After two miscarriages and 5 years of trying to get pregnant, Jennifer Robertson knows how scary it is to finally be pregnant, but she’s too scared to celebrate or really enjoy it. She felt completely alone in her own fertility journey. Not wanting to worry her loved ones by sharing her true feelings, she felt she needed someone to guide her through the journey and talk to others who knew exactly how she felt. But there was no community designed for the unique needs of post-loss pregnancy. Her own experiences inspired her to create Your pregnancy haven: a safe, supportive space for women who are pregnant after infertility or loss who want to experience joy in their pregnancy and reduce stress. Here Jennifer talks to The Natural Parent Magazine about the passion behind what she does, how she got her start and the challenges she’s overcome along the way.
The passion: What inspired you to create your business?
As a fertility coach, I support women on a daily basis through the most difficult, most vulnerable times of their lives. Infertility and pregnancy loss can be so devastating. And what I found was that my clients were getting pregnant, but then there was nowhere for them to go. No community designed for the unique needs of post-loss pregnancy.
They no longer fit into the infertility community.
They found no comfort from the pregnancy loss community as it was very energetic.
And they didn’t fit into the normal pregnancy community. Because pregnancy after loss is different.
And I know it’s different, because I too experienced pregnancy after a loss. This led me to become a fertility coach. I am now a proud mother of two from earth, however it took 7 years, 9 cycles of IVF, 2 miscarriages, one baby via surrogacy and one naturally.
Pregnancy loss and pregnancy after loss is such a disenfranchised grief, so unless you’ve been through it yourself, it’s hard to understand. There’s no talking. It is not widely accepted. And because of that, it’s an isolating experience. It is filled with more fear than excitement. You are retreading a path of sorrow.
I wanted to provide a safe space where women could come and get the support they needed. Where they could feel validated in the complex emotions they were experiencing. Where they could learn how to develop coping strategies to handle anxiety and stress. And where they could experience moments of understanding and inspiration from others who were on a similar path.
The launch: How did you get started in the first place?
We started with a chat community and weekly group calls for women during their pregnancy. The main goal was to provide the community and support they craved.
Since then, we have welcomed over 370 women through our doors. We also expanded and developed a postpartum community and resources because our members didn’t want to leave – and because motherhood after loss is also difficult. We then created a bereavement community for those who have experienced a miscarriage during their journey with us – so they too can be supported in their grief.
We’ve also hired a pregnancy and lactation consultant who is on hand to answer questions and provide guidance on birth, postpartum recovery and feeding.
We’ve also interviewed over 40 experts and developed a series of masterclasses available for members to attend at their leisure.
Additionally, we have a monthly magazine that we send to our members with helpful articles, affirmations, journal prompts and more.
What started as a small community has grown into a one-stop shop from the moment you find out you’re pregnant, through birth, delivery or loss.
Innovation: What has been the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
In May of this year, we hosted our first Pregnancy After Loss Summit. We’ve brought together the world’s leading experts to share advice, inspiration and hope, and to open up much-needed conversation and give voice to the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with pregnancy after loss. We wanted women to feel connected, to feel validated, and to feel less shame.
It was such a beautiful experience and our guests left feeling all that, and more!
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I wish I could say that I had, but I don’t always get it right. It’s hard when you’re so passionate about what you do, to find that balance. And I find it hard to find that off switch.
One of the perks of being the boss, however, is that I have the flexibility to make my own hours, which means I can be present for my family and serve our community.
And given all the challenges I’ve gone through to raise my beautiful family, it’s definitely a priority for me to be present – whether I’m attending their music concerts or volunteering at their cooking class at school.
I do have help, though, and that is SO important. I have a virtual assistant and also our pregnancy doula who is on hand to support our community as well.
