My name is Meg, and I live in California with my husband and our sweet dog, Rowena. As of April 2024, I have experienced seven miscarriages and do not yet have a living child.

For several years, I have undergone IVF treatments, immunology protocols, Lupron Depot suppressions, and countless blood tests and procedures, all in the hope of finally having a healthy baby. Along the way, I’ve been diagnosed with endometriosis, adenomyosis, a Müllerian anomaly, MTHFR mutation, and Sjögren’s syndrome.

I didn’t know anyone who was going through this, who truly understood this level of grief. I was living in a home we bought for a future family, in a town built for families, yet without a child to share it with, and I was struggling. But I knew I couldn’t be the only one feeling this way. 

So I created the instagram account, @For_the_Barreness, and later this website. For the Barreness became my way of coping with the loss, loneliness, and isolation that so often come with infertility. What I found was a community of thousands of people just like me, each with a story to tell. If we could hear more from others walking a similar path, maybe we would all feel a little less alone.

Infertility can be one of the most isolating experiences a person endures. Even in a room full of people, it can feel like the loneliest place in the world. This space exists to help us feel connected, to remind each other that our feelings are valid, and that we are not alone.

For the Barreness is for anyone who has faced challenges on the path to parenthood. You are seen, you are heard, and you are not alone.