What's A Frozen Embryo TransferWhen I first began considering a frozen embryo transfer (FET), I had no idea what to expect or where to start! I had gone through a fresh cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF), but I had never done a frozen embryo transfer.Going through a frozen embryo transfer is just one small part of the IVF process, but it's still full of unknowns and worries, especially if you've never done it before. I didn't know anyone at the time who had gone through a FET, so I had lots of questions. Of course, I took to Google and that maybe wasn't the best idea.Because I have been in ... Read more
What to Expect with Your First IVF Cycle: a Step-by-Step Guide
So You Need to Do IVFStarting your first IVF cycle (also known as in vitro fertilization) can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. At least, I know it was for me. I had trudged through several years of infertility to become a mother. In fact, I had never even seen a positive pregnancy test. When my doctor finally told me I would need to do IVF for a chance at becoming a mom, I grieved intensely. This was never in my plans. I never thought it would be difficult for me to become pregnant. IVF was something other people had to do, not me. I also had no idea what to expect with IVF. ... Read more
Here’s what you need to recover from a C-section
So You Need a C-SectionWhen I first found out I needed to have a c-section, I had no idea what to expect. Most of my friends and family had never experienced one so they only knew how to give me advice for a vaginal delivery. While some of the advice is relevant, recovering from a cesarean birth is different in a lot of ways. I had no idea how to recover from a c-section or what I would need to recover from a c-section!Unfortunately, I just had to experience it to figure it out. When possible, this is not the way I advise you figure things out. Especially since it involves a major surgery and ... Read more
Here’s What I Wish I Knew Before I Did IVF Treatments
There are so many things I could add to my list of what I wish I knew before starting IVF treatments. After nearly 3 years of unexplained infertility, when I woke up from a diagnostic surgery and was hearing the letters IVF, I was heartbroken, worried, scared, and confused. I had no idea how to move forward, whether we could financially afford IVF, and IVF certainly was never in my plans for building a family.In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex and emotionally charged process. It can be a very difficult decision to decide whether or not to pursue IVF, and it is important to be ... Read more
15 Must-Have Products Every New Mom Needs on Her Baby Registry
When I was a first time mom, I truly did not know which products to add to my baby registry or what baby products I'd actually need. I basically added everything the registry builder told me to add, plus what friends and family told me I needed on my baby registry.In this post, I've curated a list of 15 essential items that every new mom needs to add to her baby registry, spanning from practical necessities to comforting luxuries because let's face it, those early days can be all about survival and if there are any baby registry items you can have on hand to make things easier, you're going to ... Read more