For those struggling with infertility during the holidays, the pressure to celebrate and be joyful can feel overwhelming.
Infertility during the holidays is hard, but there are options available to help you find hope and healing.
We’re here to provide the support and resources you need to explore your options and take the next steps toward building your family. Reach out today to learn more about how we can support you on your path to parenthood.
In this blog post, we’ll explore ways to cope with infertility during the holidays and how surrogacy can offer a new opportunity for your family-building journey.
Infertility During the Holidays: Finding Hope
The holiday season is traditionally centered on family gatherings, festive traditions and connecting with loved ones.
If you’re struggling with infertility during holidays, these occasions can often feel emotionally overwhelming.
Conversations about children, pregnancy announcements and even well-meaning questions about when you’ll have a baby can trigger painful feelings.
How to Deal With Infertility During the Holidays
Every individual’s experience with infertility during the holidays is unique. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, there are several strategies that can help you navigate this challenging time. Here are some suggestions for coping with infertility during the holidays:
- Set Boundaries: It’s okay to say no to certain events if they are too painful. Be selective about the gatherings you attend and take time to prioritize your emotional well-being.
- Practice Self-Care: Use the holiday season to engage in activities that help you relax and recharge. Whether it’s taking a quiet walk, visiting a favorite spot, or enjoying a peaceful evening at home.
- Seek Professional Support: Talking to a counselor or infertility support group can provide much-needed guidance and understanding during this emotional time.
RESOLVE, the national infertility association, gives these eight tips for coping with infertility:
- Connect with your support system.
- Give yourself permission to grieve and be angry.
- Give your partner permission to cope in their way.
- Communicate openly with your partner about your feelings.
- Seek out information and education about infertility.
- Find a community of people who understand what you’re going through.
Getting Through the Holidays with Infertility: How to Prepare
The holiday season often comes with high expectations—both internal and external—about celebrating and spending quality time together. These pressures, combined with infertility during the holidays, can feel especially taxing.
While you may not be able to avoid certain situations, there are strategies to help you prepare emotionally:
- Holiday Invitations: Say yes to what you are comfortable with. You may choose to skip events with a lot of children or pregnant women if that triggers pain. It’s OK to prioritize your mental health during this time.
- Family and Friend Visits: If you must visit family with young children, plan your time wisely. Consider arriving early and leaving early, or spending time with family who may not have kids around.
- Personal Time: Give yourself a break from holiday stress. Spend time doing something that makes you feel grounded, like visiting a favorite childhood place or taking a long walk with your dog.
- Share Your Feelings: If you’re comfortable, talk to friends or family members in advance about your fertility journey. Let them know how to best support you and practice responses to difficult or insensitive questions.
Surrogacy: A New Path for the New Year
The emotional journey you’re on is deeply personal, and it’s okay if you’re not ready to take the next step right now.
However, for those who do consider surrogacy as an option, it can offer the hope of spending more future holidays with your child.
Surrogacy offers hope for:
- Those dealing with infertility
- LGBT+ couples
- Couples with health issues that make pregnancy impossible or dangerous
Surrogacy allows you to take control of your family-building journey by matching with a surrogate in an average of 1-6 months, bringing you closer to the possibility of welcoming your little one into your life.
Starting the surrogacy process now means more opportunities to create lasting memories with your child in the future. Fill out our simple form.
If you’re not ready, that’s okay. We’ll be here when you are.
Infertility Support During the Holidays
When it comes to surviving the holidays with infertility, you don’t have to do it alone.
- RESOLVE: RESOLVE is the national infertility association, a nonprofit that can connect you with the help you deserve, from finding a specific type of support group to other helpful resources and advice from those that have walked in your shoes.
- R/Infertility: R/infertility is a forum on Reddit that deals with “primary or secondary infertility, social infertility, pregnancy loss after infertility, and/or recurrent loss,” connecting you with others that are dealing with infertility.
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM): ASRM manages a website that has resources to help with coping with infertility grief from patient stories and frequently asked questions to podcasts and videos on various topics surrounding infertility.
- Infertility Support Group: This is a 10 thousand member strong Facebook group where men and women support each other in their situations with infertility.
No matter where you are when it comes to growing your family through surrogacy, we’re here for you too.
If you need to create embryos, we can connect you with reputable fertility clinics that are located close to where you are.
If cost is a concern for you, we have different tiered programs to address the different costs that come with surrogacy.
What’s Next?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by infertility during the holidays, know that you’re not alone. Reach out today.
We’re here to connect you with the support you deserve, whether it’s counseling, support groups or starting the surrogacy process. Let us help you take the first steps toward turning your dreams of parenthood into reality.