NATIONAL INFERTILITY SURVIVAL DAY
Each year on Sunday before Mother’s Day, National Infertility Survival Day remembers those struggling with infertility.
This day was intentionally placed before Mother’s Day to finally put those coping with infertility first in the order of things. Many keep their struggle private. However, others choose to bring the issue out in the open and share it with family and friends. The day encourages individuals and couples coping with infertility to share, bond, band together, and celebrate the significant triumphs and small daily efforts.
When celebrations that include parenthood creep up, those struggling with infertility find it to be an especially difficult time. While their grief in no way intends to deny their continued hope or any celebration of parenthood, only those who’ve faced the pain of infertility truly understand the loss that often comes with it.
HOW TO OBSERVE #InfertilitySurvivalDay
If you know someone who is struggling with infertility, be sensitive to their needs on this day and around Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Refrain from asking couples when they are going to have children. It’s a private experience. And sometimes, the process can be personally, emotionally, and physically painful. Sharing the experience with even close family and friends can be difficult.
However, if a friend or family member brings up their experience, listen. Sometimes sharing their fears or being able to unburden their sadness and grief to a friendly face helps.
Use #InfertilitySurvivalDay to post on social media.
NATIONAL INFERTILITY SURVIVAL DAY HISTORY
Beverly Barna founded National Infertility Survival Day in 2004. She conceived the day as a way to give those struggling with infertility their own special day. Barna is also the author of Infertility Sucks! (Keeping It All Together When Sperm and Egg Remain Stubbornly Apart.)
