The IVF Warrior

"Officially day 1 and ready to send it In my adventure world, sending something means you’re about to knowingly do something challenging or high risk but still go for it by giving everything you’ve got. Whatever this IVF cycle brings, I’m ready " @wild.incaffeinated Want to know about the stages of IVF and what to expect? Click the below link for more info! ... Link: https://www.theivfwarrior.ca//the-stages-of-ivf-what-to-ex Anyone else at the start of their cycle?

"And you are never gonna keep me down." This year has been beyond difficult. It's been quite the rollercoaster, to say the least. If 2020 has taught us anything, it's that life is often unpredictable and can knock us down sometimes. This year has also taught us that despite this, we will rise again. Remember, you have survived 100% of your worst days. Despite not always feeling like it, you are a warrior and doing an amazing job navigating these hard times. ... Want to learn practical tips for empowering yourself at the doctor's office? Click link below! Link: https://www.theivfwarrior.ca//practical-tips-for-empowerin How would you describe this year? What have been some challenges you've had to face?

"Infertility: the club nobody signed up to be in. This picture was taken on the day of our transfer which got delayed because during the beginning of COVID 19 infertility procedures were considered elective... I can’t even say that with a straight face. ELECTIVE. The entire infertility community was at the mercy of these guidelines, while jokes were made about quarantine babies and the baby boom that was to come. Essentially, if you could get pregnant natura...lly-great, if you can’t.. well then you’re not allowed. Wild, right? By the time the day of my transfer arrived, I had already fought so hard (letters to the state, letters to the board, letters to ASRM, calls to my doc) that I was tired of fighting. I had to choose to let go and let God. Because of COVID, I went through the transfer alone while my husband waited in the car. The sad thing, I pushed though those thoughts of loneliness because I was so fearful the guidelines would change and transfers would be cancelled again. It felt like a sprint and a marathon all at the same time. As if infertility wasn’t isolating enough, stressful enough, here we are attempting to start our family (in the middle of an unpredictable global pandemic) and I am alone. So, instead of heading down the road of loneliness and anger at the guidelines and new covid rules, I clung to the picture of my little guy (we didn’t know he was a little guy at the time!) & my family’s cherished Mother’s Manual and prayed. The pages on that manual are worn from generations of prayers, tears, and hope. However, laying there in the silence of my own thoughts, I felt every sense of peace and hope for what might be. Wishing all my #infertilitywarriors a sense of peace and strength during this journey. " @drnikkibpt This year has been one of the toughest years for so many. Those dealing with infertility have had to face countless barriers and fight to access treatments. Most have then had to face treatments and tests alone (in case infertility wasn't lonely enough already). What have been the biggest struggles for you this year with the pandemic and infertility?

"Twelve years ago, I was struggling to conceive my first child. I’d spent most of my adult life trying not to get pregnant, so when we wanted a baby I (naively) assumed that it would happen straight away, or at least whilst we were still having fun trying. I had a textbook menstrual cycle, and we were both young, fit and healthy. On paper it should have happened easily for us. Fast forward three long years and we were embarking on IVF after receiving a diagnosis of unexpla...ined infertility. This wasn’t how I’d envisaged conceiving our baby. I’d seen countless friends get pregnant with what felt like lightning speed. Undoubtedly the hardest part of infertility was watching friends welcome their second baby into the world whilst we were still trying for our first. I felt so sad and lived with a deep sense of longing. This spurred me into action, and I became determined to learn how to nourish my body in order to give us the best chance of conception. My fertility journey spanned 5 years. During that time, I underwent three fresh cycles and one frozen cycle of IVF through which my sons were conceived. It was a rollercoaster of emotion and it was far from easy. But now I feel thankful for infertility, as not only did it guide me on a path to better health, it also led me to my calling. It has enabled me to find purpose and I can now give back to the infertility community and hopefully make others’ journeys that little bit easier. The information I found when I was trying to conceive was lacking and I couldn’t find practical advice that I could action easily. Experiencing infertility is tough enough, without the additional worry of what you should be eating and whether you are following the right advice. I thought about how I could draw on my personal and professional experience to educate and empower others. I wanted to provide the resources that I couldn’t find and create community for women on their path to motherhood. I had a light bulb moment, and The Fertility Kitchen was born." Please welcome Charlotte to our team! She's taking over our IG today https://www.instagram.com/the.ivf.warrior so ask her anything over there about fertility nutrition, acupuncture, or her journey! Read her story here: https://www.theivfwarrior.ca/blog/charlottes-story

"We all thought it. We all did it. We never thought infertility would be our reality. You know what I’m talking about. Yeah, we will announce our baby on that trip... I’m not going to purchase the drink package Maybe we should hold off on the amusement parks Here, let’s pack a pregnancy test I’m going to decline your girls weekend, I’ll be pregnant by then We will definitely be off on mat leave together I can’t drink that much coffee, I’m probably pregnant There are so many events I thought I would be pregnant during, so many excuses I had made up, bottles of fake wine just incase and clothes I KNEW would hide a bump. I ate sushi every month when my period started, because I was certain it would be the last time I ate it for 9 months. I take my vitamins, pee on sticks, track my cycle in apps- each month with a little less hope. And then, as each month passes, a little more of my heart breaks knowing there’s more and more time and events passing that I know I won’t get to be pregnant for. Each month it’s a little harder, and each vacation has just a sting of sadness when I think that we could be sharing it with another little baby. Infertility consumes every aspect of your life - even the happiest moments." @jessicapenney28 What event did you think you would be pregnant for? #infertilityawareness #infertility See more

Every passing month is filled with so much hope, fear, and disappointment. Each month that passes is another month felt wasted. Another negative pregnancy test. Another month left feeling broken. Another month left wondering "when will it be my turn?"... Right now life may feel excruciating. Many days may feel impossible, like you're in the hardest fight you've ever fought. But remember, you have survived 100% of your worst days, and even though it may not feel like it,... you will survive this too. Around 48 million couples and 186 million individuals around the world live with infertility (WHO). To those in waiting, we see you. For anyone struggling today, we see you #worldfertilityday See more

We asked people who have experienced a #miscarriage to tell the world what it feels like. This is what they said... uniquely_knitted #pregnancyandinfantlossawareness

"I took this photo last December after finding out that neither of our embryos tested normal. It was our first round of IVF and we were so hopeful that it was going bring us our baby. It didn’t. My face says exactly how I was feeling at the time...sad, confused, hopeless and numb. Sad that we still weren’t going to meet our baby. Confused as to why it didn’t work. Hopeless because we were over 3 years into our TTC journey. And numb from the constant letdowns that come with... infertility. I wish I could tell this girl that nine months later, things would be better. That the pain you are feeling is only temporary. That you need to keep fighting, it will be worth it. But that’s just not the case. Nine months later this girl feels exactly the same...sad, confused, hopeless and numb. But the difference is, this girl is stronger than she was then. This girl has been through hell and back and is still fighting. This girl understands that IVF doesn’t guarantee her a baby. And this girl knows that she will be a mother...it’s just going to take a lot longer than she expected." @while_we.wait See more

"I cringed and deleted and retyped everything writing this post. When we started TTC in 2016, I judged pregnant strangers HARD. First, I’d look for a ring. I’d think Man, I’ve done everything right and this person isn’t even married and she’s pregnant. Second, I’d guess her age. If she looked young I’d think, I bet she accidentally got pregnant and doesn’t even have a job that can support a baby. How is she going to afford this?? ... Lastly, I’d wait to see if she looked happy or miserable. Bonus points (not sure for who) if she complained loud enough for me to hear because I’d think, She has no clue how lucky she is and how I’d give anything to have what she has. Now? I usually take a deep breath and look down or anywhere but at the pregnant person. But on bad days? .....I look for a ring. I wonder how old she is and if it was an accident. I look to see if she’s enjoying every minute of the thing I haven’t been able to achieve yet. I hate thinking these things but I can’t help it. But even on bad days, there’s been a shift. I don’t cry in my car like I used to asking God why this person deserves to be a mother while I don’t. I’ve done a lot of work on myself to see it’s not a deserve issue, it’s a medical issue (helloooo DOR). I realized some people choose to be a single parent. Some choose to not be married but still raise a child together. Some gain weight and their ring no longer fits (heyyy-ohhhh ). Some accidentally get pregnant when they’re young and work their asses off to provide the best life for that baby - I was one of those babies. I judge(d) out of jealousy and desperation for what that person has. Infertility has brought out the best and worst in me. I’ve grown so much over the last 4 years but I still have a ways to go. What I’m trying to say is, we never really figure this out. No one is perfect. Be patient with yourself. This shit is hard." @the.casey.cottage

"WE HAVE A DATE! November 3rd I’ll be transferring another embryo we’re making an Election Day baby! This will be our third transfer. My husband and our doctor chose the embryo last Thursday. I’ve decided to not know which embryo we’re transferring. Instead, if it works, I’ll have my husband surprise me! We have three boys and three girls left. This transfer I’m feeling SO hopeful. I can’t describe it, but I feel different than I did in June. I know my body is ready. I know ...it can do this. It’s been seven months since we lost Cole. Since baseline lining is so thin, we weren’t able to tell if my trilaminar lining has repaired itself, but we should know around the 26th. Mentally I’m anxious, but hopeful. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t losing sleep already. But all we can do is try again. We know what the absolute worst feels like. So here’s to hoping we will finally get to know what the absolute best feels like! Tonight, I start estrogen shots! They’re taken 2x a week on Fridays and Mondays. Other than that, nothing except a few blood draws and ultrasounds until I start PIO. My protocol is simple and I have no complaints! I’ve been writing affirmations in my journal. I’ve been drinking pomegranate juice. I’ve been going to acupuncture weekly. I’ve been eating warming foods and opting out of smoothies. I’ve been taking Brazil nuts and more supplements than I can count. I’ve done everything in MY power to make sure this little one sticks around. So now it’s up to science. Third time’s a charm? Who else is transferring in November? Let me know your date and we can connect!" @healthyivf

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"Tiny but mighty. The first day I laid eyes on our baby boy I knew we would see him again in 9 months. You can't tell by looking at this photo, but my heart was still very much guarded and healing from our previous failed transfers from the year prior and I was terrified to have to care for an embryo again and praying hard I wasn't going to fail this one too. Looking back, it saddens me to think that I thought I failed our 8 embryos we lost, because I didn't. It was nev...er my fault they didn't survive. As I sat in this chair after our transfer and stared at our baby's first photo, I just knew this tiny but mighty embryo was here to stay. I had never been so sure of anything in my entire life and it was this certainty that kept me going and believing that this time was different. This time was going to work and this was the embryo I was meant to carry and have all along. This was the embryo I had been asking for in my prayers and this was the baby that was meant for us. Knowing that in a few days (hopefully) we will finally be holding our baby boy after 7 long years of fighting for him is the most surreal feeling I think I've ever experienced. Until then, I'll be soaking up every single moment with him in my belly until he is in my arms." @mamainthemaking21.22 Who has an upcoming transfer? Sending all the love and luck! See more

Ladies, self love is the most important gift you can ever give yourself. At the end of the day, you can be your biggest cheerleader or worst critic - pick wisely. Your thoughts can build you up or tear you down. Self love is necessary for not only this journey, but life. It's key for your mental health and overall well-being. Have you ever heard the saying "the way you speak to yourself matters the most"?... If you're constantly being hard on yourself, saying negative things, and blaming yourself, you are only doing harm. Learn to be kind to yourself! Let's learn to cheer ourselves on, and while we're at it, let's cheer on those around us. "We need to do a better job of supporting each other. I know that I am guilty of it too. We live in a world where it seems like there’s only room for one of us at the table. So when another woman shows up, we think, Oh my god, she’s going to take the one woman spot! That was supposed to be mine! Wouldn’t it be better if we worked together to dismantle a system that makes us feel like there’s limited room for us? Because when women work together, we can accomplish anything." @mindykaling Who are you cheering on? How do you show yourself love? See more