MYF 85 | Finding Your Pineapple People: Getting Support Through Infertility with Elyse Ash from Fruitful Fertility
Welcome to Episode 85!
In episode 85, I’m interviewing Elyse Ash, who is the founder of a fertility mentorship company called Fruitful Fertility. Those of us who have struggled with our fertility know how frustrating and isolating the experience can be. It’s not always easy to open up to friends or family and it’s difficult to receive the support we need from people who have never been through what we’re dealing with and simply don’t know what to say or how to help. I invited Elyse on to the show to talk about why it’s so important to get the right kind of support through this journey and the solution she and her husband came up with to match people who are currently going through infertility with those who have already completed their journey in a mentor-mentee relationship. I’m excited to share Fruitful with all of you as an option for adding to your support network and building a relationship with someone who knows what you’re going through and can offer you an ear, a shoulder, or a helping hand as you continue on your path to parenthood. In the interview, Elyse and I discuss:
Her personal infertility story and what she went through to become a mother
Why it’s so important for us to find people we can truly confide in as we go through fertility struggles
Her perspective on opening up to friends and family and some advice on dealing with uncomfortable conversations
The story behind Fruitful and what ultimately led Elyse and her husband to start the company
What you can expect from Fruitful and the logistics of how the service works
Free Quiz: Are You Healthy Enough to Get Pregnant?
Free mini-course: How to Choose the Best Prenatal Supplements
Schedule your 20-minute phone consult!
Links to Fruitful Fertility
Website: https://www.fruitfulfertility.org/
Social Media: Instagram, Facebook
Fruitful Media Coverage:
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Show Notes:
4:00 Elyse shares her personal infertility journey
9:50 How struggling with fertility often feels isolating
12:00 Elyse shares why connecting and having support is so important
14:05 Advice for couples regarding how much information to share with family and how to navigate responses
17:40 Kristin and Elyse discuss the importance of setting boundaries and letting your support group know how they can show up for you
23:30 Infertility is a trauma and it changes the way you look at life, yourself, your marriage and relationships, and its effects extend beyond the end of the journey
30:20 Elyse shares the experiences that led to her founding Fruitful
36:35 How Fruitful matches people based on specific life experiences to provide the most valuable experience
40:20 Men also struggle through the infertility journey and Fruitful offers support through mentor matching for them
43:40 Navigating the social pressure to be positive when dealing with let downs on your fertility journey
45:00 Elyse shares about her podcast, Been There, Injected That
48:50 Being honest with yourself about what tools work for you
50:45 Closing advice from Elyse for people on their journey