The Psychology of Infertility & Miscarriage w/ Dr. Molly Burrets

Ep. 191: This episode includes discussion of infertility and pregnancy loss—please listen with care. Today’s episode is a special conversation with Dr. Molly Burrets, a clinical psychologist and professor at USC, about the deeply personal and often invisible experience of reproductive grief. Dr. Molly struggled with infertility herself, facing miscarriage, a TFMR, and ultimately pursuing IVF abroad. Having made it through to the other side, she shares what these experiences taught her—about grief, resilience, and what it means to be truly supported. Anyone navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, or supporting someone through it will get a lot from this conversation. ____________________

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Topics Discussed:

00:00:00: Intro & trigger warning 00:01:45: Welcome 00:03:07: Molly’s personal story 00:04:02: Starting her family later in life 00:04:40: First miscarriage 00:05:13: TFMR (Termination for Medical Reasons) 00:07:29: Choosing IVF for genetic testing 00:10:07: IVF in Mexico vs. U.S. 00:17:56: Success with final embryo 00:20:18: Private Instagram for IVF updates 00:21:34: Setting boundaries during IVF 00:22:55: Lack of education around IVF 00:23:56: Molly's support during her struggles 00:25:37: Setting boundaries with pregnant women 00:31:39: Thoughts on viral clip about infertility 00:42:56: Group etiquette around fertility conversations 00:45:33: Competitive feelings among women around pregnancy 00:50:18: Helping friends through miscarriage 00:47:21: Struggles with secondary infertility 00:49:10: Time gap between kids 00:50:18: Healing relationship with body during pregnancy 00:52:52: Marital strain and vulnerability during infertility 01:03:11: Postpartum mental health red flags 01:05:54: Body image shifts during pregnancy 01:09:46: Grieving after abortion 01:12:06: Bittersweet emotions after conceiving through IVF

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