On Wednesday, August 26*, The TODAY Show will feature a story about the options infertility patients have for their surplus embryos once their family building is complete. RESOLVE’s Executive Director, Barbara Collura, will be interviewed and will represent the patient voice when it comes to this important topic.
Fertility treatment is often emotionally challenging both individually and as a couple. Some couples experience significant problems while trying to navigate the process.
Be honest about your feelings. During treatment, you will have many important decisions to make. You and your partner may not agree on the best path to take. While it may be difficult to share feelings that are controversial, the outcome of fertility treatment is so important that you need to truthfully express your thoughts and feelings. Actively listen to your partner to make sure that you understand their point of view throughout the process.
Look for ways to help each other out. Talk with your partner about how thing are going, and offer suggestions for ways they can help support you. Even if one person always takes the garbage out and the other person always does the laundry, you may need to change responsibilities at home in order to lighten the load for someone. Also, keep in mind that fertility treatment can be stressful so be realistic about responsibilities and simplify things as much as possible.
Be more than fertility patients. Fertility treatment can be all-consuming. You forget who you were as a couple before this process started. Treat each other with the same admiration and respect you would if you were still dating. Make sure to do things that you enjoy with one another. When you talk to one another, make sure to focus on the positive things going on in your lives as well as fertility.
Submitted by Kristin Blackwell, LMSW, Counselor at the Fertility Center (August 2009)
We’ve all heard it before. “One day at a time…”
That’s a good idea in theory, but hard to put into practice. We live in such a scheduled society. We have the illusion that things are in our control. If we just make a plan, we can follow it. And then fertility challenges hit. We no longer know if we can schedule a vacation or make a job change. Life is put on hold.
Take a moment and just breathe. It is hard to not know the outcome of fertility treatment.
You begin to wonder, “What do I know for sure?”
You know that you have this moment. You have choices about how you are going to handle this day.
Make this your plan:
· I will take each day as it comes.
· I will wake up and do my best to make healthy choices for myself throughout the day.
· I will try not to think too much about the past or about the future because I am staying focused on the activities of today.
There are really only a few things we know for sure. Make this day more peaceful.
Submitted by Kristin Blackwell, LMSW, counselor at The Fertility Center (June 2009)
The Fertility Center is currently looking for a Hispanic Egg Donor and also African-American or bi-racial donors. Please check our website for more information about egg donation and to see if you meet the other criteria. Contact our donor coordinator, Christine at extention 131 with other questions.
“Country Inn and Suites” (Grand Rapids-East location) is offering patients of “The Fertility Center” a discounted rate. The hotel is located approximately 1/2 mile from our office, at the corner of I-96 and East Beltline. They have Complimentary breakfast and try to give our patients an upgrade to a suite if available. Please visit their website for information at www.countryinns.com/grandrapidsmi_east or call them directly at 616-942-7200 or toll-free at 800-456-4000. Be sure to let them know that you heard about them from “The Fertility Center”.
