A Piece of My Heart: Recent Episodes

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This episode may contain sensitive topics related to infertility. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

This might be a difficult episode for many people. Please know that I see you, I know what you’re going through, and I send all my love to you. Please stop listening if at any time it feels uncomfortable.

This is the last episode of season one. I last shared a personal update in May, and in this final episode, I’m sharing what has happened in my journey over the past four months.

It is September, and my second IVF transfer was successful. I’m currently 15 weeks pregnant. In this episode, I’m sharing the wave of emotions that I’m regularly feeling, how difficult it was to celebrate at first, and how I couldn’t have made it through any of this without the support groups that I joined.

What’s in this episode:

How my second IVF transfer went this summer [07:09]

How I learned I was pregnant and how difficult it was to celebrate [16:47]

The fear and loneliness I felt and how I’ve managed to lean into hope and joy [23:41]

How beneficial support groups can be for your journey [29:22]

How it’s normal to feel trauma even if things are going well [41:20]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/027

To contribute to the fundraiser please visit us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/linking/fundraiser?fundraiser_id=1471595289934797

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

In today’s episode, Marisa and Christopher are back to share their experience with healing after the loss of their son Xavier. They’re also talking about how and why they decided to go down the road to adoption.

The adoption process proved to be more difficult than they ever imagined, and they share the intense hoops that potential parents have to jump through to be considered to adopt a baby. When COVID hit, adoption became an even more difficult process, and this year, they decided to take a pause.

Their story is so remarkable because they have worked through the grieving together (as well as apart) and have grown stronger as a couple, in a situation where some marriages often struggle. Through therapy, honest conversation and time, they are continually working through how their son’s death has changed them, the frustrations of adoption, and where to go from here.

What’s in this episode:

• How they learned their new specialist was married to the doctor who performed Marisa's initial surgery [02:35]
• Why it’s difficult to sue for medical malpractice [04:21]
• When and why they started down the road to adoption [05:32]
• How they worked through this as a couple and leaned on each other through their unique experience [07:36]
• How somatic therapy has helped strengthen them individually and as a couple [11:08]
• How getting an X tattoo for Xavier was a therapeutic healing experience for Christopher [14:15]
• How they started the adoption process and how intense it was [17:38]
• How things changed when COVID hit and why they decided to pause the adoption process [24:01]
• Questions and paths they’ve considered during the pause [27:51]
• Why it’s difficult for them to consider adoption in light of recent abortion bans [30:45]
• The importance of staying open and honest and keeping each other’s feelings in mind during this process [35:42]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/026

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

While Marisa and Christopher were able to conceive easily the rest of their journey to parenthood has been excruciatingly painful. From medical errors to losing their son Xavier, to struggling with adoption, the last six years have been fraught with devastation. But through it all they have managed to grow closer than they ever could have imagined.

Even though Marisa was considered high risk at the age of 42, she and Christopher were so excited to discover they would be having twins! However, after initially being told that they were having twins, Christopher and Marisa were then informed that actually that had been a medical error, and they were only having one child, which felt like the first of several losses to come.

Soon after, Marisa found out that she’d need to have a surgery to keep her pregnancy, as she was at a very high risk of delivering earlier due to what is called an incompetent cervix. During the surgery, she received severe burns which made the recovery and positioning needed to keep her pregnancy safe nearly impossible. Just a week later, Marisa’s water broke, and because of the high risk to Marisa and low likelihood of their baby’s survival in utero, she gave birth to their son Xavier, who passed away shortly after birth.

In today’s episode which is part one of this two-part series, Marisa and Christopher reflect on the difficulty of their journey, feeling responsible for making impossible decisions, learning how to navigate the uncertainty that comes with being unable to trust your medical providers, and handling the grief that comes with delivering a baby, but not being able to bring him home with you.

The dismissal and abandonment that Christopher and Marisa felt from their medical providers during and after the loss of their son Xavier compounded their confusion and grief. It’s nearly impossible to gain closure after such an experience, but Christopher and Marisa are moving forward. Tune in next week for part two to hear more about their process of healing and recovery.

What’s in this episode:

• How Chris and Marisa came to the decision to have children [02:24]
• The mixed feelings of having a high risk pregnancy [04:49]
• The first loss in their pregnancy journey [07:30]
• Marisa’s cerclage surgery and complications she experienced during and after [10:14]
• How Marisa and Chris made the heartbreaking decision to deliver their son early after Marisa’s unsuccessful surgery [14:11]
• How alienating the process of navigating the medical environment immediately after the loss their child felt to Chris and Marisa [15:18]
• The lack of empathy and communication they felt from medical professionals immediately after Xavier’s delivery [18:47]
• How Marisa felt an utter lack of mental and emotional support from her medical providers after her son’s death [20:46]
• The community that helped support Marisa and Chris after Xavier’s death [24:50]
• How the confusion of their traumatic experience led Chris and Marisa to second-guess themselves and their decisions [25:59]
• How their religious community encouraged and supported through Marisa’s difficult labor [29:13]
• The discoveries that helped Chris and Marisa begin to heal and move forward [30:22]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/025

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to infertility. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

Gabrielle felt lucky to have an easy and healthy pregnancy. But after her baby was born her period never returned. And the postpartum difficulties continued with unexplained infertility. After two failed IVF transfers and a break from the process, she and her husband conceived naturally and gave birth to a second baby.

Everyone’s story is a little different, but the mixed feelings of confusion and hope, excitement followed by sadness, anger and exhaustion … Everyone goes through those tumultuous ups and downs.

In today’s episode, Gabrielle is sharing about her experience with infertility. She’s talking about how difficult it was to be open about what she went through at the time and how important it is for her to share about her journey after the fact.In the midst of it all, Gabrielle felt like she couldn’t tell anyone. Now she’s ready to open up, even though it’s hard, and wants to encourage others to do the same.

Sharing our stories shouldn’t feel shameful or taboo. Society makes us feel like we shouldn’t talk about things that are “private” but doing so lets others know that they’re not alone. To be able to talk about what you’re experiencing and to know that others are going through the same thing is, in its own way, impactful and healing.

What’s in this episode:

• How lucky Gabrielle felt to have an easy, successful pregnancy and how she lost her period postpartum [02:47]
• The frustration of an unexplained infertility diagnosis [04:23]
• Her IVF process and the preparation and turmoil that comes with it [06:02]
• Why she didn’t tell her coworkers and why this wasn’t something she really talked about [10:14]
• How she disassociated her feelings at the time and how it has been helpful to talk about it after the fact [13:57]
• Gabrielle’s feelings of defeat when the first two transfers didn’t work [15:41]
• The relief she felt when she finally told her husband’s family [16:52]
• When she got her period back, tracking her ovulation after taking a break from meds and transfers, and how they conceived naturally [17:50]
• What it’s like being a now stay-at-home mom and the importance of community and sharing our experiences [22:24]
• How this experience affected her relationship with her husband, how he handled it, and the lack of resources and support for male partners going through this process [27:07]
• How they decided to not keep the one embryo they had [33:52]
• The most helpful resources that helped her get through this journey [35:38]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/024

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

When Norah got pregnant with her third baby, she knew that something was wrong. But it wasn’t easy to get the doctors and nurses to listen to her. After two successful pregnancies, she miscarried her third baby.

In today’s episode, my friend Norah is sharing about what it’s like to have a miscarriage after two healthy pregnancies, and what it’s like to have another baby after a miscarriage. She’s opening up about how she handled her mental state and how hard it was to reach out to others experiencing their own trauma.

Miscarriage is a devastating loss, no matter your situation. It’s easy to just feel like a statistic in a society and medical system that doesn’t focus on women’s mental and physical healing post-loss. Whether you’ve suffered multiple miscarriages or had a miscarriage after a successful pregnancy or delivered a healthy baby after a miscarriage, you have experienced trauma.

Misplaced anger and competition prolong the healing journey. Remember that you are not alone. And that you have more in common with women who have experienced loss than your brain may let you think.

What’s in this episode:

• How Norah discovered she had a heart condition related to hyperemesis (prolonged nausea and vomiting) [03:43]
• How her third pregnancy (after two successful births) didn't feel right from the start [05:03]
• The frustration that comes up when doctors don’t listen to you [06:21]
• The difficulties of managing hyperemesis [09:26]
• How Norah got post-viral idiopathic neuropathy after a case of the flu [12:16]
• How her 12-week ultrasound proved Norah’s worries that something was wrong [16:30]
• What it was like taking the drugs to pass the miscarriage [20:41]
• How common it is to worry that something could go wrong in your pregnancy [29:52]
• How Norah felt when she got pregnant again after her miscarriage [33:01]
• How Norah channeled her anger post-miscarriage into the writing of her third book [36:10]
• How pregnancy trauma can lead to misplaced anger [39:42]
• The importance of mental health resources and feeling valued when going through such a difficult time [44:23]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/023

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

Today is a really hard day. Our IVF transfer did not go as we hoped, and I’m feeling the full range of emotions that come with this process. I’m disappointed with the results, and I’m really struggling with missing out on so many of life’s beautiful moments because of the emotional and physical toll of our infertility journey.

And when I didn’t want to get up and record today, I thought about how hearing someone else’s story about a day where they couldn’t get out of bed might make me feel less alone. And so I wanted to bring that to you all. I wanted to remind you that even though this is hard and sad and frustrating and all the things, you are not alone.

Please make sure that you have a support group, whether through an organization like Infertility Unfiltered, or someone you connect with online, or in your family and friend groups. It’s so important to make sure you’re not going through this alone.

What’s in this episode:

• How I’m feeling after the results from our first IVF transfer [01:41]
• The difficulty of having to miss out on life’s moments because of how time consuming and emotionally draining this process has been [04:46]
• Our false positive at-home pregnancy test and the results of my blood test [06:19]
• A reminder of why I’m doing this podcast, even when it’s so hard [11:04]
• The importance of taking care of yourself during this process [13:06]
• Giving continue support to those going through this, even if you don’t know exactly what to say [16:10]
• Why I signed up for a support group at Infertility Unfiltered and the importance of having a support system [17:54]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/022

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infant loss, and infertility. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

Infertility is nothing short of heartbreaking. And the decisions are endless. Test after test, IUI or IVF, adoption, or donor eggs… It really takes its toll. And when miscarriages occur, your heart breaks even further.

Imagine going through this at a time when very few people were even talking about their struggles with infertility. My friend Poppy’s infertility journey began in 2013, and she felt alone, with very few resources and no one in her circle who understood what she was going through.

In today’s episode, Poppy shares the story of her five year infertility journey. She opens up about the financial difficulties associated with fertility treatments, how she made it through three miscarriages, and the joy she felt in finally being able to conceive after three donor egg transfers.

Thanks to advancements in science, having a baby can look different from family to family. There are many ways to create your family, and Poppy encourages those going through infertility to be open to all the possibilities and to remember the importance of self-care.

What’s in this episode:

• How they navigated trying to get pregnant and seeking help from doctors when they couldn’t [02:03]
• How Poppy ended up having to go with IVF [07:14]
• How she got pregnant naturally and lost the baby [11:37]
• Their first experience with donor eggs and the associated costs [13:43]
• Her second miscarriage with two donor eggs [18:25]
• How they realized adoption wasn’t the right fit for them [19:42]
• Their second attempt at using donor eggs, how they were able to save money this time around, and how it ended in a third miscarriage [21:41]
• Using the last two frozen donor eggs they had, and what they did differently this time [26:18]
• How she learned she was pregnant and hadn’t miscarried by 10 weeks [28:29]
• Poppy’s thoughts on her subconscious “letting go” and then ultimately giving birth to her baby [33:36]
• The emotions and trauma that come with such a lengthy process [35:04]
• What is was like for Poppy and her husband, Drew, to go through this together [39:30]
• What it was like working through her pregnancy [41:46]
• What it was like for Poppy going through this in 2013, with no to really talk to and very few resources available [45:15]
• Poppy’s evolution of thoughts and feelings about having a baby with the help of science [47:02]
• Her advice for anyone going through infertility themselves [53:48]

If you are feeling alone on your infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/021

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infant loss, and infertility. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

This is part two of my conversation with Becky. If you haven’t listened to part one, please go back and listen to last week’s episode.

After having a miscarriage and being diagnosed with unexplained infertility, Becky and her husband decided to try IVF. The anxiety and nerves that come with this process made it difficult for them to get excited about the possibility of having a baby. The most surprising part was when they ended up getting pregnant naturally.

In today’s episode, Becky is sharing her IVF experience, what it felt like being pregnant after her miscarriage , and why she talked to a psychiatrist after giving birth to her baby girl. Throughout this entire experience, perhaps some of the most valuable advice she received is to talk about it.

Pregnancy is an emotional experience even when it goes according to plan. Talking through the anger, the grief, the joy—whatever you feel—helps you to heal and move forward.

What’s in this episode:

• Becky’s unexplained infertility diagnosis [02:48]
• Why she got a recurrent miscarriage blood panel and the results [05:07]
• The anxiety that comes with the IVF process and how difficult it is to give yourself shots [07:57]
• How the egg retrieval went and Becky’s disappointment [12:22]
• How they eventually got pregnant naturally [15:31]
• The nerves Becky felt at every ultrasound and in between appointments [18:41]
• The exciting and terrifying feelings that came with buying baby items [21:31]
• Becky’s birth experience [25:00]
• Her preeclampsia diagnosis [30:34]
• Why she decided to talk to a psychiatrist and the advice he gave her [34:36]
• How they’re deciding with their doctor about when to try to get pregnant again [38:43]
• The ups and downs of this entire experience [40:50]

If you are feeling alone on your infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/020

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infant loss, and infertility. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

With infertility, you don’t always get clear answers.

For Becky, her infertility journey was entirely unexpected and remains unexplained. Though she has received medical support every step of the way, there’s no clear cause to her infertility, and that’s made it even more difficult to accept.

In today’s episode, I talk to Becky about her unexplained infertility issues and her first pregnancy, which unfortunately ended in a miscarriage. She shares her experience attending appointments alone during COVID and coming to terms with the reality of her infertility.

What’s in this episode:

• How Becky and her husband made the decision to start trying for a baby [2:16]
• When Becky realized she needed to look into her fertility [7:32]
• Her first experience working with an OBGYN to find the cause of her infertility [10:08]
• Finding out she was pregnant just before starting fertility medication [18:49]
• Hearing her baby’s heartbeat and finding a subchorionic hematoma in her uterus [27:18]
• Becky’s experience learning she’d had a miscarriage [33:48]
• Making the decision to do a D&C and the recovery process [37:32]

If you are feeling alone on your infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/019

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Being on this journey of infertility is not for the faint of heart. Every day, we are faced with difficult decisions, and, even in the face of hope, it becomes increasingly difficult to remain hopeful.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing why Todd and I decided to do a second retrieval round, the positive results we got from the embryo testing, and how I'm feeling going into our first transfer.

If you’re going through your own infertility journey, you know how it feels to have these emotional ups and downs that don’t always make sense. We are faced with a hopeful situation, but I still sometimes feel sad and have trouble imagining the good that could come from this journey. I am trying my best to take things one day at a time and focus on the small wins.

Thank you for sticking with me as I share the practical and the emotional sides of our infertility journey. I hope that you can find some solace in knowing that you are not alone in your feelings.

What’s in this episode:

• How Todd convinced me that we should do another retrieval round [02:11]
• My experience with the latest retrieval round [03:57]
• Learning that I had a cyst and the results [06:34]
• How I’m feeling about the transfer [09:08]
• Reaching out for support on your infertility journey [13:21]
• Spending a week with friends and trying to enjoy myself [15:47]
• The results from our second round of embryo testing and how I’m feeling [18:15]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/018

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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The past two years of my infertility journey have been difficult. I feel the physical and mental weight of all that I have gone through every single day. Sharing my experience as it unfolds has become important to me because it has been especially hard for me to find people who are sharing while they are in the middle of the process as opposed to on the other side of it. That’s one of the main reasons I started this podcast: to share about my experience as it is unfolding rather than after the fact when everything has come to a (hopefully) happy ending.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the results of our PGT embryo testing, how I’m feeling, and what decisions come next for us in this process.

It’s very hard to talk about this while actively experiencing it, so thank you for listening, and I hope that this podcast is a safe space where you can feel seen and heard while on your own journey.

What’s in this episode:

• Why it’s important for me to share my journey as it’s happening [02:00]
• How I’m feeling after the results from our embryo testing [03:57]
• Why I’m trying to look at this from different angles and let myself feel what I feel [05:02]
• The decisions we have to make next [08:42]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/017

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and medical trauma. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

Miscarriage changes you in immeasurable ways.

For Caroline, her miscarriage with her third child had a lasting impact on her life. Since experiencing a traumatic D&C, she says she hasn’t felt the same about her body. And even as she celebrated her pregnancy with her rainbow baby, Caroline struggled to shake the anxiety and overwhelming question of ‘what if.’

In today’s episode, I talk to Caroline about the miscarriage of her third child and the medical trauma she experienced because of it. She shares how that trauma impacted her daily life, including her relationship with her two daughters, and how she found life-changing healing through therapy. Plus, she shares the story of her surprise rainbow baby and how she learned to celebrate through her grief.

What’s in this episode:

• How Caroline and her husband first started thinking about their fertility [3:41]
• Struggling with the possibility of infertility before she started trying [5:53]
• Caroline’s pregnancy with her third child [7:35]
• How Caroline learned she was having a miscarriage and how she processed the news [11:26]
• Scheduling her D&C and waiting a week for the procedure [13:57]
• What happened during Caroline’s D&C [17:47]
• Coming to terms with loss when you leave the hospital empty-handed [23:06]
• The long-term physical and emotional effects of Caroline’s miscarriage [26:08]
• Supporting and nurturing someone who’s recovering from a miscarriage [28:06]
• How therapy helped Caroline heal [32:47]
• Navigating a miscarriage and recovery without proper medical guidance [37:11]
• Caroline’s rainbow baby [39:24]
• Living with grief while still celebrating life [48:52]

If you are feeling alone on your infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/016

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to infertility and medical procedures. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

On a journey this difficult and fraught with grief and sadness, it’s hard to get excited about taking the next step but it does feel good to be trying something new.

After four failed rounds of IUI my husband and I have recently started IVF for the first time. It’s brought up a lot of emotions for me–anxiety about trying something new, dread for all the medical procedures, hope for our little embryos–but in the midst of it all I’m finding ways to be kind to myself throughout.

In today’s episode, I share my experience so far with IVF and go into detail about our first egg retrieval. I talk about finishing IUI and making the decision to move forward with IVF, and I touch on all the emotions that brought up for us. I share how I’m being kind to my heart and body and how Todd is supporting me. And finally, I talk about the hope I have for the little embryos waiting for our transfer.

What’s in this episode:

• My experience finishing our final round of IUI and starting IVF [2:16]
• How I practiced being kind to myself during IVF [3:50]
• How my husband stayed involved throughout the process [7:09]
• My most recent retrieval [10:24]
• Coming down from the retrieval emotionally and physically [12:54]
• Thinking about our embryos before the transfer [15:23]
• How I’m processing my emotions as we begin IVF [17:49]

If you are feeling alone on your infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/015

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

Please note that today's episode is an in-depth discussion about infant loss. If that is triggering for you, please listen with care or skip this episode if needed. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

The death of an infant is a devastation that no one should have to experience but many do.

Today’s episode is part two of a two part conversation I had with my brave friend Emily who lost her son Ecko just days after he was born. If you have not listened to part one, please go back to last week's episode and listen before you continue listening to today's episode. Her strength and vulnerability are unparalleled and I am so grateful that she was able and willing to share her raw emotions with me and the Piece of My Heart community. The way she navigated and continues to navigate the loss of Ecko has been a true inspiration as I find my own way through the experience of infertility and loss.

As Emily says on her website listinerliving.com, “When you lean into your life, rather than resist the experiences you are being offered, you’ll find the richness your life holds - both for you & the collective.” These words reverberate in my heart as I listen back to our conversation and watch in awe as she continues on.

What’s in this episode:

• Emily’s honesty around the experience and how she found some peace during devastation [06:34]
• What it was like sharing the news with their community [10:31]
• How Emily shared the truth and felt liberated in asking for what she needed in the weeks following [15:26]
• How everyone’s experience of the same thing can be so different and being respectful of that [19:45]
• How Emily adjusted physically in the weeks and months that followed [24:03]
• Why this experience doesn’t feel like a challenge [30:11]
• How Bennett’s first record perfectly matches the experience they lived and how that helped him cope [32:47]
• Their experience going to the morgue to get Ecko’s ashes [37:37]
• How to approach talking about the death of your child with strangers [40:41]
• The significance of Ecko’s name [45:41]
• The premise for Emily’s new podcast [48:35]

Again, this may be a very triggering episode for some people. Please listen with care, and stop listening if at any point it is too much for you.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/014

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

Please note that today's episode is an in-depth discussion about infant loss. If that is triggering for you, please listen with care or skip this episode if needed. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

The death of an infant is a devastation that no one should have to experience but many do.

Today’s episode is part one of a two part conversation I had with my brave friend Emily who lost her son Ecko just days after he was born. Her strength and vulnerability are unparalleled and I am so grateful that she was able and willing to share her raw emotions with me and the Piece of My Heart community. The way she navigated and continues to navigate the loss of Ecko has been a true inspiration as I find my own way through the experience of infertility and loss.

As Emily says on her website listinerliving.com, “When you lean into your life, rather than resist the experiences you are being offered, you’ll find the richness your life holds - both for you & the collective.” These words reverberate in my heart as I listen back to our conversation and watch in awe as she continues on.

What’s in this episode:

• The home birth of Emily’s son, Ecko, in which he was born not breathing properly [05:26]
• Her experience in the hospital being separated from him as they worked to keep him alive [09:09]
• Emily and her husband’s (Bennett) different post-birth experiences and the airlifting of Ecko and Emily to a new hospital [17:04]
• How Ecko’s birth was different from her first son, Milo [19:33]
• What they learned about the potential reasons why Ecko was born in distress [22:21]
• The precious moments Emily and Bennett spent connecting with Ecko while in the NICU [27:17]
• Ecko’s surgery and how the surgeons learned he was born with a malrotated intestine [28:53]
• The difficult choices they were faced, the decision to help him pass away, and managing their emotions alongside family members [33:01]
• How they shared what was happening with their oldest son, Milo, and the memories he got to make with Ecko [39:23] [46:40]
• The intense emotions that came with finally being able to hold him after he passed [42:18]
• How they processed leaving behind his physical body while knowing that his spirit lives on with them [51:15]

Again, this may be a very triggering episode for some people. Please listen with care, and stop listening if at any point it is too much for you.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/013

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

Infertility involves a lot of waiting–waiting for your next cycle, waiting for your results, waiting for your next scan. That waiting is punctuated by periods of grief and celebration, but more often than not it just feels neverending. So how do you keep going when you feel like you’re stuck in limbo?

In today’s episode, I’m talking to Michelle about her infertility journey that ultimately led to the birth of her two sons. She’s sharing the story of her traumatic first miscarriage and how it prepared her for her next two. She’s also talking about celebrating life while dealing with grief, and we’re both talking about the near-constant waiting while trying to get pregnant.

What’s in this episode:

• [2:12] Michelle’s infertility journey, and how she was able to conceive for the first time
• [3:57] Michelle’s miscarriage and delivery experience
• [8:51] Making the decision to try again after the miscarriage
• [9:54] Celebrating her second pregnancy while still mourning the first
• [11:57] The relief of passing the 14-week mark when she lost her first pregnancy
• [13:37] Michelle’s pregnancy with her son, Dean
• [15:21] Deciding to try again, and experiencing two more miscarriages, and visiting a fertility clinic for the first time
• [20:28] Working with the fertility doctor and using IUI to get pregnant with her second son
• [22:22] What it’s like being around pregnant mothers in the fertility clinic, and what it’s like being on the other side of that situation
• [25:22] How Michelle got through her three miscarriages
• [32:37] Telling people she was pregnant after experiencing miscarriages
• [35:44] Getting blood tested for her second son
• [38:51] Dealing with the constant waiting and stress while trying to get pregnant

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/012

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers: This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

The IVF process isn’t linear. It’s a cycle of trying, having tough conversations, taking breaks, and trying again. When the going gets tough (and let’s face it, it’s always tough), it’s important to lean on your partner and your community.

In today’s episode, I’m talking to Rebekah and Kyle about the rest of their infertility journey. If you missed part one that aired last week please go back and listen to that before you start this episode. Today Kyle and Rebakah are sharing their individual experiences of IVF and how they worked together to make it through. Kyle is explaining why it was so valuable for him to find other men to talk to about infertility. Plus, Rebekah is opening up about all the emotions and questions that arise at different stages in the IVF process.

What’s in this episode:

• [2:07] Rebekah and Kyle’s experience receiving and administering fertility medication
• [5:41] Retrieval, fertilization, and testing
• [13:38] Kyle’s perspective on the infertility journey
• [15:54] Why it’s important to talk about IVF with your community
• [19:02] How Rebekah and Kyle managed the time between retrieval and reception
• [21:22] The reception process
• [23:27] Rebekah’s tips for taking progesterone in oil, and what the experience was like for her
• [30:32] Getting the good news after the transfer
• [32:30] The meditation that brought Rebekah comfort during her transfer
• [35:58] Rebekah’s hemorrhages, and coming to terms with the possibility of miscarriage
• [37:24] Having their first child and then experiencing a miscarriage
• [38:54] Making the decision to do IVF again and try for a second child
• [43:42] Living with the unanswered questions about your infertility
• [45:12] Balancing the desire to be pregnant with the desire to be a parent
• [47:45] Holding out hope when you’re in the middle of your infertility marathon

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or alone on your infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/011

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

This episode also includes the sounds of Rebekah and Kyle’s baby in the background. If this is difficult for you, please listen with care.

Rebekah and Kyle embarked on their infertility journey in 2017, when it wasn’t nearly as common for people to open up about such a personal experience. And, at first, they didn’t. They kept all the emotions they were feeling to themselves, until Rebekah’s acupuncturist recommended that they share the experience with Kyle’s family, particularly his dying mother.

In today’s episode, Rebekah and Kyle share how alone they felt on their infertility journey, after an incorrect blood test led Rebekah to believe that she would never be able to get pregnant. A supportive team of doctors and acupuncturists saw them through, and opening up to their family brought them a message from Kyle’s mom on her deathbed that felt like a sign.

What’s in this episode:

• How Kyle and Rebekah’s conception journey started [04:58]
• How the results of a blood test left them feeling heartbroken and discouraged [10:26]
• Why they didn’t tell anyone about their journey at first [14:08]
• The overwhelming sadness Rebekah felt at the thought of never getting pregnant [16:45]
• Rebekah’s experience with acupuncture [18:30]
• Their positive experience at fertility clinics that left them feeling hopeful [21:08]
• Their IUI experience [27:01]
• Why her acupuncturist recommended they share their journey with Kyle’s family [37:55]
• The story of Kyle’s mom’s passing, and the message she gave them [46:05]

If you’ve struggled on your healing journey after a miscarriage and want to feel less alone, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/010

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

There are some types of pain you don’t want to forget, pain that comes from love and loss. In the months following my miscarriage, I couldn’t help but try to hold on to every memory–learning I was pregnant, hearing the heartbeat, even losing my baby. It hurts to remember those times, but holding those memories close and sharing them with the world have helped me heal in more ways than I can count.

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the full story of my miscarriage. I’m sharing how it felt to be pregnant after over a year of infertilityand how I had to come to terms with the possibility of a miscarriage. I’m also opening up about what it was like to hear the worst news I could have imagined and how my husband and I made it through the days and weeks following my D&C. Finally, I’m sharing how I keep the memory of my baby, Poppy, alive as I continue on my conception journey.

What’s in this episode:

• [1:09] Why I think it’s important to talk about miscarriage and infertility
• [7:00] How my memory of my miscarriage has evolved as I’ve gotten further from it
• [8:20] My pregnancy experience and coming to terms with the possibility of a miscarriage
• [14:56] Receiving good news and communicating my experience with family and friends
• [21:12] Hearing that I had miscarried and managing that appointment without my husband
• [25:36] Why I’m glad I told my family about my pregnancy, even after I lost it
• [29:40] Struggling to take care of myself immediately following my miscarriage
• [34:02] My D&C and recovery experience
• [38:57] How I’ve been processing not being able to bury my baby
• [44:38] Finding comfort with my husband and how he worked through his grief
• [49:30] The hormone drop and depression after my miscarriage
• [53:34] How I’ve processed my grief over time
• [59:41] Holding on to my memories of my baby, Poppy

If you’ve struggled on your healing journey after a miscarriage and want to feel less alone, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/009

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

This episode also includes details about Katelyn’s current pregnancy. If you have a hard time hearing about pregnancy, please listen with care.

In today’s episode, Katelyn shares the rest of her story. She goes into detail about the egg retrieval process and the embryo transfer. She recently learned that the transfer was successful, leaving her cautiously optimistic about her pregnancy. She answers a lot of common questions about the processes as well as shares some helpful information and tips for those on this journey.

It can be overwhelming to be on this particular path to motherhood, and I hope that Katelyn’s honesty and vulnerability will be helpful for those of you feeling the weight of this experience.

If you missed part 1 of Katelyn’s story, you can listen here.

What’s in this episode:

• The pain that can happen the first few days after egg retrieval [02:33]
• The benefits of freezing eggs and waiting about a month to do the transfer [06:41]
• Why testing is important, even though it’s expensive and generally not covered by insurance [11:43]
• Why some doctors don’t recommend implanting more than one egg at a time [15:40]
• Katelyn’s egg transfer experience [20:35]
• How Katelyn is feeling after finding out that the transfer was successful [25:27]
• Katelyn’s tips for the progesterone oil injection [26:22]
• How Katelyn is feeling during her pregnancy [31:28]
• How connecting with other women on social media who are going through the same thing has been helpful on her journey [32:54]
• Resources that have helped Katelyn through both infertility and pregnancy [34:20]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/008

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers: This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care. After many rounds of testing post-miscarriage, Katelyn was diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Through the IUI/IVF process, dealing with doctors, nurses, fertility clinics, and insurance has been nothing short of frustrating. When you’re going through something so personal and so emotional, it is heartbreaking to feel like “just another patient” to the people that are trying to help you get pregnant.

In today’s episode (part 1 of 2), Katelyn talks about her unexplained infertility diagnosis and her frustrations with the IUI/IVF process. After many rounds of testing post-miscarriage, Katelyn was diagnosed with unexplained infertility. Since then, the IUI/IVF process, dealing with doctors, nurses, fertility clinics, and insurance has been nothing short of frustrating. When you’re going through something so personal and so emotional, it is heartbreaking to feel like “just another patient” to the people that are trying to help you get pregnant. She opens up about the disappointment of miscarriage when you know your body is capable of becoming pregnant. But she also talks about the glimmer of hope—how a small part of her stayed positive, even if frustrated, throughout the process.

What’s in this episode:

• Things people say about miscarriages that aren’t helpful [05:19]
• What someone who hasn’t gone through miscarriage or infertility can learn about how to communicate with their friends who experience this loss [06:09]
• How advocating for yourself with your doctors is a good learning experience but also incredibly frustrating [8:31]
• Speaking up when your fertility or doctor experience is not warm and welcoming [10:13]
• How hurtful it is to feel like “just another patient” when going through something so difficult and emotional [15:15]
• How testing led to a diagnosis of unexplained infertility [20:35]
• How distressing the IUI and IVF processes can be [23:10]
• What the IVF process is like [25:16] [33:13]
• Dealing with insurance and how hard it is to wait for approvals [26:55]
• The disappointment and frustration of miscarriage because you know your body is capable of prenancy [32:06]
• Common physical reactions to IUI and IVF medications [36:34]
• The need for better communication from doctors and nurses about what you might experience during IUI and IVF [39:00]

If you’ve experienced the frustrations and distress that are common with IUI or IVF, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/007

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

My friend Amber’s first pregnancy was easy and joyful. Then when her son was just shy of his third birthday, she found out she was pregnant again—unplanned. Having just launched her new business, she was worried and terrified of how she and her husband would handle having another baby. Normal feelings that everyone goes through. And then, she had a miscarriage. Fast forward three more years to a planned pregnancy that ended in another miscarriage.

In today’s episode, Amber shares vulnerable details about her miscarriages and the emotional and mental roller coaster that happens on this journey of hope and loss. She opens up about how talking to others has helped her heal and realize that she is not alone, and she reflects on the difficult decision of deciding not to try again to have a baby.

What’s in this episode:

• Amber’s emotional journey with her unplanned pregnancy when her first son was three years old [3:56]
• Her difficult and honest reaction to her first miscarriage [8:39]
• Her experience with a natural miscarriage that lasted weeks and continuing to work at her business instead of taking time off [10:49]
• The importance of opening up to friends and family about a miscarriage so as to break the stigma of it “not being a big deal” (it is a big deal, and your emotions are valid) [14:57]
• How different Amber’s second miscarriage was from the first [19:41]
• How the body sometimes doesn’t let go of pregnancy symptoms, even when you’re miscarrying [22:31]
• Turning toward social media as an outlet for support and connection during the isolation of COVID [24:00]
• How COVID brought mental health to the forefront and why it’s so important to talk about it [28:12]
• Why it would be helpful to have more support and resources from doctors on what happens to your hormones and how you’ll feel following a miscarriage [31:36]
• How immersing herself in things and experiences she loved brought her joy during a dark time [34:25]
• How her son wants a sibling and the mental strain that comes with the thought of miscarrying again [37:33]
• Why it’s important to know what you can handle and how she feels lucky to have a child [44:23]
• How she talked to her son about her miscarriages [47:58]
• How grief and loss never go away, and those feelings can creep in years after the fact, and you will need to talk about it and work through it [52:50]
• Keeping the memory of your miscarried baby alive [57:12]

If you’ve struggled on your healing journey after a miscarriage and want to feel less alone, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/006

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

Anyone who has gone through infertility or miscarriage knows how vulnerable that time is, physically, emotionally, mentally, and even when it comes to your relationships and interactions with others. It is a difficult and heavy time to navigate, and it can feel devastating and lonely. But know that you are not alone.

I invited my good friend Eliza to speak on today’s episode about her four year infertility journey, her miscarriage, and how she is handling being pregnant after loss. She shares the emotional ups and downs, how she advocated for her needs, the difficulties of connecting with others, and advice for taking care of yourself. She is open and honest, and my hope is that hearing her story will help you feel less alone and give you the strength to keep going.

What’s in this episode:

• Eliza’s struggles with getting pregnant [02:11]
• How these difficulties took a toll on Eliza’s mental health and relationship with her husband [08:14]
• Why they finally decided to try the medication route [10:33]
• What is PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) [11:28]
• The disappointment of not getting pregnant when “nothing is wrong” [15:44]
• Side effects of the medication Eliza took [18:19]
• Why Eliza wouldn’t change the miracle that is their journey [21:30]
• The importance of taking the necessary steps to research and communicate your needs [24:03]
• The emotional roller coaster that is a pregnancy turned miscarriage [31:32]
• How hard it is to be consoled by others after a miscarriage [36:26]
• How hard it is to feel excitement with her current pregnancy and taking it one day at a time [40:10]
• How slowing down and anti-anxiety medications have helped Eliza manage emotional ups and downs [44:01]
• Why it’s important to acknowledge when you need help and ask for it [49:11]
• Eliza’s advice for anyone going through a similar situation [51:00]
• How making small health-conscious changes in your everyday life can help with peace of mind [55:44]

If you’re experiencing the emotional roller coaster of infertility, miscarriage, or a pregnancy after loss, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/005

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

Ever since I started on this infertility journey, I’ve felt like I’m constantly yearning for the next chapter in my life: the chapter of pregnancy, of motherhood, or raising a family. But along the way, I’ve realized that my present is just as important as my future. For my own happiness, I’m trying my hardest to live in the now. In this episode, I’m sharing an update on my most recent round of IUI and talking about the “what ifs” I’ve been struggling with. I’m talking about finding a balance between longing for the future and living in the present, and I’m also opening up about my fight to keep my hope alive throughout this journey.

What’s in this episode:

• Sharing the results of my IUI [1:59]
• Struggling with the “what ifs” after finding out I wasn’t pregnant [3:35]
• Why I’m struggling to love life and live in the present [4:25]
• How I’m trying to re-engage with my daily life and enjoy the here and now [7:05]
• Where we’re at on our infertility journey, and why we might be taking a break [8:13]
• Holding onto my hope through waves of disappointment [9:59]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/004

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

Infertility sometimes feels like a continued wave of disappointment. One day, I’m sure my body is sending me signals that I’m pregnant. The next, it’s another negative pregnancy test. But I continue to weather the disappointment knowing that someday it may all have been worth it. In this episode, I’m sharing an update on where I’m at in my personal infertility journey. I’m talking about dealing with continued disappointment, and I’m sharing how I’m taking care of my mind and body. Plus, I hope to offer some comfort to anyone else who feels alone on their own conception journey, even if they’re going through it with a partner. What’s in this episode:

• An update on my personal infertility journey [1:07]
• Weathering continued disappointment on your infertility journey [2:09]
• How my body’s feeling at this stage in the journey [6:08]
• Why infertility feels lonely, even if you’re going through it with a partner [7:46]
• Being kind to your body and heart throughout the journey [9:30]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/003

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

Between the endless appointments, uncomfortable conversations, and days spent wondering “what if,” infertility is an emotional whirlwind. Along the way, there are ups and downs, tough decisions, and moments when you feel like you want to give up. But making the decision to keep pushing forward even in the midst of your grief is one of the most courageous things you can do on your infertility journey. In this second part of the episode, my lifelong friend and I are talking about the emotional side of infertility treatment. She’s sharing her experience attending IVF appointments without her partner, and we’re both sharing our stories of receiving and navigating devastating news. Plus, we’re discussing the pressure to get pregnant naturally and how we each decided to release that expectation for ourselves.

What’s in this episode:

• Choosing a doctor who makes you feel comfortable and confident [1:14]
• Managing your expectations when things are looking good [4:22]
• Why it’s so important to find a doctor who truly cares [7:00]
• How we handle appointments that our partners can’t attend [8:38]
• Choosing to test tissue after a miscarriage [10:00]
• Struggling with the “moral dilemma” of infertility treatment vs. adoption [12:08]
• Understanding your diagnosis and how it could affect your treatment timeline [18:20]
• Finding the “silver linings” throughout your infertility journey [23:21]
• Finding closure and the will to try again after a miscarriage [25:09]
• The next steps in each of our treatment plans [27:21]
• Experiencing a loss of innocence or optimism during infertility [32:38]
• Releasing the pressure of trying to get pregnant naturally [37:21]
• How to navigate conversations about infertility with friends and family [39:38]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/002

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

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Disclaimers:

This episode may contain sensitive topics related to miscarriage, infertility, and infant loss. If these subjects are triggering for you, please listen with care. While there may be conversations about medications or medical treatments, I am not a doctor, and I am not offering any medical advice. Please consult an actual doctor for your own medical care.

For many of us experiencing infertility, the journey can feel lonely. Even with a partner, even with a community, it sometimes feels like no one understands your unique story and grief. But when we open up about our experiences and share them with others, we can sometimes start to feel less alone. In this episode, I’m sitting down with a longtime friend who has graciously opened up about her infertility experience. She’s sharing her journey thus far and how she’s weathered the ups and downs. We’re both talking about how we often feel lonely even among our community and how we’re learning to advocate for ourselves and our stories. What’s in this episode:

• Introducing my lifelong friend and her infertility journey [1:15]
• Making the shift from an OB to an IVF clinic [5:47]
• How my friend got started with “mini IVF” [8:36]
• Changing medications and making adjustments along the way [12:10]
• Making the decision to forgo genetic testing on her retrieved embryos [14:01]
• Being pregnant for the first time and experiencing a miscarriage [15:28]
• How my friend is feeling at this point in her journey [19:07]
• Navigating relationships with friends who are pregnant or already parents [22:06]
• Experiencing infertility as someone who hasn’t always wanted kids [26:17]
• Why infertility can feel lonely, even when you have a community going through it alongside you [28:19]
• How IVF and other infertility treatments can affect your hormones [33:41]
• Feeling uncomfortable in the clinic setting and learning to advocate for yourself [39:11]

If you’re feeling alone on your own infertility journey, I invite you to tune in to this episode.

For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://www.apieceofmyheartpodcast.com/episodes/001

Looking for support on your own journey? Explore the support groups at Infertility Unfiltered: https://www.infertilityunfiltered.com/

Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.

View Details

Hi Friend, 

A Piece of My Heart is a supportive space for anyone navigating the world of infertility, miscarriage, and infant loss.

Weekly episodes follow my personal journey through infertility, IUI, miscarriage, and IVF as well as open and honest conversations with brave individuals and couples facing similar experiences.