Every day, we’re expected to take care of others. At work, at home, in our friend groups – we listen, we support each other, we go out of our way to help. And most of the time, it’s nice. People want to take care of the people they care about.

But that can take its toll.

And let’s be honest, taking time to nourish and care for yourself when life gets hectic is rarely modeled or supported. As a result, engaging in self-care can often sit at the end of your to-do list, rather than being made a priority.

To start, you have to understand what self-care truly is.

Self-care refers to the ability to refill and refuel yourself in healthy ways, including behaviors that foster physical and emotional well-being and that lessen the amount of stress and anxiety you experience in your everyday life.

The term self-care refers not only to engaging in various practices, but also being caring toward yourself. It can look different for everyone. For some, it’s taking a...

Self-Care Equals Better Patient Care

A Fertility Nurse Gets Real About Steps To Be Your Best Self at Work

By Tara Brandner, DNP, FNP-C

In the world of fertility medicine, nurses confront a lot of emotionally difficult situations. When a regular part of the job is telling people they’ve had a miscarriage, a treatment wasn’t successful, or they have a condition that causes infertility, it’s taxing for even the most seasoned professionals. It can even make people want to leave the profession they love.

That’s why self-care is so important. People working in healthcare often need to go the extra mile with self-care to build their emotional endurance. That’s why I have several rituals that are part of daily life for me. I’m fairly strict about sticking to these practices because I’ve realized how critical it is for patient care. When people are experiencing their worst days, I need to be bringing my best self to give them the care they...

When we talk about fertility issues and the emotional challenges, we often neglect to discuss men and what they are experiencing. 

The reality is men and women process emotions differently, but men do struggle as well. How the struggle is communicated and how it shows up is different, but it’s important to take notice.

Men can harbor feelings of inadequacy, performance anxiety, and an overall sense of not knowing the right thing to say or do to support their partner. Why does this matter?

Creating a Deeper Bond

When men are given the tools and support they can play a critical role in easing the burden that often sits entirely on their significant other. Men can emotionally engage at a deeper level to create a level of trust and safety that releases some of the frustration and loneliness women experience on this journey. This deeper bond has a profound effect on quality of life and the reproductive journey. 

This is easier said than done when a man’s role often...

Organic Conceptions is the first organization to research and map the psychological transitions of partners who overcame fertility challenges. We believe the most critical part of dealing with infertility is your relationships. While we focus primarily on the relationship one has with themselves and their partner, this includes the family and friends who want to support the partner trying to conceive. 

When a friend confides in you that they are having difficulty trying to conceive, it’s vital to know that being open and transparent with our feelings can be challenging. “It takes courage and vulnerability,” Marc Sherman, our co-founder, said. “But doing so can lead to greater levels of communications, validation, and clarity on your path forward.” 

If you have found yourself here, you want to support a loved one who is trying to...