Suddenly Infertile

DaMarra Chanel
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Health & Fitness
  • Biweekly

The Suddenly Infertile Podcast with host DaMarra Chanel is a safe, unfiltered space created for Black women navigating infertility. DaMarra speaks honestly about the medical realities and the emotional weight along with grief, faith, identity, and starting over, while breaking down complex topics in clear, accessible language. Through personal stories, expert insight, and real conversations about how infertility uniquely impacts Black women, Suddenly Infertile reminds you that you are not broken, you are not alone, and your path to motherhood is still worth fighting for!

  1. 4d ago

    16: From Fertility Treatments to a Natural Conception-Quisha Umemba's Journey Through Secondary Infertility

    What happens when you've prayed, believed, invested, and exhausted nearly every option to grow your family, but the answer still hasn't come? In this powerful episode of Suddenly Infertile, host DaMarra Chanel sits down with Quisha Umemba, a registered nurse, public health practitioner, fertility advocate, and founder of Fertile Ground, to discuss her nearly five-year journey through secondary infertility. After experiencing motherhood, Quisha never imagined that growing her family again would become one of the most emotionally, physically, financially, and spiritually challenging seasons of her life. From countless medical appointments and fertility procedures to IVF, donor egg IVF, and nearly $100,000 spent pursuing motherhood, Quisha opens up about the heartbreak of repeated disappointments, the strain infertility placed on her marriage, and the moments when her faith was tested. She shares what it meant to be angry with God while still trying to trust Him, how she and her husband navigated their emotions differently, and what happened when, after years of fertility treatments, she unexpectedly conceived her son naturally. But this conversation is about so much more than pregnancy. It's about the emotional weight of waiting, learning to communicate through disappointment, redefining hope, and finding purpose in the middle of pain. ☕️ SIS, WHAT'S THE TEA? Quisha and DaMarra tackle the longstanding stigma of placing the blame for infertility solely on women. Why are women so often expected to carry the responsibility, shame, and emotional burden of infertility when male factors can also contribute to fertility challenges? We're challenging outdated narratives, discussing the importance of evaluating both partners, and reminding women that their worth is not determined by their ability to conceive. 🌱 THE WAITING SEASON — A RESOLVE SUPPORT GROUP Quisha is also creating space for women navigating infertility through The Waiting Season: Infertility Peer-Led Support Group for Women, now officially live through RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. Whether you're beginning your fertility journey, navigating treatments, or simply searching for a community that understands, this resource offers an opportunity to connect with others who understand the waiting season. 🤎 Learn more and share this resource with someone who may need it: https://resolve.org/support-groups/the-waiting-season-infertility-peer-led-support-group-for-women/ In this episode, we explore: The often-overlooked emotional challenges of secondary infertility. The financial and emotional toll of IVF and donor egg IVF. Navigating faith, disappointment, and unanswered prayers. How infertility can affect marriage and communication. Why men and women may express and process infertility grief differently. Challenging the stigma surrounding infertility and women's reproductive health. Finding community, purpose, and hope during the waiting season. Quisha's story is a powerful reminder that every fertility journey is different. While her journey ultimately led to a natural conception, there is no single path to motherhood and no guaranteed outcome. Every story deserves compassion, support, and space to be heard. 🎙️ Suddenly Infertile — Honest Conversations. Real Stories. Hope Together. You Are Not Alone. 🤎 If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, rate, review, and share it with someone who may need encouragement today. 📱 Follow us on Instagram: @SuddenlyInfertile 📧 Interested in sharing your infertility story on Suddenly Infertile? suddenlyinfertile@gmail.com 🔗 Learn more + access resources: ⁠https://suddenly-infertile-podcast.kit.com/d1c7a2164b⁠ To connect with Quisha:  Instagram : @fertilegroundwithquisha @Umembahealth Website: www.fertilegroundus.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quisha.umemba To buy Quisha's book: https://www.fertilegroundus.com/fertile-ground-book

    16: From Fertility Treatments to a Natural Conception-Quisha Umemba's Journey Through Secondary Infertility

  2. Oct 18

    15: Between Grief and Hope: A Motherhood Journey Still Being Written Erin's Story

    What does it look like to hold on to hope when your heart has already experienced so much loss? In this deeply personal and emotional episode of Suddenly Infertile, host DaMarra Chanel sits down with someone incredibly special, her cousin and fellow Pittsburgh native, Erin Jones. Erin’s journey to motherhood is still being written. After experiencing two heartbreaking miscarriages, she continues to navigate the complicated emotions of grief, uncertainty, healing, and the hope of one day welcoming a child into the world. Unlike many stories that are shared after someone has reached the other side of infertility, Erin invites us into her journey while she’s still in the middle of it. And that’s what makes this conversation so powerful. Throughout this episode, Erin opens up about the emotional toll of pregnancy loss and the challenges of navigating relationships with family members who may not always provide the understanding or support she needs. She also shares difficult experiences within the workplace, including a moment when a coworker made insensitive comments about her pregnancy in front of a classroom of students. We explore the emotional impact of those encounters and the importance of creating compassionate, supportive environments for women experiencing infertility and pregnancy loss. Erin also reflects on her experiences with medical care, sharing concerns about whether her race influenced the treatment she received and raising important questions about medical bias, racial disparities in maternal healthcare, and the importance of advocating for Black women’s health. ☕ Sis, What’s the Tea? — When Is the Right Time to Announce a Pregnancy? In this week’s Sis, What’s the Tea?, Erin and DaMarra dive into a conversation that so many women have wrestled with: When is the right time to tell people you’re pregnant? Do you share the exciting news as soon as you see those two pink lines? Do you wait until after the first ultrasound? Or do you follow the traditional advice of waiting until the second trimester? And what happens when you’ve experienced pregnancy loss and the excitement of sharing your news is accompanied by fear that something could go wrong? We discuss our personal perspectives on pregnancy announcements, the pressure women sometimes feel to keep early pregnancies private, and why there shouldn’t be a universal timeline for sharing something so personal. We also explore the importance of having a support system you can lean on, whether your pregnancy ends in celebration, heartbreak, or uncertainty. Because ultimately, every woman deserves the freedom to share her pregnancy on her own terms. 🤎 A Story Still Being Written Erin’s willingness to share her story while she’s still navigating it is a reminder that you don’t have to wait until you’ve experienced your breakthrough to make an impact on someone else’s life. Whether you’ve experienced miscarriage, are trying to conceive, have struggled to find support from family or coworkers, or are simply learning how to show up for someone experiencing infertility, this conversation is for you. Your grief is valid. Your hope matters. And your story is worthy of being heard, even while it’s still unfolding. 🎙️ Listen to Season 2, Episode 7 of Suddenly Infertile, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. If this episode resonates with you, please subscribe, leave a rating and review, and share it with someone who may need to hear Erin’s story. 📧 Interested in sharing your infertility story on Suddenly Infertile? suddenlyinfertile@gmail.com 🔗 Learn more + access resources: ⁠https://suddenly-infertile-podcast.kit.com/d1c7a2164b⁠ Instagram: @SuddenlyInfertile To connect with Erin:  Tik Tok: @mystique_mcfly Instagram : @mystique_mcfly 🤎 Because here at Suddenly Infertile… You Are Not Alone. Produced by Shadrae King

    15: Between Grief and Hope: A Motherhood Journey Still Being Written Erin's Story

  3. Oct 4

    14: From Blocked Tubes to an Unexpected Miracle: Shelby's Journey

    What happens when you’ve finally accepted that IVF is your next step, prepared yourself for everything that comes with it and then, right before you begin, your entire story changes? In Season 2, Episode 6 of Suddenly Infertile, I sit down with fellow Pittsburgh native Shelby Gunter for a conversation filled with vulnerability, laughter, faith, and a few moments that will have you saying, “I know that’s right sis!” Shelby opens up about her fertility journey and the moment she learned that her fallopian tubes were blocked. She was told she would need surgery and that IVF would be her path forward. So she prepared. She processed what was ahead. She got ready to begin treatment. She had her IVF medications and was preparing to start them when something completely unexpected happened: Shelby found out she was pregnant! The woman who had been preparing herself for IVF was suddenly looking at a positive pregnancy test. In this episode, Shelby takes us beyond that incredible moment and into the real emotions behind her journey. The uncertainty, the medical conversations, the decisions, the faith, and what it was like when the plan she had mentally prepared for suddenly wasn't the plan anymore. We also talk about what her experience taught her and the perspective she now has for other women navigating infertility because one of the things I loved most about this conversation was the GEMS Shelby dropped along the way that spoke to people across generations. ☕ Sis, What’s the Tea? Oh, we had us a TIME! 😂 Shelby and I get into one of those topics almost every woman navigating infertility has experienced: “So… when are you having a baby?” We share some of our own uncomfortable and sometimes unbelievable experiences with people asking about pregnancy and babies without knowing what was happening behind the scenes. Shelby shares a situation that happened at her business, while I open up about an experience that happened to me at the church I grew up in. We talk about how you navigate those conversations, when you choose to educate someone, when you simply protect your peace, and why seemingly innocent questions can carry so much weight for someone privately struggling to build their family. And yes… we laughed, too!  Because sometimes when two women who have been through it sit down together, there's nothing left to do but say, “Sis… you too?!” This episode is particularly special to me because Shelby is from my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, and I'm incredibly grateful that she trusted Suddenly Infertile with such a personal part of her journey. 🖤💛 Whether you're preparing for IVF, navigating a diagnosis, struggling with the questions people ask, trying to hold onto your faith, or simply realizing that your journey to motherhood looks nothing like you expected, there is something in Shelby's story for you. 🎧 Listen to Season 2, Episode 6 of Suddenly Infertile wherever you get your podcasts. If this conversation resonates with you, please follow/subscribe, rate and review the show, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Every share helps another person find this community. 📧 Interested in sharing your infertility story on Suddenly Infertile? suddenlyinfertile@gmail.com 🔗 Learn more + access resources: ⁠https://suddenly-infertile-podcast.kit.com/d1c7a2164b⁠ Instagram: @SuddenlyInfertile To connect with Shelby:  Salon: Polished & Pampered 8 Freeport St.  Pittsburgh, PA 15223 Instagram : @nailsbyshel_badd 🤎 Because here at Suddenly Infertile… You Are Not Alone. Produced by Shadrae King

    14: From Blocked Tubes to an Unexpected Miracle: Shelby's Journey

  4. Sep 20

    13: Viola's Story of IVF, Grief, Loss & The Obstacles Along the Way

    At just 19 years old, Viola was married and already facing news that would completely change the way she imagined motherhood. She was diagnosed with PCOS and learned that both of her fallopian tubes were blocked, leaving her wondering whether becoming a mother would ever be possible. But that diagnosis was only the beginning of her story. In Season 2, Episode 5 of Suddenly Infertile, Viola joins me for an incredibly vulnerable conversation about a fertility journey marked by IVF, grief, loss, unexpected obstacles, and even a medical emergency where she hemorrhaged and nearly lost her life. Viola takes us through the moments that tested her physically and emotionally and what it meant to continue navigating infertility when it seemed like every time she overcame one obstacle, another one appeared. This episode isn't just about treatment. It's about the grief that can exist alongside hope. It's about receiving life-changing information at an age when you never imagined you'd have to think about infertility. It's about the toll this journey can take and finding the strength to keep moving forward when the path to motherhood looks nothing like the one you originally envisioned. This week, we're switching things up! Viola shares another part of her journey: becoming an author. 📖✨ We talk about her upcoming book, Infertility Sucks, But Not You, and the message behind a title that so many people in this community need to hear. Because infertility can suck. The appointments can suck.The waiting can suck.The losses and disappointments can suck. But infertility does not define your worth. Viola opens up about why she decided to put her experiences into words and what she hopes other women navigating infertility will take away from her book. This is a conversation about survival, grief, resilience, identity, and what happens when you decide that infertility may be part of your story but it doesn't get to be the whole story. 🎧 Listen to Season 2, Episode 5 of Suddenly Infertile wherever you get your podcasts. If Viola's story speaks to you, follow the show, rate and review the podcast, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. If this conversation resonates with you, follow the show, rate and review the podcast, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. 📧 Interested in sharing your infertility story on Suddenly Infertile? suddenlyinfertile@gmail.com 🔗 Learn more + access resources: ⁠https://suddenly-infertile-podcast.kit.com/d1c7a2164b⁠ Instagram: @SuddenlyInfertile To connect with Viola: www.fortitudecounselingcc.com Facebook : Fortitude Counseling CC Email: viola.fortitudecounselingcc.com 🤎 Because here at Suddenly Infertile… You Are Not Alone. Produced by Shadrae King

    13: Viola's Story of IVF, Grief, Loss & The Obstacles Along the Way

  5. Sep 6

    12: One Embryo, One Miracle: Orvia's IVF Journey to Motherhood Over 40

    🎙️ Season 2, Episode 4 One Embryo, One Miracle: Orvia's IVF Journey to Motherhood Over 40 What happens when the life you planned changes—and the road to motherhood changes right along with it? In Season 2, Episode 4 of Suddenly Infertile, I sit down with Orvia Glover for an inspiring conversation about second chances, blocked tubes, IVF, faith, and becoming a mother over 40. Orvia’s journey to motherhood didn’t happen according to the timeline she may have once imagined. After entering her second marriage, she was ready to build her family—but fertility testing revealed an unexpected obstacle. She initially believed one fallopian tube was blocked. But during further evaluation, she learned that both tubes were affected, completely changing what the road ahead would look like. Ultimately, that road led to IVF. And after everything it took to get there, Orvia had one embryo. One. For anyone who has gone through fertility treatment, you know how much emotion can be wrapped up in that number. The fear. The hope. The questions. The prayers. But Orvia held tightly to something she shares during our conversation: “It only takes one.” 🤎 That one embryo would ultimately become her son. In this episode, we talk about navigating fertility treatment in your 40s,  deciding to move forward with IVF, the emotional weight of having only one embryo, and what it felt like to finally see her first positive pregnancy test at 40. But one of my favorite parts of this conversation is Orvia’s faith walk! She speaks openly about calling on God during moments of doubt and uncertainty and trusting Him even when she couldn’t see how the story would end. Her journey is a beautiful reminder of faith, hope and perserverance.  ☕ And, of course, we sipped on some tea!  What does it mean to pursue motherhood when society constantly reminds women about their age? How do you keep hope alive when the odds or numbers don't necessarily look the way you wanted them to? Orvia’s story challenges the idea that motherhood has to happen according to one specific timeline. Second marriage. Blocked tubes. IVF. One embryo. One positive pregnancy test. One beautiful son. 🎧 Listen to Season 2, Episode 4 of Suddenly Infertile wherever you get your podcasts. If Orvia's story encourages you, please follow, rate and review the podcast, and share this episode with another woman who may need some hope in her waiting season. If this conversation resonates with you, follow the show, rate and review the podcast, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. 📧 Interested in sharing your infertility story on Suddenly Infertile? suddenlyinfertile@gmail.com 🔗 Learn more + access resources: ⁠https://suddenly-infertile-podcast.kit.com/d1c7a2164b⁠ 📱 Instagram: @SuddenlyInfertile To connect with Orvia:  YouTube Channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@Orvia_Renae Tik Tok: Orvia_renae  📱 Instagram : @Orvia_renae1     🤎 Because here at Suddenly Infertile… You Are Not Alone. Produced by Shadrae King

    12: One Embryo, One Miracle: Orvia's IVF Journey to Motherhood Over 40

  6. Aug 23

    11: When Hope and Grief Exist Together: Navigating Endometriosis, IVF & Pregnancy Loss

    In Season 2, Episode 3 of Suddenly Infertile, I sit down with Brittney Jackson, host of the Fertility Ain’t Fair Podcast, for a deeply honest conversation about endometriosis, IVF, pregnancy loss, grief, and the complicated emotions that can exist alongside hope. Brittney opens up about navigating endometriosis and how it shaped her fertility journey, eventually leading her down the path of IVF. We talk candidly about the physical and emotional realities of treatment, the expectations we place on ourselves, and what it means to keep moving forward when your journey to motherhood looks nothing like you imagined. But infertility grief doesn’t always stay neatly in the past. ☕ During “Sis, What’s the Tea?”, Brittney shares a recent experience at a doctor’s appointment that unexpectedly brought the grief of her previous miscarriage back to the surface. It opens an important conversation about how grief can resurface in places and moments we never expect and how healing doesn’t necessarily mean that something will never hurt again. We also talk about an important truth that deserves to be repeated: Your worth is not tied to your fertility. You are more than your diagnosis.More than your reproductive history.More than an IVF outcome.More than what your body can or cannot do. This episode is for the woman navigating endometriosis. The woman preparing for or recovering from IVF. The woman grieving a pregnancy she desperately wanted. And the woman who thought she was “okay” until something unexpectedly reminded her of everything she lost. Brittney’s story reminds us that grief and hope can exist in the same space and neither makes you weak. 🎙️ Season 2, Episode 3 of Suddenly InfertileFeaturing Brittney Jackson, host of Fertility Ain’t Fair 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts. If this conversation resonates with you, follow the show, rate and review the podcast, and share this episode with someone who may need to hear it. 📧 Interested in sharing your infertility story on Suddenly Infertile?suddenlyinfertile@gmail.com 🔗 Learn more + access resources: ⁠https://suddenly-infertile-podcast.kit.com/d1c7a2164b⁠ 📱 Instagram: @SuddenlyInfertile 🎙️ Interested in sharing your story on the podcast? I'd love to hear from you! 📧 Email: Suddenlyinfertile@gmail.com To connect with Brittney:  Fertility Ain’t Fair Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fertility-aint-fair/id1570274747 📱 Instagram : @fertilityaintfair 🔗 https://www.fertilityaintfair.com/ 🤎 Because here at Suddenly Infertile… You Are Not Alone. Produced by Shadrae King

    11: When Hope and Grief Exist Together: Navigating Endometriosis, IVF & Pregnancy Loss

  7. Aug 9

    10: She Was 14 When Everything Changed: Tatiana's Journey to IVF & Twins

    At just 14 years old, Tatiana experienced a medical procedure that would change the way she thought about motherhood long before she was ready to become a mom. She learned early that when the time came, getting pregnant might not be easy. But knowing infertility might be part of your future and actually living through it are two very different things. In this powerful episode of Suddenly Infertile, Tatiana takes us through the unexpected twists of her journey, from navigating relationships and divorce to finding love again with a partner who embraced her story without judgment. She opens up about what it was like telling the man who would become her husband that conceiving a child could be difficult and that they might need fertility treatment to build their family. Then came the reality of IVF and figuring out how to afford it. Tatiana shares the extraordinary lengths she went to for the chance to become a mother, including working multiple jobs to help pay for treatment and seeking donated IVF medications when the financial burden became overwhelming. Her story is about so much more than IVF. It’s about starting over. Sacrifice. Partnership. Community. Advocating for the family you dream of and continuing to move forward when the path to motherhood looks nothing like you imagined. And eventually, that winding road led Tatiana to twins.  In this episode, we talk about receiving life-changing fertility information as a teenager, dating while knowing conception could be difficult, divorce and remarriage, finding a supportive partner, the financial realities of IVF, asking for help, and what it took emotionally and financially to keep pursuing motherhood. Whether you’re wondering how you’ll afford your next treatment, navigating infertility while dating or married, or simply trying to hold onto hope when the journey feels impossible, Tatiana’s story is one you don’t want to miss! 🎧 Listen to Season 2, Episode 2 of Suddenly Infertile wherever you get your podcasts. If this conversation resonates with you, follow the show, rate and review the podcast, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. 🎧 Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help us reach more women and families navigating infertility. 🔗 Learn more + access resources: ⁠https://suddenly-infertile-podcast.kit.com/d1c7a2164b⁠ 📱 Instagram: @SuddenlyInfertile 🎙️ Interested in sharing your story on the podcast? I'd love to hear from you! 📧 Email: Suddenlyinfertile@gmail.com To connect with Tatiana:  📱 Instagram and Facebook: @Author_Queen T 🔗 tatianaasanon@gmail.com Pineapple Tea Recipe: -Pineapple Juice -Boiled Water 🤎 Because here at Suddenly Infertile… You Are Not Alone. Produced by Shadrae King

    10: She Was 14 When Everything Changed: Tatiana's Journey to IVF & Twins

  8. Jul 26

    9: The Journey she never Expected: Shatiera's IVF Story

    Season 2 of Suddenly Infertile begins with a powerful and heartfelt conversation featuring Shatiera Amankrah, founder of Seeds of Hope CC, as she courageously shares her journey through infertility and IVF. Like many women, Shatiera believed her path to motherhood would be simple. Instead, she found herself navigating unexpected challenges, difficult decisions, and the emotional highs and lows that come with infertility. In this episode, she opens up about how IVF became part of her story, the lessons she learned along the way, and the hope that carried her through. We also continue the segment, “Sis, What’s the Tea?” where we discuss reality television stars who have publicly shared their infertility journeys and why these conversations matter. Representation has the power to educate, validate, and remind women that infertility doesn’t discriminate and no one should have to walk this journey in silence. Whether you’re navigating infertility yourself, supporting someone you love, or simply wanting to better understand this experience, this episode is filled with honesty, encouragement, and hope. ✨ In this episode, you’ll hear about: Shatiera’s expectations of the journey to motherhood versus realityHer infertility and IVF journeyThe emotional impact of waiting and uncertaintyFinding strength, faith, and hope during the processWhy visibility and representation matter“Sis, What’s the Tea?” our discussion on reality TV, infertility, and the conversations we need to be having 🎧 Subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help us reach more women and families navigating infertility. 🔗 Learn more + access resources: ⁠https://suddenly-infertile-podcast.kit.com/d1c7a2164b⁠ 📱 Instagram: @SuddenlyInfertile 🎙️ Interested in sharing your story on the podcast? I'd love to hear from you! 📧 Email: Suddenlyinfertile@gmail.com To connect with Shatiera:  📱 Instagram and Facebook: @Seedsofhopecc 🔗 www.seedsofhopecc.com 🤎 Because here at Suddenly Infertile… You Are Not Alone. Produced by Shadrae King

    9: The Journey she never Expected: Shatiera's IVF Story
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

The Suddenly Infertile Podcast with host DaMarra Chanel is a safe, unfiltered space created for Black women navigating infertility. DaMarra speaks honestly about the medical realities and the emotional weight along with grief, faith, identity, and starting over, while breaking down complex topics in clear, accessible language. Through personal stories, expert insight, and real conversations about how infertility uniquely impacts Black women, Suddenly Infertile reminds you that you are not broken, you are not alone, and your path to motherhood is still worth fighting for!

Information

  • Creator
    DaMarra Chanel
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © DaMarra Chanel
  • Show Website
    Suddenly Infertile

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