Overcoming Infertility, Infant Loss, & Legal Battles: Cheri Bergeron’s Journey

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of *Quiet Connection*, I'm joined by tech professional, author, and nonprofit founder, Cheri Bergeron.  Cheri opens up about her decade-long journey through infertility, the agonizing loss of two children to rare genetic conditions, and the shocking legal battle that followed when an outdated state law threatened her family. We discuss the hidden gaps in fertility testing, the crushing reality of infant loss, and how she used trauma-informed therapies like EMDR to heal and rebuild.  Cheri's resilience, candor, and fierce advocacy offer a powerful reminder that while the path to parenthood doesn't always match the fairy tale, you're never alone in rewriting your story.  **Connect with Cheri:** - **Website:** CherisChoice.com - **Author Site**: CheriBergeron.com - **Book**: Mission Motherhood: Writing a New Fairy Tale of Love and Family (Available on Amazon) - **Social Media:** Instagram and LinkedIn **Key Takeaways** - **Male Fertility Testing is Essential**: Standard fertility protocols often fail to screen men thoroughly for genetic abnormalities, leaving birthing individuals to carry unnecessary physical and emotional burdens. - **The Importance of EMDR Therapy**: Processing trauma and PTSD through specialized therapies like EMDR can help integrate painful memories and restore peace after profound loss. - **Flaws in Presumed Father Laws**: Outdated family laws can allow ex-partners to claim parental rights over donor-conceived children, highlighting the need for systemic legal reform. - **Rewriting the Fairytale**: Family creation doesn't need to look traditional to be deeply meaningful and complete. This episode discusses topics that may be triggering for some individuals. Please check the show notes for more information and be mindful of your own mental health and comfort levels. Visit our Patreon to help support our mission to normalize the conversation and end the stigma surrounding PMADs! Support the show  *Special Thanks to* Steve Audy *for the use of our theme song: Quiet Connection* Want to be a guest on Quiet Connection - Postpartum Mental Health? Send Chelsea a message on PodMatch