Trying: A Loving Guide to Navigating the Emotions of Infertility and Loss

A compassionate, beautifully illustrated guide to navigating the emotional maelstrom of infertility and infant loss―designed for the busy, drained, and courageous

After a diagnosis of unexplained infertility, miscarriage, or a failed fertility round, a woman might receive additional suggestions for medical intervention. But what she rarely, if ever, receives are any tools to help her cope with what she is experiencing. Enter Trying, an illustrated guide that’s like a life raft on the sea of your infertility journey.

The condition of “trying” is a hard and harrowing journey in which people can experience loss, grief, shame, and confusion. Often quietly. Trying holds space for the grief and pain while also offering

• love and emotional support;
• relatable and heartfelt stories from people who have been there before;
• stunning illustrations in a digestible, bite-sized package; and
• practical coping strategies for reproductive trauma.

Whether you are still trying, have stopped trying, are considering adoption or surrogacy, or are anywhere in between, this gentle companion will empower you to keep braving wind-tossed seas. And it's the perfect, thoughtful alternative to flowers for a loved one navigating loss.

Wherever your journey leads, you are seen, you are heard, and you are not alone.

Liz Swenson is a bestselling author and illustrator of two survival guides for parents: You Got This, Mama! From Boobs to Blowouts, a Survival Guide for New Mothers and Raising Tiny Humans: From Potty Training to Prejudice, a Survival Guide for the Wild Toddler Years. She is a mom to three perfect kiddos and lives in sunny San Clemente with her beautiful family and her big dog, Harper. Alessa Martin is a marketing strategist and digital storyteller, and after a six-year struggle with infertility and late-term loss, Martin received a lot of unhelpful advice. She is inspired to share with others the type of support and resources she wished she had received.