There is a fantasy surrounding pregnancy portraying it as a blissful state when women glow with health and the miracle of life. Yet, when a woman has experienced miscarriage and/or infertility, a pregnancy can be filled with fear and anxiety. We are not women who will ever experience that radiance that is supposed to accompany pregnancy.
There is nothing less romantic or erotic than getting busy with the end goal of producing something that wears poopy diapers. "Trying" is really, well, trying. Anyone who thinks it's "the fun part" has never had to turn it into work -- relentless, scheduled, no-matter-how-tired-you-are, get-up-at-5:30a.m.-before-you-go-to-work, work -- which is then charted on graph according to basal body temperature.
As an infertility counsellor, I see a lot of clients who are using third-party family building strategies. This includes using sperm or egg donation and/or a gestational carrier. One of the many concerns these individuals have about family building using these methods is what they will tell their child.
As barriers to adoption increase, egg donation is becoming a more popular option for couples who are unable to use their own eggs. Because it is illegal to pay for eggs in Canada, it is often difficult for a woman to find a donor, so they head to the U.S. Many of the egg banks do not yet offer open ID donor programs and this causes a bit of an ethical dilemma. Should these individuals, desperate for a child, and without other options, not proceed with what is often the most accessible and affordable means of getting a donated egg because their hypothetical child may want to know the identity of his or her biological mother?
It's no secret that women today are waiting longer to have children. This naturally decreases the opportunity for spontaneous pregnancy, especially for women in their mid- to late-thirties, leaving many couples seeking treatment for infertility. Fortunately, there are viable, safe, and effective natural options to support and boost your fertility.
Do you go gaga for tiny onesies? First in line to hold the newborn that someone just brought into the office? Can't stop watching reruns of Kate Plus ...