Christmas isn't always great for those without families so here are a few tips to help you get the best from the season.
I used to love Christmas. It was my favourite time of year, so much so, I got married at Christmas. We had two beautiful daughters and it got even better, because now we could buy toys for them and do the Santa thing.
Then on the 3rd December 1998 I had a miscarriage. It was a total shock, having already had two healthy children. Everywhere around me, women were hugely pregnant. The sound of a baby's cry would reduce me to tears, and trying to feel festive was difficult. I had to force myself to hang baubles on the tree with my little girl.
A few years later, I lost a baby that would have been due on Boxing Day, not to mention my divorce (which was unwanted) that coincided with Yule. I began to hate Christmas and wanted it to be over as soon as possible. If you're struggling with infertility and you feel like you have nothing to celebrate, here are a few tips to help the holidays run more smoothly:
- Don't think you have to visit family just because they want you to. You don't have to accept invitations from people where you know there will be babies.
- Consider going on vacation to take your mind off it.
- See this time as some valuable quiet time to spend with your partner.
- Do something you want to do, eg, the cinema.
