INSPIRING SURGEONS

Why you should document your fertility journey with an instant camera

Life is often fast and we document it just as quickly. We take pictures on our ‘phones and upload them instantly to social media - but some journeys deserve a slower and more tangible approach.

Trying for a baby - IVF or changing your diet, tracking your cycle: there’s nothing speedy about any of it! The process of trying to get pregnant seems to slow time down in a strange sort of way. Photographing your fertility journey with an instant camera can be way to focus and calm your anxieties. You don’t need to be amazing - just point it at things that matter.

Fertility treatment can feel invasive and overwhelming, but documenting things that are meaningful to you at this time can help you to feel more ownership of the process.

When we’re finally pregnant, we just can’t wait to meet the baby, and then life changes forever. You will forget what it was like to try, and wait, and try again all those long months. You’ll want to remember that feeling precisely, when you’re a long time in the future. You’ll want to tell your child exactly how hard you tried, and how much it meant to you. It’s a wonderful thing to hold a memory in your hand, especially if it’s of the most important thing you’ve ever done.

Just like our embryos, every instant photo is unique. You only get one of each individual photograph, and anything else is just a picture of the real deal. When you hold them, it’s like holding that split second in your hand. Although this time might feel like it’s going on forever, a photograph you can hold in your hands reminds you that life is constantly changing and moving, and that your future self will want to revisit this time - even if your current self can’t wait to leave it behind. ...

Introducing our specialist fertility book critic @fertilitybooks AKA Sheila Lamb! Her insightful commentary really brings these titles to life, and showcases all of the wonderful talent out there in the fertility world.

What’s it like to try for a baby over 40? Journalist and 40+ mother Bettina Gordon-Wayne @bettina.gordon
shares her natural fertility journey, with plenty of advice for wannabe older mums. You can find the link to this review on our link tree! ...

Just a reminder that all of this #ttc and #ivf and #fertilityjourney stuff is about love!

The love you have for a child that hasn’t even been born yet. The love in the heart of a parent, for an #adoptedchild they haven’t even met yet. The love of a family member offering to be a #surrogate. The love of a partner supporting you though your #infertility just so they get to hang out with a tiny version of both of you! The love of your parents who desperately want to be grandparents. The love we will forever hold for our #pregnancyloss babies, and those born too soon to stay.

It’s all for love, every injection, every pill, every mood swing, every appointment, every piece of damned paperwork and every tear. It’s what life is all about.

#ivf #ivfawareness #ivfhusband #fertility #love #adoption #surrogatemother #surrogacyjourney ...

Can meditation help you to get pregnant?

Let’s be honest - if meditation was guaranteed to get you pregnant, there would be no need for IVF!

However, your fertility is linked to your physical and mental health. Meditation can help to lower your stress levels, which in turn can positively affect your sleep, hormones and even your dietary choices. There’s no doubt that fertility struggles are stressful and meditation is a side-effect and chemical-free way to improve your stress levels. Meditation isn’t a magic wand - but it’s a healthy way to improve your mood & positively impact your body’s natural cycles.

#ivf #infertility #fertility #getpregnant #ttc #meditation #pcos #endo #endometriosis #ivfjourney #ivfuk #ivfpositivity #ivfcommunity #pcossupport #pcospregnancy #mindfulness #meditationfertility #meditationforwomen #fertilityhealth #fertilitydiet ...

Is it time to stop being so nice about your fertility issues? Do you find yourself feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable, while tolerating thoughtless or judgemental comments and attitudes about your situation?

Most people don’t intend to be hurtful, but sometimes those irritating & thoughtless phrases can just slip right out! Suggesting adoption to someone going through IVF, or saying “Well, maybe you’re just not meant to have kids.”
Just isn’t helpful or kind. How can you tackle this without being rude yourself?

Here are some handy phrases, if you’re tired of simply sucking it up:

“That’s not helpful to me. Telling me to adopt doesn’t solve my problem.”

“I already feel bad about this. How about a little support instead of judgement?”

“I can see that you don’t really get how this affects me. That’s OK, but I just wish you could understand.”

“I’m deeply upset about this, even if I don’t show it. It’s hard to hear things like that from a friend.”

#infertility #infertilityawareness #infertilitysucks #infertilitysupport #ivf #ivfjourney #ivfuk #ivfcommunity #ivfsuccess #ivfwarrior #ivfdiary #fertility #fertilityjourney #endo #endometriosis #endometriosisawareness #endosisters #endostrong #assertive #pcos #pcossupport #pcoswarrior #pcossucks ...

What if I never get pregnant? What if it doesn’t work? What if he leaves me for someone who can have babies? What if I’m too old? If I don’t produce enough eggs? If I run out of money? If I lose the pregnancy?

Nobody is guaranteed a shot at being a parent, even if it seems unfairly easy for some people. Fertility struggles can require faith as well as science, patience as well as excitement, and endings as well as beginnings. Every single person who undergoes fertility treatment risks failure as well as chancing success - but they follow their dream anyway.

“Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will” - Suzy Kassem.

#infertility #infertilityquotes #infertilityandfaith #ivf #ivfquotes #suzykassem #inspirationalquotes #ivfjourney #ivfsuccess #ivfsupport #iui #iuijourney #iuisuccess #eggfreezing #fertilityjourney #fertilitysupport #fertilityawareness #mondaymotivation #secondaryinfertility #endometriosis #pcos #pcosinfertility #unexplainedinfertility #ivfblogger #endometriosisblogger ...

Fertility and sleep!

This is a huge subject with a lot of compelling research.

Basically though, sleep is very important & affects the fertility of both women and men. Sleep is essential for the proper functioning of the circadian rhythm, which is an important cycle of the body that affects fertility in ways that we understand with the help of research - and ways that we do not quite understand yet.

The bottom line is - it’s important to get enough good quality sleep when you are trying for a baby the old-fashioned way, or undergoing IVF or IUI. Not only is sleep essential for physical & mental health, it can affect reproductive health and the menstrual cycle too.

Avoiding the light of smartphones & tablets after you go to bed may improve your chances of conception according to some research, and choosing gentle, safe, sleep-promoting drinks such as chamomile tea and milky beverages may help you to drift off to dreamland & improve your chances of conception. It’s wise to see your doctor if you are having trouble sleeping consistently.

#ttc #iui #ivf #getpregnant #ivfover40 #sleepdepravation #fertility #fertilityjourney #fertilitytips #sleephelp #sleephealth #circadianrhythm #flightattendant ...

Fertility, food and mental health:
We all know it’s important to eat well when you’re trying for a baby, but what about nutrition for your mental health too? Here are some tips to help nourish both your body and mind in the same bite!

Whole foods are better in all ways than processed foods - but scientists now believe that our gut bacteria may have a huge effect on our moods and fertility. Keeping your internal bacteria happy with fruit, veg, healthy fats and whole grains looks to be even more important than we thought.

Nuts and seeds are foods with many proven benefits to both fertility and feelings! Pumpkin and squash seeds are a great way to increase tryptophan. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that helps create serotonin - the chemical responsible for happy and positive feelings in the brain.

While most people know about the Omega-3 fatty acids found in seafood, fish can contain high levels of mercury. Chia seeds, walnuts and DHA-rich algae oil capsules can all help to up your intake.

Omega-3 fats are important in brain health and may also be involved in the functioning of serotonin, a neurotransmitter important in the regulation of mood. This vital nutrient is also hugely important for egg health and pregnancy.

Vitamin D deficiency can lower your mood as well as your fertility. A supplement is the best way to quickly top your levels, but certain mushrooms can also help you take in more of the “sunshine vitamin”.

What are your favourite fertility foods?

#fertility #maternalmentalhealth #maternalmentalhealthweek #nutrition #nutritiontips #brainfoods #goodforyou #ivfnutrition #fertilityjourney #fertilitydiet #selfcare #omega3 #omega3vegan #moodfood #eatwell #infertility #infertilityawareness ...

Oh my Goddess! Oscars 2021 had some serious mother-goddess, primal feminine energy running through it. Brand new article on our website right now!

Which heavily photographed actress undergoes a fertility journey in her upcoming role? How often do you see a pregnant director scooping an award? Which heavily nominated & winning female creatives are adoptive moms too? And how did Frances McDormond’s powerful she-wolf howl tap into a long tradition of female grief?

Photo by Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images

#oscars #oscars2021 #hollywoodmom #feminism #empowered #fertility #mothergoddess #zendaya #pregnantdirector #empoweredwomen #oscarwinner #womeninhollywood #womeninspiringwomen #womeninmovies #womendirectors #womendirectorsrock #fertilityjourney #adoptivemom #motherhood ...

Can sunlight improve fertility?
Some studies suggest that it can!

“Exposure to sunlight can boost the likelihood of a woman having a baby much as a third, according to scientists.” - The Independent, @kashmiragander

Fertility isn’t binary - we don’t have an on/off switch when it comes to our ability to get pregnant. Regular exposure to sunlight bestows multiple benefits, including increased vitamin D, improved mood and better regulation of the circadian rhythm & sleep cycles. All of these functions can help towards supporting fertility, as well as being beneficial for our physical and mental health.

The sunshine is coming! Remember to protect your skin with appropriate sunscreen, and cover up with hats and clothing to avoid over-exposure.

Different skin tones have varying tolerance to sunlight, so check with your doctor or a reliable medical source before exposing unprotected skin to sunlight.

#sunshine #sunhealing #sunhealth #vitamind #fertility #fertilitytips #ivf #ttc #ivfover40 #infertilityawarenessweek #tryingforababy #ttc #getpregnant #getpregnantsooner #ttctribe #ivftribe #ivfjourney ...

Accounts to follow for miscarriage, stillbirth, termination for medical reasons and infant loss support, resources & perspectives. Please add your own suggestions below.

@sandscharity - supporting bereaved parents
@miscarriageassociation - baby loss support
@ihadamiscarriage - psychologist and activist
@achingarmsuk - charity providing comfort bears for bereaved parents
@chrissyteigen - celebrity who writes candidly about stillbirth
@kicks.count - charity raising awareness of baby movement
@lullabytrust - support for bereaved parents & SIDS prevention
@childbereavementuk - support for grieving families
@henryshopecharity - bereavement support for parents in South Yorkshire
@cherishedgownsuk - repurposing wedding gowns into beautiful clothes for babies born too soon

#stillborn #stillbirth #stillbornstillloved #stillbornsupport #miscarriage #miscarriageawareness #miscarriagesupport #bereavement #bereavementsupport #infantloss #infantlossawareness #infantlossjourney #infantlosscommunity #medicaltermination #charity ...

We’re so impressed with our Earth Cups! From a fertility POV, keeping the vagina healthy helps to promote a conception-friendly environment for sperm. You can’t go wrong with the low price either. We love it!

From the website:

“A woman uses an average of 11,000 tampons or pads over a lifetime. For those who choose menstrual cups, a few silicone cups are enough for a lifetime! There is a huge saving to be made on earth's resources by switching to EarthCup. We think that getting a freer and more economical menstrual period is a nice bonus.”

@earthcup_menstrualcup
#earthcup #menstrualcup #period #ecofriendly #vaginalhealth #toxicshocksyndrome #fertility #ttc #tryingforababy #infertility #fertilityjourney #fertilitysupport #fertilityawareness #fertilityawarenessweek #ecoperiod #periodproducts #mooncup #tampons #pads #periodpoverty ...

I didn’t ask to be a warrior
I didn’t expect this to be a battle
I didn’t ask for this to make me stronger
I just wanted to be a mother

#ivf #infertilitywarriors #infertilitycommunity #infertilitycommunity #ivfsuccess #ivfsupport #ivfjourney #ivfover40 #ivfover35 #ivfover30 #eggfreezing #eggretrieval #endometriosiswarrior💛 #endometriosis💛 #endometriosis #inferility #fertilitytips #fertilitycoach #rainbowbaby #rainbowbaby🌈 ...