Joining us this week, on World Childless Week, is a familiar face. As some of you will know, Kate Pleace is one half of the ‘Kate’ double act, as she works with me in my practice seeing many of our fertility and menopause patients. However, Kate is more than just that – she’s also my beautiful friend.
Kate and I first met here on The Fertility Podcast, many moon’s ago. That time Nat and I interviewed her to find out more about her experiences of a rare condition called progesterone sensitivity- which sadly ended her fertility journey. Kate is living without children but that hasn’t held her back from living her life to the full.
What we discussed:
- Kate tells us about her fertility journey that started back in 2012. Like the majority of her patients, she had some time trying to conceive.
- She then moved on to IVF treatment using her own eggs which then led to one unsuccessful cycle and one cycle that was cancelled.
- Kate talks about how she discovered that she had Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)
- Her husband and Kate looked at using egg donations. This was Kate’s last treatment cycle, and she became pregnant for the first time.
- Unfortunately, Kate developed a condition called progesterone hypersensitivity which made her very ill and resulted in a miscarriage.
- After Kate started to feel better, she and her husband made the decision to end their fertility journey.
- She talked about how she felt she was childless but not by choice and how the decision was made for her.
- We then talked about World Childless Week and what the campaign is doing during the week.
- We talked about how employees who are childless feel underrepresented within the workplace, and how companies should start to include them in the fertility programmes that are in place.
- How those who are single, childless, or alone should receive something as well so that they feel like they are seen too.
- Kate and I discussed how the language we use when talking about trying to conceive is important, and even if it was not meant to upset the other person, it is still hurtful.
- Kate talks about her experience with comments and the language used when she was going through her fertility journey.
- We also talked about moving forward, and not moving on. Understanding that there is an after.
- Kate mentions legacy and how she felt like legacy was meant for someone else, that she was supposed to leave a legacy behind when in actual fact it is your legacy. Do it for yourself.
- Kate’s advice to you is: take the time to just be and to reflect with your partner and don’t try to force yourself to go to those baby showers or events like it. Be brave enough to say that you aren’t feeling up to it. Remember that you need to support yourself as well as others.
If you would like to listen to more episodes on The Fertility Podcast that cover childlessness take a look at these:
https://www.thefertilitypodcast.com/childless-not-by-choice/
https://www.thefertilitypodcast.com/worldchildlessweek/
https://www.thefertilitypodcast.com/robin/
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