Coping with Infertility in the New Year

by Donna Daley, Senior Case Manager, Prospective Families, Fertility SOURCE Companies, January 12, 2011

Oh I remember it all too well it was a grey December day. Everyone around me seemed to be pregnant, and there I sat again being told that my in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle did not work. I was not pregnant. I was crushed and so sad.

I remember a group of women (my coworkers) standing directly behind me and congratulating the newest pregnant member of our team. When they realized that I had just been given the news of not being pregnant, they quietly moved away to the other side of the room. I remember how odd a feeling it was, not to be sharing in the joy with my coworker. I wondered to myself how I would make it through the season of celebration.

So today I sit here writing to each of you that are experiencing infertility. You can make it through all that is in front of you this New Year, and I am hoping that maybe what I write today might be of help.

• Plan what events and parties you will want to attend. You don’t have to accept every invitation, so do only what you are comfortable with.
• Reach out to local support/peer groups in your area. You are not alone in this, and sharing not only will help you, but help others as well.
• Stay focused on the future and have a plan in place to move forward. I am a firm believer that having a plan will give you something to look forward to, and you will be less likely to dwell on the past and more likely to plan your future.

>li>Lastly, take time for yourself. Whether it is daily walks, meditating or a pedicure, treat yourself to something that you enjoy.

I wish each and everyone a New Year filled with Joy.

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Donna Daley, Senior Case Manager with Prospective Families, works with intended parents, donors and clinics in managing all aspects of the egg donor cycle. She joined Prospective Families from one of the nation’s top clinics, Reproductive Science Center, in Lexington, MA, where as coordinator of the Donor Egg and Gestational Carrier program, she was a driver of policies and practices that continue to influence the success at that clinic. She has worked tirelessly with hundreds of couples relying on collaborative reproduction to build their families, and is regarded by patients and donors alike as knowledgeable, compassionate and committed to successful family building.