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fertilityonice

@fertilityonice

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Fertility, IVF, love, science & modern family💉🧊🤍👶🏻
It all started with freezing my eggs. Join me on my journey as a single mom by choice!

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A dear friend recently shared a column from Cheryl Strayed, The Ghost Ship That Didn’t Carry Us. The column explains that one will never know the life we don’t choose, we know the life we choose.

Should I have waited a little longer? Should I have gone on more dates? Should I have waited to find a partner? Should I have waited to make Partner at work? I salute all those ghost ships from the shore and find immense joy and peace in what is. This is the life I choose, and I am so excited to see what it brings.

It is such a privilege to live your life on your terms. I am so lucky I get to dream. I am beyond blessed to be surrounded by so much love in this chapter of my life.

#ivf #solomombychoice #singlegreatestchoice #refamulating #lovemakesafamily #fertilityonice #wortheveryshot by @fertilityonice

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2 years ago

Babies’ first trip to Disney is in the books!

We were supposed to be in Mexico but cancelled due to safety concerns. There is a special place in my heart for a Plan B that turns into an amazing Plan A. One of the biggest lessons in solo parenting is pivoting and adapting. One of the greatest gifts is community.

So happy we got to travel and make memories with our friends! These two mamas did it, proud of us!! 💕 by @fertilityonice

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7 months ago

And now when I see women in business attire at 5 am in the airport, I wonder if they have little ones at home too. I wonder if they, too, picked their flight this way so they wouldn’t miss bedtime the night before.

Work day trip to speak at a conference! First solo trip postpartum. Here is all I did as a breastfeeding mom.

Randomly cried through the early parts of the trip just because…

Huge shout out to the village at home for running ML’s day like a normal day!

Happy to report I made it back by bedtime🤍

#workingmom #breastfeeding #pumpingonthego #solomombychoice #travel by @fertilityonice

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a year ago

1 in 5 women will experience postpartum anxiety. Just because we carry things well doesn’t mean they are not heavy.

I am so happy to be a mom, it’s my favorite role, *and* it’s hard. I didn’t even recognize the postpartum anxiety creeping in. I had been crying for weeks, including at work. I knew something was off but told myself - it will pass, it’s a stage.

The self-imposed pressure to excel at everything I do (and do most of it myself) doesn’t serve me in this stage of life. I have no idea what “balance” looks like and it’s ok if it takes some time to figure it out.

It is not a weakness to ask for help. It is an act of bravery. I am reminded every day by the people who love us that showing up for us is an act of love, it’s not a task or a burden.

Be honest with your medical providers, the questionnaires exist for a reason.

Things are much better now 🤍 by @fertilityonice

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a year ago

First work trip! ✈️💻👩🏻‍💼

I hope when she grows up she knows that while motherhood is my biggest dream, mama also pursued big career dreams.

I am able to show up for ML as the mom I want to be thanks to the friends that support us along the way - the overnight club, the packing task force, the travel partners, the designated drivers, the “did you eat?” messages & the food deliveries. I am also grateful to work at a place where family is valued.

So hard *and* so worth it! by @fertilityonice

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a year ago

First trip is in the books! We had a blast in Washington State!

This trip was made possible by friends who helped me pack and/or entertained the baby while I packed, who went through her packing list with me multiple times, and who drove us to/from the airport. Her bag took us days to assemble (unlike mine which I packed the day of)!

Huge shout out to titis Nati, Shirley & Mó and tío Christian for helping us get on the plane and titi Fernie for joining us on the adventure! To her Nina, thank you for picking us up from the airport and unpacking our bags!

PS: Tried to pack light - one checked bag for baby (which included the Guava bassinet and a baby gym), a carry on for me, and baby’s backpack. Biggest lesson: check the bags, even the carry ons, you will need the hands!!

If you want to use our packing list or any tips/tricks, my DMs are open! by @fertilityonice

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a year ago

Birth Story! Part II

I avoided the bed as much as I could - walked, danced, and stretched! The first day was pretty chill, kept myself (and my support persons) well fed and hydrated. I was having contractions but didn’t really feel them yet. Lost my mucus plug and my water broke (not fully) overnight. The second day was more active labor wise and my water fully broke around noon while I stretched on a yoga mat watching F1 qualis. It was a LOT of water, a very dramatic part of labor! Painful contractions picked up after that and as nighttime (and the pitocin) approached I ordered one last meal without restrictions and the epidural!

When the midwife checked me at 9/10 pm I was only at 2 cm. The epidural only worked on the right side of my body, I could still feel everything on the left side, so I didn’t really get any rest. When I could no longer breathe through the contractions my doula suggested I get checked. I was skeptical. Turns out she was right, I was fully dilated! Baby was still not in the birth canal so I was warned pushing could take longer. Thanks to the core and pelvic floor work I did during pregnancy, I was able to push efficiently (muscle memory). Baby was born around 6:30 am and mama didn’t even miss a meal!

I cut the cord, announced she is a girl, FaceTimed my parents, and announced her name!

In the end, I wouldn’t change a thing, it was truly a beautiful experience. The bond with my support persons is something I will treasure forever. That feeling when I met and held her for the first time cannot even be put into words.

I guess that’s parenthood, right? Lean into the things you can’t control! What an intro to the chaotically beautiful life of a parent! by @fertilityonice

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a year ago

Birth story! Part I

As a type A person, I had very strong ideas of the type of birth I wanted - one with as little interventions as possible.

Spoiler alert: I was induced! Glad they warned me it could take three days!

I ate dates and pineapple, pumped colostrum, did curb walks and regular walks, and did inversion exercises. She wasn’t ready to come out.

As the induction day approached, I decided that even though this was not how I wanted birth to go, I was going to approach it with a positive attitude and embrace it. Drove myself to the hospital with a huge smile! Driving was my last claim at independence and control before being admitted and having to surrender to the uncertainty of labor.

📸: @virellasphoto by @fertilityonice

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a year ago

Y con el tiempo, he encontrado amor en tantas partes de mi vida. Vivo feliz rodeada de seres humanos espectaculares, quienes se han disfrutado esta aventura desde que tan sólo era una idea. Gracias por siempre estar y por proveer un espacio seguro en sus corazones para mí y para est@ bebit@ que está a punto de unirse a la tribu.

¡Falta gente en estas fotos! Un abrazo a todos los que han dicho presente a millas de distancia.

****

And with time, I have found love in so many parts of my life. I am surrounded by spectacular human beings who have being a part of this journey since it was only an idea. Thank you for being by my side and making space in your hearts for me and this little one who is about to join the tribe!

A special thank you to everyone who has shown up from afar too! by @fertilityonice

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2 years ago

May you always find a home and a safe space in me, little one. You are a dream come true and we can’t wait to meet you, you are so loved!

📸: @munetphoto & @gladymarriveravirella

#maternityshoot #thirdtrimester #pregnancy #ivf #smbc #babypauli #wortheveryshot #wortheverykick by @fertilityonice

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2 years ago

I met my younger self for coffee today.
She showed up 5 minutes early, so did I.
She wore a bright pink coat and broken snow boots, I wore a black coat and boots.
She told me she is in law school and worried she might not find a job. I told her I am an attorney and truly enjoy what I do.
She told me she was worried she would drown in student loan debt forever. I told her I paid off my student loans and own a house.
She told me she hopes to fall in love, get married and have babies soon after law school. I told her I built a life I love and am having a baby on my own.
We hugged and I whispered, you will travel the world and realize dreams that are bigger than anything you can imagine right now.🫶🏼

📸: @munetphoto
✨: @gladymarriveravirella by @fertilityonice

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2 years ago

Eggs are two years frozen! And one is cooking!

This truly has been a wild journey! When I froze my eggs becoming a single mom by choice was still Plan B. I changed my mind just a few months later and decided to make it Plan A.

While I am shocked every year when I get the clinic’s storage fee renewal, I am glad I have options. Egg freezing allowed me to plan for the family I want.

Incredibly grateful to everyone who has tagged along for the journey! A huge thank you to everyone who paved the way before me.

Worth every shot. Happy birthday!

#eggfreezing #fertility #ivf #injections #iceicebaby #singlemombychoice #singlegreatestchoice #lovemakesafamily #refamulating by @fertilityonice

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2 years ago