Meet Justine

Justine is a certified coach and founder of The Hidden Trimester. Her fertility journey has comprised of both primary and secondary infertility, including 11 cycles of ovulation induction and 6 cycles of IVF, all culminating in one beautiful son.

My infertility journey has without doubt been the hardest thing I’ve had to go through in my life. And that is something that has taken me years to accept and own about myself, because while infertility made me feel completely inadequate as a woman, partner and friend, I felt even more inadequate for finding it so challenging. Why couldn’t I be 100% happy for my friends’ pregnancy news? Why did a failed IVF transfer completely knock me down when the embryo had only been a few days old? In fact why did any monthly failure hurt so much? Why couldn’t I even enjoy a wine with friends anymore? Why couldn’t I just “relax and let it happen” like other women were able to do? And as a good friend on the journey once said to me “why do we think about infertility 40 hours out of every 24 hour day?” 

It’s only as the years have gone by, and as I’ve spoken to more and more people that I realise I wasn’t inadequate for finding it so hard. If anything, the women who have travelled similar journeys are some of the strongest and most courageous women I know. Few people will truly understand the effort, sacrifice and immense grief that is part of an infertility journey, but that’s ok. That’s a factor we cannot change; but what we can change is the way we ourselves approach it, the mindset we build, and our ability to communicate what we need to partners, family, friends and colleagues. 

In a path full of doctors, gynaecologists, embryologists and nurses who are so consumed by your physical issues and treatments, it’s very easy to lose a part of yourself. And while there is so much focus on your physical body, it’s just as important to be looking after your mind and heart. Not only will this provide a strong foundation for your body and all the important things it needs to be doing in order to have a baby, but you also deserve to live a fulfilling life regardless of your fertility journey. Too often we put everything else on hold in this ongoing quest to become a mum, and this isn’t benefiting anyone, most importantly ourselves.

That’s why here at The Hidden Trimester I’ve built a coaching program that validates your experience and provides connection during one of the loneliest times of your life. But most importantly, it empowers you to think about your journey differently, gives you the tools to improve your mindset, your sense of control and your relationships, and to still thrive in other areas of your life that are important to you. 

There’s nothing I love more than meeting someone new who I can help on this journey, and I would love to hear from you.