Hi! My name is Coco and I'm a mom. My journey to motherhood has been filled with happiness, love, excitement, and many challenges. From Trying to Conceive to Postpartum and now caring for my 2-year-old son, I’ve been seeking support to make my transition to motherhood easier. Here on Owemama, I share real stories, maternity-related tips and honest reviews. Let's navigate this journey together!
The process of trying to conceive (TTC) can feel like a confusing time. The excitement of new beginnings is often mixed with feelings of hope, anticipation and for many, deep frustration. When my husband and I got married, I found myself wondering: What if I had fertility issues? What if I can’t have children at all? How will we cope?
My Journey with TTC
Having children was always something we dreamed of, and adoption was something we were open to. After a year of marriage, we decided to start trying. In our minds, it seemed simple—stop taking the pill, have sex, and the next month we’d see two pink lines on a pregnancy test. I guess I was finally over the fear of an unplanned pregnancy, but to our surprise, it wasn’t that easy.
Six months into our journey of really trying—tracking ovulation, using special lubricants, scheduling sex—we were still met with negative results month after month. The stress and anxiety began to set in, so I decided to see a specialist. My husband thought I was overreacting, and maybe he was right, but at the time, I just needed some reassurance. After a few medical exams, the doctor recommended more rest, natural supplements and vitamins, and to our relief, three months later, I was pregnant. Looking back, I realize how fortunate we were to get pregnant after nine months of trying. Many couples face longer, more difficult roads to parenthood, and the emotional toll can be overwhelming.
Lara’s Story: A Mom’s Journey with TTC
This was reinforced recently when I talked with a close family member, I’ll call her Lara for privacy reasons. Lara and her husband spent seven long years trying to conceive before finally getting pregnant. During that time, I was living a carefree single life abroad. I didn’t have any children and though I knew she was having a hard time, I couldn’t fully understand what she was going through. It was a taboo subject, but looking back, I wish I had given her the support she needed.
Her sharing her experience today—the repeated disappointment of seeing her period each month, and the constant monitoring of her ovulation and body temperature— struck a deep chord with me. Seven years of uncertainty must have felt like a lifetime, and her story sheds light on the intense emotional and mental strain that TTC can cause.
Keep in mind, It’s not just women who feel the pressure—men are affected too. Fertility challenges are often framed as a woman’s issue, but “the male partner is solely responsible in about 20% of infertility cases, and is a contributing factor in a further 30% to 40%” (Hunt. E, 2024). This statistic is still unspoken in many conversations. In both our journeys, our husbands had to make certain lifestyle changes and take supplements to improve their sperm count.
Right from the beginning of our journey to becoming parents, we were all impacted physically, emotionally and mentally.
Beyond the emotional strain, it’s important to highlight the financial burden on a couple starting their lives together. Depending on where you live, you may or may not be covered for fertility treatments like insemination, IVF, and surgeries. For Lara, it was 7 years of undergoing multiple rounds of fertility treatments, during which both she and her husband also had surgeries. Fortunately, they had the necessary resources and mental capacity to keep going. But what about those who don’t?
The positive impact of trusted brands like Bird&Be
While researching fertility support, I came across Bird&Be and immediately connected with their approach to helping couples on their fertility journey. What stood out to me was the strength of their team, which includes both reproductive endocrinologists and naturopathic doctors. This blend of expertise ensures that their products combine the latest scientific research with proven natural methods, giving couples the best of both worlds.
As I read more about Bird&Be, I realized how much I would have appreciated their personalized approach during my journey. They offer a handy quiz to help identify which products best suit your fertility challenges, and as your journey evolves, so do their formulas. Their products range from vitamins & supplements to at-home tests, like the Ovarian Reserve Screening Test.
Their thoughtful, personalized solutions have helped many couples feel more empowered and less anxious, and it made me reflect on how something like this could have made our journey feel a little easier.
How Else Can We Support?
With so many couples facing fertility challenges and considering how the numbers keep going up, it’s important to think about how we can provide more support. Beyond physical treatments and supplements, mental health care is key. Couples need emotional support from professionals, friends, and their communities. They also need more resources in their workplaces and from governments to ease the financial burden of fertility treatments.
Technology, including AI, is also starting to revolutionize that space with a focus on fertility treatments. As it continues to evolve, it may have the potential to offer more hope along the couple's journey.
Getting Support
If you or someone you know is going through a challenging time, seek the support of your loved ones and health professionals.
If you wish to know more about the various services out there for moms, you can also consult my post: Guide to professional services: Helping you navigate pregnancy and postpartum.
Coco