Becky - no experience, no, but sending you love and good wishes across the ocean.
Alison x

Dear Dagny - I so very rarely come to these boards now (have moved on in many ways) but seeing your name just wanted to tell you again how moved I was by your story - and that I cannot quite believe it is now nearly 6 years since Katelyn arrived too soon. You were always so strong and generous of sp...

Hi there Shell, yes I remember you - I was on these boards fairly regularly from 2002 to 2004/05 (gosh I can't even remember) doing, I think, 5 IVFs and 2 FETs in total, all ultimately unsuccessful. I am however now Mum to three wonderful daughters aged 3-6, who were placed with us for adoption 6 mo...

Hi Sita, thanks for your kind email. Advice to wait a while before starting on the adoption route can feel difficult when you're itching to get going, but is probably sensible - it is a very different route to having a child, so do give yourselves time to explore the options. I'd spend some of that ...

OMG! Lots of people I remember - although I realise that you've been posting over quite a few months so may not still be around. Can't believe so many of you have children who are 4 and more - but I suppose that just goes to show how long it is since I was here regularly. Anyway, my news (posted in ...

I'm a very rare visitor to this site these days - I realised with some horror that it is nearly 6 years since I started posting on these boards, part way through my 2nd IVF cycle, and that its getting on for 3 years since we finally got off the IVF merry-go-round, after 6 failed full cycles and 2 fa...

Hi Sarah, and congratulations from another oldie and now very irregular visitor to these boards. I left a separate post on Dagny's message about her daughter, but I was absolutely thrilled to see that so congrat's again to Dagny on becoming a Mum. Kat, Nikki, sorry to hear that the two of you have h...

Dear Dagny - haven't looked on the boards for months and months, so apologies for not replying to your news sooner. As with others, the happy news of the birth of baby Chloe, after all that you have been through, brought a tear to my eye. You have borne so much with such strength and dignity, and be...

Dearest Becky, you and baby Moses are in my thoughts and prayers. With much love my friemd,

Alison xx

Hi Ellie, Kat, and Becky They're awful aren't they those insensitive questions that people ask. Whilst I've once or twice managed a "I can't have kids" when people have asked, its generally left me an emotional wreck. Now I just about have an answer if people ask if I want/ wanted children along the...

Hi Amanda, how lovely to hear from you and to hear your news, and that you're feeling much more positive about life. Its a real coincidence seeing you post on here as I'd just popped in on my way to an adoption board where I was considering posting about my experience so far of the adoption thing, b...

Dear Kat - I agree with Debra, you're being a little harsh - feeling able to answer that question in a straightforward way is a huge step forward. I too have had a new friend ask about my childnessness, and told her the truth, but still find its surprising what gets to me. My two most recent example...

Dearest Kat - no magic formula or even any particular words of wisdom I'm afraid but had to reply to your message, mainly to let you know that you're not alone here. From everything you've said you're clearly "depressed" in the sense of being unbearably sad - and why wouldn't you be given everything...

I'm not sure I've read it put quite that bluntly, but I think the answer is basically yes. From what I've read healthy babies are few and far between - off the top of my head I think its something like 300 babies a year (under one) are adopted, and quite a large proportion of them will have obvious ...

Yup, count me in too. I work in central london, live in south london so anywhere in london is fine for me. Could do an evening during the week or lunchtime (/cake!) at a weekend, whichever suits others best.

Alison