As I sit down to write this, my heart is filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and hope. As the founder of kegg, I have dedicated my life to helping empower women by understanding their cyclical bodies. But what many may not know is that my journey to motherhood has been fraught with obstacles and heartache.
March holds a special significance for me as it marks both Pregnancy After Pregnancy Loss Awareness Month and Endometriosis Awareness Month. These themes resonate deeply with my own struggles and triumphs. My name is Kristi, and I want to share my story with you, in the hopes that it may bring comfort and inspiration to those who may be facing similar challenges.
My husband and I dreamt of starting a family, and once kegg became my reality after years of hard work and dedication, we were excited to begin trying. Our excitement was quickly met with sorrow when our positive pregnancy tests quickly faded and we experienced multiple miscarriages. We consistently lost our babies when they were the size of blueberries. The “blueberry stage” was met with so much anxiety and worry after having so many losses.
After numerous failed attempts, we sought the help of infertility specialists. The diagnoses were overwhelming: endometriosis, PCOS, and recurrent pregnancy loss. Despite this, we were not provided with actionable advice and instead told to either keep trying or move on to IVF. This did not answer the question as to why we kept losing the baby and what was the solution to stay pregnant.
In the midst of this darkness, I found solace in the kegg Facebook Community. Here, I connected with others who were on similar journeys, sharing stories of hope, support, and encouragement. It was a lifeline during some of my darkest moments, offering practical advice and management strategies that helped me navigate the complexities of infertility. Thanks to the generous advice I received, I overhauled my diet. I began focusing on protein-based breakfasts, and balancing healthy fats and protein with more complex carbs. I also learned about evidence based supplements and began on a regimen (with my doctor’s approval).
One of the most valuable tools in my journey was, of course, kegg itself. With its innovative technology, I was able to track my fertility with precision, optimizing my chances of conception each cycle, even in the atypical cycles that followed my recurrent losses. These would have been otherwise “lost” opportunities as my fertile windows occurred at unpredicted times. It gave me a sense of control in a situation where so much felt out of my hands.
And then, against all odds, it happened. After years of heartache and struggle, our pregnancy progressed past the “blueberry stage”. In honor of my several other losses, we named our daughter “Čučoriedka”, which means “blueberry.”
Čučoriedka holding kegg, the very device that helped make her a reality.
Today, as I write these words, I am six months pregnant with my second child. It's a miracle I never thought possible, and I am filled with overwhelming gratitude for the journey that brought me here. My experiences have taught me the power of resilience, the importance of community, and the boundless strength of the human spirit.
As we commemorate Pregnancy After Loss Awareness Month and Endometriosis Awareness Month, let us stand together in solidarity with all those who are on their own journeys to motherhood. Let us offer support, understanding, and hope, knowing that even in our darkest moments, there is always light on the horizon.
To anyone who may be struggling, I want you to know that you are not alone. Your journey may be difficult, but it is also beautiful and worth fighting for. And if my story can offer even a glimmer of hope, then it has been worth sharing.
With love and gratitude,
Kristina
Founder and CEO
