IVF BFF

In this episode we dust off our mics to bring you a big old catch up of where we are both at now. Sian has had her baby, and Catherine is currently in the third trimester, and we discuss life after treatment and our ideas for the pod moving forward (it will NOT become a pregnancy or parenting podcast!) TW: We discuss birth, birth trauma, pregnancy after IVF and pregnancy loss. If these topics are...

In this episode, Catherine chats to the wonderful Alice Rose, founder of Fertility Life Raft. Alice is a coach and mentor and offers a plethora of support for those going through the struggles of infertility. We chatted about her own journey to create her family and the incredible mindset work she discovered along the way which gave her better tools to cope with an incredibly stressful time dealin...

TW: This episode is a discussion on pregnancy after IVF and following miscarriage. Please only listen if you feel able to, In this episode, we discuss Catherine's recent BFP, and what it's like to be newly pregnant again following IVF and a previous miscarriage, including all the anxiety that naturally comes along with it. We also catch up with Sian on her experience of pregnancy after IVF. Follow...

We are deep in the two week wait! In this episode, Catherine and her husband Carl talk through their recent transfer and share their feelings from the middle of the dreaded two week wait. We also discuss how recent events impacted Carl, and the perspective of the partner through treatment and miscarriage, especially as a male partner. TW: We discuss pregnancy loss in this episode. See you on the o...

In this episode, Catherine and Carl are in the thick of treatment and we catch up on their recent egg collection. We chat about the process, the numbers, the dreaded embryology phonecalls and the plan for a fresh embryo transfer - it all hangs in the balance! TW: Brief mention of Catherine's previous positive test and subsequent miscarriage. Follow us on Instagram @ivfbffpod Email us at ivfbffpod@...

In this episode, we speak to the wonderful Becky Kearns, who goes by Defining Mum on Instagram. Becky talks about her journey to having her children via donor egg conception, and her work to advocate for those going through or considering donor conception. This is a heartwarming chat about Becky, her family and the route she took, and the incredible advocacy work she continues to do. We hope it wi...

This is a real treat of an episode, we managed to catch the wonderful BFN girls, Gabby and Emma for a chat! BFN is amongst the OG fertility podcasts, and became an absolute beacon of light for Sian and myself in our trying days. They are funny, frank, and informative and through their incredibly successful podcast they have amassed some incredible guests. They also happen to be two of the lovelies...

TW: This episode contains discussion of miscarriage and medical/surgical management of miscarriage. We also briefly touch on Sian's successful pregnancy in a couple of places momentarily. The episode we never wanted to have to record. We sadly discuss here Catherine and Carl's recent miscarriage. It's an emotional and real chat, as ever - we bring you everything, warts and all. However we manage s...

TW: This episode contains discussion of a positive pregnancy test after a successful frozen embryo transfer. In this episode, Sian and Catherine discuss Catherine's BFP after her recent embryo transfer. We discuss the various feelings involved in early pregnancy after IVF and the future of the podcast (don't worry, it will NOT become a pregnancy pod!) To anyone struggling and still waiting for the...

Catherine is deep in the two week wait following her second embryo transfer, and what better time to bring you a TWW survival guide with the wonderful Carly Garrett. We discuss why the two week wait, both in natural trying and IVF is such a heavy time and the feelings associated with this, and Carly offers some excellent strategies and techniques to help cope. Carly's work offers so much support f...

In this episode we chat to Katie Rollings, the founder of Fertility Action. We discuss Katie's tireless work campaigning for NHS equality in access to IVF, and her work in patient support and Fertility Action's newly awarded charity status! Katie is an absolute firecracker and it was inspiring talking to her. To support quality in NHS fertility treatment, you can sign the petition here. https://pe...

In this episode we speak to Jennifer Edmonds, founder of Element Pilates & Yoga all the way in Australia! Jen shares her own fertility journey, whilst telling us about her background in exercise science, and how yoga was a game changer for her own fertility story, Her free fertility yoga guide can be found here: https://jennifer-edmonds.mykajabi.com/fertilityyogaguide We also catch up with Cat...

In this episode, Sian and Catherine get stuck into answering all the questions you've been asking over on our Instagram page. We discuss Catherine's current medicated round prep and hopefully there's some nuggets of advice for everyone in our Q&A. Follow us on Instagram: @ivfbffpod Email us: ivfbffpod@gmail.com

TW: This episode contains discussion of secondary infertility and dealing with trauma. In this episode, Catherine and Sian chat to the brilliant Dr Grace Lee-Brindle, aka. The Not So Fertile Psychologist on Instagram. Grace talks us through her own journey navigating secondary infertility, and also about her work as a clinical psychologist specialising in fertility support. Grace's own practice, H...

TW: This episode contains mention of TFMR and pregnancy loss. In this episode, Sian and Catherine catch up on Catherine's latest IVF news. We then speak to the wonderful Emma Whitney, AKA the Embryologist, Director of Embryology and Genetics at The Evewell Fertility Clinic. Emma speaks to us all about her work as an embryologist, her own journey to building her family and answers some of our top q...

We are back for a second series! In this episode, Catherine and Sian discuss Catherine's prep for a natural frozen embryo transfer, although it isn't as plain sailing as we'd have hoped. Sian has had a recent trip to the breast clinic (all fine, luckily) - another unwanted side effect of IVF! Follow us on Instagram @ivfbffpod Email us at ivfbffpod@gmail.com

In this episode, Sian and Catherine catch up on Catherine's recent IVF updates as she prepares for another embryo transfer following a first failed round. We also chat about the difficult day that is Mother's Day and ways to cope with it when experiencing infertility. Follow us on Instagram @ivfbffpod Email us at ivfbffpod@gmail.com We will be back very soon with series 2!

TW: This episode contains discussion of a positive pregnancy test. In this episode, Catherine and Sian discuss the outcome of Sian's first round of IVF, which has been successful. We talk about Sian's news and how to delicately and sensitively handle this going forward within the infertility community. We also discuss how news like this can impact a friendship when one person has good news whilst...

CW: This episode contains discussion of a negative pregnancy test and a failed round of IVF. We still manage a giggle in there but this is a real and raw conversation, if you feel you can't listen to this right now please skip or save for later. In this episode, Sian and Catherine discuss Catherine & Carl's recent BFN and failed round of IVF. We also chat about Sian's recent embryo transfer an...

It's been a mammoth week for Catherine and Sian! Catherine has had her embryo transfer, plus found out how many blastocysts she and Carl ended up with from this round, and Sian had her egg collection on her 36th birthday. We discuss what happened in both the transfer and egg collection, and the danger of comparisons when going through IVF, or even just TTC alongside close friends also in the same...

In this episode we discuss Catherine's recent egg collection and the results so far, and how she found the process. Sian has had her dose doubled, and has a few more scans under her belt. We both discuss the next couple of weeks and Catherine's transfer (hopefully) and Sian's egg collection next week. Find us on Instagram @ivfbffpod Email us at ivfbffpod@gmail.com

In this episode, Sian and Catherine have a round up of their weeks, and their treatment plans so far. Catherine is willing her follicles to grow between scans, and Sian had a curveball thrown at her during a scan which threatened to derail treatment. We then chat to Catherine's husband Carl, who takes the time to talk all things male factor infertility, and how he has dealt with his diagnosis of a...

Catherine and Sian have both started treatment and injections are well underway! In this episode we discuss the start of both of our treatment, and our respective treatment plans. We talk about how we are feeling, the reality of IVF treatment sinking in, and what's coming up next. Follow us on Instagram: @ivfbffpod Email us at ivfbffpod@gmail.com

Happy New Year! In this episode, recorded on New Years Eve 2024, we discuss our progress so far leading up to our IVF treatment and how we are getting ready to start treatment. Sian is gearing up for her first scan and injection in two days, and Catherine still has a week or so to wait. We also discuss New Year and how it can leave us feeling. Get in touch, follow us on Instagram at @ivfbffpod or...

It's Christmas! In this episode, Sian and Catherine catch up on their IVF news and updates from the last few weeks, and then chat all things dealing with Christmas whilst struggling to conceive. We ponder what to say to Auntie Ethel who casually asks when you're going to have kids at the family Christmas gathering, and how others can best support us. ] Expect fake prosecco, present swapping, and a...