There is nothing more fulfilling for a woman than to become a mother. Earlier this week, Model Chrissy Teigen announced on Instagram that she and husband, singer John Legend, are expecting their first child. The announcement was more special since it has not been that long since Teigen openly spoke about their struggle with infertility which, according to her, has been going on for years.
Teigen, who has received praises for sharing her story and raising awareness, is of course not the only woman to deal with the infertility. In fact, the latest numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that more than 7 million American women wanted treatment for it. We asked a number of women who've been through the entire process to share their stories. What they learned from the experience, and what they wish others understood about infertility.
Here's what they had to say.
"He was totally worth the wait." Jen Matz, 33, and a medical editor said of her 3 year old son.
After struggling to get pregnant for close to two years, Matz will never forget the moment she first held her son. "The moment my son was born was the best moment of my life. I cannot even begin to describe what I felt in that exact moment because it was too good to be true. Our goal was never ovulation, a positive pregnancy test, a beating heart on an ultrasound, or reaching full-term. The only goal we had was this moment: when a perfect, crying baby was placed on my chest. The moment I can finally call that baby, MY baby." She said.
"We were pretty tired after 3 years of charting, timed lovemaking, doctors, and heartbreak."-Susan Simkin, 51, a psychologist remembered her journey to motherhood.
Teigen shared that the constant questions about when she and her husband John were going to have children was one of the hardest parts of her struggle. Simkin told Health.com that sadly, the invasive questions don't stop after having a baby. "People have finally stopped asking why I don't have more children. My husband and I would have a lot if it were up to us, but we also felt that we were not going to mortgage her college fund to give her a sibling." Simkin stated.
