It is the time of year to spread awareness and help educate on Infertility.
Visit Resolve.org for more information on support and education.
While there has been some progress made in bringing the topic of Infertility into the mainstream, there still remains a long road to hoe. Starting with what to say and NOT to say to those struggling to have a family is a good step. Rewording questions or comments or omitting them altogether can ease the burden and pain felt by infertiles.
Resolve’s article, “25 Things To Say (and Not To Say) To Someone Living With Infertility” is a great link to forward on to friends and family.
1.Let them know that you care.
The best thing you can do is let your infertile friends know that you care.
As with any difficult situation in life, it can mean the world just knowing that someone is thinking of you and cares about you. They may not be able to fix it, but they can at least offer support and compassion. This can ease even the most unbearable circumstances.
Surround yourself with people who offer positive support and refrain from judgment. Your pain should never be dismissed due to a lack of understanding. The grief of infertility is very real and very debilitating. You deserve to have your feelings recognized.
You will never get over your infertility experience, but with time, you will work your way through it. The answers will come, but it is the waiting that proves most difficult.
Great post–that was the one thing on that list that stuck out to me the most as well. Nothing feels worse than feeling ignored or pushed away because you make someone else feel uncomfortable and they don’t know what to say to you. It doesn’t seem like it should be that hard to say, “I don’t know what to say, but I want you to know I care.” And to listen. Thanks for sharing this important piece of the infertility puzzle!