National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) will be recognized from April 23-29th this year.
I am one in eight who have experienced infertility challenges. We have had many losses along the way. We are IVF parents. These facts don’t define us, but they will forever be woven into the fabric of who we are.
How lucky am I that I get to see smoosh this cubby cheeks against mine every morning, fight with him to pick the sticky graham cracker crumbs from his face after he eats a snack, and chase him around the playground like he is a human roomba? There are no words to express the gratitude. Some days little tears of joy will start trickling down my face as I watch him snooze when I rock him to sleep.
Yet other days I can still get sad, longing to be the mommy waddling uncomfortably through the park with a big baby belly, chasing after my crazy toddler. I tell myself that anything else that happens for us is a bonus, we already won. It works most of the time.
If you know someone going through this now, it can be pretty difficult to know exactly what to say or do sometimes. I found this article about Infertility Etiquette on the NIAW website to be helpful and wanted to pass it along to folks.
If you still aren’t sure what to say, just let them know that you love them, and you are there to support them no matter what. ❤️