Preview Mode Links will not work in preview mode

IVF Failed You - The "So Now What?" Podcast

I am a Fertility Survivor.  The kind you enter into treatments hoping you will never be... childless.  After several rounds of IUI and IVF, at some of the leading Fertility Centers, I was told I was no longer a candidate for fertility treatment.  It left me asking myself...

So now what?

For the years that followed, I tried to put myself back together and tell myself I would be OK, but I wasn't.  I was shattered - I felt alone and failed by the whole process and especially, my body.  I yearned for others that felt the pain I felt and someone that could help me navigate a life without a child. 

I didn't find it, so I decide to create it.  

Fast forward to today. I am still childless, but my beliefs about my life have changed.  I decided that I can create meaning and purpose in my life even though I am not a mother.  I've learned to love myself and the body I felt failed me as a woman.

If you've been on this journey, hop on and join me as we create something we were not offered.  Let's create a sisterhood for the bravest women I know.  We brush ourselves off and don't let terms like: Failed, Unexplained, Miscarriage, Not-viable or Advanced Maternal Age define us anymore.  

 

  1. All Episodes
  2. Dear Santa: A Letter After IVF Failed

Dear Santa: A Letter After IVF Failed

Dec 24, 2024

Merry Christmas to Those Who Celebrate

This week's episode of The "So Now What?" Podcast is here to guide you through the complexities of the holiday season, especially if you're navigating the challenges of being childless after infertility treatments. Christmas can be a beautiful season of nostalgia and tradition, but it can also bring unexpected emotions - grief, longing, and loneliness - if your journey to motherhood didn’t turn out as planned.

🎄 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

  • How to acknowledge and honor your experiences this year.

  • A unique and empowering exercise: writing a letter to Santa from your adult self.

The Letter to Santa Exercise
Instead of writing a wish list, this letter is an opportunity to reflect on the strength, growth, and accomplishments you've achieved throughout the year. Acknowledge the challenges you’ve faced and celebrate how far you’ve come. Then, look ahead to your hopes for the future.

✨ Highlights of Lana’s Letter to Santa:

  • Recognizing the bravery to leave a corporate job and start a coaching career.

  • Embracing life without motherhood at its center and finding joy in new connections.

  • Asking for continued strength, self-compassion, and belief in a fulfilling future.

Now, it’s your turn. Grab a piece of paper or your journal and write your own letter to Santa. Let this be a moment of self-discovery, healing, and celebration.

Feeling Stuck? Book a Free Thrive Call
If you’re unsure how to move forward or need guidance as you process the loss of a dream of motherhood, Lana invites you to schedule a free 45-minute Thrive Call. You can book your’s here. This is your chance to connect with someone who truly understands where you are and help you create a plan to move forward.

🎁 Lana’s Gift to You
Download a free resource: The Top 27 Things People Say When You're Childless and How to Respond. It’s perfect for navigating those tricky holiday conversations. Get your copy here!

Let’s Stay Connected
Follow Lana on Instagram @lana.manikowski for more support and insights, and don’t forget to check your email for a replay of her recent masterclass, Handling the Holidays.

💖 As you navigate the holiday season, remember:
You are seen. You are strong. And it’s never too late to discover your meaning.

Merry Christmas, and see you next week! 🌟