#46: Infertility, Miscarriage & Quiet Grief

Infertility is more common than we think; and it doesn’t just mean struggling to get pregnant. It can also mean waiting for years. Losing a pregnancy. Trying, again and again, with no answers. It’s a kind of grief that lives quietly in the background of so many lives…and often, no one talks about it. In this heartfelt conversation, I sit with Shumin Lin; litigator at Drew & Napier and President of Fertility Support SG. She began IVF at 29 and experienced miscarriage before becoming a mother of two. She shares what it was like to navigate this path before anyone around her was talking about it, and how that pain led her to build a safe space for others. This episode is for anyone who’s walked this road, or loves someone who has. Because this, too, is motherhood. And no one should have to walk it alone. ——— 00:00 Introduction 01:31 Shumin’s Journey with Infertility at 29 04:59 Redefining Infertility: What It Actually Means 05:48 Understanding IVF and How It Works 07:58 Rachel’s Story: Facing Secondary Infertility 09:03 The Unspoken Grief: Shumin’s Miscarriage Journey 17:00 The Partner’s Role in Navigating Loss 19:08 Unlearning Stigmas and Letting Go of Control 23:27 How to Support a Friend Facing Infertility 28:37 The Weight of Expectations and Societal Pressure on Women 32:16 The Heart Behind Fertility Support Singapore 38:15 Launching Singapore’s First Fertility Guidebook & Supporting Women in Workplaces 43:43 To My Younger Self: Hold On 46:00 Final Reflections Follow Rachel here: https://www.instagram.com/ms_rach/ Follow Fertility Support Singapore here: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitysupport.sg/ Find out more about Fertility Support Singapore here: https://fertilitysupport.sg/