On today's episode, content creator and mama of three Ruby Smoot gets real about the parts of infertility and pregnancy after infertility we don’t talk about enough — the mental health spiral, the obsessive thoughts, the fear, and the quiet, heavy darkness that can creep in while you’re trying so hard to become a parent. In this deeply candid conversation, Ruby opens up about pregnancy after infertility while battling OCD and intrusive thoughts, navigating severe nausea called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and what it felt like to hold hope and despair at the same time, and how becoming pregnant didn’t magically erase the mental health struggles she was carrying. Because as many of us know: having babies doesn’t fix everything — you still have to heal. She also talks about getting pregnant again, and having HG a second time. Now a mom of three kiddos, Ruby reflects on what she wishes she’d known, how she got support, and why talking honestly about maternal mental health might be the most important thing we can do for each other.

Follow her on IG: @rubydu91

And TikTok: ruby.du

EPISODE SPONSORS:

THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES

Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them.

Order "Work of ART," "Beautiful Bird" and "You Are a Work of ART," now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

FERTILITY RALLY

IG: @fertilityrally

www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

PHERDAL

IG: @pherdal_science

PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com.

Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off.

BERRY FERTILITY

IG: @berry.fertility

The Berry Fertility app is packed with support: dozens of injection tutorials, over 100 articles, 200 FAQs, and if you still have questions, the Berry team is literally a tap away through in-app chat.

Berry has a free version, and you can try Premium free for seven days. After that, it’s $12.99 a month or $99 for the year.

InfertileAF listeners get 30% off an annual membership with the code INFERTILEAF when you sign up at berryfertility.com or in the Berry Fertility app.

Today’s guest is Rachel Swanson — MS, RD, LDN — one of the most in-demand nutritionists in the country, known for helping people optimize performance using deeply science-backed, totally personalized care. She’s also the author of the brand-new book Trying!: A Science-Backed Plan to Optimize Your Fertility. On today's episode, Ali and Rachel flip the fertility conversation on its head with what Rachel calls Fertility 2.0 — a proactive, preventative approach that goes way beyond eggs and sperm to focus on the whole body: your gut, metabolism, sleep, oral health, even your partner’s kissing hygiene (yes, really). This convo was originally aired as part of Fertility Rally Live #10.

For more on Fertility Rally, follow IG: @fertilityrally

For more on Rachel, go to www.rachelswanson.com

IG: @rachelsrx

EPISODE SPONSORS:

THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES

Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them.

Order "Work of ART," "Beautiful Bird" and "You Are a Work of ART," now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

FERTILITY RALLY

IG: @fertilityrally

www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

PHERDAL

IG: @pherdal_science

PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com.

Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off.

BELI

IG: @belibaby

www.belibaby.com

Are you thinking about growing your family? Whether you're just starting to plan or are actively trying to conceive, preconception health is key. Beli has vitamins to help both women and men optimize their health before pregnancy. With essential nutrients like Folate, Iodine, and Zinc, Beli ensures your body is ready for this exciting next step. Give yourself and your future baby the best foundation for a healthy start.

Visit Belibaby.com today and use code IAF15 for 15% off your first order.

Our Sponsors:

* BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up today and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com

On this episode, Ali is joined by Jared Walker—author of The Empty Nest and founder of the non-profit Dollar For—for one of the most raw and important conversations we’ve had in a while. It's so great to hear a guy's perspective on infertility, and Jared and his wife are still in the thick of it. There’s no neat ending here, no bow tied on the story—and that’s exactly why this conversation matters. Ali and Jared talk about how he and his wife grew up together (he's best friends with her brother); what happened when they started trying to build their family, including a devastating pregnancy loss; and where they are today. Jared shares how infertility has shaped his marriage, his identity, and his understanding of hope—while simultaneously building a nonprofit that helps people eliminate crushing medical debt. This episode is for anyone who is tired of “success stories only,” who feels stuck in the wait, or who needs permission to say: this is really hard—and I’m still here.

For more, go to https://dollarfor.org and https://theemptynestbook.com/

EPISODE SPONSORS:

THE WORK OF ART BOOK SERIES

Ali's Children's Book Series about IVF, IUI and Family Building Through Assisted Reproductive Technology

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

The latest book in the Work of ART series, “You Are a Work of ART," is for every kiddo born through ART -- and the people who love them.

Order "Work of ART," "Beautiful Bird" and "You Are a Work of ART," now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

FERTILITY RALLY

IG: @fertilityrally

www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

PHERDAL

IG: @pherdal_science

PherDal is the world’s first and only FDA-cleared, sterile, at-home insemination kit designed to help people build their families in the comfort of home. Created by parents who’ve been there, PherDal is safe, simple, and affordable—putting more options in your hands as you grow your family. Explore at PherDal.com.

Go to PherDal.com today and use code INFERTILEAF for $10 off.

BELI

IG: @belibaby

www.belibaby.com

Are you thinking about growing your family? Whether you're just starting to plan or are actively trying to conceive, preconception health is key. Beli has vitamins to help both women and men optimize their health before pregnancy. With essential nutrients like Folate, Iodine, and Zinc, Beli ensures your body is ready for this exciting next step. Give yourself and your future baby the best foundation for a healthy start.

Visit Belibaby.com today and use code IAF15 for 15% off your first order.

Our Sponsors:

* BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up today and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com