Dealing With Infertility on Mother’s Day

5 Tips for Those TTC

No matter the day, struggling to conceive can take a toll on any person or relationship. However, Mother’s Day can be an especially painful reminder of what you’re going through.

Remember that no matter what you’re feeling — anger, sadness, or resentfulness — it’s okay to admit Mother’s Day is difficult for you. And while we may not be able to completely erase your pain, we wanted to share our tips for coping with a day centered around celebrating motherhood.

Stay off Social Media

Social media is great for finding information and staying connected with loved ones, but as you know, it can make holidays painful. Seeing new pregnancy announcements and gender reveals, or photos of your friends with their children is not something you need to see right now.

Plan an Enjoyable Day With Your Partner

While this year may be a little different, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourselves. Some ideas: Stretch your legs and take a walk or bike ride on the BeltLine. Then, have your own in-home food tour, order delivery from a few of your favorite restaurants — or grab some meal kits and cook each dish yourself.

Allow Yourself to Feel

Consistently putting on a brave face is exhausting. It’s okay to have a pity party. Recognize your emotions and allow yourself to feel — to be angry, to cry. If you just need to spend the day feeling sad, so be it! Allow yourself to cope in whichever way feels healthy for you.

Be Kind to Yourself

While you may be allowing yourself to feel anger or sadness, what we don’t want you to do is to be hard on yourself. Granted, it's easier said than done, but do know there is nothing that you did (or didn’t do) that has caused your infertility. So extend yourself some grace.

Seek Help

With infertility affecting one in eight couples, you may know someone else struggling this Mother’s Day or has struggled before. If you do, lean on each other — no one knows what this is like better than someone else who has gone through it. If you don’t, lean on your partner. Lean on your mother, on your friend, or on your dog. Join an infertility support group and remember you’re not alone.