PAIF, have you shared your story?

[ampaints]

Just curious about those who went through IF if you are sharing your story. We shared in Facebook in Sunday and I'm going to do a post tonight talking about our journey. I want other friends of ours who have our are going through this to have a reminder that they are not alone. I'm trying to decide how much I'll share. I know I'm going to discuss IVF, but I won't mention it was MFI. My husband had spoke to friends about it, but I'll leave that up to him.

If you shared, how much did you disclose?

[yogisews]

With my daughter, I shared a little bit when I announced and even more during National Infertility Awareness Week since I had just announced a week or so before. It was cool because a friend reached out to me right away.

I believe I just shared that my daughter was conceived via IUI after struggling to get pregnant for 16 months.

[notelsie]

After the first year, and seeing my RE I decided to out myself during National Infertility Awareness week last year.

Ever since then it has been my mission to raise awareness, and to help those who weren't ready to be public.

It was a hard decision to make, but I am so glad I did.

[karlamo]

With my wife's pregnancy, she shared at 33 weeks her struggle with IF. She wrote a blog post about how she became pregnant. Being a gay couple, I'm sure people assumed we used alternative methods to get pregnant, but what they didn't know is that she was dx with DOR at age 33. We had to use my eggs which would have raised a few eyebrows when the baby came out looking like me and not her. People were amazing with their support.
IF causes so many of us to suffer in silence. I think it's vital for couples to share their stories and hopefully in turn the more its talked about the more changes to the laws that cover IF treatments.
Good luck! You are very courageous for doing this.

[brazilianpeach]

I mentioned in our announcement that we struggled for years but didn't get into too many details or mentioned that we adopted our embryos. Mainly because I haven't decided if that is going to be public knowledge.

[kristabelieve]

I shared with people who I cared about from the very beginning and with people who I knew had been struggling with infertility as it came up. I found it helped me bond with many women in my life who not only dealt with infertility, but other baby related struggles as well. We are actually pregnant with a surprise baby, no intervention at all this time so it's very different. Since those close to us knew about our past IVF needs, they are VERY surprised when they are told about #2!

[shelbeans82]

When we announce I want to make some reference to our struggles, but not go into specifics.

[runningmommy519]

As someone who does not suffer from infertility I appreciate people sharing their stories and bringing awareness.

I was so vocal on facebook with my last pregnancy then met some pretty incredible women on my last BMB who struggled to get pregnant and also those that had losses. Getting to know them and their stories made me realize how hurtful my posts may have been to those who struggle. I'm definitely going to keep the posts to a minimum this time.

[laurennowa]

kristabelieve we are in the same boat. We did two rounds of IUI (one resulted in ectopic, one in 2nd tri miscarriage). We were planning on going back to the RE in January, but then a BFP on December 20!

I can never go really public with our IF struggles. I am very open with most people, but my MIL is VERY anti fertility drugs. She talks about her friends that have cancer now because they "pumped themselves full of those drugs to get pregnant". She always talks about how stupid it is to try that hard when you don't know the long term effects. She doesn't know what it is like to not be able to do something that most every woman is able to do. It hurts when she talks like that, but I have learned to just ignore it and let it roll off my back.

[2dumbdogs]

Jan 28, 2015 20:39:18 GMT -5 laurennowa said:

kristabelieve we are in the same boat. We did two rounds of IUI (one resulted in ectopic, one in 2nd tri miscarriage). We were planning on going back to the RE in January, but then a BFP on December 20!

I can never go really public with our IF struggles. I am very open with most people, but my MIL is VERY anti fertility drugs. She talks about her friends that have cancer now because they "pumped themselves full of those drugs to get pregnant". She always talks about how stupid it is to try that hard when you don't know the long term effects. She doesn't know what it is like to not be able to do something that most every woman is able to do. It hurts when she talks like that, but I have learned to just ignore it and let it roll off my back.

That's horrible. Everyone in my family that has been affected by breast cancer certainly hadn't had hormone/fertility treatments. What a horrible uninformed opinion to have. Fuck her.

[laurennowa]

Jan 28, 2015 20:43:23 GMT -5 2dumbdogs said:

Jan 28, 2015 20:39:18 GMT -5 laurennowa said:

kristabelieve we are in the same boat. We did two rounds of IUI (one resulted in ectopic, one in 2nd tri miscarriage). We were planning on going back to the RE in January, but then a BFP on December 20!

I can never go really public with our IF struggles. I am very open with most people, but my MIL is VERY anti fertility drugs. She talks about her friends that have cancer now because they "pumped themselves full of those drugs to get pregnant". She always talks about how stupid it is to try that hard when you don't know the long term effects. She doesn't know what it is like to not be able to do something that most every woman is able to do. It hurts when she talks like that, but I have learned to just ignore it and let it roll off my back.

That's horrible. Everyone in my family that has been affected by breast cancer certainly hadn't had hormone/fertility treatments. What a horrible uninformed opinion to have. Fuck her.

Its easier for her to believe that people who get cancer did it to themselves. It takes away from the randomness that scares her so much.

[kristabelieve]

Jan 28, 2015 20:39:18 GMT -5 laurennowa said:

kristabelieve we are in the same boat. We did two rounds of IUI (one resulted in ectopic, one in 2nd tri miscarriage). We were planning on going back to the RE in January, but then a BFP on December 20!

I can never go really public with our IF struggles. I am very open with most people, but my MIL is VERY anti fertility drugs. She talks about her friends that have cancer now because they "pumped themselves full of those drugs to get pregnant". She always talks about how stupid it is to try that hard when you don't know the long term effects. She doesn't know what it is like to not be able to do something that most every woman is able to do. It hurts when she talks like that, but I have learned to just ignore it and let it roll off my back.

Huge congratulations to you!  I'm so sorry your MIL is so ignorant.  

[lebradford]

We came out about IF on Facebook right before we started IVF. I will definitely make some reference to it again when we announce this pregnancy. I actually plan to (very generally) mention that it wasn't easy when I announce my pregnancy at work as well. In a staff of maybe 50 women, I know I'm not the only one who has struggled/will struggle, and I don't want to ignore that.

[sunshinelady15]

My husband is not comfortable with me sharing that much on FB. He is anti-social media and feels that it is "no one's business." I wouldn't mind sharing because I am open about my struggles, and whenever I have seemed to mention it to another mom, they go on to tell me either they had IF issues or know someone who did. It is SO common, suffering in silence is not necessary IMO. I
Am working on him so that he is comfortable with me sharing. If he final answer is "don't share" I won't share on FB, but will talk about it with moms directly when necessary.

[ampaints]

I did a few days ago. I'm really glad I did, many of our friends knew a little bit, but it's always nice to open up a dialog. I knew it wad the right thing to have done though when my cousin who is currently going through IF put a big thank you.

[bibliothecary]

I would like to, when we go public. I'm not sure of MH's stance. I'll have to ask him.