Sometimes, when we are going through infertility, it can feel like we are letting people down. This episode is about what that feels like. But first, You are NOT letting anyone down. Infertility let US ALL down. During infertility, it can feel like your reality is making other people sad or disappointed. Many say they feel like they are letting their spouse down. Many people say they are letting their parents down. (They want them to be grandparents so bad) Many people say they ar...
When is infertility annoying? Always. Those thoughts and MANY more on today's episode of The Infertility Feelings Podcast. Yes, there are many major pains during infertility, and there are very real traumas. But we rarely talk about millions of little things that annoy us when we are struggling to get pregnant. From talking about "fertility stuff" to the nagging reality that we are STILL trying to get pregnant, infertility annoys at the deepest level. Help Make This Podcast Happ...
In this episode, we explore what it feels like to be emotionally stuck during infertility. (It sucks BTW) We talk about the numbness, the overwhelm, and the longing for clarity when everything feels murky. You’ll hear real stories and reflections on why infertility can make you feel paralyzed, and what it actually means to start “moving” again—emotionally, relationally, and personally. This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt frozen in place during infertility. Uniquely Knitted exists...
Feeling left out because you don't have kids is one of life's cruelest aches. Feeling like friends, community, and life are moving on without you hurts more than anyone could imagine. This episode is about that. In this episode, we dive into the deep ache of feeling left out during infertility and how isolating it can be when your story doesn’t match everyone else’s milestones. We unpack what it really means to “fit in” versus truly belong, and why the difference matters so ...
What does the research say about infertility and mental health? How should we approach our mental health in light of what the research says? This episode will answer these questions! Doug and Jesse are joined by Infertility Researcher, Professor, and Therapist, Dr. Brennan Peterson, to explore the research behind the mental health impact of infertility. In this episode, we talk about how infertility is a developmental interruption, how infertility stigma increases our search for meaning...
How are we supposed to think about our story of infertility? How are we supposed to talk to people about our story of infertility? How do you bring it up? What do you tell people? Should you just avoid people? How do you handle small talk? How do you talk about your story!? These are the questions that Doug and Jesse are bringing to Katie Quesada today. Katie is a Professional Storytelling Consultant and an expert in helping people understand their story and talk about it in an effective way....
Infertility is scary. There are so many truly terrifying things. What if things don't work out? What if we can't have kids? What if... In this episode, Jesse and Doug look at infertility and fear. What is it that we are truly afraid of during infertility? What does it cost us when we push off the fear we have during infertility? These are the questions looked at in this episode! If infertility has ever made you feel fear, then this episode is for you. Uniquely Knitted is a N...
For many, infertility leads to isolation. But what does that mean? Is that a bad thing? Do we need to get out of isolation? How do we escape isolation without opening ourselves up to all the bad advice people have? These are the questions answered in today's podcast! Jesse and Doug look at what it feels like to be isolated during infertility and provide two clear steps to come out of isolation in a healthy way. If you feel like infertility has ever made you feel isolated, this epi...
In this episode, Doug and Jesse explore how infertility creates a deep sense of loss of control and emotional chaos during infertility. We talk about all sorts of ways that infertility makes us feel out of control and how losing control shows up differently for each of us. We break down the following ideas... Dynamics and Coping Mechanisms when we Feel Out of Control We look at how contrasting coping styles during infertility can lead to tension in our lives and our relationships. Loss of Con...
Infertility can make it hard to prioritize your mental health, especially when success feels just around the corner. In this episode, Jesse and Doug explore the challenges of self-care during this journey and offer a real path forward. If you've struggled to care for yourself while pursuing your dream of growing your family, know you're not alone. This episode is here to remind you that you are worthy of care and support. Want to know more about process groups? uniquelyknitted.org/group-sign-...
NO REGRETS! Well maybe not in this case. The reality is that many people experience regret during infertility. There are a million decisions to make, so much to grieve, and so many things that go wrong! Avoiding regret can feel impossible. In this episode we look at what is going on with regret during infertility and we explore how we can build the resilience to handle regret and make it through infertility! Build some resilience and process your experience with infertility in the Uniqu...
Infertility impacts pretty much EVERY PART of your identity. It changes the way that you feel like you ARE. It changes how you view your future and impacts who you are becoming! How does infertility impact your identity? What even is our identity anyway? How can we stay connected to who we are while going through this?! These are the questions of today's podcast. If you have ever felt like infertility impacts your identity this episode is for you! Uniquely Knitted is a nonprofit organization ...
We definitely need boundaries during infertility... But making boundaries during infertility is not easy. How on earth are you supposed to make boundaries when you are dealing with the stress of trying to get pregnant. It's overwhelming, confusing, and just well... a lot. In this episode we look at boundaries during infertility. We define the goal of boundaries, look at 3 reasons making boundaries might be difficult, and offer a way forward. Boundaries during infertility are so ha...
How do you celebrate a season of rest when you are struggling with infertility? It's complicated... In this episode Jesse and Doug look at the different ways that infertility disrupts our rest. We look at the things that happen in this end of year season that can be triggering, and we look at how resting when you are not in a place where you feel like you want to be is difficult. Uniquely Knitted is a Non-Profit Organization serving all who are emotionally affected by infertility. We are on...
Infertility feels so unfair, let's talk about it. In this episode Jesse and Doug look at what that feeling of unfair really FEELS like. They explore why infertility feels unfair, and what we can do with our feelings of unfairness. If you have ever felt like infertility is unfair, this episode is for you! Uniquely Knitted is a Non-Profit Organization serving all who are emotionally affected by infertility. We are on a mission to bring healing to the traumas of infertility and en...
Today, Jesse and Doug are thrilled to be joined by the incredible Dr. Janet Jaffe to dive into how infertility can disrupt our reproductive stories. We all weave narratives about our lives—stories about our families, our pasts, and our dreams for the future. At the heart of these narratives lies our reproductive story, filled with hopes and dreams of becoming parents. In this episode, we explore the emotional impact of losing or altering this story. Dr. Jaffe helps us understand the pain that...
Infertility and Politics both bring up lot's of feelings, let's talk about it. In this episode Jesse and Doug take a NEUTRAL stance on politics but a hard stance on your (you, the listener) mental health and emotional needs during infertility. We talk about the feelings around infertility and IVF being included in political conversations. We talk about a possible way to approach this election season in light of infertility and our mental health. This is not a political podcast a...
Infertility is an extreme challenge to any marriage. Finding a way to make it through is so important. In this 3rd episode of our Marriage Series Jesse and Doug look at how becoming a growing person individually and in our marriages can create hope and a path forward during infertility. However, growing will look different for each couple and include different things depending on the couples needs and unique experiences. In this podcast Jesse and Doug talk about why growi...
In this second episode of our three part marriage series we are looking at all the ways infertility impacts our relationship when we go out into the world! We will be looking at how infertility impacts family dynamics, friend group dynamics, and what the future will look like as a couple. We are diving into all things, in-laws, brothers, sisters, friends, feeling left behind, and wondering what the future will look like for you as a couple. This episode is all about the ways infertil...
Infertility impacts every part of your Marriage! Literally... every part. Over the next 3 episodes Doug and Jesse will be looking deeply into the topic of marriage. In this first episode we are looking at the ways infertility impacts our personal relationship together! We will look at communication, intimacy, processing differently, fighting, and all the other ways infertility impacts the interpersonal part of marriage. For many, marriage plays a huge role in our life and understanding...