Resources for Infertility and/or Pregnancy Loss

Comfort Heart

Infertility/Pregnancy Loss is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. The inability to conceive and/or produce longed for children can be utterly devastating. It can test even the most resilient of people, the strongest relationships and shatter those on unstable footing at the start. For those who have not experienced significant losses prior to infertility, it can be absolutely traumatic. Studies have shown that women experiencing infertility have similar stress levels to women in treatment for cancer. Male identified people have similar stress levels, compounded by feelings of helplessness watching their partners endure the physical and emotional aspects of assisted reproduction treatments. This applies to LGBTQ people too, as loss does not differentiate. Infertility derails our hopes and dreams, and throws off our family building timelines. The following are some resources intended to help. They are not substitutes for therapy or psychiatric care but offer some solace and suggestions for the way forward. There are tons of books available on the topic. What spoke to me may not help you, but the titles below are ones I found personally helpful.

Unsung Lullabies: Understanding and Coping with Infertility
by Martha Diamond (Author), David Diamond (Author), Janet Jaffe (Author)Amazon.com
Learn more: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/0312313896/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_ZfXuCbZN20W46

by Amazon  Digital Services  LLC
Learn more: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B002CGRAEY/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_vmXuCbEW2K2KA
Silent Sorority: A Barren Woman Gets Busy, Angry, Lost and Found
by Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos
Amazon.com
Learn more: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/1439231567/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_jrXuCbC50DEQ4
All The Love: Healing Your Heart and Finding Meaning After Pregnancy Loss
by Meredith Resnick and Huong Diep, PsyD
https://www.amazon.com/All-Love-Healing-Finding-Pregnancy/dp/1684425565
Resolve support groups can be useful as well as online groups and podcasts like:

https://infertilemafia.podbean.com/

2https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-infertile-mafia/id1370960232?mt=2

Mom & Mind Podcast

Postpartum Support International

Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support

There is also a fertility mentorship program. Check it out here:

https://www.fruitfulfertility.org/

Therapy and Art Therapy can also be helpful, especially when the therapist has personal experience or expertise with infertility.

Creative Arts such as visual image making, writing, poetry, performance, etc can be immensely helpful outlets to counter the inertia of infertility and actualize one’s creative drive while expressing thoughts and emotions about experiences. Check out this fantastic resource:

http://www.artofinfertility.org/