Infertility & The Holidays

Facing infertility can be especially challenging during the holidays. With holiday cards, pregnancy announcements, and child-centered traditions everywhere you look, the holiday season can amplify your sense of loss. It is completely normal to experience feelings of sadness, profound loss, anger, guilt, envy, shame, and hopelessness. This is a time to show yourself supreme kindness.

1) If you feel guilty for turning down an invitation to a holiday party where everyone else will have babies and children, remind yourself:

“I am doing the best I can, and it is okay to focus on my healing during this season.”

2) If you feel angry or envious when you open a friend’s holiday card and see a pregnancy announcement, remind yourself:

“This is really difficult, and I’m not alone in this struggle.”

3) If you feel sad or lonely for celebrating the holidays differently from in the past, remind yourself:

“It’s okay to experience the holidays differently this year.”

“My holidays don’t have to look like everyone else’s.”

Showing yourself supreme kindness may include setting boundaries, creating new traditions, and prioritizing physical, emotional, and spiritual self-care. Others may not understand your choices, and that is okay. Protecting your peace and healing is the ultimate self-care during this holiday season.