Infertility Support

NatChat Productions Ltd
Infertility Support

Where to get support when you are struggling to have a baby, this archive series of The Fertility Podcast discusses counselling and coaching with a wide range of interviews with experts, as well as sharing many stories of people who have set up businesses or started blogs or podcasts to help them and others deal with the struggles of not being able to have a family as expected.

  1. EPISÓDIO 68

    What happens if we need to abandon a cycle?

    Jen writes a blog called Hoping TTCWe met online after I saw her tweeting about starting a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) and I wanted her to share her story on her journey to have her first child. You'll hear Jen sharing the sad truths about how she felt the clinic showed a lack of compassion in how she and her husband have been treated, how they didn't explain different scenarios properly to the pair, leaving them extremely anxious at times. This week is National Fertility Awareness Week in the UK and as always I'm trying to share as much as I can to raise awareness of the issues we are affected by on our journey to start our family. If you want to join in the conversation on Twitter there's a number of hashtags you can use, such as #NFAW #IVFGoldStandard #FertilityFellas, and #TalkFertility. If you've seen something that you want to share with me, please do. So, as we hear Jen explaining her journey, she talks about her cycles having to be abandoned, which might be something that has happened before, but not something I've heard of. It highlights how essential it is to try and remember to ask questions when you are in front of an expert rather than going home wondering what the outcome might be and spending the time between your next appointment fretting. I've spoken to a wide range of clinicians and fertility nurses and they always highlight how no question is a stupid one. Also, don't be afraid to challenge your clinic. When Jen was told there was nothing she could do to improve the lining of her uterus, she knew from the Emma Cannon book she was reading that there were lots of changes she could make to her diet, to at least give her the best chances possible of a successful outcome. You can follow Jen on Twitter here  Horrendous nights sleep 😫 thanks #FET cycle #2 also kept thinking about renting 1 of our rooms through @Airbnb anyone done it? #needmoney— Jen (@hopingttc) October 29, 2017

    39min
  2. EPISÓDIO 69

    How does Cystic Fibrosis affect your fertility?

    Sorry for the slight delay with this episode, I've been in London at The Fertility Show which was great, and if you've been thinking about going, in this chat with Jessica Jones you'll hear how it helped her and her husband make a few decisions along the way. Jessica writes a blog called Infertility and Life which I highly recommend you have a look at, not only due to how organized it is with all the different situations Jessica has had to deal with, it also as you will hear her explain, has been an amazing support network for her and her husband whilst on this journey. We talk in detail about her journey so far in which Jessica and her husband have both suffered a loss, Jessica's husband was initially diagnosed with Azoospermia and later found out he had Cystic Fibrosis. You will hear Jessica describe how the pair have overcome the initial shock of her husband being infertile. How a surgical procedure has meant that he now has frozen sperm samples enabling the pair to continue to try for a biological child. Jessica discussed her disbelief at being refused treatment by a clinic due to their success rate apparently being too low for the clinic's 'Moral Code'. Against all odds the pair continued to ask questions and push for answers, moving clinics and speaking to more experts. You will hear how Jessica and her husband are a testament to making sure you are empowered with knowledge, at every step of the infertility journey. Jessica also told me about  how hard she and her best friend had worked to maintain their friendship and you can read her blog post on it here  Follow Jessica on Twitter   Insta and Facebook

    42min
  3. EPISÓDIO 71

    How do you look after your mental health when trying to conceive?

    Kathryn Orme writes a blog called Strength through InfertilityIn our chat, we talk about the difficult journey Kathryn has been on with her mental health, the impact of her infertility from failed cycles of fertility treatment. How they caused her such sadness, so isolated and like an 'utter failure'. Kathryn felt she was the problem, causing the treatment not to work, and really struggled to cope. She was working in a high-powered job, managing people all around the country and gradually retreating more and more from everyday life. Kathryn turned down offers of counselling, despite suffering from stress, depression and anxiety. At one point after seeing her GP, she was signed off work for a few weeks. She decided to seek out counselling and was told there was a six-month wait on the NHS. Knowing she needed to take action Kathryn found a counsellor specialising in infertility via the BICA website  This proved to be her lifeline and along with ongoing counselling and acupuncture, Kathryn has developed coping mechanisms to move forward with her treatment and her ability to cope with what her future may hold. With a child or without one. Follow Katheryn on Twitter   Her Facebook page for the blog is here Only a week away from #IVF cycle number 9, how did that happen?! Never thought I would do this again & so many mixed emotions but let’s do this! pic.twitter.com/aLuZLmxVfj— Strength&Infertility (@K8Menz) November 22, 2017

    36min
  4. EPISÓDIO 72

    What is MRKH - Andreia Trigo shares her story?

    As you will hear in our chat, Andreia is a remarkable woman. I know I say this a lot but I'm constantly finding more and more inspirational folk, overcoming the issues thrown at them by infertility. Having found at 17 she had Mayer Rokitansky Küster Hauser (MRKH), which meant she had no uterus and her vagina was short. Andreia had to digest an incredibly hard diagnosis. It had come after she'd been waiting for periods and at the same time,  she also found out she needed surgery to reconstruct her vagina.  Can you imagine, being a teenager thinking about exams and boyfriends/girlfriends and then having to deal with this. I certainly can't.  It was a tremendous blow as a teenager and as result, Andrea made a decision that she wasn't going to let this define her in the wrong way. Instead, she was going to set to work to overcome it and achieve a meaningful life regardless of her circumstances. Which is exactly what she has done. Andreia talked to me about how MRKH affects women causing them to be very ashamed of talking about it, having to deal with so many questions. How their identity is challenged as to their self-worth. She has set up secret Facebook groups where she is able to support women all over the world.  In cultures where having children is considered vital, being unable to fulfill this role leads to young women being ostracized by their families which of course is devastating and has huge mental health impacts.  The title of one of her books 'The Formula to not giving a f**k about fertility' gives you an insight into her character  After spending decades studying to become a nurse and learning essential coaching techniques she helps women cope with coming to terms with infertility and helps them come up with a plan, offering support every step of the way. Andreia has also now reached her own peace of mind, where she is in a happy place about her future after years of struggling to work out how she was going to live her life.  You can find out more about her work here  You can also follow her on Facebook here   On Twitter here

    22min
  5. EPISÓDIO 114

    What is the best way to optimise my fertility?

    Ivary describes itself as the fertility hub of the 21st century, designed to offer all the information you need along your fertility journey. This caught my attention and I was keen to find out more about this new company, launched in April 2017. ivary makes make cutting-edge scientific research relevant, accessible, and human. Giving you important information and recommendations towards understanding your fertility and your reproductive health, no matter what stage of life you are at or what your goals are. I spoke to Co-Founder Silvia Hecher about how her background and her passion for science led her to create this home testing kit, empowering women with knowledge about their fertility health meaning they can plan ahead. Silvia Hecher founded ivary because, as a fertility coach, she saw firsthand that women lack substantial information about their health and fertility. She previously worked for 13 years as a medical journalist with an emphasis on gynecology, and she also has experience in knowledge management in the field of Evidence-Based Medicine. She is the mother of two girls. ivory is a home testing kit currently available in Europe and soon to be launched in the UK and US. It measures your AMH level, but the results you get are much more than just a number. In conjunction with your lifestyle and medical history, it uses your AMH value to tell you where you stand compared to other women your age.  It also offers insights into when you are expected to reach the end of fertility and menopause. Based on your personal measurement and goals, the specialists at ivary then point you towards resources and the next steps for the future. Also mentioned in this episode - is how to subscribe in iTunes click here  To join my new closed Facebook group click here

    24min
  6. EPISÓDIO 116

    How do you cope when you get to your 6th cycle of IVF?

    I first heard Sophie talking about her IVF journey on BBC Radio 4. I was stood in the kitchen with my hubby and we were both intrigued by what she was going to share.. in our chat, Sophie explains her decision to share with the public her sixth cycle of IVF and how along with her husband Jonny, they are both now openly speaking out about their infertility journey. Sophie was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure and stage four endometriosis after a year of trying to conceive.  Before the Endometriosis was diagnosed, she was diagnosed with IBS and potential Chrones disease and was also sent to CBT as they thought the pain was in her mind.  Sophie and Jonny decided to pay to go private and one scan showed Sophie had cysts, giving her the Endometriosis diagnosis she ended up having two laparoscopies and was told they were going to struggle to conceive naturally.  Sophie talked through how every single round just got worse and worse. She talked about the whirlwind of IVF and the reason the pair want a family is because they are in love and we want to have a family with each other… Sophie was so honest and open in our chat that I can't do it justice in these notes. When she said 'The infertility journey wipes each dream away' I had a lump in my throat and I love that she has on her website 'Fertility Champion'. Have a look and listen to her previous stories that she has shared here  You can also follow her on Twitter here  Nervous / proud / excited to see my article printed in this month’s @RedMagDaily. Thank you to @Natashalunn for believing in the piece & allowing me to write it my way. As ever, I hope it helps others and goes some way to promoting Our Fertility Series on @BBCPM @BBCRadio4 🎧📻 pic.twitter.com/8AJZmC9dP5— Sophie Sulehria (@sophiesulehria) January 3, 2018In our chat I also referred to a few other episodes, Sophie had mentioned how Jonny had joined a male-only Facebook group which is run by Gareth Down a former guest on this podcast. You can hear our chat and find out about Gareth's group here  I also talked about my Christmas Day episode with Ivary who offer a home testing kit to check your ovarian reserve which you can listen to here  Also please do join my new closed Facebook group and we can carry on this conversation xxx

    33min

Sobre

Where to get support when you are struggling to have a baby, this archive series of The Fertility Podcast discusses counselling and coaching with a wide range of interviews with experts, as well as sharing many stories of people who have set up businesses or started blogs or podcasts to help them and others deal with the struggles of not being able to have a family as expected.

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