When The Supply Chain Shortages Came For Sperm

They say there's no perfect time to start a family.

Mar 15, 2022

On Planning For A Baby Despite A Global Pandemic   "My wife and I had always intended to start a family, and everyone will tell you there's no perfect time. Even in a pandemic." That's novelist Georgia Clark on their decision to get pregnant, even amid all the upheaval of the last two years and the impact on parents of young kids, specifically. In the particular case of Clark and her wife, what got them moving was a January 2021 article about the latest in pandemic-related shortages: sperm donations. Apparently, they had dropped sharply. "​​Yes, the idea of doing anything high stakes or complicated during a pandemic seemed, well, beyond risky. But my wife was sailing through her late 30s, and we had plenty of friends for whom IVF was a years-long struggle, still unresolved. It was time to dive in."   READ MORE

EMPOWERMENT I Stopped Smiling During The Pandemic, And It Feels Great   Wearing a mask made Thao Thai realize just how many of her smiles were meant purely to make others more comfortable. But now, she's thinking about the kind she wants to model for her daughter: smiles of joy, not obligation. Read More   COUPLEDOM 4 Signs You Should Try Couples Therapy   Circular arguments, less and less talking overall — here are some concrete signs it might be time to talk to a therapist together. Hey, it's been a tough two years, and you certainly aren't alone. Read More   BE PREPARED Families Can Get Another Round Of Free COVID-19 Tests Right Now   Is your stash looking a little depleted? Every US household can now request another four rapid antigen tests from the federal government, totally free of charge. Read More

That Time I Took Black Market Drugs For Breastfeeding   I struggled with breastfeeding — a lot. These days I joke about my "busted tits'' whenever the subject comes up and laugh off the fact that I was quite simply pumping a dry well. What are you gonna do? But in the thick of it, while hormonally wrecked and totally sleep-deprived, I felt awful and desperate. And so I laughed in pained sympathy with this piece by TikTok's @Garbagemom, Beth Crosby, about the extreme lengths she went before she finally said: enough is enough. If you're miserable and need somebody to say it's okay to stop, consider this a message from both of us.   Read More

Body Shaming In The Pediatrician's Office Causes Real Harm Teens Are in a Mental Health Crisis—Here's How Parents Can Help American Parents Are Ridiculously Stressed Out, Survey Shows

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