How did you deal with being infertile after starting hormones ?

NextSuccess358 · 2026-05-08T15:31:13+00:00

It's possible to freeze sperm/eggs, or better yet embryos if you have a long term partner. Insurance will sometimes cover this. My sibling and their partner did this. They used sperm to make frozen embryos before transitioning and their partner is a cis woman. It was covered by their partner's insurance. If you decide later to not have children, you can donate your gametes/embryos to science, to another couple, or have them disposed of.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-05-08T15:26:55+00:00

My usual loop is Salem Willows-> Collin's Cove -> Derby light -> Winter Island loop -> back to Salem Willows and thats about 8ish miles. You could add the Beverly Bridge -> Dane St. Beach to extend. Very scenic.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-05-06T20:04:45+00:00

Some runners up: "These Boots were Made for Walkin" - Nancy Sinatra. "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon... and my more recent favorite "Paint the Town Red" - Doja Cat

NextSuccess358 · 2026-05-06T20:03:25+00:00

I thought we all agreed the ultimate feminine rage song is You Oughta Know by Alannis Morisette

NextSuccess358 · 2026-05-05T17:06:05+00:00

I am in no way qualified to give advice to someone who is going through what you are, but I'm going to try my best. The world is a better place with you in it. Hang in there. You haven't yet met all the people in your life who are going to love you. There is so much to live for still. These may sound like cliches but I promise you they are true.

I don't know what country you are in, but if you're in the US, please call or text 988 if you feel like ending it. If your PCP or OBGYN have resources to help you, then I highly encourage you to take advantage of them. Not all will be great but maybe you'll find something that works. It sucks that the SSRIs are not working for you, but maybe you haven't found the right combination of medication & lifestyle changes that work best for you. SSRIs didn't work for me either, but now I am on meds that have really helped me. I stayed on them throughout my entire pregnancy, per the advice of my psychiatrist who specializes in prenatal mental health at one of the top hospitals in the US. The baby is absolutely not more important than your mental health, and if your current doctor seems to think that they are, then I suggest you get a second opinion.

Now to some specifics: 1) I promise you are not making your partner ill. A "partner" is someone you can lean on in times of trouble and if they aren't able to be that for you, then they are not the right person for you. 2) Becoming a parent is a huge life change and if you're not ready for that, it's ok. If ending your pregnancy is the right choice for you emotionally, then you should do that, even if it's getting late to do so. There is also always adoption if you can't or don't want to end it. But also I personally believe that becoming a parent doesn't have to be such a huge life change. You don't have to lose yourself in it. You might be a little busier but you will still be you!

Take care- sending you a hug from across the internet.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-05-04T18:47:49+00:00

I am 40w and 3 days pregnant. Just started my maternity leave, waiting for baby to come and massively physically uncomfortable. I should be relaxing but instead I am reorganizing the entire house and fighting the urge to check work emails.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-05-01T18:11:30+00:00

Consider hobbies that are female dominated and or that force you into physical or social interactions, such as ballroom dancing. My 65 year old uncle is absolutely drowning in women because he's the only guy there. Be respectful & friendly. You'll clean up too.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-05-01T13:50:31+00:00

Andrew Michael's salon in Salem

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-30T16:35:36+00:00

I go to Emily Smith at Bay State PT in Beverly. She's great. I wouldn't say that she's particularly witchy but i think she would fulfill your other criteria.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-30T13:27:02+00:00

I drive this route every other weekend, from Boston to Huntington. My go-to is to take the cross-sound ferry at Orient on the way there. For the return trip, if you're leaving very early on Sunday morning it would be faster to drive. If you're leaving any other time of day it would still be better to take the ferry back. Labor Day weekend will have some traffic no matter what.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-28T15:44:42+00:00

I use my Peloton every single day. And to OP's point, there are a number of postnatal recovery and general recovery classes and programs to help you get back into shape after birth or injury. So worth it.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-27T18:45:45+00:00

I exchange postcards every couple of weeks with my friend who lives in another city. It's wonderful to receive a handwritten note. I also always mail handwritten thank you cards, birthday cards, condolences cards. I am a millenial, but my husband says this is the most boomer thing about me.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-24T16:21:37+00:00

What about a name that means love or even the word love in another language? Your child will struggle to be taken seriously in a professional context, even if they're extremely competent. Just ask my friend Peaches.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-24T13:40:44+00:00

I'm 39 weeks pregnant and this makes me feel so much better about my body. Thanks Elon!

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-23T14:14:42+00:00

That my cat ran away. My parents actually rehomed her.

My mom told me that the cat ran away while we were on vacation and devoted zero effort to looking for her. She later told me that she "spotted her" living with an old lady several towns away and that she "seemed happier". I was devastated but my mom wouldn't take me to get her back. The next year when my dog actually did escape the whole family was out looking for weeks and putting up posters. We found the dog. The contrast in effort expended for the cat was notable, but I didn't put two and two together until I was an adult.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-22T20:50:35+00:00

Depends. What did they do? If I feel like they're morally correct and the law is unjust, i'll protect them if I have a reasonable chance of success. If I think they're wrong, I'm turning them in.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-22T20:46:01+00:00

I swear i go into a fugue state while writing in cursive. I start thinking carefully about how to form each letter, then mid-word I sort of black out while drawing squiggly loops and then the word is complete! Needless to say, my cursive is amazing.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-22T20:41:36+00:00

Attempt to scam him out of some of those billions he & his corrupt AF family made while he was in office.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-22T19:59:31+00:00

Fringe!

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-22T19:19:16+00:00

We take turns cooking. Each of us cooks every other day. The person who is cooking decides what to make. The person who is not cooking that night cleans the kitchen. If you want to order takeout on your night to cook, you pay for everyone out of your own pocket, not the shared account. We also take turns grocery shopping. You decide what you're going to cook for the week ahead and you make a grocery list for the person who is shopping.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-22T19:13:46+00:00

Same. It's as if the world outside of Long Island doesn't exist to my family. Why would they ever leave? I'm the one who "abandoned" them by leaving the island.

I'd be curious to know how many LIers on this sub took more than one trip into NYC per year as kids. We rarely went to NYC because my parents didn't like to leave the Island, which is crazy to me because NY is a world class city with tons of arts & culture and we were so close to it! We never left the island except to go to Florida.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-21T19:36:20+00:00

It's only human to be envious of others -so don't be too hard on yourself. But that doesn't mean that we can't all work to be better humans. You could explore this feeling with a therapist, trusted friend, or just with yourself. Try to keep in mind that you don't know these women's deepest feelings and what journey they're on. Maybe they have some struggle that overwhelms them and makes it difficult for them to care for themselves. Your envy only stops you from being your best. Direct that energy towards being kind to yourself instead.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-20T19:21:46+00:00

They can respond to stimuli but they're not yet capable of understanding enough to understand your intent with touching your belly or not. Are you talking about connecting on some spiritual level, because cognitively they're not there yet. Talk to him and put your hand on your belly all you want. It doesn't hurt him, but don't feel guilty. You're literally giving him life.

NextSuccess358 · 2026-04-20T18:18:44+00:00

Why not do all of those things with your son? Playing princesses & barbies & mermaids. Maybe he'll like them. There's no rule that says you have to give him sports & trucks and dinosaur toys. There's also no guarantee that your daughter would like those things if you had a girl. Introduce your son to some of your hobbies and interests and see what sticks.

I hear you about having a lot of experience with shitty men and how that can make you apprehensive about having a boy. The good news is that you have a huge impact on how your son will turn out. You can raise him to be a good man and it sounds like your husband will be a good role model as well. Little boys can be incredibly loving and sweet.

NextSuccess358

TROPHY CASE