Infertility can be incredibly challenging on your relationships - especially your relationship with your partner.  Today I'm sharing six tips for building better connection with your partner during infertility.  Infertility is typically one of the first really hard things couples go through.  Up until now, it's probably been really good! And now, not only are you struggling to build a family but both of you are experiencing the challenges at the same time.  You and your partner are going through your own struggles.  You are each approaching it from different perspectives and bringing in your different histories to the conversation. It can be hard to support one another when you are both struggling but it's not impossible.  In fact, it is VERY possible - you just need to be intentional about how you work together as a team.  Today's episode gives you those tools you need to be intentional.  To be a team.  And to grow your relationship closer in the midst of a challenging time.  Connect with me on Instagram  Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide 

Why has pregnancy and infant loss awareness month felt hard for me? Because I don't fit into what I perceived a loss had to be. I didn't have a miscarriage.  I didn't have an infant loss.  And I feel incredibly grateful that is the case.  But I did have loss along the way.  I had 7 unsuccessful cycles of treatment for infertility.  I had 3 IVF cycles that all resulted in embryos being transferred and no baby.  I felt and grieved what could have been for those embryos but didn't allow myself the freedom to truly grieve it as a loss.  In the episode today I share my story and talk about how all of our losses whether they fit into what society tells us is loss or not can still impact us deeply.  And I honor all the losses that come along with this journey to becoming a parent.  Episode Resources:  https://starlegacyfoundation.org/awareness-month/ https://pregnancyafterlosssupport.org/get-involved/pail-awareness-month/ Connect with me on Instagram  Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide. 

We used an anonymous donor.  I'd do it differently if I could. This topic is a very personal one for me.  Because the choice we made to use an anonymous egg donor is one that I felt guilty about for a long time.  It's something that impacts my children in ways I never thought about.   But I also think it is incredibly important to talk about it.  Talk about what I've learned since that decision was made.  Be open to having these hard conversations and be open to learning, growing, and exploring how we can continue to do better.  If you used anonymous donor or if you are thinking about using anonymous donor, this episode is for you.   During the episode I talk about my own decision making process, how I feel about it now, what I've learned, how we can support our kids going forward, plus some good resources and organizations to listen to and learn from Donor Conceived People.    Resources discussed during the episode: Donor Conceived Council  and Donor Conceived Council on Instagram Donor Conceived Support  and Donor Conceived Support on Instagram Made to Wonder: Race to End Anonymous Donation 2022 - you can still donate to Donor Conceived Council and Donor Conceived Support through this link.

One of the hardest things for me when I was on my journey to becoming a parent was finding people who were in the same situation as I was.  I wanted so deeply to connect with others who understood what I was going through. I found some infertility friends but when we decided to move onto donor eggs, finding people who understood the complexities of donor was even harder. This episode features Melissa Nath, an orthopedic nurse coordinator, wife and dog mom, who started trying to conceive in her 40's.  I met Melissa when she joined my Donor Downlow program and she is incredible!  Even though the the path to becoming a parent hasn't gone the way she thought it would, she has continued to find hope and resources to help her along the way.  From navigating male factor infertility, the loss of her mother, and losing her own genetics, Melissa is resilient, strong, brave, passionate about helping others in the midst of her pain, and has a story I hope you can relate to. Connect with Melissa on Instagram or Facebook.  Connect with me on Instagram  Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide 

Coming to terms with using a donor to build your family.  It's a BIG infertility crossroad and one that I think is really important to talk about.  Maybe you are just hearing about using a donor as an option.  Maybe you have known deep down that donor was going to be your path.   Maybe you even know that donor is your path because of a cancer diagnosis or other reason why you or your partner doesn't have the genetics to conceive.   Regardless of why you are staring down the tunnel of donor conception, it can be scary.  It can be hard.  It can be incredibly lonely. In today's episode I share my top 5 tips for coming to terms with using a donor so you can move forward in building your family in whatever way you decide.  Connect with me on Instagram  Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide www.metagetman.com/podcast

Today I wanted to talk about a topic that is near and dear to my own story - low AMH and donor eggs.  AMH, or anti-mullerian hormone is a hormone that is made in the reproductive tissues and can give you pieces of information about the puzzle that is your infertility story.   I didn't know anything about AMH until I was well into my fertility journey.  On today's episode I talk about what is AMH, why it's important to know, what it means (and doesn't mean) and how it relates to possibly having to use donor eggs to build your family.  Connect with me on Instagram  Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide www.metagetman.com/podcast Resources mentioned in the episode:  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22681-anti-mullerian-hormone-test https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3852815/

I hear it all the time...I don't want to push away my friends and family but I don't want to share all the details of our infertility journey.  How do I keep things private but not push people away?  Infertility can be incredibly isolating.  It can be hard, especially if we are wanting to keep things private and not share with everyone how much we are struggling to have a baby.  You might feel like you are pulling away from friends and family.  Being around them or in big groups of people can be really challenging because you are on the edge emotionally and not sure how you will react.  You want to be honest but you don't want to tell them everything.   I felt this exact same way.  I was emotionally fragile yet I value my relationships with the people around me and I didn't want to push them away.   On today's episode I share with you my top tips for being able to keep details about your fertility journey private while still maintaining your friendships and being able to attend family events.   Connect with me on Instagram  Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide www.metagetman.com/podcast

On this episode of Infertility Crossroads, I'm sharing with you five things I'd do differently if I had to start my fertility journey all over again.   Do you ever wish you had the opportunity to look back and change what you did?  It could be anything in life - maybe you'd study harder at school.  Maybe it would be taking up the flute instead of the clarinet (that is one of mine!).  Hindsight is 20/20.  We don't know what we don't know.  And the only way to learn what we don't know is to listen to those who have gone before us.   Looking back on my path to becoming a parent via infertility and ultimately using a donor, I wanted to share the four big things I've learned and what I'd do differently.  These four things will apply to anyone - whether you are just getting started, are in the thick of it, or are well on your way to becoming a parent.  My hope is that you can learn from my mistakes, make some different decisions to make this process just a bit easier and be reminded that you are not alone.  Connect with me on Instagram  Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide www.metagetman.com/podcast

In today's episode I'm kicking off this podcast sharing with you my story of being infertile and told donor eggs were my only option at the age of 31.   I didn't believe I had infertility.  Even though we were trying to conceive, had formal diagnosis of low sperm count, low sperm motility, low AMH and diminished ovarian reserve and were seeing a reproductive endocrinologist.  I just couldn't wrap my head around it.  Until the bomb of using a donor to conceive was dropped.  Not only did my whole world turn upside down but I finally came to the conclusion that I was infertile and I needed help.  Come along with me as I talk through how I came to terms with using a donor, what it's like now, and why I am using my experience to help others along the way.  Connect with me on Instagram Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide www.metagetman.com/podcast

Perhaps like me, you thought having a baby would be easy...yet here you are every day, week and month having to make big, scary, and radical decisions about what your future might look like.  I call it the Infertility Crossroads.   Whether you are just getting started on your fertility journey, have been trying for years, or are headed down an alternative path you are welcome here. Join me each week where I will walk along side you through all the infertility crossroads. Connect with me on Instagram Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide www.metagetman.com/podcast