Natalie Sutherland: Sharing My Story in Support of the National Fertility Awareness Week
Natalie Sutherland, Co-Founder of In/Fertility in the City and Co-Chair of Resolution’s Children Committee at Resolution, shared on LinkedIn:
“I’m supporting National Fertility Awareness Week this week, led by Fertility Action and the indefatigable Katie Rollings.
The theme is ‘Fertility Unfiltered’, where people are sharing their unfiltered fertility stories to break the stigma of infertility and help people feel less alone in a truly hideous period of their lives.
Having shared my story countless times previously, I’m sharing again in support of NFAW.
Mine began in the sonogram room at my 12-week scan when I heard the words ‘I’m so sorry, there’s no heartbeat’.
Life instantly changed. It broke me.
But then came months of expectant management, then medical management and finally surgical management to free my body of my much-wanted second baby.
And then came weeks of uncontrollable bleeding, leading me to passing out, several hospital visits and nearly losing my life, at a time when my daughter was only 2 years old and almost lost her mum.
The coil was fitted to save my life as it miraculously stopped the bleeding and saved my womb.
Then came the adjustment to surrendering to healing my body and accepting that our baby-making plans were on hold until I was stronger.
After removing the coil to start trying again, we did the rollercoaster of monthly hopes being dashed as I never saw those two lines on a pregnancy test again.
During this time I also pivoted in my career by focusing on modern families’ work, my personal fertility journey drawing me to wanting to help other families grow.
I also cofounded In/Fertility in the City, cohosting events to shine a light on how fertility challenges affect professional careers, and continued those conversations in our award-winning podcast, which I’m super proud of.
And then came acceptance of my secondary infertility and embracing the joy of having one child. Helped in no small measure by the joining of Betty to our family, two years ago yesterday!
Happy Gotcha Day to Betty!
And today is the 8-year anniversary of what would have been my due date. Always a date that causes me to reflect on what life could have looked like now, but also reminds me to be grateful for the amazing life I have created from the biggest trauma I’ve ever experienced.
I hope sharing my story helps others to feel less alone and know that you’ll come through this stronger than ever.
Sharing a picture of Betty from our walk this morning as a thank you for reading my post to the end!”
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