Infertility refers to the inability to conceive a healthy child. Health
experts do not diagnose infertility until a man or a woman has tried to conceive and
failed.
Following a series of various diagnostic services to figure out the
reason behind the inability to conceive, a doctor may prescribe one of the
assisted reproductive technologies like IVF to boost the possibility of
conception.
And if you are one of those who are experiencing this ailment, then you
know that it’s a pain that you have to experience alone.
Dealing with infertility can be wearisome, both physically and mentally.
One way to overcome such negativity is to start a conversation about your
problems and IVF treatment.
In addition, Covid-19 infused lockdown has led to an increase in several
mental and emotional problems. This makes it even more necessary for you to
share the concerns of your partner if he/she is going through infertility.
However, it can be difficult to discuss your emotions with your friends
and family members, especially your partner.
In this blog post, we have offered a few tips on how to approach your
partner and offer him/her support during this difficult time.
1.
Begin with open-ended
questions: Your conversation must be authentic and vulnerable, and that should begin
with intentional questions.
Start with
“how”, “what”, “when”, etc. and take some
moments to process your answers before sharing.
Being intentional about your answer will be
helpful to establish a healthy and vulnerable conversation.
Repeat what your partner says to let him/her
know that you are fully attentive and accept what he/she is conveying. This also
makes your partner hear himself/herself and correct any overstated or
misunderstood statements.
2. Ask what
makes your partner feel better: Gently try
to convince your partner that you are not a mind-reader and must convey his/her
true emotions to you.
Then follow up later on. Ask again the next
day. You might feel its better not to say anything, but remember,it’s the support
and care that will make your partner feel much better.
However, don’t try to “fix” his/her emotions
or concerns. This might deduce that you are trying to take over, which, in
turn, may boost his/her sense of helplessness and frustration rather than lessen
it.
3. Enable space
for negative emotions: Don’t try
to minimise or sugar-coat negative emotions displayed by your partner. Let your
partner share the pain he/she carries openly.
For healthy
conversations to happen, both of you need to make room for each other’s
concerns, emotions and expectations.
Even if you
don’t agree, you must still share your perspective. It may be tempting at the
moment, but over time, your partner will immensely benefit from honest sharing.
4. Accompany on
doctor’s visits: While your
partner may be the one suffering from infertility, it’s your problem too. Accompanying
your partner lets him/her know that you know it.
This lets
you review what the doctor said and convey the information to the doctor that your
partner may find difficult.
5. Help your
partner to unwind: IVF can be overwhelming,
which makes it crucial to find simple strategies and activities that can assist
your partner to alleviate stress.
IVF brings stress, such as the cost of the
treatment and whether that expense would be worthwhile.
Encourage your partner to practice
meditation, yoga, etc. and help him/her to manage his/her anxieties properly.
.
6. Don’t do
something your partner can’t do: If your
partner is pregnant, don’t consume alcohol in front of her, eat high-calorie
food, use the sauna, or do formidable exercise.
Doing so would make your partner look at you
as a mean and uncaring husband. She might say its okay but that won’t really be
the case.
Final words
If your partner is suffering from
infertility, especially in the times of Covid, where stress and several other problems
might augment his/her concerns, make yourself the support system on which
he/she can lean on.
The tips mentioned in this post reflect
the same tone – lend an ear to your partner. Be attentive to your partner and
try to understand what he/she is trying to convey.
During this time, there’s no right
or wrong, and your partner may process this pain in different ways. Just allow
space for your partner and make yourself an integral part of this journey.
Disclaimer:
Though all attempts are made to provide correct information on the subject, inadvertent & typographical errors arising out of manual intervention cannot be ruled out. It is requested to bring any such discrepancies to the notice of the blogger for correction.
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