I am so happy to bring you today’s episode with Cat.  Cat chats with me from a small idyllic village in England about her fertility journey.

Cat’s journey has been 10 years and included a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. They had  3 rounds of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI), 4 fresh rounds of In vitro fertilization (IVF) and 2 frozen transfers (FET). She has been pregnant 3 times, miscarrying twice and also losing an identical twin in her final pregnancy - the one that gave them their beautiful daughter Wren.

Cat and I chat about the grieving involved when you are unable to have a second child and not provide your child with a sibling.  The grief that comes with your ending not looking as you expected and hoped for, but the gratitude for what you do have. It is such a beautiful chat
 
 

Cat's links
Trying years - https://www.instagram.com/tryingyears/
Finally pregnant - https://www.instagram.com/finallypregnant/
Finally pregnant podcast - https://www.podpage.com/finally-pregnant/
The hang out membership  - https://www.catstrawbridge.com/thehangout
Audio diary Part 1 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5mggB0i02GUoGrBrO4EMZd?si=8ce61a27c75b4c07
Audio diary part 2 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1kh11FWUoWhbMu93j2yM5l?si=8eda667a25f348f4

Janine's link
Podcast insta page - https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/
Photography insta page - https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/
Photography website - https://www.janinefoxphotography.co.nz/

Kathryn and her husband spent 8 years trying to coneive a much wanted child, which included IVF and miscarriage.   After 8 years they made the difficult decision to let go and carry on their life in a way that didn't match their dreams.
"I had the movie version of my life in my head and I had to learn to let that go."

Kathryn describes her experience as incredibly isolating and at the time she struggled to find the support she needed.  As a result of this, she is now a qualified life coach, specialising in infertility and supporting others on their journeys.
Her passion is wanting others to know they are not alone and that support is available.
She wants women to know that letting go is not the same as giving up and there can still be hope and happiness when you don't have children.

This chat is so important because as hard as we try , we don't all get the fairy tale ending we are hoping for.  I am so grateful to Kathryn for sharing this with us.

Kathryn's links:
https://www.instagram.com/fertilitypotentials/
https://www.fertilitypotentials.com/

Janine's links
https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/
https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/
https://www.janinefoxphotography.co.nz/

Esther was pregnant with her fourth child during New Zealand's first Covid 19 lockdown, and living on a high country station in rural Kaikoura.
The lockdown restrictions were stong and strict and her midwife appointments had not been regular, although things were going well.
At 18 weeks her midwife could not find a heartbeat and after driving to Christchurch it was confirmed her baby had died.
Because of the pandemic and restrictions she was separated from her husband and two of her children, but was able to join her parents in Christchurch  along with her young daughter Libby who had been at the midwife appointment with her.  Her dad was alongside her as she birthed her daughter. 
Esther shares the beautiful way her family scattered the ashes of their baby.

Esther's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/farmmumlife/
                                              https://www.instagram.com/estherkilgourphotography/

Podcast instagram -https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/
Janine's photography instagram - https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/

In this episode I am speaking with Suzie and we recorded it especially to release in baby loss awareness week.
Suzie is a photographer, a photography mentor and education provider and an author.
Suzie shares with us the experiences she went through on the journey to create her family.
It is a story of miscarriage, baby loss, TFMR (Termination for medical reasons), and of two beautiful living children.
Suzie shares the emotional complications and pain of TFMR - which includes shame, isolation and stigma.

Suzie is a big believer in healing through creativity which she talks about in this interview, and her book called The Rallying Cry is linked here.
https://www.amazon.com/RALLYING-CRY-Healing-Hardest-Creativity/dp/B08CMD9BY7/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3OBN7DLO8SWV9&keywords=The+rallying+cry&qid=1665441225&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=the+rallying+cry%2Caps%2C280&sr=8-5

Her current creative project is an iphone photography course.
Suzie's course, iPhone Magic opens for registration on 19th October and there is still time to join the waitlist for early access to registration and 15% off.   Click the link below to find out more.
https://suziejaygoldsmith.com/iphone-magic-course

Suzie's website - https://suziejaygoldsmith.com/
Suzie's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/suziejaygoldsmith/
TED talk - https://www.ted.com/talks/nora_mcinerny_we_don_t_move_on_from_grief_we_move_forward_with_it?language=en
ARC UK - https://www.arc-uk.org/

Podcast instagarm - https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/
Janine's photography instagram - https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/

Arna's story - secondary infertility and miscarriage

When trying to conceive her second child, Arna experienced miscarriages, severe morning sickness , IVF treatment and anxiety.  She went through a lot.
After all of this, Arna now holds her baby Andie in her arms.

Arna's instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nz_secondary_infertility_/

Podcast instagram - https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/
Photography instagram - https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/

Jules went through a huge IVF journey, trying to conceive her baby.
Four and a half years and 13 cycles of IVF.
There were many transfers that did not result in pregnancy, many cycles that got cancelled or did not get to transfer stage, as well as three chemical pregnancies.
Jules and her husband were living in a cycle of hope and grief.
After much thought and working through the loss of Jules' genetics, they went on to find an egg donor and had amazing success.
This is a beautiful and painful story with a wonderful ending xx

Podcast instagram - https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/
Janine's photography instagram - https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/

Cumorah shares her experience of having a molar pregnancy when trying to conceive her second child.  A molar pregnancy has to be removed surgically and followed up closely with regular blood tests as it can develop into cancer.
Cumorah experienced deep depression which she describes as taking over her life.
She shares with us the ways in which she worked hard to get well again.
At the time of recording she was pregnant and her baby was due soon.  She now has her beautiful baby in her arms.

Miscarriage journal - https://promptlyjournals.com/products/miscarriage-workbook-wheat

Podcast instagram - https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/
Janine's photography instagram - https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/

In this episode I chat with Felicity who shares her story of infertiliy, IVF, multiple miscarriages and D&C's, egg donation, embryo testing and very sadly losing her young sister.

Felicity was diagnosed with low ovarian reserve and endometriosis and she and her husband did multiple rounds of IVF resulting in no pregancy or miscarriage.
They tested embryos from two of their cycles to try to help their decision making and increase their chances.
Felicity also discovered she has Graves disease which is a thyroid condition and needed to suspend IVF treatment until that was sorted.
Further into their treatment they used donor eggs from Felicity's sister which resulted in no embryos to transfer and subsequently had a cousin lined up to be another egg donor.
In the end they have had three beautiful children from their own genetics with the help of IVF and embryo testing.
Felicity's sister Lucy became very unwell and died at the beginning of their journey and Felicity did all this while grieving her little sister xx

Connect with Felicity/FA Christchurch
Felicity insta - https://www.instagram.com/felicityiuli/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Christchurch Fertility associates - https://www.fertilityassociates.co.nz/clinics/christchurch/
Dr Michelle Bayley - https://www.fertilityassociates.co.nz/team-members/dr-michelle-bailey/

Connect with Janine
Podcast insta - https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/?igshid=YzAyZWRlMzg=
Photography insta - https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/
Podcast email - [email protected]

In this episode I chat with Josh who shares the very long and complex journey he and his wife Jo went through to have their son Wolfgang (or Wolfie).
It is a story of unexplained infertility, many rounds of IVF and countless embryo transfers, miscarriages, nearly losing Jo with one of the miscarriages, providing emergency foster care, and finally having Wolfie in their arms.
It is also the story of an adventurous couple who made big decisions and pushed their limits.

Connect with Josh
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wild_westerns/

Connect with Janine
Podcast instagram - https://www.instagram.com/waitingforyou.podcast/
Photography instagram - https://www.instagram.com/janinefoxphotography/