IVF is often talked about as a medical journey to having a baby. But what happens when IVF becomes years of waiting, anxiety, loss, miscarriage, financial pressure and emotional exhaustion?

In this deeply honest conversation, Karmel shares her experience of infertility, seven IVF cycles, miscarriage, pregnancy after IVF, and the emotional trauma that continued even after becoming a mother. She opens up about the anxiety that followed her pregnancy, why baby showers and pregnancy announcements can still be triggering, and what it feels like when your body remembers what your mind knows is over.

Karmel also talks about the biggest misconceptions about IVF, including the belief that IVF guarantees a baby, the loneliness of infertility, the pressure of forced positivity, and the comments women going through IVF and miscarriage wish people would stop making.

We also talk about miscarriage grief, suppressed grief, healing after pregnancy loss, therapy during IVF, finding support at work, and why there is no timeline for grief. Karmel shares how she learned to process her emotions rather than hide them, and how she now supports other women going through IVF who need to feel heard, understood and less alone.

If you are going through IVF, infertility, miscarriage or pregnancy after loss—or supporting someone who is—this conversation is a reminder that you don't have to pretend you're okay, and that your experience doesn't have to look like anyone else's.

Topics covered: IVF and infertility, seven IVF cycles, miscarriage, pregnancy after IVF, IVF anxiety, infertility grief, miscarriage grief, IVF trauma, pregnancy after loss, emotional healing, fertility treatment, fertility journey, therapy during IVF, forced positivity, and motherhood after infertility.

Postpartum depression doesn't always look the way we expect it to. In this episode of The Madinat Mom Podcast, Dr. Nivin Hanash explains the signs of postpartum depression, the difference between the baby blues and postpartum depression, and when a mother may need more support.

Dr. Nivin Hanash is a mother, health promotion researcher, and public health expert whose research focuses on postpartum depression and maternal mental health in the UAE.

In this honest conversation, we go beyond the common idea that postpartum depression simply means feeling sad after having a baby.

We talk about the signs mothers and families can miss, why symptoms can appear months after birth, why mothers often normalize what they're experiencing, and why "just take a shower," "go for a walk," or "it's just a phase" isn't always enough.

One of the most important messages from this conversation is:

If you're struggling mentally during pregnancy or after giving birth, you're not alone — and you're not being dramatic.

Maternal mental health is health.

And asking for support doesn't mean you're failing as a mother.

The episode also highlights an important distinction: postpartum depression is different from the short-lived "baby blues," and persistent or worsening symptoms deserve professional attention.

Please remember: this episode is for education and awareness and isn't a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. If you're experiencing persistent or worsening symptoms, speak with a qualified healthcare professional.

🤍 Subscribe to The Madinat Mom Podcast for honest conversations about motherhood, maternal mental health, parenting, and the experiences we don't always talk about.

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