Faith and Perseverance
A Pastoral Approach to Infertility
"Struggling with infertility and miscarriage is a great burden for couples, especially when they so deeply desire to live out their vocation to welcome the gift of children from God. All may seem hopeless. In moments such as these, remember that despite infertility, couples 'can have a married life that is filled with love and meaning...'" [Read More]
Articles
by John T. Bruchalski, MD, FACOG
Alone in the bathroom, staring blankly at the negative test, you tearfully ask yourself, “Why am I not pregnant yet?”...
By MaryPat St. Jean
I am still in awe of how abundantly my husband Tom and I have been blessed. Like country music star Garth Brooks states so well in one of his songs, “I thank God for unanswered prayers”. For years we prayed so hard to conceive a child. We could not even begin to have known how much more joy God’s plan for us would bring...
From the USCCB
Primarily directed to couples struggling with infertility, this article seeks to provide compassionate guidance that is both practical and informative. Other readers may also find it helpful in better understanding this issue.
By Allie Kleineck
The story of Hannah in the book of Samuel is one of my favorites. I have read it many times over the last eight years of marriage. Each time I recount Hannah’s grief over her childlessness, I think, this woman gets it. Only recently did a friend point out another dimension of the story: verse 18. This comes just after Eli, finding Hannah weeping in prayer, asks the Lord to grant her request...
By Jeannie Hannemann, M.A.
In the book of Genesis, we find God’s first commandment to humankind: “Be fruitful and multiply. . .” (Genesis 1:28) It appears that God infused this commandment to procreate into the fiber of our beings. It seems to be written in our hearts, dreamed of in our minds, ached for in our bodies, and yearned for in our spirits. Thus, when a couple is unable to have children, it causes great pain emotionally, intellectually, physically, and spiritually...
From Springs in the Desert
When I hear people’s stories of infertility, particularly if they align with mine, or when someone shares a diagnosis I’m familiar with and asks for encouragement and for hope, my instinct is to respond: I’ve walked a similar path; I understand your struggle – yes, I can offer great hope! But then I remember, it is not the hope she wants...