If you're trying to conceive, you know it can be an emotional time. Everyone's experience is unique, but hearing different experiences can give us fresh perspectives of our own. Meet the parents:
Chris and Claire
West Sussex, UK
‘Starting to try and conceive was exciting, but every month that it didn’t happen were real low moments. We tried for two years and then it took four attempts with IVF. It has been a real emotional rollercoaster. When they collect eggs it’s positive. Then they fertilise them, and if it’s not a positive result there’s a massive low. You have to pick yourself up and get ready to try again. But it was worth it.’
Pippa and Glenn
Sydney, Australia
‘I had had some fertility testing before we started trying and everything came back great. We really didn’t focus too much around a process. I actually didn’t tell Glenn when I was ovulating, I just initiated lovemaking and we had fun.’
Annie and Matt
London, UK
‘We started off naturally but after about 18 months, things weren’t working out, so we ended up having IVF. Thankfully, it worked first-time and we got Felix. Just knowing that there were people there to help us, plus the technology and the science, was reassuring,’ Annie
‘The lows were when the journey wasn’t quite working out as we’d expected and the disappointment after building up your hopes. But we got there in the end,’ Matt
Gina, Auckland
New Zealand
‘I’m 39. I feel young, but I don't think my body is any more. So this time round, we used an app to track cycles and ovulation. Also , we used the ovulation kit – the pee-on-a-stick thing. That definitely helped. I was worried about being a bit older and the length of time that it might take but it only took a couple of months of trying. I feel really lucky.’
Taina and Paul
Alabama, US
‘At first there’s all the anticipation and the excitement of “wow, we’re really doing this”. But each passing month and the realisation that you’re not pregnant can be tough. So I completely empathise now with soon-to-be moms in that waiting period. We would always come back to centre, saying: “This is going to happen when it’s supposed to happen and, in the meantime, let’s just have a good time”.’
You can read more parents’ experiences of conceiving below.
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