A recent trip to my old stomping grounds sparked some reflection and I just had to share with you. So many moments where I chose to open my mind to opportunities that at the time felt aligned but didn't plan for that ultimately led to growth in my family building journey, to my personal and career growth and development.

Infertility consumed me time and time again even when I felt like I was making progress. And in this episode, I share how I reset each time and went into a saying YES to myself mode that helped me come back to feeling like myself again. Which almost always brought me more CLARITY and CONFIDENCE in my fertility journey and eventually the expansion of my family in ways that I had previously let go of because of infertility.

Let me know what you think of this episode by leaving a review!

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In this episode, we reflect on how these amazing and courageous women who chose to openly share their personal fertility journeys with you found joy, found peace through self-care through some of the toughest seasons of their lives.

We discuss the key takeaways such as:

- honoring your capacity

- taking breaks

- prioritizing self-care

How this intentional time for you to restore your well-being and your mind makes space for you to rebuild self-trust and welcome in clarity on your path to your growing family.

I mentioned an upcoming challenge aimed at reclaiming your power from the difficulties of infertility, fostering a compassionate and joyful approach to family building and healing.

If you want to get notified of when this launches, sign up here.

Guest Interview Episodes:

EP 22: Violeta Sandoval - Surrogacy + Financing

EP 23: Emma DeSouza - IVFx2, Fibromyalgia, Bipolar

EP 24: Priscilla Guasso - Miscarriages, PCOS, HR Career

EP 26: Sarah Hammond - Fertility Medications, IUI, Embracing the unexpected on trying for her second baby

EP 27: Lucy Howell - 10+ Years of Infertility to Miracles Growing her Family in Unexpected Ways

TIMESTAMPS 00:10 Reflecting on Past Episodes 00:46 Navigating Infertility and Finding Your Path 01:40 The Healing Journey 02:36 Supporting Through Motherhood 04:06 Honoring Your Capacity 05:27 Letting Go and Prioritizing Yourself 06:04 Embracing New Opportunities 06:41 The Power of Rest and Self-Trust 08:47 Prioritizing Self-Care and Joy 09:48 Processing Emotions and Lessons 11:11 Connecting with Supportive Communities 12:19 Upcoming Challenge and Final Thoughts

CONNECT WITH ME

Website: rachelpm.com

Instagram: @rachel_mangahas

Email Community: Join The Challenge (it's waitlist for now! Free and coming soon Nov 2024!!!)

Connection Call: Book here

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Join me for a candid chat with Lucy Howell of Family Sync Media, who shares her decade-long struggle with infertility and how she experienced her miracle of becoming first a stepmom and then having her biological son!. Lucy touches on the impact of anxiety on her fertility journey and the shift in mindset that played a big part in her conceiving naturally despite infertility challenges and having checked out of trying for biological children. She highlights the importance of a support system which for her was her late mother and husband played significant roles in her journey. Lucy also discusses her experience as a stepmother, exploring the complexities and emotions involved. We talk all things mindset, the power of temporary setbacks, and finding hope and joy amidst challenges.

00:00 Intro & Welcome Lucy!

00:29 A little bit about Lucy & her Infertility Journey

03:09 Emotional Struggles and Support System

10:46 Reconnecting with a Past Love on Snapchat!

14:09 Discovering the Miracle Pregnancy

21:11 Surprise Pregnancy Announcement

21:53 Reflecting on the Journey to Pregnancy

23:54 Navigating a Blended Family

31:00 Challenges of Being a Stepmom

38:04 Mindset and Coping with Infertility

41:13 Embracing Motherhood and Career Changes

45:04 Finding Peace and Moving Forward

47:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect with Lucy:

Website: https://familysyncmedia.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/familysyncmedia/

Connect with me!

DM me on IG: @rachel_mangahas

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Navigating Infertility: Sharing Stories and Building a Supportive Community

I had the honor of connecting with Sarah Hammond through Threads and she was so gracious to share her story of her past and current experience navigating infertility as she grows her family.

She’s a mom of a sweet boy and is right now trying for her second baby. She shares her experiences with ovulatory dysfunction, PCOS, and treatments like IUI and IVF while navigating emotional challenges and family planning. We talk through how important it is to find community support, find joy in small activities, and the evolution of her relationships throughout the process.

And some of the best parts are when she highlights the significance of embracing a multi-faceted identity and building resilience against unpredictable challenges and setbacks.

Honestly, I just loved this whole conversation because it was so deeply rooted in the power of connection, empathy, and positive reframing during your infertility journey and I know it'll help you on your own path to motherhood!

If you found this helpful in anyway, do you mind leaving a review? I'd appreciate it so much!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast

00:24 Meet Sarah Hammond

00:52 Sarah's Infertility Journey Begins

01:29 Navigating Medical Diagnoses

02:00 Starting a Family

03:12 Challenges and Miscarriages

03:58 Trying for a Second Child

04:15 Switching Clinics and New Diagnoses

04:47 Considering IVF

06:51 Emotional Conversations and Decisions

12:04 Coping Mechanisms and Support

15:39 Dealing with Jealousy and Resentment

22:23 Focusing on the Baby's Welcome

22:36 Radical Acceptance of Unfairness

23:16 Randomness and Faith

24:23 Reframing Infertility

26:35 Financial Burdens of Fertility Treatments

27:31 Deciding on IVF and Adoption

29:59 Navigating Relationships and Boundaries

33:44 The Value of Vulnerability

36:16 Appreciating Parenthood

38:14 Finding Joy Beyond Parenthood

40:41 Embracing the Present

43:22 Fin!

CONNECT WITH RACHEL:

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Back for a little bit of me and my thoughts! I take you through some of my own reflections on the emotional challenges I faced during my surrogacy journey. I talk about THE pivotal moment where I realized that GRIEF plays a big part in your infertility journey. For me it was grieving the loss of experiencing pregnancy firsthand. Tune in if you too are experiencing high emotions due to unexpected circumstances or random triggering moments that caught you off guard after having already come to terms with certain parts of your journey. I can’t stress it enough the huge shift I had when I realized that simply having the support to help me put words to my feelings validated so much for me and allowed me to really start healing from a lot of my infertility struggles. I’ll never stop talking about how important it is to find your support systems!

REFERENCES

• Dr. Aimee aka The Egg Whisperer
• Interviews with women sharing their stories here on the podcast: Episode 22, 23, & 24
• My Surrogacy Journey: Episode 7

TIMESTAMP

00:21 Reflecting on Recent Conversations

01:11 Diving into the Surrogacy Journey

02:53 The Emotional Impact of Surrogacy

03:42 Realizing and Coping with Grief

05:48 Seeking Support

13:54 Understanding the Uncertainty of Infertility

15:29 Offering Support and Coaching

16:04 Fin!

Connect with me!

IG: @rachel_mangahas

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Ready for 1-1 Coaching?

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**TRIGGER WARNING: Miscarriage**

Finding Strength and Community in the Fertility Journey: Priscilla's Infertility Story

Join me in this heartfelt conversation with Priscilla Guasso, an HR leader, coach, mom, and author, who bravely shares her eight-year journey through infertility. Priscilla opens up about her battles with PCOS, the emotional toll of multiple miscarriages, and the IVF process. Discover how she and her husband supported each other, the importance of community, and maintaining a positive mindset. Priscilla highlights the emotional ups and downs, touching on anxiety and depression, and shares how she found strength through faith and affirmations. This heartfelt episode offers hope, inspiration, and support to anyone navigating infertility, IVF, loss, grief, and the pursuit of motherhood. Can’t wait for you to tune in and let me know what you think!

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction and Mission

00:25 Meet Priscilla: A Journey of Resilience

00:43 Early Struggles and Miscarriages

04:15 Discovering PCOS and Health Challenges

06:24 Building a Support System

07:59 Coping with Miscarriages

13:45 Deciding on IVF

14:55 Navigating the IVF Process

30:57 Communication and Relationship Challenges

32:29 Navigating Family Dynamics and Mutual Respect

33:05 Deciding to Have a Child: Challenges and Choices

34:28 The Role of Therapy and Personal Growth

35:04 Recommitting to Parenthood and Communication

37:43 Balancing Parenthood and Personal Aspirations

40:08 Coping with Anxiety and Depression

48:05 Finding Joy and Support During IVF

54:26 Building a Community and Career After Miscarriages

01:03:08 Final Thoughts and Words of Encouragement

Connect with Priscilla:

IG: @priscillaguasso & @latinasinhr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscillaguasso/

Connect with me!

DM me on IG: @rachel_mangahas

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In this episode, I chat with Emma D'Souza as she shares her personal journey through infertility, mental health challenges, and motherhood. Emma discusses her experiences with PCOS, IVF, and managing fibromyalgia and bipolar disorder while navigating these life changes. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, support systems, and advocating for oneself. Emma's story is a testament to resilience and the power of sharing one's journey to inspire and support others.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:02 Emma's Background and Mental Health Journey

03:16 Navigating Infertility and Career Shifts

05:47 Challenges and Realities of IVF

09:34 Support Systems and Mental Health

12:27 Communication and Relationship Dynamics

15:35 Embracing the Suckiness

16:06 Navigating Emotional Pain

16:40 Financial and Emotional Struggles

17:31 Trusting the Process

18:20 Exploring Other Paths to Parenthood

20:09 Deciding When to Take a Break

22:29 Maintaining Joy and Lightness

25:09 Future Generations and Fertility Awareness

26:59 Advice for Those Facing Infertility

28:12 Transitioning to Motherhood

30:13 Support and Services

Connect with Emma

IG: @momtherapywithem

Website: https://emmadesouza.ca/

TikTok: @itsemma.desouza

Connect with me!

DM me on IG: @rachel_mangahas

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In this episode, Violeta, founder of MoneyChisme, talks about her surrogacy journey. Violeta shares her struggles with infertility due to endometriosis, the emotional complexities of considering different family-building options, and the significant financial planning required. She offers insights into how her expertise in personal finance, especially within the Latinx community, helped her navigate the expensive process of IVF and surrogacy. They also discuss practical advice about utilizing grants, credit cards, and real estate investments to fund fertility treatments, and the importance of having a supportive community. This episode aims to provide strength, hope, and practical tips for anyone facing similar challenges.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

01:11 Violeta's Surrogacy Journey Begins

03:31 Discovering Infertility and Financial Planning

06:21 Deciding on Surrogacy and Financial Strategies

10:56 Navigating the Surrogacy Process

21:02 Support Systems and Mental Health

27:03 Community and Support Groups

29:22 Navigating the Loneliness of Surrogacy

30:06 Personal Growth Through the Surrogacy Journey

30:41 Living in the Moment

31:12 Support Systems and Therapy

36:45 Financial Strategies for Surrogacy

41:24 Unexpected Costs and Final Thoughts

44:22 Connecting and Resources

46:44 Fin!

Referenced in episode:

Violeta's Invest in Rental Property Guide here!

Links to Connect with Violeta:

Instagram: @moneychisme

Podcast: MoneyChisme Podcast

Website: moneychisme.com

Email: info.moneychisme@gmail.com

Connect with me!

Follow me on IG: @rachel_mangahas

Book a free call ⁠here⁠

Join my email community

Ready for 1-1 Private Coaching?

Apply here!