An amazing service has just been launched by an incredible woman I know, Natasha Canfer. Iris Fertility offers a ‘sherpa’ service, tailored to your individual needs, which could significantly reduce the practical and emotional burden commonly associated with building a family this way. Examples of what the sherpa could offer include practical and emotional support such as:
- Helping you choose a clinic based on your circumstances
- Liaising with clinics on your behalf – phone calls, emails, letters
- Identifying and arranging appointments with complementary health practitioners and other healthcare professionals
- Signposting to other organisations and professionals
- Attending consultations and appointments with you
- Research
- Travelling for treatment abroad
- Communicating with your employer
- Raising complaints and concerns
- Facilitating animal-care, childcare and other logistical matters
- Driving you to and from egg collection
- Shopping for cards and gifts to mark other people’s baby-related ‘occasions’
- Talking on your behalf to friends and family
- Access to resources such as books through the Bookarium
- Daytime, evening and weekend in-person support when and where you actually need it – at home, in a café, at the clinic, walking the dog, in the car, at the beach, etc.
- Online, telephone and text contact when you need it.
Meet ups for those planning or going through fertility treatment and for grandparents to be are also planned.
Natasha has her own fertility journey which she shares on her site. This experience has inspired her to help support others. She is already doing some brilliant work supporting those having treatment and I wish her all the success. I wish I had had such support during my own IVF experience. Knowing there was ‘a hand to hold’ during some of those lonely and frustrating times would have made a big difference. Check out the website and give her a ring for a no-obligation chat or email her to find out more.