In this episode of Fertility Village Live, hosts Joy and Marissa welcome Dara Roth-Edney MSW/RSW, a reproductive counselor and psychotherapist, who shares her personal journey through infertility and surrogacy. Dara discusses the emotional challenges faced during her fertility journey, the complexities of finding the right surrogate, and the importance of trust and meaningful relationships in surrogacy. The conversation highlights the often-overlooked emotional scars of infertility and the need for support and understanding in the surrogacy community.

In this conversation, Dara addresses the emotional challenges faced during fertility treatments and offers practical advice for navigating these experiences. The discussion highlights the significance of having a supportive network, managing expectations, and maintaining a positive mindset throughout the journey. We end with her top 10 mindset tools that will provide hope and strength on your fertility journey.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Dara emphasizes the loneliness of the infertility journey.
• She shares her personal experience with IVF and surrogacy.
• The emotional toll of infertility can be overwhelming.
• Surrogacy can bring hope but also grief for intended parents.
• Trust and connection with a surrogate are crucial.
• Infertility doesn't just disappear with a successful pregnancy.
• The importance of recognizing the surrogate's motivations.
• Surrogacy relationships can be complex and require adjustment.
• Dara reflects on the long-term impact of infertility.
• It's essential to honor the emotional scars left by infertility. Altruism in surrogacy is essential but often imbalanced.
• Trust in your medical team is crucial during fertility treatments.
• Open communication between surrogates and intended parents is key.
• Expectations should be managed to avoid shock during treatments.
• Creating a supportive environment can ease the emotional burden.
• Visualizing small successes can help maintain motivation.
• Surround yourself with understanding and empathetic people.
• Practicing self-compassion is vital during challenging times.
• Distress does not impact the success of treatments but can affect well-being.
• Honoring your emotions is important for mental health.

Find Dara at https://informedfertility.ca/

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