31. Am I Enough if I Don't Have a Baby?

When I started thinking about the Enough Labs series on unpacking motherhood, I was really looking to bring into the conversation a topic that isn't talked about as much - and that’s infertility. I reached out to several people about considering being on the podcast to talk about their experience. But it IS something super personal and not everyone wants to speak on it, and I totally get it. I grappled with even trying to do an episode about such a loaded topic; and then I thought about the courage and authenticity that each of my guests brought to the conversation this month, and I said, the conversation about infertility has to be part of it as well. The reality is that infertility is terribly common. In fact, one in eight couples (12 percent of women) in the US have trouble getting pregnant. That means, there’s a really good chance that someone you know is struggling with infertility – even if you’re not aware of it. And on the off chance that you've never met anyone who has struggled with infertility - you will in this episode. It's me. In this episode, I unpack the emotional impact and toll that infertility takes on your self-esteem, on your marriage, and how you reconcile with coming to terms as to the real reasons of wanting a family. I also talk about the sense of grief, loss, and sadness associated with all of the experiences that come with pregnancy and motherhood - basically when all you feel is like you're being iced out of the mommy club. In this honest and brave look, I start to unpack the answer to the elusive question "Am I enough if I don't have a baby?" If you're interested in learning more about the Mama: You are Enough small group coaching program, head to https://www.enoughlabs.com/mamayou-are-enough/