Disappointing IVF Results, the Difficulties of Missing Out, and the Importance of Community
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 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.
Resources Mentioned
Support us on Patreon here, where 10% of proceeds will also go to support others on their journey through The Stork Foundation.