Navigating racial inequities with my infertility/cnbc experiences
To say that the tragedy of racial inequality and injustice has made me stop and pause as of late would be an understatement. Read more
Tag: Injustice
Social Isolation on Mother’s Day Not a Novel Concept For Many
And other pandemic deja vus
Well folks, here we are. In a worldwide crisis with no known ending. A crisis that entails a major loss of control, an utter disruption of our normals and a smashed view of the future. We are dealing with a disease that was initially not taken too seriously, a condition whose effect on individuals is intensely swerving and has the capacity to leave major wreckage in its wake. And all in a situation where social isolation remains one of the few ways to lessen bad outcomes, where much time and energy is expended re-learning daily life basics.
We’re fumbling our way through a global pandemic. And for me and many like me, it all feels so familiar. Read more
I Said Something
Pronatalism in Politics
The carefully orchestrated campaign material came in the form of a gut punching drizzle.
First, a leaflet listing the candidate’s attributes – mom, community leader and South Shore native. Yes, in that order. Then a greeting card layout splattered with pictures of her children that introduced them to us – ready or not! Followed by a brochure featuring her and her children who were holding up a handmade “Mama for Congress” sign (which they clearly did not fashion themselves). Of the five pictures inside, two featured her children, one of which was her campaigning with one of them. Some people may view this as going above and beyond, as an obstacle to overcome. I view it as an opportunity I and so many like me will never have.
Two slightly more informative brochures followed. One donned with her lifting her son out of a car seat on the cover. With the last, a dash of hope things were heading to the realm of more substantive and relevant. Until I flipped it over to be greeted by her speaking in front of a group while cradling her son on her hip.
I wanted to support her, I wanted to help remove the incumbent in my congressional district, but through all the parenthood drool how was I supposed to determine if she’s a good candidate? Read more
My Full Story
As the recent piece in Marie Claire ended up presenting a severely stunted form of my TTC story, Pamela from Silent Sorority opted to piggy back it with the full version on her important platform, reprotechtruths.org.
So hold onto your hats folks, you can read a much more robust account of my fertility industry journey HERE. For years I wasn’t able to speak or write about it in its entirely all that coherently. The amount there was to process seemed endless and unfathomable. It’s only recently (about 4.5 years out of treatments) that a quasi rear view mirror of sorts has emerged through which to view and assimilate things.
People come to childlessness via many different paths. I feel it’s important for the entire CNBC community to have a reasonable level of awareness regarding the perpetual trauma from which many of us are emerging or have emerged.
Reprotechtruths.org is dedicated to #unmaskingIVF and to helping “future generations understand the associated risks and costs”. Thanks to Pamela for creating and curating this crucial site.
For those who have direct experiences with the fertility industry, your stories are important, especially in light of the current lack of patient tracking. If you too are interested in sharing your story on reprotechtruths.org, click here.
Be back in a couple of weeks with some writing, finally, just for this blog:-)
#WorldChildlessWeek Day 4 WORDS THAT HURT
WORLD
CHILDLESS
WEEK
#WorldChildlessWeek Day 4 WORDS THAT HURT
20% of our female population over age 45 worldwide does not parent.
As many as 90% of the world’s child free population has been found to be child free NOT by choice.
One in eight couples of childbearing age seek medical treatment for infertility.
AND YET, The following responses to infertility and childlessness are still considered appropriate:
“It just wasn’t meant to be”
“At least you can travel now”
“Maybe God doesn’t want you to be a mother”
“You can ALWAYS foster or adopt” (so NOT true) Read more
#Listen Up: The Difference In Doctors
Insights on Infertility Medicine’s Failings
For National Infertility Awareness Week April, 2017
“Something is wrong. The holidays are over, yet my physical symptoms are still present”.
I was sitting, practically slumped over on my primary care physician’s table. I had originally thought the debilitating and sudden onset symptoms I was experiencing might have been spurred by holiday grief. I had just been riding a fairly good, transformational spell but had become open, in the past three years, to the fact that grief can do funny things.
“I feel just like I felt two weeks ago when I went to the ER” I informed him, my heart bouncing around in my chest as unprovoked waves of nausea and panic swept through me while the room spun.
Fortunately, he listened to me and took me seriously. He showed concern. And he acknowledged right away that his puzzlement over why a healthier than average almost 45 year old was in such a state of disarray warranted further investigation. Investigation he knew required the help of others, so he funneled me to the right specialists. On my way to a diagnosis I was, unaware of the relative medical paradise I was about to enter.
MIRACLE??
A Party, An Infertility Survivor, and No Social Mishaps
Newsflash folks: It finally happened. I, I Infertility Honesty, attended a party where I hardly knew anyone and everyone had kids and…….wait for it……..NO ONE ASKED ME IF I HAVE ANY.
I repeat: I WAS IN A ROOM – WITH HUMANS, MIND YOU – A WHOPPING 15 OR SO, AND YES, YOU READ THAT RIGHT, ALL WITH CHILDREN…….AND NO ONE ASKED ME IF I HAVE KIDS.
Wow. I know, right? Read more
My Question and FB Post of the Day
Right now, I have only one question.
Yes, normally I’m perplexed by society’s indifference to early child losses, especially when coupled with all of the mommy mania out there. I think what many might label as “serious thoughts” about the hows and whys of life, or more so lately the lack thereof. I’ve been accused of being too long winded, too divergent, too intense. I’m down with mindfulness and feeling every nook and cranny of my emotions, especially the taboo ones.
But right now, I ponder only this:
Given that I’m an involuntarily childless infertility survivor going through my second Mother’s Day without my children, at what time should I start drinking?
I don’t ask much from you, my dear readers, but I could really use your input on this. The absence of script for this kind of life is really getting to me.
So whadaya think? Noon too early?
I’ve got a nice bottle of rose champagne (a gift for my b-day back in Feb) that needs some attention. Granted, I feel anyone who has lost their children should be bathing in the shit instead, but alas I’ll be drinking it.
Yeah I get it – there are more noble things I could be doing on this not so fine day. Feeling my feelings as I did last year, reaching out to others and yada yada yada. It just so happens that not giving a shit is something I’m also able do quite well every now and then.
What about 11:00 am? Any opinions?
I leave you with my Facebook post for the day. I pretty much never post on Facebook. I’ve made no bones about the fact that avoiding humans has been one of my tickets to surviving infertility. But I might actually be peeking out from under my rock.
I said might.
So rather than re-emerge on FB (otherwise known as the fiery depths of hell in IF circles) with a benign comment about the weather, or some fake holiday oriented cordiality, as a more intelligent person would do, I threw down this instead:
On this day that is still shamelessly embalmed in the exclusion of so many, I pass on this quote:
“I believe that in the same way we need species diversity to ensure that the planet can go on, so we need this diversity of affection and diversity of family in order to strengthen the ecosphere of kindness.”
Andrew Solomon
On this day I grieve.
And on this day, to all of the aunts and stepmothers, to all moms of alpha pregnancies, moms of miscarried pregnancies and stillborns, to everyone who participates in the welfare of children, child free by choice people who contribute greatly to this world, and every person without children who has relentlessly nurtured me throughout my adulthood, to people who have lost their potential children to tragic and unfortunate circumstance, to all my fellow brothers and sisters in loss and especially to every parent without children out there for whom I know all too well how hard this day is, I salute you. My infertility survivor child free not by choice family of two salutes you all.
Oh, did I mention I practically have no friends since I’m never on FB? So that whole heart outpouring was for like 13 people. I’m a genius.
Nail Salons Proven to be the Pit of Hell For Infertiles
“Hey Honey, look……it says here that getting your nails done is one way to ease the stress of infertility! That’s what the pamphlet from the fertility clinic says, so it MUST be TRUE!”
Years ago this notion held exciting prospects. Now an infertility survivor and IVF veteran, Sarah Chamberlin, resident of Long Island, NY, is well aware of all of the “expert” tips for surviving one of the greatest life crisis’ a person could be stuck with.
It is just days before their first Christmas grieving the loss of their children as Chamberlin slogs to the nail salon to get her nails done for her husband’s staff party. Now all the wiser from five IUI’s, one surgery, and five rounds of IVF, she claims to take a “more realistic view” of things. “Yeah, this’ll help, this’ll help like taking a nap helps one recover from a nuclear explosion.” Read more
infertilityhonesty 