I grew up believing that one day I would surprise myself by taking a pregnancy test and seeing two pink lines. I would cry tears of joy, run to show my husband, embrace him, and about nine months later, meet our baby— just like how it seemingly went for everyone around me.
As it turns out, getting and staying pregnant wasn’t as easy for me and my husband as I had envisioned. After years of trying to conceive with fertility treatment, the reality of becoming a mom was quickly fading.
But all was not lost—and my dreams were still in reach. Our fertility story can be told from many viewpoints—pity, resilience, bravery—but my favorite is hope. Hope for whoever can’t wrap their mind around what they did to deserve infertility, because they know in the depths of their heart that they would be a great parent.
A struggle with infertility
My husband and I met in college and almost instantly knew that we wanted to build a life and family together. After our wedding, we started trying to conceive with no luck. It was confusing to us, our family, and our friends how two healthy people could not get pregnant.
Several months passed, and we decided to see a reproductive endocrinologist at a prominent clinic in our area. Before we knew it, and before any medical professional bothered to consider what root causes could be contributing to our struggles, we were waist-deep in abdominal injections, ultrasounds, follicle-stimulating hormones, and daily blood draws.
I'll spare you the long, technical details of our story, but here’s the short version: Over nearly two years, we went through three rounds of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and three in vitro fertilization (IVF) egg retrievals. Sadly, none of them worked out due to poor egg quality, and with each failed attempt, our hope kept slipping further away.
We asked our doctor often what we could be doing to try and improve our sperm or egg quality, wanting to regain even a bit of control. Each time we posed the question, we were met with the same answer: “There is nothing you can do.” And yes, that is a direct quote.
Related: Vida’s story: Pregnancy after miscarriage
Heartbreak: Pregnancy after miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy
In the following months, we endured an IVF miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy. The pain of pregnancy loss is something I wouldn't wish on anyone. The grief, the uncertainty, and the overwhelming fear of "Will this ever happen for me?" were ever-present. Our doctor made it clear that our only chance at a family would be surrogacy, but even then, our family wasn’t a guarantee.
At our following appointment, we decided to ask the question one last time, except this time, our doctor’s response changed. She said, “Well, I don’t usually suggest this unless you have had recurring losses, but you may want to consider dietary changes.” Those words are ingrained in my memory because that exact moment changed the course of our fertility journey—and our lives.
Finding hope through a functional-medicine approach
We were shocked to realize that there were ways to improve our fertility all along—but no one had mentioned them because, apparently, we hadn’t “suffered enough” yet. That didn’t sit right with us, so we started looking for new doctors while diving headfirst into functional medicine. A family member recommended Chris Kresser’s Baby Code course, and that was our first real glimpse into a whole new approach to fertility.
This was the tip of the iceberg. We completely immersed ourselves in functional medicine literature, research, and podcasts, saw an incredible functional medicine practitioner, and found social media accounts that focused on improving fertility. It was—and still is—our most productive and healthy obsession.
While following Dr. Mark Hyman, I came across WeNatal—and it felt like fate. As a pioneer in functional medicine, Dr. Hyman played a key role in formulating WeNatal, ensuring it was backed by the latest science on fertility and optimal nutrition. He not only recommends WeNatal for both men and women but also emphasizes the importance of high-quality prenatal supplements in improving fertility outcomes. From that moment on, WeNatal became a guiding force in my journey—shaping my dietary choices, how I connected with my husband, the gratitude I practiced daily, and the supplements I took to support my body and fertility.
Pregnancy after loss
Despite making significant lifestyle changes, we still experienced two more miscarriages—each one a heartbreaking loss. But this time, something was different. Instead of feeling completely defeated, I held onto a newfound confidence that my body could do this. Around that time, I found myself scrolling through Instagram and decided to send a message to WeNatal. I wanted to thank them for their content and share that, no matter what happened, I knew I had done everything in my power. Even if I never got to hold my baby, I could move forward knowing I had given this journey everything I had—with resilience and hope.
I figured my message would go unread. Astonishingly, Ronit responded with the most uplifting note of encouragement. We got to chatting, and after that conversation, I was emotionally refueled. Finally, our last egg retrieval yielded multiple embryos with superior egg quality, but that isn’t even the good part!
When it was time to transfer one of our perfect embryos, we showed up to our clinic and were told that there was an issue during the thawing process, leaving us with a mere 5% chance of a successful implantation.
The medical advice we received was to discard that embryo and try again with another embryo the following month. But I trusted my gut and went for it anyway. Turns out, our embryo was a fighter, and my body was strong enough to sustain a pregnancy.
Today, our daughter Emma is 22 months old with the most vibrant, strong-willed, goofy personality and gleaming green eyes.
Related: Optimizing fertility at any age: Ronit's story
A natural miracle
Before Emma’s first birthday, my husband and I re-entered the fertility conversation we had been dreading. We decided to continue with another frozen embryo transfer. Unfortunately, we endured two more pregnancy losses, totaling six, all boys.
We decided to take a break from treatment, enjoy the life we built, and continue all of our health and wellness routines, which have now become our lifestyle. During this time we never lost hope.
And well, you’ve heard the saying before—probably more times than you care for—but when the pressure was off, we conceived naturally for the very first time, the very next month.
Now I am eight months along, currently in the thick of a beautifully uneventful pregnancy, and it’s a boy! This baby boy was always meant to complete our family; we just needed to wait for him.
Encouragement from Cassi
To anyone navigating the heartbreak of miscarriage:
I see you, and I know how deeply this pain can settle into your heart. It’s a loss that words struggle to capture, and a grief that feels both invisible and all-consuming. But please know: you are not alone.
Trust yourself. Your emotions, your instincts, your voice, they all matter. Be your own advocate in this journey, whether that means seeking answers, asking for support, or simply allowing yourself the space to heal. With time, you’ll find that the lessons born from this experience will shape you in ways you never imagined. They will make you stronger, more compassionate, and more attuned to the depth of love that surrounds you.
And that love is everything. The gratitude you’ll feel for the unwavering support of your partner, for the possibility of future children, and most of all, for yourself. Your resilience, your courage, and your capacity to keep going are immeasurable. Hold on to that and it will carry you through.
With love,
Cassi
A note from WeNatal on hope following pregnancy loss
Pregnancy after miscarriage, or pregnancy after an ectopic pregnancy, can be an emotional rollercoaster, filled with hope, fear, and uncertainty. Cassi’s story is one of resilience, trust, and the power of a functional approach to fertility.
At WeNatal, we believe that knowledge is empowerment. We support couples on their fertility journeys by providing high-quality prenatal supplements, evidence-based resources, and a compassionate community. No matter where you are on your path to parenthood, you are not alone. Hope is always within reach.
