The Hard Choice of Choosing to Live Child-Free

Infertility is a deeply personal, often heart-wrenching experience. Suddenly, pregnancy and family building are completely out of your control. Fertility challenges can wreak havoc on your body, your mind, and your relationships. 

In this episode of Baby or Bust, Dr. Lora Shahine talks openly with Carrie Hauskens, founder of Blooming with Care. Carrie is sharing her eight-year struggle with fertility — a journey that ultimately ended with the decision to live child-free. 

Carrie talks about what she went through, why she and her husband decided to stop fertility treatment, and the ways they both dealt (and are still dealing) with their grief. Carrie found support in the infertility community, which is why she started sharing her own story. 

Fertility treatment can be a roller coaster, and if the time comes when you need to say “enough” and step off, Carrie’s story may help you make peace with that decision.

In this episode you’ll hear:

[4:00] Carrie Hausken’s personal story: 

  • trying without assistance

  • IVF & stillbirth

  • Surrogacy

  • Considering adoption

  • Becoming child-free

[7:43] Honoring the grief

[9:58] Deciding to be child-free

[15:42] What does “stopping” really mean?

[17:27] The impact of trying, and stopping, on their relationship

[25:04] Being changed by Infertility

[31:49] Life for Carrie, now, child-fee

[39:06] Connecting with Carrie Hauskens

Resources mentioned: 

www.bloomingwithcare.com

IG - @bloomingwithcare

TikTok - @bloomingwithcare

Stay Up to Date in Fertility News and Events:  Weekly Newsletter

Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books

Lora Shahine, MD

Dr. Lora Shahine, reproductive endocrinologist at Pacific NW Fertility and Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, completed her residency in OBGYN at the University of California in San Francisco and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Stanford University. She is dedicated to educating and advocating for increased awareness of infertility, miscarriage, and the impact on environmental toxins on health through an active social media presence, teaching, clinical research, and authoring multiple blogs and books including best selling, ‘Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.’

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