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Parenting After Infertility

How Infertility Can Change the Way You Parent

By Jacqueline Bodnar

"Our experience with infertility really showed us just how much we wanted to be parents," says Mark Stackpole of Manteca, Calif. He and his wife experienced infertility for five years before conceiving their first child. Today they have two children and are looking to try for a third sometime in the near future. For the Stackpoles, like so many who overcome infertility, it made them cherish parenting.

Even though Stackpole's children do little annoying things that get on his nerves, he has a greater respect for the role as a parent. "It wasn't long so long ago that our house was very clean, very quiet and pretty lonely," Stackpole says. "I like this a whole lot better."

Pregnancy itself is difficult. Your body is pretty much taken over and put on hold for nine months. Many women experience a great deal of discomfort and morning sickness. For the average woman, she may really find it to be an inconvenience. But for someone who has experienced infertility, it's something to immediately cherish. Just the ability to get pregnant and carry the baby is something that brings a previously infertile woman shear joy.

Being able to overcome such difficulties helps many women through their pregnancy, especially when they suffer through a lot of morning sickness. They know that if they can make it through the problems of infertility, they can make it through morning sickness.

Most people who have experienced infertility end up with a greater respect for wanting to become a parent and parenthood itself. Many who overcome it come away with a great sense of patience and the resolve that they can overcome just about any diffculties in life. Waiting month after month to see if you have conceived tends to make you learn a great deal of patience. When you finally get to have a child you are a master at patience and can take whatever those toddlers may throw at you much more easily.

Want to see more?

• When Dreams Come True: Pregnancy After Infertility
• Infertile No More: Making the Transition from Infertility to Pregnancy
• Ready, Set, Mother: Making Changes and Choices
• Check out our Article Library.
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