Barren (An Exploration of the Journey to Parenthood)

Barren invites the reader to inhabit the world of infertility as experienced by those who live in it. Theirs is not the typical story of a predictable timeline of planned pregnancy and a healthy full-term pregnancy leading to the birth of a healthy baby. This normative birth narrative discounts the reality of one in four birthing persons who experience pregnancy loss and one in six with fertility challenges. Failing to include these stories in pregnancy and birth discourse furthers the stigma of infertility, causes isolation, and can contribute to poor mental health outcomes. Barren amplifies the voices of those who’ ve experienced barriers to fertility including high-risk pregnancy and pregnancy loss. These folks have accessed assisted reproductive technology and/or surrogacy, have chosen adoption or are child free, not by choice. The contributors to Barren tell their story through personal essay, academic research, poetry and visual art. Despite the heartbreak of infertility, they demonstrate resistance, resilience and empowerment on their path to parenthood.