Kate Goudie

In November, I’m taking on a 10km swim to raise money for Sands, the baby loss charity. 🤍  

I will be doing the 10km in one day, a little disclaimer… I haven’t been in a proper swimming routine for months, so please don’t judge me if it takes me a while to get back into it! 😂 Every length will be worth it for a cause that means so much to me.

For the past 3 years, we’ve been trying to conceive. During that time, we’ve been through 2 rounds of IVF, 3 failed embryo transfers and 1 silent miscarriage.

Infertility is something that isn’t spoken about nearly enough. It can be incredibly traumatic, lonely and heartbreaking, and it’s hard to explain to people who haven’t experienced it themselves.

It’s not just the failed treatments or the disappointment month after month. It’s the uncertainty, the waiting, the constant hope followed by heartbreak, and trying to carry on with everyday life when something inside you feels broken.

It can make you lose your spark. It can make it hard to make plans, hard to be around certain conversations, hard to celebrate other people’s happy news, and sometimes even hard to find the energy to reply to a message. You can become sensitive to things that never used to affect you, because the reminders are everywhere when you’re living through something so consuming.

It can feel incredibly lonely watching life carry on around you while you feel stuck in a chapter you never chose.

I know people often don’t know what to say, and I completely understand that. Sometimes there simply aren’t any words that can make things better. But please know that if I’ve been distant from friends or family, or haven’t always been myself, it’s not because I don’t care. Sometimes I’ve just been trying to navigate feelings that I don’t even know how to put into words myself. 🤍

I’m sharing this because infertility and baby loss deserve to be spoken about more openly. Nobody should have to feel ashamed, isolated or like they have to suffer in silence. And behind every statistic, there is a person, a relationship, a story and so much hope.

That’s why I’m taking on this 10km swim for Sands, a charity supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby. I want to help raise money for the incredible work they do and help ensure that people experiencing baby loss receive the support, care and understanding they deserve.

Every donation, no matter how small, would mean so much to me. And if sharing this helps even one person feel a little less alone, then that means something too.

So here’s to getting back in the pool, one length at a time, and turning some of the hardest experiences of our lives into something positive. 🏊‍♀️🤍

If you’re able to donate, share this post or simply send some love, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

And to anyone who is currently going through infertility, IVF, pregnancy loss or anything similar, please know that you can always reach out to me. 🤍 You don’t have to explain yourself, put on a brave face or pretend you’re okay. Sometimes it helps just to talk to someone who understands, who has been through similar experiences and who knows how lonely it can feel. Whether you need someone to listen, a shoulder to cry on or just someone who gets it without having to explain everything, my messages are always open. You don’t have to go through it feeling alone. 🤍