To the Mother Beginning Her IVF Journey
Dear Mama,
If you are reading this, it means you are standing at the beginning of your IVF journey—a path you may have never imagined walking, yet one you are brave enough to take. First, I want you to know this: you are not alone.
Image by @Heyitsjulesmorlet
The road ahead may feel overwhelming. You may already be carrying the weight of an infertility journey that’s tested your patience, your faith, and your body. You may be wondering how many appointments, injections, and tears it will take before you finally hear the words you’ve been longing for. But even in these first steps, there is hope.
Your Story Is Worth Telling
When you’re in the thick of it, it may feel tempting to keep your journey private, tucked away from the world. And that’s okay—this is your story, and you get to decide how it’s shared. But mama, please don’t forget: what you are doing is extraordinary.
This journey is about more than statistics and protocols. It’s about love. It’s about fighting for the chance to hold your baby, whether that’s your first child or a long-awaited rainbow baby after loss.
Documenting these moments—yes, even the hard ones—can be a gift to your future self. One day, you’ll look back and see not just the tears, but the strength you carried through every chapter.
Why Your IVF Journey Matters
Image by @heyitsjulesmorlet
It’s proof of your courage. Every appointment you show up for, every medication you take, is a step of bravery.
It becomes part of your child’s story. Imagine your little one someday seeing the love and effort that went into bringing them into the world.
It connects you to others. Your openness—even if just in small ways—can be a lifeline for another woman in Austin beginning her own IVF journey.
As an Austin maternity and newborn photographer (and someone who’s struggled through miscarried and rainbow babies), I have walked alongside mothers who started exactly where you are now.
I’ve heard their fears, celebrated their victories, and documented the quiet, in-between moments that often get overlooked.
Many of these women tell me they didn’t realize, in the beginning, how much they would cherish having their journey preserved—photos, journals, even small keepsakes. The investment felt heavy at first, but later, they understood it wasn’t just about pictures. It was about honoring their strength.
So, to you—the mother at the very beginning: take a deep breath. You are strong enough for this. Whether the path is smooth or winding, your story matters.
Your IVF journey will be full of both challenge and beauty. And one day, when you are rocking your baby in the warm Austin sun, you will know that every step, every photo, and every memory was worth keeping.
You are already a mother in the deepest sense—one who loves so fiercely that she is willing to walk through the hardest of roads for the chance to hold her child.
And that is a story worth documenting.
