So, Now What? Embracing a Childfree Life with Lana Manikowski

Have you ever wondered what will happen if your fertility treatments don't end up working? If at some point you decide to stop treatments and live a childfree life? I believe deeply that we need to consider these questions much earlier in the process. It does not mean that we are giving up, but rather that there are many meaningful ways to live this life, both with and without children.Lana generously shares her journey with us, in terms of the following:her IVF journey which did not yield childrenher decision to stop treatments and not pursue adoption or third party reproductionthe lack of closure with her REI and how childfree should be offered as an option moving forward her identity crisis and lack of grounding when the goal of motherhood was no longer presenther journey towards authenticitynavigating feelings of failure/shame/blamehow to have meaningful relationships with family and friends who are not childfreehow awareness of the stories we are telling ourselves is crucial to reframing our experience and choosing stories which serve us and allow us to live the best, most meaningful lives possibleGuest Details:Lana Manikowski is a certified life coach, author, and infertility advocate who helps women thrive after infertility. After a seven-year fertility journey that ended without children, she created the support she yearned for but was never offered. She went on to write the bestselling book So Now What?, founded The Other’s Day Brunch, an annual event honoring women without children, and hosts The "So Now What?" Podcast.Through her coaching and community, Lana guides women to release shame, heal their relationship with their bodies, strengthen their marriages or partnerships, and reconnect in meaningful relationships with friends and family who have children. She helps childless women create purposeful, joyful lives beyond motherhood.She holds advanced certifications in grief and post-traumatic growth and is a proud member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and an active volunteer with RESOLVE.Her signature message: Your story isn’t over. It’s just beginning.https://lanamanikowski.com Support the showAs always, please keep in mind that this is my perspective and nothing in this podcast is medical advice.If you found this conversation valuable, book a consult call with me using this link:https://www.loveandsciencefertility.com/private-fertility-consultFollow us on social media:IG: www.instagram.com/loveandsciencefertilityFB: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553692167183Please don’t let infertility have the final word. We are here to take the burden from you so that you can achieve your goal of building your family with confidence and compassion. I’m rooting for you always.In Gratitude,Dr. Erica Bove