We all hope when we undergo our first IVF that it will work first time. It can therefore come as a huge shock when you’re on your third round and you’re unsure why it’s not working. That’s why we recommend you look at how fertility coaches could help your journey.
IVF can be a very emotionally draining process, and a counsellor can help you to understand and cope with the range of emotions that you may be experiencing, such as anxiety, sadness, anger, and grief.
They can also help you make informed decisions about your treatment because the process is a complex journey with many different options, and a good counsellor can help you to understand the pros and cons of each option so that you can make the best decisions for yourself.
Here are the top 5 fertility coaches we recommend:
1) Monica Bivas a Mindset & Holistic Fertility Coach, Speaker, and author of the book:
Based in the USA, but working with clients around the world, she passes on her wealth of knowledge after going through several rounds of IVF to become the mother of two IVF Daughters and one stepdaughter.
She is also the founder of: ‘The IVF Journey, a safe space for women and couples (no matter their sexual preferences) to find support, inspiration, hope and connection between one another’
Monica specializes in mindset & Emotional support for individuals and couples trying to Conceive via IVF or IUI, as well as emotional support in Pregnancy and Infant Loss.
Her coaching comes along with fertility resources, like PDF Guides, Meditation Series, Fertility Crystals and Fertility Coloring Books.
Her warmth and genuine love for what she does shines through
It’s true to say Monica’s Clients can really feel her positive energy and warmth, and through it gain inspiration and trust to walk the roller coaster of emotions in a more confident and positive way.
Monica was a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, Thrive Global & she has been a guest in most of the well-known fertility podcasts like The Fertility Warriors Podcast and the Beat infertility Podcast among others, as well as talking about TTC naturally.
Her book The IVF Planner, is a journal and guide for women undergoing fertility treatment and she has another book in the pipeline about her life-changing experience with IVF treatment and her stillbirth and loss experience at the 39th week with her baby daughter Isabelle, as well as her following miscarriage at 7 weeks after trying IVF again.
Monica’s birthplace is the south American country of Colombia, but her hometown is Long Island NY. She is married to her Israeli husband Shai, who she says is her best friend and unconditional partner in her journey.
We can agree that her warmth and openness will have you hooked from the moment you start talking to her.
2) Another leading coach in the UK is Dany Griffith,
Author of several books, she runs the counselling empire: ‘Freedom Fertility Formula’ which has nearly 90 coaches around the world.
She says she wants to help people “feel their way through life’, meaning that if you feel able to live your life in a way that’s right for you, you can handle the rough and the smooth feeling calm, confident, and emotionally in control in everything you do.
She says her Freedom Fertility Formula specialists are like having a ‘Best Buddy who gets it’.
3.) Welsh based, Jo Sinclair from Resilience Reborn Fertility
Like a welsh auntie, Jo is another leading fertility coach who is a regular agony aunt for BST, answering the many thousands of questions we get asked about fertility.
A teacher by trade, she followed the Freedom Fertility Formula training to become a fertility coach, and was inspired to start her own private coaching service ‘Resilience Reborn Fertility’. Since then she’s launched her own hugely successful not for profit website called Fertility First UK.
The aim is to list all types of companies and individuals related to the fertility process, so people can choose the one that works for them through initial free consultations.
4.) Another of our UK favourites is Sarah Banks
An award winning coach and IVF mum, and the author of a best-selling journal the ‘IVF positivity planner’.
It encourages people to fill in their plans, thoughts and feelings on their IVF journey, with the aim of reducing stress by being thoroughly organized and keeping track of what you do and how you do it.
5.) Our final top tip is UK based Alice Rose
Another IVF mum who is a qualified transformational coach, she left a successful career as a radio producer to follow her passion to help women on a fertility journey. She now has a successful podcast called ‘The Fertility Life Raft’ podcast which is rated 5* on itunes.
She says: Making this podcast is one more way I can work on my mission: to empower anyone experiencing this seemingly impossible path. I talk about taking ownership of your fertility experience, and for me this meant building a ‘Life Raft’ that I clung to when times were particularly hard.
Dealing with the financial challenges of IVF
Among the many challenges that can come up during a fertility journey is the financial strain. There are several ivf clinics that offer repayment plans, as well as a relatively new company called Gaia Fertility. Your fertility coach can help you navigate these and connect you with other people who are going through IVF.
Talking to others can be very helpful, and a counsellor can connect you with support groups or online forums.
Some additional benefits of seeing a counsellor during IVF:
- They can help you to communicate better with your partner. IVF can be a stressful time for couples, and a counsellor can help you to communicate better with each other about your feelings and concerns.
- They can help you to prepare for the possibility of not being able to conceive. If IVF is not successful, a counsellor can help you to cope with the emotional pain of this loss.
- They can help you to adjust to life after IVF. If you are successful in conceiving, a counsellor can help you to adjust to the emotional changes that come with becoming a parent.
