IN DUE TIME
A Journey through Infertility, Loss, and Embracing the Unknown
Creating and expanding a family the traditional way was not meant to be for Jen and her husband Patrick. After many agonizing months of negative pregnancy tests, and with medical assistance, they finally got a positive. When they were ready to expand their family, Jen assumed her body would know what to do. She was amiss.
This heartfelt memoir chronicles the most physically and emotionally demanding time in Jen’s life as she attempts to add to her family of three. She divulges intimate details of infertility testing and medication, miscarriages, intrauterine inseminations, chemical pregnancies, comprehensive chromosomal screening, in vitro fertilization, and frozen embryo transfers. An emotional mixture of hope, defeat, success, and loss, this honest and raw memoir depicts Jen’s tedious challenge to embrace the unknown.
“Equal parts information and inspiration!”
– KAELEIGH MACDONALD, blogger at Unpregnant Chicken
“A poignant memoir, filled with hope and loss and ultimate joy…”
– TONI WESCHLER, MPH ,bestselling author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility
“In Due Time is an invaluable companion and source of hope for those struggling with infertility.”
– Dr. Eric Surrey, MD, Reproductive Endocrinologist
About
Jen Noonan
Jen Noonan lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, where she enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year. Although she was born and raised in Chicago, she is an honorary Denver native, having called the Mile High city home for more than a decade.
Jen has lived and worked in England and New Zealand, and has traveled to every continent except Antarctica. When she is not at Starbucks, she can be found running in Washington Park, hiking 14,000 foot mountains, reading on her front porch, jamming to Mumford and Sons, cleaning up after her husband, and chasing after two little boys.
Jen is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology and Counseling Education from the University of Colorado Denver. She volunteers her time to infertility organizations, and is an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Blog
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness
So what can we do for those who have lost so much? How can we support them? Perhaps we can reach out with an old fashioned card, or even a phone call. We can say “I was thinking of you this week and wanted to check in. I’m here for you.”
Sometimes this can make a world of difference to people who thought they and their earth-shattering loss were forgotten.
On Being Honest
I sometimes second guess myself about my degree of honesty with a younger child. Will I scare him? Will he believe that he will die like the baby did? Will he tell his friends and teachers?
Then I realize there’s a reason we advise people to be honest. Children are resilient. They can comprehend and embrace what we tell them more effortlessly than we give them credit for.
Secondary Infertility Owned
We need to own secondary infertility.
We need to talk about it.
We need to end the stigma and shame.
Our desires are just as valid. It’s as simple as that.
