We sat down with Katherine Clayton, the inspiring mother, co-founder and CEO of Peachii, a ground-breaking single-item insurance startup which Alf offers at checkout. With 1 in 6 women affected by infertility, Katherine shares her personal experience with IVF, offering valuable advice and insights for those considering this path.
Katherine's story begins in 2014, when she was diagnosed with "unexplained infertility." Her journey to parenthood involved five rounds of IVF, eight embryo transfers, and four early miscarriages before welcoming her two beautiful children, Archie (now 7) and Goldie (4), in 2016 and 2019.
What message or advice would you give others considering IVF?
"Don’t fight it and don’t be afraid of it. No one sets out to need IVF, but if that’s how the cards fall then embrace it and get help as early in your journey as you can."
Her advice? Embrace the journey and seek professional help early. "I think a lot of people put off getting help for far too long. Getting help rather than battling alone is so important. Find a specialist and nursing team that you trust and surrender to the process and embrace the experience they bring to the situation."
Do you have any advice for loved ones supporting others going through IVF?
"Unless you have had fertility issues yourself then resist the urge to talk about your conception experience," she recommends.
Phrases like "relax" or "it will happen" may not be helpful, and adoption is a deeply personal decision.
"Take their lead on how they want to be supported and encourage them to continue to live their life and do they things they love throughout the process rather than putting things on hold for IVF."
What surprised you the most about IVF process?
One of the biggest surprises for Katherine was the number of people who successfully conceive through IVF. "The vast majority of women going through IVF will take home a baby/babies," she assures us. The journey may take longer or be more challenging than expected, but it works.
Did you experience any unexpected challenges during the IVF process?
"It was the miscarriages along the way that blindsided me the most. It feels very unfair to not only struggle to fall pregnant but to also have to deal with losses as well. But that is part the fertility journey and sadly something that is also very common. I overcame them by leaning on our specialist and nursing team for advice and by continuing on with the process. I didn’t want to stop trying, each new cycle comes with new hope so we just kept moving forward. It sounds clinical but I think sometimes we need to bring logic and practicality to very emotional situations. My specialist was confident we would have our babies so we just kept going."
What support systems were most helpful for you?
Katherine emphasises the importance of staying social and engaged in activities that bring joy. "It’s easy to want to retreat and hide, especially if you have lots of people around you are falling pregnant and having babies, but I think isolating yourself makes and life challenge harder. Keep planning holidays, go out with friends, put your hand up for that promotion. You need to life your life rather than letting IVF take over everything."
The IVF journey is a rollercoaster of emotions, filled with hope, disappointment, and everything in between, and Katherine's story is a testament to the strength and resilience required. If you're on this path yourself, know that you are strong, capable, and there is a supportive community out there cheering you on.
Leave a comment