• Home
  • Infertility & Birth Trauma
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Case studies & Testimonials
  • Media & Press
  • Blog
natasha williams therapy cbt therapist edgbaston logo image
Your femininity is not something to be proven with fertility

Your femininity is not something to be proven with fertility

by natasha-nwt | Jul 23, 2021 | Infertility, Therapy

In a previous article Your pregnancy and loss are YOUR experience, not your debt, we talked about expectations related to fertility that were set for and by women throughout history and across cultures. And, while it is an incredible female-specific ability and...
Why it’s important for you to heal, BEFORE you take the next step

Why it’s important for you to heal, BEFORE you take the next step

by natasha-nwt | Jul 16, 2021 | Infertility, Pregnancy Loss, Therapy

Miscarriage and pregnancy loss are traumatic experiences for most women who go through it, but the suffering is dealt with in silence and secrecy most of the time. In a raw and eye-opening newspaper article written recently by the Duchess of Sussex, in which she...
Accepting infertility is not equivalent to accepting defeat

Accepting infertility is not equivalent to accepting defeat

by natasha-nwt | Jul 9, 2021 | Infertility, Therapy

As a therapist for women who have suffered trauma through miscarriages and infertility issues, I have encountered a lot of magnificent women who are able to find strength and accept their bodies and unexpected circumstances when it comes to not being able to bear...
Your pregnancy and loss are YOUR experience, not your debt

Your pregnancy and loss are YOUR experience, not your debt

by natasha-nwt | Jul 2, 2021 | Pregnancy Loss, Therapy

In many cultures, not excluding ours, women of childbearing age are still held against a quite rigid expectation to give birth and raise an offspring or two. These expectations are expressed to women even from a young age, what with all the messages in media,...
All the suspected causes of your miscarriage should not matter THAT much

All the suspected causes of your miscarriage should not matter THAT much

by natasha-nwt | Jun 25, 2021 | Pregnancy Loss, Therapy

For a lot of women who have gone through miscarriage, identifying the possible cause of losing their pregnancy becomes the first rational step after initial feelings of grief and denial. This is a natural coping mechanism to fulfil a need to understand what “went...
« Older Entries

Recent Posts

  • Your femininity is not something to be proven with fertility
  • Why it’s important for you to heal, BEFORE you take the next step
  • Accepting infertility is not equivalent to accepting defeat
  • Your pregnancy and loss are YOUR experience, not your debt
  • All the suspected causes of your miscarriage should not matter THAT much

Recent Comments

  • natasha-nwt on Reconnecting with your body after miscarriage
  • Lauren on Reconnecting with your body after miscarriage
small logo image for natasha williams therapy

Stay Social

  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

Sign Up

Sign up for your monthly emails. Your first email will include the

Guide to managing Reproductive Trauma symptoms.

Move past your trauma and on to a happier future, whatever the outcome

Thank you! Please check your inbox

subscribe

As a solo parent to two black donor conceived chil As a solo parent to two black donor conceived children I am always concious of how they may experience the world due to their gender, ethnicity and donor conception identity. I believe my job as a parent is to allow them to navigate how they identify themselves in an idiosyncratic way but to also have a sense of confidence and pride in terms of who they are. That’s why our book collection always talks about difference and acceptance. 
In a recent trip to the sea life centre they chose these books. Julian who wants to be a mermaid and another book when Julian goes to the wedding of his same sex black relatives. How times have changed from when I was a little girl. Not only are the narratives of these books beautiful, they allow for difference in such normalized, accepting ways. Imagine a black boy wanting to be a mermaid and two beautiful black women getting married. I’m here for it all! 
Supporting your donor conceived children does not just have to speak about their story, but allowing them to see the world of others that is out there.
Happy Sunday ❤️
#smbc #donorconception #ivf #reproductivetrauma #lgbtqai
Having fertility treatment can feel like you are w Having fertility treatment can feel like you are working hard at something friends or family do not have to. Head down, best foot forward with the hope of achieving embryos that will eventually became your hoped for child. 
On this journey, the embryos develop an identity of their own. The embryologist updates you with the progress of development and formation. And it’s easy to hear the hint of optimism or sadness in their tone.
From embryo to blastocyst all the hard work of fertility treatment is resting on this moment. 
Everyone hopes for 5AA, people describe it like winning the lottery, as it feels a step closer to the dreamed for child. Some do not achieve this grade of embryo but either way an embryo is a representation of hope.
Sadly what is not spoken about enough is what happens when you are asked to make a decision on the future of those embryos if they are not used in fertility treatment. Maybe you are having a break from treatment, maybe you have had one child and the thought of going through the process again is too much. Maybe you have had a pregnancy loss, birth trauma or still birth and need time to process next steps.
As a consequence many people are paying storages fees for their embryos and they can feel quite ambivalent about them and their relationship with the past and present. I had the fortune of speaking and sharing my expert opinion about the many complex emotions with @vanessahaye 
We explored the emotions, attachments and meaning given to stored embryos. If I do say so myself, it’s a really good, thought provoking article. 
Thank you Vanessa for letting me hear your story and hold space.
The article is on my website or buy a hard copy
#ivf #infertility #embryo
Hello I’m hoping you were able to survive the bank Hello I’m hoping you were able to survive the bank holiday.  If you are attempting to extend your family (remember if you are in a couple you already are a family) bank holidays can be tough. The sun is shining, everyone is happy and it feels like every pregnant person, newborn babies and happy couples have come out of hibernation.
Barbecues, parks, restaurants, even sitting in your garden can feel quite challenging if you have families playing outside in the swimming pool. You love people and children but the experience of infertility means you avoid them. I get it. You’re angry at your self, others and even the world.
You have lost patience, empathy and the ability to feel happiness. Friendships and relationships are strained all for the sake of wanting a child. 
The story has changed and it was not meant to be this way. You wanted to be a parent, you wanted to make your siblings aunties or uncles, you wanted to make your parents grand parents. Or you wanted to be better parents than your parents.
All you want is your own baby that you can hold in your arms. Not your god child, neice, nephew or friend’s children. Even though you love them, they remind you of what you don’t have.
I have heard all of this and have felt it also. Some days are better than others. Nothing is linear. The grief, jealousy, low mood, anger is real and is part of the experience of trauma and loss through the fertility journey. But it can feel harder on bank holidays or sunny weekends. The loneliness hits different.
Please contact me if you would like space to sit with these feelings with permission, or untangle what is happening for you. We will travel this journey together to at least get you on shore with some techniques to help you plan the next step / chapter. Sometimes one session is enough to just reflect and explore, sometimes you may need more. 
* Haribos just because I fancied them that day. They made me smile so I ended up having them all in one go 🤦🏾‍♀️ x
#infertility #depression #lonliness #ttc #trauma
On the weekend I went to the fertility show. Her On the weekend I went to the fertility show. 
Here are 5 things I loved
✅ Community. It really felt that everyone in the room just got it. An example is of the lovely lady who felt overwhelmed and got tearful. So many people swooned in, talked, hugged and gave her words of reassurance. 
I met people who I have only communicated with on Instagram and it was like meeting an old friend.
✅ Fertility experts and Consultants from well established clinics gave up to date research findings, advice and FREE consultations. 
✅ Everything you needed to know under one roof - there was access to information around supplements, reflexology, emotional support, fertility clinics, men’s wellbeing, individual clinics, lived and honest experiences.
✅ There were more people from the black, brown, asian and the LQBTQAI community than I expected to see.
✅ Seeing my own fertility consultant and her remembering my name, my experiences of IVF and pregnancy and remembering my children.
What I didn’t quite like -
- Assumptions by some of the exhibitors that I had a partner and that could be the only reason for my questions. 
I also had a lady who I passed several times giving out leaflets about “assisted conception” and only gave me one when I was stood next to her. Even then she hesitated at first. It made me think about how difficult it can feel for those who are thinking about solo parenting in these spaces.
- Not having a black, brown or asian Counsellor person to offer any emotional support. 
- Lots and lots of information. I heard the word “overwhelming” several times. But what is positive, people were going away with more knowledge and information for their personal situation.
Overall it was lovely to meet so many people I respect from afar in real life. I came away with my own deeper understanding of fertility issues, a deeper connection to the community I am part of and more drive in thinking about how we can make these spaces even more accessible and welcoming for the communities who are normally quite private. 
@thefertilityshow 
@parenthoodinmind 
@paths_to_parenthub 
@fertility.action 
@ebony.concept1 
@themedicaltravelcompany 
@purermama
#ivf
It’s easy to forget that a couple’s infertility ca It’s easy to forget that a couple’s infertility can affect the whole relationship system, including the partner. In this case I am talking about the male partner in a heterosexual relationship.
I often hear women / birthing people talk about them feeling that they are “working harder” than their partner to make lifestyle choices. There may be many reasons for this, but I think it’s important to consider that the partner is also experiencing the grief of their reproductive narrative, their identity and what all this means. They can also experience an event during this journey as traumatic, but may not have the words to talk about it.
I regularly hear of partners engaging in increased anger, shut down, alcohol and drug use, gambling, shopping or more time spent at work. These are all symptoms of grief and sometimes trauma, and is a way to seek pleasure or disassociate.
Infertility and fertility treatments can be life changing in terms of how we see ourselves, others and the world. However, please know help us out there for both of you. X
#ivf #malefactorinfertility #donorconception

About Natasha

Case Studies

get in touch

FAQs

NATASHA WILLIAMS THERAPY | Quadrant Court | Suite 9 | 51-52 Calthorpe Road | Edgbaston | B15 1TH
 Privacy & Cookies Policy • Terms and Conditions
Copyright © natasha williams

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT