood so far. Ola is the founder of Fertility Conversations which was set up to create awareness about Infertility & create a safe space to connect with others going through Infertility in Nigeria & outside Nigeria. Ola’s passion for all things fertility is unmatched! She is such a connector - always connecting people, connecting to the right resources, sharing & building networks. It was so great to get behind the ‘work’ and learn about her own journey.

I'm back with another episode on my journey. Just checking in with some reflections and how it feels to be doing IVF for the 3rd time.

In this episode, I speak with Karabo @hannah_youarenotalone about her journey with and recurrent miscarriages. Karabo is a founder of Hannah - You are not alone which she started together with her husband. Hannah - You are not alone seeks to provide support to those struggling with infertility and to bring awareness about a disease that burdens many due to the stigma and shame. We had such a wonderful conversation and there was a message in her mother’s words that really resonated with me... she said to Karabo, “ngwanaka phila” - meaning “live my child”. A loving reminder that your life still has meaning even if you are not a mother yet.

In this episode, I speak with Jasmine @glowful.path about her infertility, IVF & pregnancy loss journey. After a miscarriage and a second IVF round that ended with no embryos for transfer, her 3rd IVF cycle was successful and she is currently pregnant. Jasmine's focus is on diversifying feeds, for all women of color to amplify their voices and to highlight the importance of mental health when it comes to infertility. There is a beautiful moment in the episode where she started crying when she was talking about how grateful she is to God for carrying her through all of it. It resonated with me so much and I can only imagine what that must feel like, finally falling pregnant after infertility.

In this episode, I speak with Natalie @myivf_miracle who went through 12 unsuccessful IVF cycles & 7 miscarriages. She now has a beautiful baby boy from her 13th IVF cycle. Natalie is passionate about black women advocating for themselves and taking charge of their fertility and normalising the narrative on infertility. Natalie's story has stayed with me ever since the first time I heard it. I had only had 1 cycle then and her story is a story about staying the course and keeping the faith. It’s about believing that kuzolunga (everything is going to be okay) - and it WILL work.