Infertility, Family Building, and Perinatal Mental Health Resources
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Support Groups
Support groups via Postpartum Support International (PSI) listed under “Pregnancy and Infant Loss & Fertility Challenges” https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/
Support groups via Star Legacy Foundation https://starlegacyfoundation.org/support-groups/
Online support groups and workshops via Return to Zero: HOPE (RTZ HOPE) https://rtzhope.org/register
Support groups via Empty Arms Vermont (Vermont only) https://www.emptyarmsvermont.org/
Support groups via Empty Arms Bereavement Support (Massachusetts only) http://www.emptyarmsbereavement.org/
Support groups via the TEARS Foundation (Massachusetts and New Hampshire) https://thetearsfoundation.org/supportgroups/
Books and Articles
The Miscarriage Map: What to expect when you are no longer expecting by Dr. Sunita Osborn https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/51887050-the-miscarriage-map
The Miscarriage Map Workbook: An honest guide to navigating pregnancy loss, working through the pain, and moving forward by Sunita Osborn https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-miscarriage-map-workbook-sunita-osborn/1138714069
It's OK That You're Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn't Understand by Megan Devine https://www.amazon.com/Its-That-Youre-Not-Understand/dp/1622039076
Unexpecting: Real Talk on Pregnancy Loss by Rachel Lewis www.amazon.com/Unexpecting-Real-Talk-Pregnancy-Loss/dp/0764237713
I had a miscarriage by Jessica Zucker, Ph.D.
www.amazon.com/I-Had-Miscarriage-Memoir-Movement/dp/1558612882
Blog Post: “A Love Letter to New Loss Parents”
https://medium.com/@abmakulec/a-love-letter-to-new-loss-parents-8dee44ce761b
Online resources
Postpartum Support International (PSI) helpline (“warm line”, not hotline) Call 1-800-944-4773 (4PPD) , Text 800-944-4773, www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-helpline
Resources for Pregnancy & Infant Loss by Push Pregnancy https://www.pushpregnancy.org/pregnancy-infant-loss
Online resources and articles via Return to Zero: HOPE (RTZ HOPE) https://rtzhope.org/parents
Miscarriage Matters: free support from those with lived experience https://www.mymiscarriagematters.org/
“Helpful resources” section linked to on the “Loss & grief in pregnancy and postpartum” webpage on PSI website (online resources, helpful articles, and more support group offerings) www.postpartum.net/get-help/loss-grief-in-pregnancy-postpartum
Online resources, helpful resources, and book recommendations via Empty Arms Vermont (Vermont only) https://www.emptyarmsvermont.org/
Online resources, telephone support, and helpful articles via Empty Arms Bereavement Support (Massachusetts only) http://www.emptyarmsbereavement.org
Newton Wellesley Hospital Childbirth and Pregnancy Loss Program (Massachusetts only) https://www.nwh.org/community-services/heal-helping-educate-after-loss/childbirthpregnancy-loss/heal-childbirthpregnancy-loss
Life After Miscarriage https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-miscarriage/id1445592983
The Miscarriage Therapist podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-miscarriage-therapist/id1614303235
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Groups
Support group hosted by the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Association (RPLA). Group is hosted once per month on the last Monday of the month at 8:00 pm Eastern time https://rplassociation.org/events
Peer-to-peer Facebook group hosted by the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Association (RPLA) https://www.facebook.com/groups/627922968113595
Readings
Information on the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Association (RPLA) website: https://rplassociation.org/
A blog called “Adventures of a Misbehaving Uterus” (written by a woman who experienced six pregnancies, all which ended in loss) https://misbehavinguterus.com/
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Books and Articles
Book: “Our Heartbreaking Choices: Forty-Six Women Share Their Stories of Interrupting a Much-Wanted Pregnancy” https://www.amazon.com/dp/0595530478
Article: “What It's Like To End A Pregnancy You Hoped For” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-its-like-to-end-a-pregnancy-you-hoped-for_n_59c2c38de4b063b253178638
Support Groups and Online Resources
TFMR Mamas https://www.tfmrmamas.com
A Heartbreaking choice: website supporting women who have made the heartbreaking choice to terminate a much wanted pregnancy http://www.aheartbreakingchoice.com
Ending a Wanted Pregnancy https://endingawantedpregnancy.com
Termination for Medical Reasons resources list from Empty Arms Bereavement http://www.emptyarmsbereavement.org/termination-for-medical-reasons-support
RTZ Hope has two groups specific to TFMR called “Ending a Wanted Pregnancy” (one for individuals and one for couples) https://rtzhope.org/register
Termination for Medical Reasons support group via Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/#termination-medical-reasons
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Support Groups
Various support groups via AllPaths Family Building (formerly Resolve New England), such as “Primary Infertility”, “Secondary Infertility”, “Donor Conception”, “Adoption”, and “Surrogacy” groups https://allpathsfb.org/support/
Support groups (in-person and online) via Resolve: The National Infertility Association https://resolve.org/get-help/find-a-support-group/
“Fertility Challenges” support group via Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/
Online Support Community via Resolve https://resolve.org/get-help/online-support-community/
IVF Support Group and Infertility Support Group via Black Women and Infertility https://blackwomenandinfertility.org/events/227-2/
Books and Articles
Unsung Lullabies: Understanding and Coping with Infertility https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780312313890/unsunglullabies
Helpful articles via Resolve: The National Infertility Association https://resolve.org/get-help/helpful-resources-and-advice
Online Resources
ASRM patient website: https://www.reproductivefacts.org/
The Broken Brown Egg, Inc. (information on the experience of infertility with specific focus on the experience for black women) https://thebrokenbrownegg.org
Fertility IQ (patient reviews for fertility doctors and clinics) www.fertilityiq.com
Fertility Out Loud (education on fertility treatment, understanding fertility treatment and insurance coverage, and help finding a fertility specialist) https://www.fertilityoutloud.com/
Fertility for Colored Girls (resources for women of color with infertility/fertility challenges) www.fertilityforcoloredgirls.org
Black Women and Infertility (blog/website centered on the experience of black woman) https://blackwomenandinfertility.org/
Screening tool for assessing impact of fertility challenges and fertility treatment on quality of life: www.fertistat.com/fertiqol
Rescripted: Digital Fertility Pharmacy with a price match guarantee and 24/7 pharmacist support https://rescripted.com/rescripted-rx (they also have helpful articles and videos on their website!)
TTC Illustrations on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fertilit_arty
Family Building resources
Adoptions with Love (reputable private adoption agency based in Newton, MA) https://adoptionswithlove.org/
Friends in Adoption (reputable private adoption agency based in Vermont and New York) https://www.friendsinadoption.org/resources-for-potential-adoptive-parents/
Empower with Moxi (embryo donation agency) https://www.empowerwithmoxi.com
Circle Surrogacy and Egg Donation (parenthood through surrogacy and egg donation; based in Boston, MA) https://www.circlesurrogacy.com/
Family Inceptions (parenthood through surrogacy and egg donation; based in Atlanta, GA) https://familyinceptions.com/
Building Your Family: The Complete Guide to Donor Conception (book) https://www.amazon.com/Building-Your-Family-Complete-Conception/dp/1250868262
Three Makes Baby (book) https://www.amazon.com/Three-Makes-Baby-Parent-Donor-Conceived/dp/1732549419
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Online Communities
Childless Collective community https://gateway-women.com/community/ and instagram (@childlesscollective) (note: specifically for women and nonbinary people)
Gateway Women Network https://gateway-women.com
The Childless Men's Community on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/childlessmenscommunity/ (specifically for men who are childless not by choice)
“Childless After Fertility and Family Building Challenges” support group via AllPaths Family Building (formerly Resolve New England) https://allpathsfb.org/support/
Childfree Living After Infertility subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/IFchildfree)
The Full Stop Community https://www.thefullstoppod.com/
Books
“Life Without Baby: Surviving and Thriving When Motherhood Doesn't Happen” book by Lisa Manterfield https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31228034-life-without-baby
“Living the Life Unexpected” book by Jody Day https://www.amazon.com/Living-Life-Unexpected-Meaningful-Fulfilling/dp/1529036135
Dreaming of a life unlived: Intimate stories and portraits of women without children by Yvonne John https://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-life-unlived-Yvonne-John/dp/1526201216
The Next Happy: Let Go of the Life You Planned and Find a New Way Forward by Tracey Cleantis https://www.amazon.com/Next-Happy-Life-Planned-Forward/dp/1616495723
“Do You Have Kids? Life When The Answer is No” book by Kate Kate Kaufmann https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/53113209
Nobody’s Father: Life Without Kids (for men specifically) https://www.amazon.com/Nobodys-Father-Life-Without-Kids/dp/1894898745
Resurrection Year: Turning Broken Dreams Into New Beginnings (written by a man; he and his wife are childless) https://www.amazon.com/RESURRECTION-YEAR-Sheridan-Voysey/dp/0849964806
Blogs by Robin Hadley (for men specifically) https://www.robinhadley.co.uk/blogs/
Podcast Episodes, Videos, and Social Media
Podcast episode featuring Katy Seppi on Thirty and a Bit podcast (episode 42 - How can I find peace with being involuntarily childless?) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thirty-and-a-bit/id1670414057?i=1000635508089
Ted Talk by Jody Day (“The lost tribe of childless women”) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uufXWTHT60Y
@childlessnessintheroom on instagram
Articles
Article on Resolve website about living childless and childfree after infertility https://resolve.org/learn/what-are-my-options/living-without-children/childless-and-childfree-life-after-infertility/
Article in the New York Times by a woman who is childfree (her words) after infertility https://archive.nytimes.com/parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/life-after-infertility-treatments-fail/
Article by Lena Dunham about her experience coming to terms with being childless not by choice following a hysterectomy https://harpers.org/archive/2020/12/false-labor-lena-dunham-fertility/
“‘I Felt Seen’: Childless Women React To Jennifer Aniston's IVF Story” article https://www.huffpost.com/entry/childless-women-react-jennifer-aniston-ivf_l_63725a9de4b0d82d23a9e613
“Navigating the Festive Season” as a childless person article (featured on World Childless Week website): https://worldchildlessweek.net/blog2/view-through-the-lens-of-experience
Blogs
The Road Less Travelled blog: living childless/childfree after infertility & loss https://theroadlesstravelledlb.blogspot.com/
Life Without Baby blog (now archived) https://www.lifewithoutbaby.com/blog/
Not So Mommy blog https://notsomommy.com
Kate Kaufmann’s column in Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unapparent?
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Online Resources
Gay With Kids https://gayswithkids.com/
Men Having Babies https://menhavingbabies.org/
“Help for queer & trans parents” webpage on Postpartum Support International website www.postpartum.net/get-help/queer-parents
Support Groups
“Queer Parents To Be” support group via AllPaths Family Building (formerly Resolve New England) https://allpathsfb.org/support
Family Equality’s “Trying to Conceive/Fertility Peer Support Space” www.familyequality.org/fertility-peer-support-space-lgbtq
Support groups through Rainbow Families, such as new parent/pregnancy, pre-conception, and adoption groups https://rainbowfamilies.org/events
LGBTQ-specific pregnancy loss and infant loss group https://rtzhope.org/lgbtq
Family Building resources
Adoptions with Love (reputable private adoption agency based in Newton, MA) https://adoptionswithlove.org/
Friends in Adoption (reputable private adoption agency based in Vermont and New York) https://www.friendsinadoption.org/resources-for-potential-adoptive-parents/
Empower with Moxi: The premier hub of education and support for the embryo donation community https://www.empowerwithmoxi.com/
Circle Surrogacy and Egg Donation (parenthood through surrogacy and egg donation; based in Boston) https://www.circlesurrogacy.com/
Building Your Family: The Complete Guide to Donor Conception (book) https://www.amazon.com/Building-Your-Family-Complete-Conception/dp/1250868262
Three Makes Baby (book) https://www.amazon.com/Three-Makes-Baby-Parent-Donor-Conceived/dp/1732549419
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Online Communities
Single Mothers by Choice community (both for those considering single motherhood and those who are decided on single motherhood) https://www.singlemothersbychoice.org/
Single by Choice, not by Chance subreddit (r/SingleMothersbyChoice) https://www.reddit.com/r/SingleMothersbyChoice/
Motherhood Remagined: Coaching and community for every stage of the single mom by choice (SMC) journey https://motherhoodreimagined.com/
Book and Movie Suggestions
Choosing Single Parenthood: Stories from Solo Parents by Choice https://www.amazon.ca/Choosing-Single-Parenthood-Stories-Parents/dp/1990543014
Motherhood Reimagined: When Becoming a Mother Doesn’t Go As Planned: A Memoir by Sarah Kowalski https://www.amazon.com/Motherhood-Reimagined-Becoming-Mother-Planned/dp/1631522728
Choosing Single Motherhood: The Thinking Mother’s Guide https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Single-Motherhood-Thinking-Womans/dp/0618833323
Single Mothers by Choice: A Guidebook for Single Women Who Are Considering or Have Chosen Motherhood (older but considered a classic read) https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/single-mothers-by-choice-jane-mattes/1102302068
Going Solo: My choice to become a single mother using a donor https://www.amazon.com/Going-Solo-choice-become-single/dp/034942151X
Knock Yourself Up: No Man? No Problem: A Tell-All Guide to Becoming a Single Mom https://www.amazon.com/Knock-Yourself-Up-Tell-All-Becoming/dp/1583332863
Single by Chance, Mothers by Choice: How women are choosing parenthood without marriage and creating the new American family. https://www.amazon.com/Single-Chance-Mothers-Choice-Parenthood/dp/0195341406
An excellent choice. Panic and joy on my solo path and motherhood. https://www.amazon.com/Excellent-Choice-Panic-Solo-Motherhood/dp/1594206635
Family Building resources
Adoptions with Love (reputable private adoption agency based in Newton, MA) https://adoptionswithlove.org/
Friends in Adoption (reputable private adoption agency based in Vermont and New York) https://www.friendsinadoption.org/resources-for-potential-adoptive-parents/
Empower with Moxi: The premier hub of education and support for the embryo donation community https://www.empowerwithmoxi.com
Circle Surrogacy and Egg Donation (parenthood through surrogacy and egg donation; based in Boston) https://www.circlesurrogacy.com/
Building Your Family: The Complete Guide to Donor Conception (book) https://www.amazon.com/Building-Your-Family-Complete-Conception/dp/1250868262
Three Makes Baby (book) https://www.amazon.com/Three-Makes-Baby-Parent-Donor-Conceived/dp/1732549419
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Alliance for Fertility Preservation: https://www.allianceforfertilitypreservation.org/
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Support Groups and Online Communities
PALS support groups (by region) https://pregnancyafterlosssupport.org/find-support/
“Pregnancy after Loss” and “Parenting after Loss” groups via Star Legacy Foundation https://starlegacyfoundation.org/support-groups/
Peer-to-peer facebook groups via PALS https://pregnancyafterlosssupport.org/get-support/pals-private-groups/
“Fatherhood After Loss” group via Sad Dads Club, a resource local to New England (started by loss dads in Maine) https://saddadsclub.com/events/
Books
Pregnancy After Loss Support: Love Letters to Moms Pregnant After Loss by Lindsey Henke and Emily Long https://bookshop.org/p/books/pregnancy-after-loss-support-love-letters-to-moms-pregnant-after-loss-emily-long/14491430?ean=9780996555692
Online resources
Pregnancy After Loss Support https://pregnancyafterlosssupport.org
Pregnancy After Loss app (available via Apple App Store and Google Play): https://pregnancyafterlosssupport.org/pregnancy-after-loss-app/
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Support Groups
Support groups via Postpartum Support International listed under “perinatal mood and anxiety disorders” https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/psi-online-support-meetings/
Postpartum Depression Support Group - “This Isn’t What I Expected” offered via JCFS Boston (nonsectarian group for parents with postpartum depression; Massachusetts only) https://www.jfcsboston.org/About/Community-Programs/Upcoming-Events/postpartum-depression-support-group-this-isnt-what-i-expected
Books
The Pregnancy and Postpartum Anxiety Workbook
www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Postpartum-Anxiety-Workbook-Compulsions/dp/1572245891
Good Moms Have Scary Thoughts: A Healing Guide to the Secret Fears of New Mothers
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-moms-have-scary-thoughts-karen-kleiman/1129923194
Online Resources
Postpartum Support International helpline (“warm line”, not hotline) Call 1-800-944-4773 (4PPD) , Text 800-944-4773, www.psidirectory.com
Postpartum Progress https://postpartumprogress.com/
Cherished Mom https://www.cherishedmom.org/
MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health https://womensmentalhealth.org (Massachusetts only)
Mom & Mind podcast: momandmind.libsyn.com
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Resources specific to Loss Dads
Sad Dads Club for loss dads, inclusive of those with and without living children. Resource local to New England (started by loss dads in Maine) https://saddadsclub.com/
Guys & Grief Podcast: A podcast supporting men who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss. Hosted by 3 close friends. https://guysandgrief.com/
“Partners Grieve, Too” resource page via Return to Zero https://rtzhope.org/blog/2021/9/2/partners-grieve-too
Support group for men who have faced loss and/or infertility
“Fertility and Family Building Group for Men” support group via Resolve New England https://resolvenewengland.org/support/
General resources for dads
“Help for dads” resource page via Postpartum Support International https://www.postpartum.net/get-help/help-for-dads/
Virtual Expectant Dads Class via The Center for Men’s Excellence in California (can join from anywhere) https://www.menexcel.com/parenting-classes-in-san-diego-for-dads/