Infertility struggles during pandemic

[Anonymous]

OP, if you like art I’ve really enjoyed painting during COVID as well. In particular watercolor is really soothing and there are a lot of free videos on YouTube. I like a site called Lets Make Art, they sell watercolor kits but you don’t have to buy anything to follow along with their videos, and it’s pretty easy to make some pretty cool looking art. I’ve found it very therapeutic.

[Anonymous]

Consider joining a support group, Heal From Within is doing virtual sessions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The time I took trying to get pregnant the first time was an incredibly difficult time for me. I'm a "fixer" - and when you're trying, there's so little you can DO at the end of the day to make it work. It was only 7 months (I got lucky) but I totally feel for you.

What really helped me was to throw myself at something creative. I've never been an artist or painter, but I found this series on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXUkNk1HRolGDP9dGiEtfkG_IJNyk49Kf

Big Art Quest by the Art Sherpa, who's real name, if you can believe it, is Cinnamon. It's a weekly series, one year long, that teaches you to paint. I think I only got through the first like 8 weeks before I got pregnant, but it was absolutely game changing. Strongly recommend.

Taking some of that anxious energy and spending the day in an art store rubbing brushes on my face (per Cinnamon's advice!) seems silly in retrospect, but it was great.

OMG, are you posting on the INFERTILITY FORUM giving advice about RELAXING after it took you 7 months to get pregnant? I have so, so many things to say to you, but PLEASE KNOW YOUR PLACE AND GTFO. My first took 7 months and I've been trying for my second for 3 years. I can definitively say you have no idea what you're talking about, so have some common sense and manners and leave us alone.

I completely apologize, you are absolutely, 100% right. I had posted again shortly after, I know that this is in now way comparable, and again you are totally right, I really am sorry.

Honestly, the only reason I posted is that I loved this YouTube series, and it might help.

PP, thanks for coming back and apologizing. It is appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I focused on trying to decrease work stress, improve my relationship with my spouse, cut down drinking significantly (Only a couple glasses a week), and focused on my health and wellness overall. It sounds super cliche but I bought a peloton, went for a bunch of walks etc. it was hard because we were worried about COVID exposure canceling our cycle snd added to the stress and isolation.

The peloton classes were nice in the months leading up to IVF because there are a lot of positive classes that helped lift my spirits. I had to take it easy during IVF, but our cycle resulted in a successful transfer so now it is nice to be able to exercise and stay healthy during this pregnancy and stay safe and sane during this COVID uptick.