Infertility Feelings

Why We Avoid Infertility Feelings

There are a lot of reasons we want to avoid the feelings of infertility. For starters, infertility brings up so much sadness and fear. WHO WOULD WANT TO FEEL THAT? We have led thousands of people through infertility process groups, and here are the four big reasons people avoid infertility feelings! Which one are you? In this episode, Jesse and Doug talk about the four main reasons we may be avoiding the feelings that infertility brings up. If you have had a hard time feeling your feelings during infertility, you are not alone. It's hard to do! Just know that your feelings matter and deserve to be seen. ⭐️ Help us change how the world sees infertility! Join a monthly giving club, support the show, and raise awareness about infertility and mental health. https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed ❤️ This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/ Support the show

• Transcript

Infertility and Self Doubt

Have you ever doubted yourself during infertility? Am I strong enough? Will we make it through? Am I crying too much? Infertility likes to bring up all the ways we have doubted ourselves in the past, and it likes to give us new things to doubt ourselves about. This episode is all about what doubts infertility is bringing up from your past and what new doubts it's creating in you. If you have ever dealt with self-doubt during infertility, this episode is for you! ⭐️ Help us change how the world sees infertility! Join a monthly giving club, support the show, and raise awareness about infertility and mental health. https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed ❤️ This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/ Support the show

• Transcript

Infertility and Being Perfect

Everything will work if I do everything perfectly. Or so I thought. This episode is all about how we can be in relentless pursuit of perfection when trying to get pregnant. Jesse and Doug look at what it feels like to be constantly chasing perfection and how perfection becomes an impossible standard. The fertility world can sometimes be all about optimization. Optimizing your fertility is a good thing. However, when optimization turns into a frantic chase for perfection, you suffer. If you have ever felt like you are chasing perfection on your fertility journey, this episode is for you. ⭐️ Help us change how the world sees infertility! Join a monthly giving club, support the show, and raise awareness about infertility and mental health. https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed ❤️ This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/ Support the show

• Transcript

Infertility and Feeling Left Out of the Mom Club

Let’s talk about the mom club. When you are struggling to get pregnant, it feels like people keep getting into the “mom club.” It’s annoying. All they do is talk about mom club stuff. It feels like every conversation is about what it’s like being a mom. It hurts to hear it. It’s overwhelming to be around. You want to be in the mom club, but you are annoyed with the mom club. You want to be a mom, and you’re overwhelmed by the people who are moms. The mom club brings up a lot of feelings. Let’s talk about those feelings! ⭐️ Suggest a partner! We partner with fertility clinics, hospitals, therapy centers, and anyone who serves the infertility community. https://form.typeform.com/to/Q7ht8QsV ⭐️ Help us change how the world sees infertility! Join a monthly giving club, support the show, and raise awareness about infertility and mental health. https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed ❤️ This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/ Support the show

• Transcript

Infertility and Feeling Unseen

The sad reality is that when you go through infertility, you can feel unseen. Here is what that is like. In this episode Jesse and Doug talk about why people struggle to talk about the pain of infertility with those who are going through it. Why can't our friends and family understand how hard this is? Why do I feel so unseen by so many people in my life? We look at the conundrum that we find ourselves in. We need people to see us and understand what this is like. But, who is going to tell them? Who is going to show people how to care for us? Do we (the people suffering) have to teach them! Ugh, we are already going through enough. We give 3 ways out of this conundrum for people suffering from infertility. ⭐️ Suggest a partner! We partner with fertility clinics, hospitals, therapy centers, and anyone who serves the infertility community. https://form.typeform.com/to/Q7ht8QsV ⭐️ Help us change how the world sees infertility! Join a monthly giving club, support the show, and raise awareness about infertility and mental health. https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed ❤️ This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/ Support the show

• Transcript

Infertility as an Anxious Person

Infertility can make ANYONE anxious. But... what if you are ALREADY an anxious person?! That is what this podcast episode is about. In this special episode, Jesse is interviewing a special guest who is an expert in knowing what it's like to be an anxious person going through infertility. If you feel like you are a bit more anxious, this episode is for you. We talk about the three ways that anxiety plays itself out in life and how infertility impacts all three. We also look at what we can do with our anxiety when we are feeling overwhelmed by infertility. ⭐️ Suggest a partner! We partner with fertility clinics, hospitals, therapy centers, and anyone who serves the infertility community. https://form.typeform.com/to/Q7ht8QsV ⭐️ Help us change how the world sees infertility! Join a monthly giving club, support the show, and raise awareness about infertility and mental health. https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed ❤️ This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at https://www.uniquelyknitted.org/ Support the show

• Transcript

Infertility and Intimacy

Infertility impacts intimacy! Like... a lot. In this episode, Jesse and Doug are talking about how infertility impacts intimacy in a relationship. Infertility changes things like sex and closeness. Sex and closeness can be special, wonderful parts of a relationship. Then infertility changes them. Sex and closeness become means to an end. What the heck, that sucks. There is a very unique pressure placed on people with infertility when it comes to intimacy. This episode is all about that. If you have ever felt like infertility messed with your intimate life, this episode is for you. Suggest a partner! We partner with fertility clinics, hospitals, therapy centers, and anyone who serves the infertility community. https://form.typeform.com/to/Q7ht8QsV Help us change how the world sees infertility! Join a monthly giving club, support the show, and raise awareness about infertility and mental health. uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Why it's So Hard to Make People Aware of Infertility

1 in 6 people struggle to get pregnant. 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Infertility is part of life for millions of people around the world. The chances are that most people know someone struggling to get pregnant. So that means the world knows a lot about infertility and is ready to care for people struggling, right?! Wrong! It's so hard to make people aware of infertility. This episode is all about that. Jesse and Doug take a moment during National Infertility Awareness Week to think about why it's so hard to raise awareness. This is a great episode to think about the reasons why infertility is hard to talk about. This episode is a great episode to send to people to explain the struggles of talking about infertility. Help us change how the world sees infertility! 1 in 6 people will face infertility, and the world will look away. Together, we're changing that not just for them, but for how all of us talk about grief, loss, and what it means to build a family. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Infertility and Your Period

Your period (your cycle) is such a central part of fertility. When you are struggling with infertility it becomes so much more. In fact, it feels like it's everything. It's the thing you wait for. It's the thing you are terrified of. If the thing you hate, and it's the thing you can't avoid. How do you deal with your period? You can't avoid it. In a way you need it. But gosh in all honesty it's like a sign post of grief and pain. In this episode Jesse and Doug are talking all about infertility and your period. Help us change how the world sees infertility! 1 in 6 people will face infertility, and the world will look away. Together we're changing that. Not just for them, but for how all of us talk about grief, loss, and what it means to build a family. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Infertility, Decisions, and Gratitude

In this episode Jesse and Doug have two little thoughts about infertility, decisions, and gratitude. How do you make decisions during infertility? It feels literally impossible. Jesse has a way forward! Infertility gives us nothing to be grateful for? So what do we do with that? Doug has a thoughts. In this special episode we dive into two really important ideas that help us all make it through infertility. Help us change how the world sees infertility! 1 in 6 people will face infertility, and the world will look away. Together we're changing that. Not just for them, but for how all of us talk about grief, loss, and what it means to build a family. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Struggling to Make Sense of Infertility

How are we supposed to make sense of infertility? No, literally how?! Infertility, for many people, just doesn't fit with the way they view the world. Struggling to make sense of it all becomes this overwhelming, anxiety-provoking thing. Will there ever be a meaning to all this? Will we ever look back and see why this happened to us?! Was there no meaning to this? What does that mean about life?! The existential crisis of infertility is real, and this episode is all about that. Jesse and Doug dig into the growth work at Uniquely Knitted and look for a way to process why this doesn't make sense. If you have ever struggled to make sense of your infertility, then this episode is for you. So, pretty much, it's for everyone who has ever struggled with infertility! Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Infertility and Failure

Infertility can feel like it's full of fails. This test failed, this cycle failed. All the disappointment and fails can start to make you feel like YOU are a failure. It's not true, you are not a failure. But gosh, it can feel that way sometimes. This episode is all about these feelings. Why can we feel like failures during infertility. What do you do with those feelings? How can you deal with the feelings of failure. Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Why is Infertility So Hard?!

Let's talk about why infertility is so hard! In this episode, we look at what the Uniquely Knitted following says about why infertility is so hard. We look at why it's so difficult for Jesse and Doug, and we talk about how infertility may be uniquely hard for each person. When you can verbalize why infertility is so uniquely hard for you as an individual, you have a higher likelihood of connecting with people who can see you and meet your needs! It's an important part of building resilience during infertility. Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Infertility and Exhaustion

A candid conversation about how and why infertility makes us so exhausted! In this episode, Jesse and Doug recap the year at the Infertility Feelings Podcast and at Uniquely Knitted. We talk about what this year means to us and what we are excited about in the future. In this episode, we also look at why infertility is so exhausting. We talk about how the end of the year is exhausting and how dealing with infertility at the end of the year feels like a double-exhaustion bomb. Thank you to everyone for making this the biggest and best year yet! We love you all, and we are looking forward to being with you in 2026 and beyond! Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Infertility and Blame

During infertility, we can often blame ourselves for everything. This episode is about what that feels like, and WHY we do that! Blame shows up when we’re desperately trying to make sense of the senseless. It can feel protective, even logical, but it slowly chips away at our sense of worth and hope. In this episode, we explore how blame sneaks into our thinking, what it does to our bodies and relationships, and how we can gently move toward compassion instead of self-criticism. Jesse and Doug dive into the topic of blame. Blame is part of a larger story about control, vulnerability, and the longing for answers. Understanding it can transform how we see ourselves and how we move through infertility. Together we explore how blame forms, why it sticks, and what it means to slowly let go of it. Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Infertility and Feeling Sensitive

Infertility is always overwhelming. When you are feeling sensitive, it's almost unbearable. In this episode, Jesse is joined by our wonderful process group leader, Krista! Together, they explore what infertility is like for sensitive people. If you feel like you are a more sensitive person, this episode is for you! If you feel like you have ever been sensitive during infertility, this episode is for you! Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

The Physical Challenge of Infertility

Infertility is deeply physical. It's physically really hard. On the Infertility Feelings Podcast, we often talk about the mental and emotional challenges of infertility. In this episode, we are jumping into the PHYSICAL challenge. We have the honor of speaking with Dr. Meredith Brower, MD, from Reproductive Partners Medical Group in Beverly Hills. She is an excellent guide to what someone goes through physically when they are going through fertility treatment at a clinic. In this episode, we talk about all the ways that infertility physically impacts your life and what that means for your mental, emotional, and physical health. Learn more about Dr. Brower here! reproductivepartners.com/doctors/meredith-brower Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Infertility and Your Age

Infertility can make you feel old, at 28! Infertility messes with your own view of your age. Sometimes you get told that you have all the time in the world. That "you're young" and "you still have time." Then, in a weird twist, people will say, "You don't have forever." There are SO many emotions that come up when we talk about infertility and your age. In this episode, we are looking at all of them. We look at why Doug wanted to be a young age when he was a dad. We look at what people usually hear when it comes to their age. If you have ever felt like your age is bringing up feelings in your infertility story, this episode is for you. Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Infertility and God

Infertility and God. There is a lot, where do we start? Many people believe in God. Not everyone, but many. For those who believe in God and believe that they have a relationship with God, infertility might be hurting that relationship. Infertility might be changing how you view God or putting pressure on your thoughts about God. This episode is all about that. In this episode, we talk about the ways in which thoughts on God might be changing and what infertility does to a relationship with God. This episode is not trying to convince anyone to believe in God and does not advocate for one religious perspective. If you have thoughts about God and infertility, this episode is for you. Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show

Infertility and Letting People Down

Sometimes, when we are going through infertility, it can feel like we are letting people down. This episode is about what that feels like. But first, You are NOT letting anyone down. Infertility let US ALL down. During infertility, it can feel like your reality is making other people sad or disappointed. Many say they feel like they are letting their spouse down. Many people say they are letting their parents down. (They want them to be grandparents so bad) Many people say they are letting their friends down. (They aren't the same way they used to be in the friend group) All these feelings are overwhelming! What do you do when you feel like you are letting people down? Well... you listen to this episode! Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committed This podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families. Discover more at uniquelyknitted.org Support the show