Revisit: Starting a Family with Chronic Illness

If you've been following me on socials, you already know this, and if you don’t, then sit down for this new…. Saint Cooper and I are PREGNANT!! 🎉 We spent last week celebrating this surprise, and I took the week of from podcasting. So this week I'm re-releasing my two favorite episodes about my chronic illness and motherhood journey… and honestly, Alex in those episodes had absolutely NO idea what was coming for her this year. 😭 Next week, Saint Coops and I are dropping a full episode giving you the download on this pregnancy journey: how it happened (the old school way, yes really!!!), what finding out was like, how I'm feeling so far, our boy // girl predictions, and everything in between. We'll also be doing an Ask Alex episode answering ALL of your questions about this new chapter: send yours here: https://forms.gle/YYPREsLgYuEPhx4Y9 So much love!! 🤍 Saint Coop, Alex & our little lovie Revisit: This week on Calling in Sick, Saint Coop and I are sitting down for one of the most vulnerable conversations we’ve had yet. We’re talking about the reality of trying to have a baby while living with chronic illness: the planning, the fear, the logistics, the IVF part, and the emotional nuance that doesn’t always make it to Instagram. In this episode, we dive into: • Why we chose IVF instead of trying to conceive naturally • How we are processing this chapter differently (while not being mad at each other) • The caregiving dynamic and how a baby could shift it • Our fears around health, tapering medications, and timing We also revisit our embryo update and give more context to how we’re thinking about implantation, preparation, and what this season of life really looks like behind the scenes. So if you’ve ever wondered about becoming a parent while juggling chronic illness… put your headphones on and turn up the volume. 🎧 Don’t forget: our weekly Ask Alex episode drops Wednesday at 9 AM CST, where we answer your submitted questions (including IVF costs, tapering meds, and filming during flares). xx, Alex 💬 Comment: What’s the biggest fear or question you have about parenthood and chronic illness? TIMESTAMP: Intro: 00:00:00 Welcome back to Calling in Sick! 00:01:37 Life Updates & Yapping 00:09:14 Alex’s (& Coop’s) Picks of the Week (Hatch, Lola, AG1 and Uni) Chronic Illness & Trying to Become Parents: 00:16:22 Why we are doing IVF & what our experience has been like so far 00:23:24 Why we will only name ONE embryo & how we picked July as the implantation date 00:26:24 How being a caregiver & husband has given Cooper a different emotional experiencing around trying-to-conceive (TTC) 00:33:01 What sharing my chronic illness fertility journey online has been like 00:37:55 The fears and worries we are carrying around having a baby with a chronic illness 00:43:18 Why we’ve decided it’s time to go to Couples Therapy!! 00:44:44 How Cooper and I are diving up the logistics of planing for parenthood & the one thing that made us have a FIGHT 00:54:02 What’s next for our TTC journey Conclusion: 00:57:05 One Brain Cell Show: The Burbs (Peacock) 00:59:20 Thank you for listening! ---------------------------------------------------------------- Stay connected and follow us on socials for more! • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/callinginsickpod/ • TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@callinginsickpod • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558234607568 • Substack - https://substack.com/@callinginsickpod? ---------------------------------------------------------------- Powered by: Just Media House -- https://www.justmediahouse.com/ Produced by: Alexandra Wildeson — https://www.instagram.com/alexandrawildeson/ Alex’s Picks of the Week: Since we’re talking about all things baby this week… these are two things we already own that I *think* will come in handy with baby!!! ✨Hatch (alarm clock) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-32414449 — ALEXWILD gives you 55% off at checkout! ✨Lola (blanket) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-37229531 — ALEXWILD gives you 55% off at checkout! And Saint Cooper was SO excited to throw in his most recent favorite products too... ✨AG1 (greens mix) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-40888857 — pro tip, mix with Pineapple and coconut water!! ✨ Uni (lotion) — https://go.shopmy.us/p-43912973 — ALEXANDRA15 for 15% off at checkout! #TryingToConceive #IVFJourney #ChronicIllnessPregnancy #AutoimmuneDisease #HighRiskPregnancy #EmbryoTransfer #FertilityJourney #MotherhoodWithChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #ChronicPain #IVFSupport #CaregivingSpouse #MedicalGaslighting #HealthJourney #ChronicIllnessCommunity #DisabilityAwareness #CallingInSickPodcast #AlexWildeson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices