Petri Dishin’ It

Infertility doesn’t mark your body in red thread, but it leaves a mark all the same. This reflection draws parallels between The Scarlet Letter and modern infertility, examining shame, identity, and what it means to carry something deeply personal in silence.

IVF is not just hard. It can take your money, your health, your relationships, and your hope. After five cycles, pregnancy loss, and years of trauma, I reached my limit. Here is the truth about why women stop.

No one tells you IVF trauma can start before IVF ever begins. Mine did—with a “simple” test that landed me in the hospital and left me without both fallopian tubes. I was 34, excited, hopeful, and completely unprepared for how quickly “trying” would turn into survival.

Confused by fertility jargon? You’re not alone. IVF, IUI, FET, AMH—it can feel like decoding a foreign language while emotionally spiraling. This post breaks down the most common fertility and infertility terms in real people language—minus the medical mumbo-jumbo and emotional whiplash. Because understanding your body shouldn’t require a PhD, a therapist, and Google Translate.

A failed embryo taught me what IVF facts don’t explain. This post explores how far we’ve come, what still hurts, and where science is headed.

My baby girl would’ve turned one today. I didn’t get to throw a party—but I’m still celebrating her in every way I can. Here’s how I’m honoring her, and how you might honor your baby too.

A film, a letter, and one line that changed everything: “Love, Mom.” Sometimes motherhood starts before anyone else sees it.

Somewhere between injections, appointments, and heartbreak, I started speaking to myself like I was the enemy. I didn’t even realize how...

"Enduring IVF's pain without relief, I faced a stark loss. Each step forward feels like a step away from the future we dreamed of."