Infertility Awareness Week: You Are Not Alone

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This week is especially near and dear to my heart, as it is National Infertility Awareness Week. Have you been impacted personally with infertility? Do you know someone who has struggled with infertility? Statistically, we all know someone who has struggled to get pregnant and/or stay pregnant.

It seems that in our electronically driven world we are quick to click on Google to give us answers. When I searched Google for the word “infertility,” 11,800,000 results popped up. That is a lot of information about the topic of infertility. If you have lived the life of infertility you understand that Google does not have the “magical” answer to help mend the pain of waiting. Having access to nearly 12 million resources does not ease the agony of despair.

According to the Mayo Clinic, infertility is when a couple is unable to conceive after a year. This affects 10-15% of couples in the United States. I can relate to this because my husband and I have personally struggled with infertility. We got married in September of 2006 and moved to Grimes in August of 2007. We knew we did not want to try to have children until after being married at least a couple years. When we entered the world of “trying” in September of 2008, I did not foresee our journey to parenthood taking five years.

The way I thought pregnancy should work is that we would start trying and a baby would start growing within a couple months. WRONG. My physiology had some weak links, so we took more of a holistic approach to my health to try to heal my body from the inside out. I did not like the term “fertility doctor,” nor did I like the label of being infertile. I was opposed to trying fertility medication because I really wanted to do it “on our own.”

In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.

Proverbs 16:9

If there is one thing I have learned throughout our journey, it is that we do not have complete control. God is in control. Let me tell you, I have been reminded of this verse FREQUENTLY.

Another word that commonly goes along with infertility is miscarriage. Again, when we entered the world of trying to have a baby, I did not ever think I would have to deal with the pain of losing a baby. My first miscarriage was in August 2010, followed by another in May 2011, and a third in March 2012.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145:17-18

We truly had to call upon the Lord and seek out guidance and strength from Him. Each time, we would ride the roller coaster of excitement, followed by the low of despair. We were wondering why the Lord would give us something we so badly desired to merely take it away from us in an instant. The positive part was that I WAS ABLE to conceive. We remained hopeful that the Lord would answer our prayer.

With some help from the fertility doctor, our prayers were answered on October 2, 2012: the pregnancy test showed two lines. PREGNANT! When we went to the doctor two weeks later, we found out we were pregnant with twins! We were more than elated! I gave birth to two beautiful baby girls, Grace and Kalei, at 37 weeks.

Infertility Awareness Week

‘If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’

Mark 9:23

In the midst of our trial of infertility, we never stopped believing that God could work a miracle. It is a miracle that He chose us to not only be parents, but to be parents of two babies at the same time.

Wherever you are today in your journey to parenthood, I want to stand by you and say you are beautifully and wonderfully created.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14

These words may be difficult to hear, especially if you are in the trenches of trying to conceive and seeing no light at the end of the tunnel. Please know that you are not alone. When you feel like you have exhausted all the options available, know that you are not alone. When you find out you are pregnant and it does not last, know that you are not alone. When you are tired of hearing how “easy” it is for other women to get pregnant, know that you are not alone. When you feel like you just want to give up, know that you are not alone.

God works in mysterious ways. Through the trial of infertility, I grew closer to the Lord and to my husband than I have ever been. This chapter in my life has opened the doors to meeting new friends who have supported and encouraged me along the way.

Wherever you are in your life today, I hope that our path from infertility to parenthood lends you some hope and encouragement.

Infertility Awareness Week


Meet Guest Blogger Chelsey Pederson

Chelsey Pederson headshotChelsey is blessed to be the mother of two beautiful fraternal twins, Grace and Kalei (born May 2013). Chelsey reigns from the small town of Readlyn, Iowa, and attended the University of Northern Iowa, where she met her husband, Cole. They reside in Grimes and attend First Family Church.

Chelsey loves the fact that she is able to stay home with her twin girls. She formerly taught physical education and health to middle school students, and is able to substitute teach from time to time.

Chelsey is enjoying her new role as a stay-at-home mom. She has a passion for health, wellness, and relationships. In her free time she enjoys blogging about her pursuit of joy in the ups, downs, twists, and turns of life at Pursuing Joy.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you so much for this post! I found your blog through RESOLVE and I”m so happy I did! What an inspiration you are to all of us still struggling with infertility! You have been blessed with twins and I am so happy for you both! I loved your story and can’t wait to read more about it!

    Thank you again!!

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