Irini Orihuela is an Editor at Love What Matters. She graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in journalism. In her free time, she enjoys photography and hikes.
‘I didn’t like the idea of not having a womb. Suddenly the very thing that had caused me so much agony was a symbol of my femininity.’: Woman battles through Adenomyosis leading to a hysterectomy
“My mother was convinced I had the same condition she had called Endometriosis. She kept taking me back to the doctor and pushing for more investigations. Each time the doctor would dismiss us both, treating her as the overbearing mother and me as the attention-seeking teenage girl.”
‘We’ve spent over $100k and still don’t have a living baby.’: Cystic fibrosis warrior shares candid reality of infertility battle, IVF
“It’s been two years of pumping my body full of every hormone you can imagine. One to make me ovulate, one to stop ovulating. Birth control pills to control your cycle, then hormones to throw you into menopause. Estrogen pills, patches, vaginal suppositories, and injections.”
‘Why can’t I do the one thing women are supposed to be able to do?’ It took 6 years, 700 shots, and a selfless surrogate to bring us our son.’: Mom shares surrogacy journey after infertility struggles
“‘I’m so sorry.’ I wanted to scream and cry and give up. With every other setback, I was determined to fight. But I struggled to accept we were here again.”
Watching My Firstborn Become A Sibling Has Been So Charmingly Sweet
“For a long time, we weren’t sure if we would have another baby. Now our second child is almost here, and although the chaos will double, as well as the laundry, I know the love will, too.”
I Overcame My Fear Of Childbirth To Have A Blissful Labor Experience
“My midwife came running into the room just in time to catch the baby. They put her on my chest, and I could not believe the experience I just had.”
‘I was tired of not feeling good enough. In the back of my mind, I felt like all my problems would be solved once I lost weight and became skinny.’: Man overcomes weight struggles to accept body
“I was always the one who was bullied for my weight. Forever the big kid in class, I spent a lot of days playing in the backyard by myself because I did not have many friends.”
After Years Of Searching For A Partner, I Wrote My Own Fairytale And Became A Single Mom By Choice
“What would you do if you knew you were destined to be a mother but hadn’t met the person you could envision raising children with? This was the predicament I found myself in at the age of 38.”
47 Job Applications Later, And Not A Single Company Called Back After The Pregnancy Talk
“I was eager and professionally prepared. I even heard comments about my ‘impressive resume.’ And yet, once they expressed interest in me and I disclosed my pregnancy, I was either ghosted or hit with the ‘please apply again after your maternity leave.'”
‘Should I leave here anticipating I have cancer?’ Nothing braced me for the answer I didn’t want to hear: ‘Yes, I would.’: Woman shares journey battling breast cancer while pregnant
“On the way up, we passed a skinny young woman wearing a hat where hair is supposed to be. This was the exact moment it hit me like a ton of bricks. I couldn’t fight the tears. I couldn’t talk. Her story, while different and unknown to me, was a look into our future.”
‘Today, I found your hair.’: Dog mom shares heartfelt moment of grief in wake of losing young pet to cancer
“I should wash your blanket. I know I should. Eventually I will. But right now, I can’t. No matter how gross that is.”