Every couple dreaming of parenthood imagines the moment they'll finally hold their baby in their arms. But what happens when that dream is deferred by unexpected challenges and heartbreak? A mother through IVF shares how a shocking diagnosis led to her rainbow baby.

When their son Wyatt was only seven months old, Anna and her husband discovered he had an incurable genetic condition called Alper's Disease. Devastated by his diagnosis and worried about their future children being affected, the couple sought genetic counseling and IVF treatment. What follows is their story of grief, love, courage and joy.

The loss of a much-wanted pregnancy or baby is an unimaginable heartache that touches countless lives, yet remains shrouded in silence. This guide explores the complexity of this experience and offers a list of trusted resources to support those facing such profound loss.

When Sarah and her husband began trying to conceive six years ago, they never imagined they'd end up needing the help of fertility treatment. After a long, winding road through multiple pregnancy losses, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and countless tests and appointments, Sarah shares how this journey has shifted her perspective and turned her into a courageous fertility advocate - as well as what's next for their family.

While every fertility patient's journey is different, there's one thing they all typically have in common: none of them expected to need the help of fertility treatments, doctors and an entire team of healthcare professionals in order to have a baby. In this story, Illume Fertility mom Azana shares the highs and lows of her experience and what she learned along her unique path to motherhood.

After years of wondering if she would ever become a mother, Nicole and her husband Scott decided to seek guidance from the fertility experts at Illume Fertility to see if it was possible for her to conceive with her diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis. This is their journey through IVF, a multiple pregnancy, heartbreaking loss and finding light on the other side. ⚠️ Content Warning: This story includes discussion of pregnancy loss and stillbirth. If you're in a vulnerable place, please protect your mental wellbeing by skipping this post for now.

This is Part 1 of our Katie's Story series. Read Part 2 and Part 3. After coming to terms with the fact that my husband and I likely wouldn't be able to conceive on our own, we decided to seek out the help of a fertility specialist. What followed was a long journey through fertility testing, procedures, multiple pregnancy losses, three rounds of IVF, and finally meeting our rainbow baby girl. Skip to a specific section: The First Step: Fertility Testing Understanding the World of Fertility Our First IVF Cycle Trying Again: Our Second Embryo Transfer Experiencing a New Kind of Loss Getting More Answers with an ERA Cycle Giving It One More Try: Our Third Transfer Overcoming Loss & Grief A High-Risk Pregnancy & The Greatest Reward Preview: The Journey to Baby #2 More IVF Resources

In honor of Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, we asked one of our patients to share her and her husband's journey through fertility struggles, multiple rounds of IUI, how they coped with the heartbreak of losing a pregnancy and where they are now. Note: This story includes mentions of pregnancy loss (miscarriage) that may be difficult for some to read. Please take care of yourself and skip this post if this topic is too tough to revisit right now.