Advertise on podcast: Heartache To Hope: Coping with Infertility, IVF & Miscarriage

So, today is my birthday.  And although now it is a time for celebration and I am embracing everything that being in your early 40’s throws at you, I am reflecting today on all the birthdays where I had the birthday blues.  Where a birthday was just a reminder of my infertility challenges and another year getting older.  The tick tick tick in the back of my mind and with each passing year the tick tick tick getting louder and louder. In this very short ep I talk through why birthdays suck when you are going through infertility and the ways in which you can make them suck a little less.   Anita  xo

In this episode I speak with Emma Turner, who some in this community may know as one half of the Not Another Bad Egg Instagram Account and Blog.  Emma has been on her journey for a number of years now and at the time of recording she was three days out from another embryo transfer, so I am so appreciative of her time and willingness to share her story while she is in the midst of another round.   Emma talks through her journey so far, the ups and downs and everything in between from needing to have a difficult conversation with her fertility doctor, to jumping into personal training sessions with her husband during infertility to the way our brains are almost rewired to expect the worst during all of this.   As always please feel free to reach out and connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn, whether you have questions you want answered, a suggestion for an episode or you would like to be on the podcast!  (links below). Anita xo LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/heartache_2_hope/?hl=en @heartache_2_hope https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-thompson-3a263626/ https://www.instagram.com/not.another.bad.egg/ @not.another.bad.egg https://www.notanotherbadegg.com/ HOST & PRODUCER 🎧 Anita Thompson  https://www.instagram.com/neets36/ @neets36

Hello hello, welcome back if you are a regular listener and welcome if this is your first time listening. I am so thrilled to bring you this episode.  You may know Lisa Messenger as one of the most incredible entrepreneurs not just in Australia but globally and she did this before entrepreneurship was even a thing!  She’s shared the stage with the likes of Richard Branson and has had Sarah Jessica Parker, Ryan Gosling and Jamie Oliver to name a few on the cover of her magazine, Collective Hub.   But what no one knew, was behind the scenes of her successful businesses, she was battling an 8 year-long infertility journey.  18 rounds of IVF and the emotional and physical rollercoaster that comes with that. Lisa has only very recently opened up about her journey, so I feel incredibly privileged to have her as a guest.  I felt like we could’ve talk for hours, and I simply appreciate her openness and honesty it was just like two girlfriends having a chat.   I am sure you will get so much out of our conversation, from her experiences and tips to the two things that I really want you to takeaway, the strength of mindset and of hope. As always please feel free to reach out and connect with me on Instagram or LinkedIn (links below). Anita xo LINKS https://collectivehub.com/ https://www.instagram.com/lisamessenger/?hl=en  https://www.instagram.com/heartache_2_hope/?hl=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-thompson-3a263626/ HOST & PRODUCER Anita Thompson  https://www.instagram.com/neets36/

Hello hello everyone, I do hope your start to 2023 is a place of positivity.  And if you aren’t quite feeling all the positive feels, or if you are but nervous that it may be short lived, this episode is for you.   I speak with Louise Siwicki, who after battling infertility for 6 years is now a holistic fertility hypnotherapist and coach.  Lou talks with me about the power of the mind, body connection and the importance of having the right belief system during your fertility journey and finding joy alongside it.   I’m really excited to share this episode with you.   Links to all things Heartache To Hope and Louise Siwicki are below. https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-thompson-3a263626/ https://www.instagram.com/heartache_2_hope/ https://www.heartache2hope.net/  Louise Siwicki: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisesiwicki/ www.louisesiwicki.com  Anita xo

The New Year can bring up feelings of sadness, regret and disappointment about what you didn’t achieve in the year BUT it is also a time of excitement, hope and wonder.   The mix of emotions are totally normal – nonetheless - to set yourself up for what is to come in 2023, let's create and hold onto all the positive feelings.  Let's channel those feelings into 2023.   This meditation will allow you to recap on both the highs and lows of 2022 and center yourself for the year ahead of you.

Here's the second part of my conversation with Rhiannon Malone.  If you listened to the first part of our conversation in the previous episode, you would know that Rhiannon’s son Rory tragically died at 39 weeks.   Rhiannon is now 30 weeks pregnant, so a large part of our conversation was around pregnancy after loss and how you navigate all of that.  She also talks about her mental health and experience with going back to work after Rory died.  

This is my conversation with Rhiannon Malone, who had the unimaginable experience of having a stillbirth at 39 weeks.  I have actually split our conversation into two episodes, this first one Rhiannon talks about her experience and those weeks and months after, the grieving process and how they celebrate Rory and his memory.   In the next episode we talk about pregnancy after loss, which is such a huge and important topic in itself.   Thank you, Rhiannon, for being so raw and vulnerable, you are truly amazing and I know that so many women will benefit from hearing your story.  

It’s December and we know what that means right? The most wonderful time of the year really isn’t for someone with infertility or who has recently experienced a loss.  Events, get-togethers, Christmas, Christmas wishes, New Year parties and new year resolutions mean reflecting on all that you did this year to have a baby and you are no closer to it.   I get it.  I have felt this pain, many times.  So, in this episode let’s talk about how to survive this time of year.  There are certain things you can do, and avoid, to ensure that you look after yourself and head into 2023 with clarity, calmness and compassion for yourself.  

The podcast is back!! The old me would probably have apologised for being away for months and not recording, but where I am now, I am not going to apologise.  In fact, I am going to be unapologetically me.  Because, the truth is, I needed a break.  I needed a break from the podcast and from all things infertility.  Sometimes, we just need a break.   So in this episode (of a brand-new season) I give an explanation of why I needed a break, what this last year has been like and how irrespective of everything and losing my identity, I am finally figuring out who I am.   I am so excited to bring you many, many, many more episodes and share stories of ordinary women who have become extraordinary through their journeys.   Anita x

So I am jumping on here quickly as I am feeling quite overwhelmed.  After waking up Saturday morning to the news that Roe Vs Wade was being overturned in the US, I felt so many emotions – yes as a woman but also because of my own personal experiences.  For some reason yesterday afternoon I felt compelled to post something on LinkedIn about my own experience with abortion and my gosh it has gone viral!  As I sit here talking to you it continues to spread.  If you want to hear about my experience and why this decision has caused so much emotion and debate, take a listen. Links: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-thompson-3a263626/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/heartache_2_hope/

In this episode I speak with Cassandra Banks, Principal of CB Legal Coffs Harbour & Senior Vice President of The Law Society of NSW.  Cassandra shares her story of infertility, miscarriage and IVF and gives some real insight into the challenges of experiencing all of these when living in a regional area.  She also shares some very useful tips for women who are in the same situation.   Links:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassandra-banks-bb9b5875/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-thompson-3a263626/ https://www.instagram.com/heartache_2_hope/

March was Endometriosis Awareness Month and because I like to be different, I am releasing this episode in April since it's important to talk about this stuff all the time.  In this Ep I speak with the fabulous Sarah Maree Cameron -  an endo warrior-  and a woman of many talents – she is radio host on MMM Melbourne, a TV host and ground announcer for Richmond football club, an actor and comedian and she still finds time to be an Ambassador for both Endometriosis Australia and the Australia Cervical Cancer Foundation.   I loved our chat - SMC is raw and honest, talking about her experiences of living with endo and about stepping away from your ego and asking for help.  We dive into what she has learnt and some really practical tips.   It really is like the pep talk you might need if you are living with the chronic illness. Links: https://www.endometriosisaustralia.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-thompson-3a263626/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-maree-cameron-007b1158/ https://www.instagram.com/heartache_2_hope/ https://www.heartache2hope.net/