When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I used to have a recurring nightmare. I dreamed that I couldn't have children, that I was married and in love but was unable to get pregnant, and I would wake up in the middle of the night, sobbing uncontrollably. It didn't happen every night, not by any means, but I had that dream often enough that it left an impression. I remember feeling frustrated, powerless and utterly heartbroken.
Luckily, getting pregnant turned out to be fairly easy for me. Who knew I would turn out to be one of those über-fertile women who could get pregnant when they hang their underwear next to their husband's on the clothes line? It took us 2 months to conceive our daughter Émilie, and about 2 weeks for Maxime. We had some scary times with both pregnancies, but in the end we were blessed with 2 healthy babies.
For all that, I still think about those dreams I used to have, and when I do it hits me just how much we take this biological privilege, this gift we have been given, for granted. A friend of mine, someone I appreciate and respect and think the world of, has had the misfortune of having to deal with infertility, and despite all this, she still manages to put on a brave face and a smile while we, her fellow girlfriends and knitters, gab about our pregnancies, our birth experiences and our childrens' latest shenanigans.
April 24th-May 1st is National Infertility Awareness Week. As we play with our kids this week, or tuck them into bed, let's take a minute to empathize with the millions of couples out there struggling to achieve what we have been so blessed to receive.
We'll return to our regular knitting content tomorrow :)
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6 comments:
Hear hear! I didn't realize it was infertility week.
Thinking about all those whom can't get pregnant and just want that baby to hold in their arms...
Great post. I shall be thinking of them this week.
You know what? I really like you :)
You know, it's supposed to be the simplest, most normal thing to conceive, yet often it's not (as was my experience) and it's heartbreaking. Thanks for posting this and bringing it to other's attention.
yeah... poor fathers who have to try and try and try again...they are really miserable ;)
I know, Mr Hide; what a hardship! I bet some guys are just swearing in joy when they have the good luck to knock their wives up in no time at all. ;D
I was lucky, but the 4 months it took for the first one (the longest) was a worrying time. I can't even fighting infertility long term.
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