Tips for Surviving and Thriving Thanksgiving with Infertility

Written By Lora Shahine, MD

Holiday events can mean facing some awkward questions about family building - are you ready?

“So, when are you having another?” “You had a baby? It’s about time!” “When are you going to make your mom a grandma?” “Baby weight, huh?” “Should you be drinking that when you’re breastfeeding?” UGH.

Holiday conversations — especially when alcohol and holiday conviviality reduces people’s inhibitions — can be kind of awful. So this year, please put yourself first. Dr. Shahine has some great tips on how you can do that.

From finding an ally (hint: it doesn’t have to be your partner, who is likely fighting their own conversational battles) to designing conversational strategies from polite deflection to well-deserved zingers, being prepared in advance can really help in the moment.

In this episode you’ll hear:

[00:00] Intro to Baby or Bust and Episode on Holidays with Infertility 

[01:26] Intro Tips for Surviving and Thriving Thanksgiving with Infertility 

[02:05] Tip #1 Don’t Go

[03:06] Tip#2 Find Your Ally

[04:38] Tip#3 Plan Your Answers to Awkward Fertility Conversations

[06:02] Tips#4 Plan an Exit Strategy

[06:33] Tip#5 Plan Self Care and Recharge

[07:51] Fertility Story: My First Holiday Season with a Baby after struggling with Infertility – the awkward fertility conversations continued

[09:51] Outro and thank you

Learn more from Dr. Shahine www.drlorashahine.com

Send your fertility stories, topics you’d like to learn about, and people you want Dr. Shahine to interview to hello@drlorashahine.com.

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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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