Christmas is a holiday centred on children and family like no other.
This can make for an emotional rollercoaster if you're having trouble conceiving, particularly if you'll be surrounded by family and friends with babies or young children.
For the one in six Irish couples who are struggling to conceive and have their own family, it can be a challenge to feel festive at all.
“The holiday period can be a stressful time for those who are struggling to get pregnant.” says Dr Bart Kuczera, consultant with Beacon CARE Fertility
“In December many of us fall out of our normal routines, eating and drinking more than usual and getting less sleep. If you are having difficulty starting your family, emotional reserves can be depleted so it’s especially important to take care of your physical and emotional health at this time.”
So how best to mentally prep for the weeks ahead? Margaret Dunne, Counsellor at Beacon, recommends the following:
- Have a polite response planned for when friends and family ask you about when you plan to have children. Generally people are not being unkind, they are often asking because they can’t think of anything to say. Plan your response so that you are prepared with a polite but firm reply.
- If you don’t feel up to participating in a planned family gathering arrange to see your parents or other family members a week or two before the event. Explain it’s a painful time for you at the moment and that attending family function is difficult. This will help them understand where you are coming from.
- Be selective about the invitations you accept, in particular think about those gatherings where there will be lots of children or pregnant women. Remember, that you don’t have to accept every invitation.
- Treat yourself by doing some things you really enjoy, such as mountain walking, going to the theatre or reading a good book. Spend time with your partner and be thankful for your relationship. Sometimes we can become so engrossed in having a family that we forget about the other person in the relationship.
The fertility journey can be made more challenging because many people find talking about infertility very difficult.
Our advice? Open up to someone you care about - it helps to chat.
