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Infertility affects many people all around us, and discussions about this topic are not happening enough. Whether a long path or a short one, every infertility journey is different with a million factors at play. I\u2019m grateful that my guest today is sharing her story!\nShatiera Amankrah is a licensed therapist specializing in infertility counseling, and she is certified in perinatal mental health. She is sharing her infertility journey and what she and her husband have been through, along with how she\u2019s helping other professionals learn more about supporting families affected by infertility. Her private practice, Seeds of Hope LLC, provides a range of services, such as individual therapy, surrogacy screenings, donor egg and sperm screenings/consultations, workshops/training for professionals, clinical supervision, and consultation. Shatiera is licensed to practice in VA, GA, and Washington, DC, and has upcoming training sessions, both in-person (in the DC area on July 28) and virtual (on August 9 and September 8). Find out more at Seeds of Hope.\n\nShow Highlights:\n\nShatiera\u2019s story: grad school, marriage, and no progress in trying to conceive\n\nMultiple unsuccessful IUIs, an issue with her husband, and decreasing sperm counts\u2013all pointing toward IVF as the only option\n\nUps and downs in the IVF process: two unsuccessful attempts and then\u2014Shatiera\u2019s first-ever pregnancy with her daughter, now 8\n\nThe dilemma Shateira and her husband faced with their one remaining embryo\n\nAnother IVF transfer, and\u2014their son, now 5, was the happy result\n\nThe emotional side of infertility from Shatiera\u2019s struggle to become a parent and her current work as an advocate for others\n\nBlaming yourself and listening to the \u201coutside noise\u201d just adds to the pain of infertility\n\nThe stigma men feel about male factor infertility\n\nThe importance of setting boundaries to guard against others\u2019 advice and opinions\n\nInfertility\u2014--silent suffering\n\nShatiera\u2019s experience of pregnancy and postpartum after infertility\u2013and the anxiety and emotional pain that came\n\nShatiera\u2019s path to a career in perinatal mental health\n\nWhat training to pursue to become a perinatal therapist\n\nShatiera\u2019s advice to anyone on the infertility journey\n\n\nResources:\nConnect with Shatiera Amankrah and Seeds of Hope LLC: Website, Instagram, and TikTok\nPlease find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to better support people for whom they provide services.\xa0\nYou can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms\nVisit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.\xa0\xa0\nVisit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!