The Infertility Handbook

I get this question asked very often.

Why do you still associate yourself with infertile?

Before I could answer, I get the torrent of ignorant and discerning judgements thrown at me. "You have a kid now, your posts should be about raindrops, lollipops and soft cuddly squishy kittens." In fact Shooter himself raised his eyebrows once at me when I mentioned that some of my posts are IF related.

It's like all of a fucking sudden I'm supposed to ignore or forget.

I don't thrust myself in the IF community. On the contrary my Top Blogs are a colourful mixture of motherhood, humour, fashion, art and IF (pre & post) I comment on them often.

Am I supposed to just sit back and pretend that all went well in my life? Especially the hardest and toughest challenge in my life?

My contribution to IF these days are my few random posts which are a reminder yet therapy for letting go of the anger, guilt and sadness. However IF changed me. It also provided me with some positives too. I know that I am a better person - stronger, patient, humorous. IF also provided me with some very special friends. Some over the trenches, some still within enemy lines. Letting go of IF means letting go of them.

That. Will. Never. Happen.

So you ask a question I can not really answer. IF was and is part of my life. How can I look at my son now and not remember nor acknowledge what I went through? I'm not bitter anymore. However the information I have built over these years - from the best angle of jabbing needles in to a flabby tummy to the creamy delicacies of the vag - How can I not share this priceless knowledge?

I was infertile. But I am still part of a wonderful community.

To honour my pledge to help those still in the trenches, I'm having a book giveaway.

The Infertility Handbook by Angela Hutchins

"This is the essential reference book for couples diagnosed with infertility. It covers everything from understanding your reproductive cycle to what your options are if a biological child is not possible. The causes of infertility — both male and female — are examined, treatment options are explained, and a wide range of support services is included. Where appropriate, chapters include focus boxes written by a leading expert in the relevant field. Importantly, The Infertility Handbook is written clearly and simply with the sensitivity and knowledge of a person who has been there. It aims to provide options at a time when people may feel they have none and understanding at a time when people can often feel cut off from their normal support network."

www.infertilityhandbook.com.au

I highly recommend Angela's book. She is a fellow Australian and her IF journey scarily resembles mine in many ways - 6 years of IF, unsuccessful IVF and FET's, miscarriages and now 2 children as a result of Chinese herbs.

If you would like to win this book, all you have to do is the following:

1. Become a follower.
2. Leave me a comment.

Simple. Even if you are not experiencing IF or embarking on assisted reproductive treatments, maybe someone you know may appreciate and benefit from reading this. The winner will be randomly picked from a bit of paper in a hat. Nothing fancy.

Competition ends Friday, 3rd June 2011.

(Please note, if you are not from Australia or New Zealand some sections will not be relevant as it lists organisations and services within these countries)

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A SHOUT OUT to these amazing IF women

Chon  - who is one vein away from having a blood test to confirm whether her recent FET was successful.

Tee - Is hoping her fat arse is a result from the effects of her first official Clomid cycle and the old cow aunt flow stays the fuck away.

New Year Mum - is nursing a cold and worried that her recent FET will be affected by this virus.

Ants- who recently got her Big Fat Positive after IVF is experiencing bleeding, however each blood test and scan shows a healthy bean but the fear and anxiety still lingers.

Haidee - who is in the single digits and counting down to the birth of her first child after IVF.

Krista - who recently got a chemical pregnancy and is taking time off the blogs and reassessing her journey

TasiIVFer - who is reaching her milestones day by day and is currently 27 weeks pregnant after 15 stim IVF cycles and a donor egg.

Congratulations

To NIK - for her recent positive pregnancy test after IVF and HONEY - for the birth of her son, a miracle after several IVF's and miscarriages.

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"The great question that has never been answered, and which I have not yet been able to answer, despite my thirty years of research into the feminine soul, is What does a woman want?" ~ Sigmund Freud

"A fucking baby Sigmund" ~ A Field of Dreams