The pregnancy test was positive. The response I received from my assigned “fertility buddy” was negative.

“Just don’t get your hopes up.”

The worst advice I received during fertility treatment was to not get my hopes up.

To me, to not get my hopes up meant to not fully feel the emotions that I was during the most difficult journey of my adulthood.

To not get your hopes up leaves the other option of always expecting the worst and to ignore your faith and positivity.

To not get your hopes up allows the black cloud of loneliness to swallow you whole.

To not get your hopes up means to ignore the power that maternal instinct has on your mind, body and soul.

To not get your hopes up means turning your back on speaking out for a cause that is already muffled in society.

To not get your hopes up is denying the choice to be an advocate for infertility.

Without hope how can support nourish and flourish to comfort the broken pieces of a woman’s heart?

So I can only forgive and forget the words of that assigned “fertility buddy” while embracing others on the most difficult journey of their adulthood by screaming, “YES!!! DO GET YOUR HOPES UP! YES, IMAGINE THAT LITTLE BABY IN YOUR ARMS! THOSE HOPES WILL BE A REALITY!”

#NIAW #YOUARENOTALONE