Stepchildren, PCOS, and Myo-inositol

[CardiGrey]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post, so I’m a little nervous and just hoping there is someone out there who can relate.

I have two step children, and I’m finding trying for a baby very difficult and lonely. My partner has two children from a previous relationship, so I already feel like a bit of a failure that we might not have any children of our own. My partner always refers to the children as mine too and says I’m like a mother to them, but I’m feeling a little bit sensitive with those comments at the moment. I then feel guilty for wanting children of my own. Has anyone else experienced this?

I’ve been prescribed Metformin and Chlomid, but I’m trying natural options first. I’ve just bought Free Soul PCOS Myo-Inositol. Has anyone else tried this and had any luck with it? I’m also on a PCOS friendly diet- brown carbs, lots of veg, reduced sugar and reduced saturated fat etc.

I’d appreciate any advice on either topics.

Thanks everyone ☺️

[Catstroke]

Hi Cardi

Reaching out as I can relate on your first point. I am childless due to PCOS and I’m now at an age where it’s becoming an almost certainty that I won’t be having kids. My partner also has two children from a previous marriage. It’s been hard at points to come to terms that we don’t have any together, but we’ve settled in to it and we’re actually a family in our own way. I find it very much like being an aunty and I can do things like bake and take them to the park and enjoy their company. I also find there’s less pressure on me to reproduce as I’m not depriving my partner from being a parent too, and I find that quite comforting.

My advice is to not let your fertility define your life. It’s incredibly tough when everyone around you is having babies when you can’t, but (and I’ve been lampooned for this before) enjoy your child-free life. Capitalise on this time that you have the freedom to whatever you want for yourself, challenge yourself, learn skills, travel. Don’t look back at this point in your life one day and question what you did with it. Infertility has been hard to deal with but I’ve experienced so much that I wouldn’t have done if I’d had kids, but I’ve had to learn to play the game with the hand I was dealt and not the one I wish I had.

Given that you’re now of Metformin and Clomid you’re half way there and fingers crossed it works for you! If not, take the time to grieve it and come to terms with it (maybe seek counselling).

Mimi

[CardiGrey in reply to Catstroke]

Hey Mimi,

Thanks so much for your response. I really appreciate hearing from you, especially as you’re someone who is in such a relatable position to me.

It’s fantastic that you have a bond with your husband’s children, that you’ve settled and have a family dynamic that works for you.

Hearing where you are in your journey gives me hope that I’ll be feeling much better about this soon. You are completely right and I should fill my life with things that I can have instead of wishing for the one thing I can’t have right now. You sound like a wonderful person who has made the best of their life and I hope I can do the same.

Yes, I’m definitely thinking about counselling and hope that the metformin and chlomid does work. However, if it doesn’t, just reading what you’ve written has reassured me that my life can be filled in lots of other ways aside from motherhood.

Thanks again for your kind words.

Cardi x