Finding Thankfulness in the Waiting, the Worrying, and the Wonder: A Reflection

As the holidays creep in—or even on an ordinary Tuesday morning—gratitude can feel complicated. For many of us walking through infertility or IVF, “being thankful” isn’t always a natural or effortless state. It’s layered. It’s messy. It can even feel contradictory.

And yet, in the quiet corners of this journey, thankfulness still has a way of showing up.

Gratitude works the same way. It doesn’t erase the struggle, but it can soften its edges. It makes room for hope.

Here are a few places where thankfulness can take root—even when life feels uncertain.

Thankful for the Community That Holds Us

One of the most powerful parts of IVF is the unexpected community that forms along the way.
People who “just get it” without explanation.
Friends who ask how your monitoring appointment went.
Partners who show up for early-morning blood draws and late-night injections.
Women who lift one another with honesty instead of perfection.

If IVF teaches us anything, it’s that support is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline.
And for that, we can be truly thankful.

Thankful for Our Own Resilience

Sometimes we forget how strong we are because we’ve had no choice but to be.
But resilience deserves recognition.

It’s in the days you pick up the phone to schedule “just one more cycle.”
It’s in the courage to ask questions, advocate for your body, or start over after disappointment.
It’s in the tiny spark that still whispers, Maybe this time.

We don’t always celebrate ourselves, but we should.
This journey requires bravery most people will never fully understand.

Thankful for the Small Wins

Infertility teaches you to appreciate the small things in a way you never did before:

A good follicle count.
A smooth injection.
A lining check that makes your doctor nod with approval.
Embryo updates that bring relief instead of fear.
A partner who makes you laugh on a day you felt like crying.

These small moments matter.
They carry us forward.
They remind us we’re still moving, still hoping, still trying.

Thankful for Science, Progress, and Possibility

IVF is hard—physically, emotionally, financially.
But it’s also remarkable.

The fact that science gives us another chance…
That embryologists care for what we hope will become our future…
That our options today are more advanced than ever before…

There is gratitude in that.
Not because it makes the journey easy, but because it makes the journey possible.

Thankful for the Story We’re Writing

Even when we cannot see the ending, this chapter matters.

It’s shaping us.
Stretching us.
Deepening our empathy and rewriting the way we understand love, persistence, and hope.

Your story—exactly as it is today—is worth honoring.

A Final Thought

Being thankful doesn’t mean ignoring the hard parts.
It means letting yourself acknowledge the good that exists alongside the grief.

Wherever you are on your IVF path—beginning, waiting, cycling, grieving, or healing—I hope this season gives you a moment to breathe, reflect, and recognize your own strength.

And know this:

You’re not doing this alone.

We’re here.
We’re listening.
We’re walking it with you.
IVF-Together