This post is part of a paid sponsorship by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. All opinions are my own.

‘Just have fun with it.’…’Practice makes perfect.’…’Just don’t worry and it will happen.’…
All the words of ‘wisdom’ that come with the publicity of trying to conceive and yet, to a couple who wants nothing more than to feel those tiny baby kicks in her belly, those words sting right to the core.

I will never forget when we first told our parents we were going to a reproductive endocrinologist after our miscarriage and we were met with uncertainty. Not because anyone was against the idea, but we had ‘only been trying for 6 months’ and we had gotten pregnant on our own… but something just was off. I’m not sure I can really explain the feeling but I knew in my heart that something wasn’t right. There seems to be a lack of urgency when it comes to seeking a specialist and we were told numerous times that our outcome could have been very dangerous had we not sought a specialist when we did.
We went through the testing and the phone call came that we were never expecting. Zero sperm. Then cancer. It all happened so fast and then it was over just as quick as it came.

We are 1:8.
1/3 of infertility is attributed to the female.
1/3 of infertility is attributed to the male.
1/3 is both.
We are both.
…and we stand together.

We gave it time and after a lot of prayers, a lot of tears and a lot of heartbreak, we decided it was time to move forward. We wanted a family and we knew we would have to seek an alternate route. We didn’t get to our decision lightly and it wasn’t easy, but we chose what was right for us. No one can prepare you to sit with your spouse and pick out a donor for your future children.
But sometimes sex isn’t enough.

We chose a donor. We met with our reproductive endocrinologist and made a plan that was right for us.
Month 1: failed
Month 2: failed
Struggling through infertility is like going through the 7 stages of grief every. single. month.
Denial. Guilt. Bargaining. Depression. Anger. Tears. Acceptance. Hope.

I had almost given up hope… I was annoyed with the pokes + prods, throwing away money every month, my tummy was bruised but more painful was the loneliness in my heart. I felt so alone and just when I was questioning His goodness, that faint second line showed up.
Pregnant.
I will forever be indebted to those nurses + doctors who brought us to that moment. We welcomed two precious, beautiful, rainbow baby girls into the world and then a baby boy 2 years later.

April 22-28 is National Infertility Awareness week and whether you’ve been trying 6 months or over a year, are trying for your 1st or 4th, had a miscarriage, gained an angel too soon, or are in the throes of treatments, my heart is with you.
There’s not a day that goes by I don’t thank God for our ability to have 3 beautiful babies.
It’s time we start asking those hard questions because YOU are not alone. Infertility doesn’t just last one week and it’s time we start talking about trying because sex isn’t always enough.

No two journey’s are the same, but they deserve to be heard, so join me in sharing your journey for a chance to win an all-inclusive getaway {surely I’m not the only one who needs this, right?!}. AND for every social media post shared with #TalkAboutTrying, $1 will be donated to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.
If you haven’t yet, it might be time for you to talk to a specialist or reach out to a reproductive endocrinologist.
My Fertility Navigator is designed to help women {and men} have those hard conversations about reproduction and offer advice from trained professionals. It’s a space you can ask those hard questions and it also helps prepare you for what comes next in your journey.

Photography | Ivory Lamb Photography