Becoming A Mom – An IVF Story by Liz Jauvtis
Publisher: The Book Publishing Pros
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by AstilbeThis raw and intimate memoir follows Liz Jauvtis through her seven-year fertility journey, multiple IVF cycles, three pregnancies, and the unwanted realities of motherhood at 35 during the global pandemic. Liz brings an intimate and personal perspective to universal experiences. Her story dismantles the idealized version of motherhood perpetuated by social media, instead offering authentic insights into the physical, emotional, and birth trauma, sleep deprivation, social pressure, and the identity shift from career woman to stay-at-home mother. A compelling narrative for anyone touched by fertility struggles or modern parenting challenges.
Fertility isn’t guaranteed for anyone.
It was nice to see so many acronyms and other terms related to fertility and reproduction described in the footnotes, especially in the first several chapters. Not every reader is necessarily going to be aware of what all of these things mean, but understanding them was critical in order to visualize everything this couple needed to go through in order to have kids together. The explanation of how PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) can affect not only the ovaries but many other parts of the human body as well was especially interesting.
I found myself wishing for more detailed descriptions of every step of Ms. Jauvtis’ journey to having biological children. This could have been separated into a trilogy, one for her infertility treatments like IVF and the toll they took on her mental and physical health, a second title about experiencing anxious pregnancies after treatments have been successful, and a final instalment about parenting during the Covid-19 pandemic. While I understood why all three topics were combined into the same book given how rapidly everything happened in the author’s life, it also meant that this was something I’d be a little hesitant to recommend to a friend who was currently experiencing infertility or pregnancy loss because of how many pages were dedicated to pregnancy and parenting. Not everyone who pursues treatment is successful, after all, and that’s something that could make it trickier to determine who the right audience is for this piece.
Some of the most memorable sections for me were the ones that acknowledged the many controversial topics surrounding fertility treatments, pregnancy and birth care, and parenting choices in the first few years of a child’s life. Ms. Jauvtis’ open-minded approach to these subjects was refreshing, and she came across to me as someone who was willing to listen to other points of view regardless of the decisions she and her husband made for their own family. I was especially interested in how she responded to the people in her life who had moral qualms about IVF and the possibility of using donor gametes given that she and her spouse needed medical help in order to have a baby. It takes maturity to remain so level-headed about a subject matter that is this important to someone, and I admired how she handled those difficult conversations.
Becoming A Mom – An IVF Story was thought provoking.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my book so thoughtfully and for sharing such a detailed and balanced review. I truly appreciate your kind words about the explanations of fertility-related terms and your reflections on the more complex aspects of fertility, pregnancy, and parenting.
I’m especially grateful for your feedback about wanting more detailed insight into each stage of my journey. As you noted, combining infertility treatments, pregnancy, and early parenthood into one book meant that some parts could not be explored as deeply as they might deserve. Your suggestion is incredibly valuable and something I will keep in mind for future editions or related work.
I also appreciate your sensitivity in highlighting how the content may land for different readers. You’re absolutely right—this book may resonate more with those experiencing secondary infertility, as it includes reflections on pregnancy and parenting, which can be difficult for those still trying to have their first child. Your perspective reinforces how important it is for me to be clear about the intended audience.
Thank you again for your thoughtful and considerate feedback.
You’ are quite welcome! It’s always nice to hear back from authors, and I only wish that happened more often.
I loved reading this book and hope you’ll consider submitting any future books of yours to Long and Short Reviews as well.
It was such an informative and interesting read. I’ll be keeping it in mind to recommend to people in the future.