Blog
From helpless to helpful
From hopeless to hopeful
Wherever you are on your journey - your pain is real, your trauma is real, your needs are real
IVF
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Breastfeeding
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Birth Trauma
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Pregnancy
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Parenting
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Surrogacy
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IVF ❁ Breastfeeding ❁ Birth Trauma ❁ Pregnancy ❁ Parenting ❁ Surrogacy ❁
Creating a Grieving Ritual for Perinatal Loss: Navigating Pain with Structure and Compassion
This blog post offers structured examples of grieving rituals specifically tailored to perinatal loss, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death. It provides practical suggestions and emotional support to help individuals process their grief in a meaningful and structured way.
Compassionate Support After Pregnancy Loss
Dealing with pregnancy loss or the disappointment of unsuccessful fertility treatments can be incredibly isolating and overwhelming. It’s normal to experience a range of emotions, including grief, self-blame, and confusion. I deeply understand how intense and complex these feelings can be.
Secondary Infertility
When you hear about infertility, you might picture couples who are struggling to have their first child. But there’s another side to this story that isn’t talked about as often: secondary infertility. This is when someone who already has one child faces difficulty conceiving another. It’s a topic that can bring up complex emotions and feelings of isolation, especially when it seems like others might not fully understand the pain of this struggle.
PODCAST - My own experience rebuilding trust in my body, and how you can do the same
Exciting News! I recently joined Clara O’Rourke on The Mindful Womb podcast to talk about my journey through infertility and pregnancy. We covered how to rebuild trust in your body, manage anxiety, and use mindfulness to stay grounded. Tune in for practical tips and heartfelt stories that can offer support and comfort on your own path. 🌸✨
Breastfeeding and Mental Health
Let’s explore how breastfeeding, or the decision not to breastfeed, can influence your mental health.
How to find the right Lactation Consultant for YOU!
Finding the right lactation consultant can make a big difference in your breastfeeding journey, but with so many different approaches and philosophies out there, it can be challenging to know where to start. Here’s why researching and crowdsourcing recommendations for a lactation consultant might be the best way to find the right fit for you.
You are absolutely right. This is not fair.
Discover how mindfulness can help manage anger and find inner peace amidst the challenges of infertility. Learn about Tara Brach's RAIN practice and practical steps to navigate emotions with compassion and resilience. If you're navigating infertility, this blog offers essential insights to support your emotional well-being.
Coping with Isolation
Ever wondered why people undergoing IVF treatment share less as their journey progresses? Discover the emotional toll of infertility and how silence can impact those in need of support. As a perinatal mental health therapist specializing in infertility, I delve into the complexities of navigating hope and isolation during multiple treatment cycles. Read on to understand how we can break the silence and foster empathy in the journey to parenthood.
Bridging Personal Struggles with Systemic Realities (and an apology to the pharmacist I yelled at)
While I intellectually understood that healthcare providers manage dozens or hundreds of patients daily, emotionally, my treatment cycle felt like the most crucial thing in the world at that moment.
Invited to a baby shower when you have infertility? Here’s how each zodiac sign RSVPs
Few occasions carry as much emotional weight as a friend's baby shower for those navigating the winding path of infertility treatments. How does a Scorpio respond to the invitation? Or a Pisces?
PRIDE MONTH: We need more LGBTQ identifying providers!
When it comes to starting a family, everyone deserves understanding and support, regardless of who they love or how they identify. Yet, for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples facing infertility, finding inclusive and sensitive prenatal care can be a challenge. Let's explore why having healthcare providers who understand and respect LGBTQ+ needs is crucial for empowering birthing experiences.
Challenging Vacation Beliefs: Navigating Infertility and the All-or-Nothing Mindset
As we step into June, the warmth of summer beckons, and thoughts of lazy days and beach getaways with clear blue waves start to dance in our minds. However, for those navigating the less-clear-waters of infertility treatments, the idea of planning a summer vacation can feel like an impossible dream. The uncertainty of treatment schedules, financial worries, and the physical and emotional toll of treatment can cast a shadow over the sunny days ahead
How Technology Kept Me Organized During My IVF Journey
As someone who has navigated the challenging path of infertility treatments, I understand firsthand the emotional rollercoaster and logistical challenges that come with the territory. However, integrating technology into my journey eased some of the stress and uncertainty I faced.
The Home Test Conundrum (with DBT skills to help!)
It's a scenario many of us undergoing fertility treatments are familiar with: staring down at that little stick, feeling a mix of hope and dread swirling in our hearts. Do we wait for the clinic's blood test, clinging to the hope that this time, it might finally be positive? Do we risk getting a phone call in the middle of our day with a potentially negative result? Do we reach for some semblance of control and take the test in our own bathrooms?
Feeling Stranded: A Personal Reflection on the IVF Journey
I have a vivid memory from one of the mornings during my second cycle of IVF. It was just another routine monitoring appointment, or so I thought when I headed out that day. But even the routine appointments still consumed my mind with anticipation and anxiety. Little did I know that this particular visit would also leave a lasting imprint on my heart.