Heartache, Hope and Happiness

Parenthood is an amazing ride and in many ways the joy is heightened for couples who have overcome infertility to have a child. It means they have a different perspective and helps them not take things for granted.

In Part 9 of Heartache, Hope and Happiness, ABC Journalist, Emma Siossian, Sarah Chapman, Nicole Shedden and Louise Harper discuss what direction their families took after the birth of their first child, and what factors influenced whether or not they decided to try and have any more children, or embark on further fertility treatments.

The birth of a baby is always a magical time and in Part 8 of Heartache, Hope and Happiness, Sarah Chapman, Nicole Shedden, Louise Harper and Emma Siossian share the feelings of exquisite joy and amazement which surged through them, when they each finally held their precious baby in their arms.

So far in our 10-part series Heartache Hope and Happiness, we've heard about the tough parts of infertility and pregnancy loss. In Part 7 though, it's time to smile, as ABC journalist, Emma Siossian, and the three other women in the series, Nicole Shedden, Louise Harper and Sarah Chapman share the immense happiness, excitement, and fear, they felt when they finally achieved a healthy pregnancy, after trying to get there for so long.

Infertility can turn a person's world upside down. Suddenly, a life, which may have been well planned and successful, can feel out of control and as though it's failing. It can lead to feelings of low self-worth, anger, fear, sadness and even guilt, and can result in depression. Going through that, and the pressure of infertility treatments, means people need a lot of support and understanding, which isn't always easy to find.

There are many cases where infertility is unexplained and there is no apparent reason why a couple can't fall pregnant. Other times there are medical causes, and potential treatments, but sometimes it takes extensive investigations to find the answers. In other cases, there are no answers, but other options become available, such as egg or sperm donation. We explore these issues in Part 5 of Heartache, Hope and Happiness.

Infertility is recognised as being a major life crisis and can bring on feelings of loss, fear, anxiety, anger and depression. It can also really knock down self-esteem. Around one in six couples is affected, so the chances are it's touched your life, or the life of someone you care about.

In part 3 of Heartache Hope and Happiness, ABC journalist, Emma Siossian and Sarah Chapman, Louise Harper and Nicole Shedden discuss coping with loss. Pregnancy loss is not uncommon, and the chances are you, or someone you know, has gone through it. It can cause much pain and heartache at any stage, especially when a couple has already faced a battle to fall pregnant in the first place. It can also be a very isolating experience.

Starting IVF can be daunting and confronting on many levels and in Part 2 of Heartache, Hope and Happiness, ABC Journalist, Emma Siossian, Nicole Shedden, Louise Harper and Sarah Chapman discuss what it's really like to begin fertility treatments; the shift from sex to a science lab, the nerves and the needles, the emotional roller coaster ride, and the other social pressures they faced.

Discover where Sarah, Nicole, Louise and Emma began their journey to parenthood and when they first realised they were confronting infertility and would need help to have a child.