By Claire Andrade, postpartum doula
Three years ago, my husband and I decided that we were ready to grow our family and become parents. Being “young and healthy” from a medical standpoint, we believed this would be a pretty straightforward process. As someone who likes to have a solid plan, we even talked about the ideal time of year to welcome our first child, believing we would be able to have control over this.
We slowly learned that this would not be our story. Instead, after a year of trying, we were diagnosed with unexplained infertility.
Approximately 1 in 8 couples in the US are diagnosed with infertility, though many studies estimate this number is even higher. Despite how common infertility is, there is a societal stigma that this is something that should be kept private to avoid making anyone feel uncomfortable. Research has found that women with infertility can have anxiety and depression levels similar to those with cancer, heart disease, and HIV. Knowing this, I yearned for a community of people who understood the physical, emotional, and financial toll of infertility. I found this community in books, podcasts (like this), and through the stories of infertility accounts on social media. Having a community of resources to turn to for support was vital for us as we worked through our new plan for growing our family.
After several failed medicated cycles, an IVF retrieval, a failed embryo transfer, and a devastating miscarriage, our third embryo transfer was successful and led us to the baby boy we are eagerly waiting to meet this August. While we were elated that our perseverance had finally paid off, we were reminded that infertility doesn’t leave you once you become pregnant.
Pregnancy after infertility is a complex web of emotions. I find myself repeatedly holding my breath, waiting to hear bad news as has so often been our experience. I keep setting milestones in which things will feel safe, but find that this mental “safe zone” keeps moving further and further out. After years of feeling like my body has failed me, I am slowly learning to trust my body and its ability to support this pregnancy.
Despite everything that infertility has taken from us, it has also made this pregnancy more beautiful than I could have imagined. We are grateful for each uneventful day that passes and rejoice when we reach significant milestones (recently splurging on a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream to celebrate reaching 20 weeks). Infertility has also taught us the importance of patience and flexibility—traits I know will come in handy as we enter parenthood. Finally, it serves as a reminder of how hard we have fought to get here and has made me a better advocate for myself and others.
As I look at another National Infertility Awareness Week, memories of the past three years resurface. I am met with the usual feelings of sadness and loss. However, this year as I feel the little kicks of a baby growing inside me, I am reminded that we are beginning a new chapter of our journey. I can’t wait to see where it leads.
For more reading about infertility and pregnancy after infertility, check out these resources:
As I sit down to share my story, I am overwhelmed with emotions, reflecting on the incredible journey that has brought me to where I am today. My name is Amelia, and I am a testament to the power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. For years, my husband and I struggled with infertility, facing countless disappointments and heartbreaks. But today, I hold my precious child in my arms, conceived through the miraculous power of herbs.
The journey began over five years ago when my husband and I decided to start a family. We had been married for a few years, and everything seemed perfect, but month after month, I would discover that I wasn’t pregnant. As the months turned into years, our excitement turned into frustration, and our hopes began to dwindle. We visited numerous hospitals, consulted with specialists, and underwent countless tests, but the diagnosis was always the same: our chances of conceiving were slim.
The emotional toll was immense. I felt like a failure, and the pressure from family and friends only added to our stress. We tried every medical treatment available, from fertility drugs to IVF, but nothing seemed to work. It was as if our dream of having a child was slipping further and further away.
One day, a close friend suggested that we try herbal remedies. At first, I was skeptical, having relied on modern medicine for so long. However, desperation had taken over, and I was willing to try anything. We began our search for the right herbs, consulting with herbalists and reading about various natural remedies.
The herbs we used were carefully selected based on their properties to enhance fertility. There was maca root, known for its ability to balance hormones; chasteberry, which supports ovulation; and red clover, rich in isoflavones that promote reproductive health. We prepared the herbs according to the herbalist’s instructions and started our treatment.
The journey wasn’t easy. There were times when we doubted the effectiveness of the herbs, and the long history of medical failures made us question whether this would work. However, we were determined to give it our best shot. We combined the herbal treatment with a healthier lifestyle, eating better, exercising regularly, and managing stress.
Months went by, and while we didn’t see immediate results, I began to feel a change within myself. My menstrual cycle became more regular, and I felt more energized and positive. Then, one morning, I woke up with a strange feeling—a feeling that something was different. I took a pregnancy test, and to our absolute shock, it was positive!
The joy that followed was indescribable. We couldn’t believe that after all the struggles, we were finally going to be parents. The pregnancy was a blessing, filled with moments of happiness, anticipation, and, of course, some challenges. But through it all, we felt a sense of peace and gratitude, knowing that our child was conceived naturally, through the power of herbs.
On February 23 2025, we welcomed our beautiful baby into the world. Holding our child in our arms for the first time was a moment of pure bliss. It was as if all the tears, prayers, and hopes had culminated in this one perfect moment. We named our child Luca, which means “gift of God” in our native language, because that’s exactly what our child is—a gift from above, conceived through the miraculous power of nature.
Looking back, I realize that our journey to parenthood taught us patience, resilience, and the importance of faith. While the medical community may not fully understand or acknowledge the power of herbs in fertility, our experience speaks for itself. The herbs worked for us when nothing else did, and for that, we are eternally grateful.
If you’re reading this and facing similar challenges, I want you to know that there is hope. Don’t give up. Explore all your options, including natural remedies. While herbs may not be the solution for everyone, they were for us, and that’s all that matters.
In conclusion, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the herbalist who guided us, to the natural world that provided the herbs, and to God, who blessed us with this precious gift. Our story is a testament to the power of nature and the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity. We hope that our journey will inspire others to explore natural solutions and never lose hope in their quest for parenthood. You can yours from them, this is their email contact, oceanviewtraditioncentre@gmail.com