Abstract
As we conclude our exploration of the experiences of those who suffer from infertility, we wish to take the time to circle back to the main issues, postulate on the challenges ahead as well as suggesting some ways forward. We have endeavoured to show through each chapter that motherhood for many women is not a certainty, but a deeply personal struggle which at times may remain unresolved. While most of the women who shared their stories with us eventually become mothers, their struggles were life altering. Of those who continued writing in their journals, even long after becoming mothers, it was evident that the “roller-coaster” of fertility treatments had deeply affected the way they saw themselves as women and as mothers. Many referred to their infertility journey as a nightmare and motherhood as an awakening from it. While the new journey of motherhood was seen as tough, a number of women felt that the road to motherhood could mean they would be more dedicated as mothers, and that they had reached a new level of empathy for those undergoing life struggles.
“And to end, I just want to say to the ladies who read this, thank you for reading and for your advice. I feel like such a dork when it comes to all of this since I’ve been TTC for 5 years and yet know next to nothing about the process. You all have taught me a lot and I am very grateful for all your invaluable advice and friendship!” (Joan)
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Billett, P., Sawyer, AM. (2019). Looking Back, Moving Forward. In: Infertility and Intimacy in an Online Community. Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-44981-8_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-44981-8_7
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