This is Infertility is a bi-weekly podcast where we fuse narrative storytelling with experience and science to give you a new perspective on what it’s really like to go through a family building journey. Each episode dives into the emotional, physical, and financial burdens carried by those who experience infertility on their path to parenthood. Be it IVF, IUI, egg freezing, surrogacy, adoption, etc., the path is never the same and it can be long, painful, and lonely. It’s our mission to give those struggling a platform to be heard, a community connection, and an opportunity to raise awareness of the 1 in 8 who, for many reasons, struggle with infertility.
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This is Infertility

Episode 23: Helping Others Beat Infertility: Heather Huhman

The journey of infertility is complex for a number of reasons, but one factor that can often make or break your experience is the quality of care and support you recieve from your fertility clinic. It’s important to choose a clinic that is up to date with reproductive technology, had good IVF success rates, and doesn’t have complicated billing and insurance policies. However, the most crucial aspect of a clinic is if they are willing to go the extra mile to physically and emotionally support their clients throughout the process of fertility treatment.

In today’s episode, we hear from Heather Huhman, who endured a series of traumatic events throughout her journey with infertility, a few of which stemmed from the lack of quality care and support she received from her doctors. From being given little to no information on her diagnosis with endometriosis to experiencing a dangerous pregnancy after a round of IVF as a result of transferring multiple embryos, she reached an all-time low in her efforts to try and get pregnant. 

But Heather wanted some good to come out of her pain, so she dedicated herself fulltime to helping others via her twice a week podcast, Beat Infertility. In this episode we’ll hear about her struggle, how she got through it, and why she says her podcast gave her the hope and perspective she needed to carry on. 

Guest: Heather Huhman, Producer and Host of Beat Infertility Podcast 

Host: Janelle Branch, Patient Care Advocate at Progyny 

For more information, visit Progyny’s Podcast page, and Beat Infertility.  

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. 

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com. 

Podcast-Headshot-Janelle-Branch

Host

Janelle Branch
Patient Care Advocate at Progyny

Janelle has had a passion for healthcare since she was a young girl. It’s with this passion for medicine that drives her to be the best in her field. Prior to Progyny, she worked in several fertility clinics over the last seven years where she specialized in fertility research and treatment coordination. She plans to obtain her master’s degree in Nursing to continue her love and fascination with healthcare and be part of medical advancements that will help everyone.

Podcast-Headshot-Heather-Huhman

Guest

Heather Huhman
Producer & Host of Beat Infertility

Once Heather and her husband developed their careers enough to feel financially solvent, they decided it was time to start building their family. Unfortunately, her journey to motherhood was long and traumatic.In five years, she endured seven in vitro fertilization transfers (three fresh, four frozen), four miscarriages, and stillborn twins before finally giving birth to her daughter Aurora prematurely in January 2016.

Inspired by her own painful experience with infertility and pregnancy loss, she launched a twice weekly podcast called Beat Infertility in June 2015. The show features both infertility warriors and fertility experts to empower listeners to educate themselves and become their own self-advocates. Heather is now a coach who helps women battling infertility realize their dream of becoming parents.

Heather, previous contributor for Inc. and Entrepreneur, will launch her first book, Stronger Than Infertility, in 2020 (Workman Publishing).

Music From This Episode:

Artist: Monplaisir
Track: I am the Coyote
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monplaisir/American_Dreams_Soundtrack/Monplaisir_-_American_Dreams_Original_Soundtrack_-_11_I_am_the_Coyote

Track: Brotherhood
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Monplaisir/American_Dreams_Soundtrack/Monplaisir_-_American_Dreams_Original_Soundtrack_-_15_Brotherhood

Artist: Chris Zabriskie
Track: Last night I Dreamt I saw True Love In Your Eyes
URL:http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/Its_a_Wonderful_Jaws/ChrisZabriskie-ItsaWonderfulJaws-04-TrueLove

Artist: Rest You Sleeping Giant
Track: End of Winter
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rest_You_Sleeping_Giant/Songs_for_a_Sad_Guitar/Rest_You_Sleeping_Giant_-_Songs_for_a_Sad_Guitar_-_07_End_of_Winter

Track: Leaving for Chicago
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Rest_You_Sleeping_Giant/Songs_for_a_Sad_Guitar/Rest_You_Sleeping_Giant_-_Songs_for_a_Sad_Guitar_-_10_Leaving_for_Chicago

Artist: Jahzzar
Track: Dew
URL: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jahzzar/handmade/Dew