Messages of Hope

   This week, the topic is: Virtual Support~Message Boards.

ivillage.com

   Message Boards were my saving grace when I was going through infertility. I didn’t even know they existed until I googled my pre-pregnancy symptoms one day (#999 On Naomi‘s List). There, I landed on a TTC board (through Health Boards) and I started feverishly reading. When I felt the urge to ask a question (which was after only about 5 minutes) I joined and I was instantly hooked.

    It was on that board that I was referred to the Infertility board. In denial, I started posting there and realized it was just the right place for me to be. I was transported to an abbreviated, confusing world of questions and doubt but the ladies quickly became my virtual friends. They explained the abbreviations and steps (of IUI and IVF) and offered me advice (like what to ask my RE). Mostly, it was a place of annonymity, a place I could go to to vent, cry, seek solace and meet people that knew exactly what I was going through. I felt whole there, even when I felt empty and broken in my real life. I posted nearly every day (sometimes more than once a day) for over a year and still checked in with my infertile buddies even when I moved onto the pregnancy board. Of course, I also came back there when I went through more IVF cycles for baby #2 (and #3).

    Perhaps the thing I loved the most was how supportive we all were with one another. They were my personal cheerleaders through every cycle, asking how I was feeling, inspiring me with their successes, and picking me up when I was drenched with failure and misery. I turned to them, read, commented and soon offered my own advice through my experiences and then, I was the one inspiring others.

    I really loved these boards and although there were hundreds of people who lurked (based on the “views” of the post), there were a select few that stayed around and posted often. That’s what kept me going back.

    There are many message boards out there. Another one I frequented was the “IVF support, advice and friends board” under “TTC & Family Planning” at ivillage. They have 37 different boards to choose from under this heading for any specific need. A great feature these boards allowed (that Healthboards did not) was the ability to add blinkies, tickers, and links to your posts. (So all you ladies with blogs may really like that!) Personally, I was a little overwhelmed with how many people came to this board. Trying to keep track of everyone’s cycle got a little too hectic for me. But, that may be just the thing you’re looking for to jump away from your own life (at least for a little while as often as you want) and support others at the same time. Trust me, you won’t feel alone once you’ve left there! In the Infertility Support board, there are 238,512 messages, 45 posted just today.

   Tomorrow, we will hear from a woman who succeeded through infertility and was an avid member of the boards at ivillage. So, come back to check it out!

   Now, I’m asking you, how many of you have visited message boards? How have they helped? Please share your experience!