We recently connected with Laura Watson and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I had been casually coaching women through their fertility treatment and IVF experiences for a few years. I would help them navigate the tricky medications and instructions, share my own experiences and how I managed the process, and most importantly, listen. It was very refreshing for these women to feel heard by someone who really understood what they were going through.

A couple of years ago I was texting back and forth with a women who was navigating a donor egg IVF cycle. She was struggling with some of the more complicated decisions and I helped guide her. She shared with me how after our converstations she always felt so much calmer and confident and told me I should do this professionally. “Are there professional coaches for IVF?” she asked, “Because you should be one.”

Within a week I found a certification program for fertility coaching and earned my certificate a few months later.

Laura, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Laura Watson, I’m raising two small children with my husband, Jared, blissfully in the city – specifically Boston in the very special neighborhood of Charlestown. In 2022 I started my own business offering fertility coaching services to women managing fertility treatments such as IVF.

I was 40 years old when we got married and knew that we may need some medical intervention to build our family, what I didn’t know is that the journey it took us on would be so meaningful past having children.

After seeing our first fertility doctor, I was fast tracked to IVF after checking a few boxes for less invasive fertility treatments. I had always assumed IVF meant you would have a baby but after three failed rounds I wasn’t so sure. Women are born with a finite number of eggs needed to conceive and my number of eggs was very low. Our options were dwindling.

Eventually, we decided to consider finding an egg donor. We would use a donor egg and my husband’s sperm to create an embryo, then transfer that embryo to my uterus and hopefully conceive. I was pregnant after our first cycle and fortunate enough to have more embryos to freeze in order to have more children.

Two years later we were ready to try again for a second baby. Unfortunately, I experienced three pregnancy losses and two embryo losses before having a successful pregnancy with our daughter, now two.

Throughout this experience I was very open and honest about how we built our family. I shared our story in articles and blog posts remembering how important it was to me, while in treatment, to hear success stories I could relate to. Women began reaching out to me to learn more about my experience and it was rewarding to be there for them and help them navigate the complicated process of fertility treatment.

I began searching for a way to increase my reach and help more women struggling to conceive, specifically women over 35 using IVF or donor conception. I discovered some helpful accounts on social media featuring fertility coaches. I didn’t know this role existed and was excited that I could potentially turn my passion for supporting these women into a new career. I found a certification program that aligned with the sort of coaching I was looking to do and earned my certification just a few months later. In July of 2022 I officially opened Positive Fertility – a holistic fertility coaching practice supporting women as they navigate infertility treatment and donor conception.

Infertility and fertility treatments, such as IVF, are complicated in a number of ways. The logistics, physical challenges, as well as mental and emotional stress can be all consuming and overwhelming. My coaching program offers solutions to navigate the process in a way where the client feels confident in their treatment plan, can manage the physical difficulties (such as medications, side effects, and injections associated with IVF), and make difficult decisions with clarity. I work with each client to identify their personal “toolbox” of effective techniques that help them find calm and reduce anxiety in even the highest stress situations.

I work with clients one-on-one using video calls, emails and laser coaching which allows them to send me quick questions over a message app between scheduled meetings. I give them a safe space to discuss even the most difficult feelings and help them work out a path to a more positive mindset. My program gives them all the information and knowledge they need to move forward but also offers them an opportunity to feel heard and validated when they just need a trusted support person to listen.

What sets me apart is that I don’t just offer the information, I also take the time to really get to know my clients and give them a safe space to talk through their feelings. I think feeling heard and validated is one of the most important parts of working through a difficult situation.

What I am most proud of since opening my business is finding a way to repurpose my own difficult infertility experience into a new passion that helps others is so special. I don’t think many people have that opportunity, so I take it very seriously and I’m appreciative of my audience and clients who trust me with their stories.

It’s also been exciting to silence my own fears, insecurities and imposture syndrome which have all sabotaged me in the past. I know how badly my clients need my services, because I used to be in their shoes, and I know how to help them. It can be very scary to stop listening to self-doubt but when the positive voices in your head finally become the loudest, it’s beautifully empowering.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Growing up in Connecticut, I struggled in school growing up due to some learning challenges we didn’t have names for then and a pretty severe lack of confidence. After graduation I went to a nearby four-year college and was completely overwhelmed by the transition. I had thought college was going to be fun and a fresh start, but I was unhappy and lost.

The following year, I made a somewhat impulsive decision to transfer to a small women’s college just outside of Boston and the move changed everything. The shift of scenery and special community I found at my new school shifted my mindset to show me what I was capable of and for the first time I felt confident about my accomplishments academically.

Still, I felt aimless after graduation in what I wanted to focus on. I had a series of jobs in retail and sales that I was proud of but never felt particularly passionate about my work. Then, in 2003 I trained for my first marathon and once again a small decision made a huge impact. I thought I was just training for one race but the reward for a full season of strengthening my body and mind to complete a 26.2-mile race had lasting effects. I was changed. I ran again in 2005 and this time joined a charity team raising money for the American Liver Foundation. I was inspired by the entire experience and afterwards reached out to the director of the program asking for a meeting. “How about an interview?” she said, “We’re hiring.” For the next 5 years I worked with that organization managing their marathon team and helping other chapters across the country raise money through endurance races. I had found my passion. I worked for a second non-profit, once again raising money and educating the community on a powerful mission and felt that I had finally landed in a place where I could feel good about my career.

These were my first lessons in how powerful even the smallest changes can be to improve your mindset, your confidence, and your life. I carry this with me now when I’m working with clients who seem stuck in negative thoughts and self-talk. I offer ideas of small, manageable changes to shift them to a more positive outlook which is very effective in improving our whole well-being.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I’m organically a very positive person and a good listener.

While I offer my clients important knowledge and information to guide them through the complicated process of fertility treatment, I also provide a safe space for them to simply talk and not be afraid of judgement or receiving empty advice. Sometimes, when we are experiencing something really difficult, we just need to feel heard and validated. I provide that opportunity for my clients. When the time is right, we shift to identifying the right tools to continue managing those heavy feelings so they can feel confident about how they are navigating the complex path they are on.

Positive Fertility isn’t just about ‘thinking positive’, it’s about having the tools and confidence to feel good about their journey. I help them get there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.positivefertilitycoaching.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positive.fertility/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/positivefertilitycoach
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauradwatson/
• Other: www.pinterest.com/positivefertilitycoach/