For most, the second Sunday in May is made up of breakfast in bed, handmade cards and a bunch of flowers. Happy, right? Well, depending on the circumstance, Mother’s Day can also be a source of pain rather than celebration.
And for every celebrity pregnancy announcement, there are just as many struggling behind the scenes. Thankfully, however, not all are struggling in alone and in silence.
In the case of Aussie model Erin Holland, the journey to becoming a mum (alongside husband Ben Cutting) is one that has so far been shrouded in feelings of inadequacy.
Sadly, this is not an uncommon experience for couples experiencing fertility issues. Thankfully for people like Erin, it’s a shared experience which is finally getting the platform it so needs.
Erin’s fertility journey so far…
“‘I am so confident some days and others not at all and for the first time I think I’ve felt what it is like to have days that are really a struggle,” she told The Daily Telegraph as she opened up about her journey with IVF.
“Some days it is not me, it is just the hormones that you are putting into your body and the stress you are going through,” she added.
And in case the mental toll wasn’t enough, Erin revealed that she’s been wearing the change in hormones on her skin. “Adult acne was one other thing to add to the list I suppose of inadequacies I was feeling,” she said.
After multiple rounds of egg harvesting, Erin was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome. Which is what exactly? PCOS is a hormonal condition affecting one in 10 girls and has been linked to side effects such as irregular menstrual cycles and acne.
“When you spend your life in front of the camera, it really did knock the confidence out of me to struggle with my skin,” she shared.
Though we mightn’t all relate to a life in the public eye, many of us understand the impact a breakout can have on our self-esteem.
And no, you’re not vain for admitting that.
Piling on top of the already-present emotional load, Erin explained, “I was feeling pretty average on the inside and I felt like my skin was average on the outside there for awhile as well. It did rock my confidence.” Understandable.
Main image credit: @erinvholland
We commend Erin for vulnerability and honesty. Have you undergone IVF? If not, do you know anyone who has?
Not trying to get pregnant at the moment but in the future I may need to do IVF
Hopefully you won’t need to but sensible to wait until you are ready.
I admire her for sharing this with everyone.
I have a colleague who has put the breaks on IVF after multiple rounds over the last couple of years. I don’t have views either way about children and probably not likely to have any in my lifetime but it is hard to watch her. She has been candid about her journey as well and I have really appreciated her sharing her story with me.
Her hubby looks very happy! No wonders there!
It is awful to keep trying to fall pregnant and it doesn’t happen. So disappointing every month.
Yes, know someone. I pray for her to get a baby . She would be incredible mum
Yes I know someone who has 2 children through IVF
I love to hear from celebrities who are going through the same struggles as us normies
I haven’t had IVF but have seen enough stuff in the media to know how hard it is.
Sad when you think its just so easy but its not always
Yes life can be so cruel for some.
It must be heartbreaking to struggle to conceive.
PCOS is so common! I know someone struggling with this, plus another with endometriosis who is having difficulty getting pregnant.
Such a difficult condition for anyone
I didn’t need IVF but have friends and family who did and it can be heartbreaking for both.
A friend of mine has PCOS, after help
From a gynaecologist she now has two healthy children.
Yes, I’ve had IVF. It is a very difficult process, even though I was ultimately successful.
I never had.But i can understand her mentality.
I haven’t gone through IVF but heard and read so much about it, its not easy at all
This is just sad.
I can’t imagine how hard it would be to have to go through IVF. There are so many couples (and singles) who don’t have the funds to try more than once.