Raising with the village
Raising with the Village
Because it really does take a village to raise a child — and most of us don’t have one anymore.
Raising with the Village is a podcast about the real stories of parenthood — from pregnancy to the early school years and everything in between. Each episode shares an honest, unfiltered conversation with a parent who’s been there: through the highs, the lows, the unexpected turns and the moments that change everything.
No experts. No judgement. Just real people sharing their experiences — because when we talk openly about what we’ve been through, we help someone else feel less alone.
Whether you’re preparing for your first baby, navigating the chaos of toddlerhood, or simply figuring it out one day at a time, this is your virtual village — a place to listen, relate, and remind yourself that you’re doing better than you think.
🎧 Hosted by Maeva,
Parent, storyteller, and believer that there’s power — and comfort — in sharing our stories.
Raising with the village
#11 - Liz - Choosing IVF Alone: A Raw and Honest Story of Lone Parenthood (Part 2)
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In this second part of Liz’s journey, we continue her story following IVF treatment and move into the first three months of pregnancy as a lone parent.
This is a deeply honest and emotionally rich conversation. Liz speaks with extraordinary openness about the uncertainty of early pregnancy after IVF, the emotional weight of waiting for results, and the realities that are so often left out of public conversations around conception and early gestation.
⚠️ Content note: This episode includes discussion of pregnancy loss and miscarriage. Please listen with care and at a time that feels right for you.
In this episode, we talk about:
- What happens immediately after egg retrieval and fertilisation updates
- The emotional rollercoaster of early IVF pregnancy
- Living through the first trimester with uncertainty and guarded hope
- Pregnancy after loss and how it shapes decision-making and expectations
- The mental load of going through early pregnancy as a lone parent
- The gap between how pregnancy is often portrayed vs. how it can actually feel
- Allowing space for fear, grief, hope and resilience at the same time
Liz shares her experience in real time, emotionally and unfiltered — offering listeners a rare, intimate look at early pregnancy after IVF and the parts many people carry privately.
Pregnancy loss & miscarriage support:
• Tommy’s — baby loss support, information, midwife helpline and pregnancy resources: https://www.tommys.org/baby-loss-support/
• The Miscarriage Association — support, helpline & chat for anyone affected by miscarriage: https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/
• Sands — support for anyone affected by the loss of a baby before, during or after birth: https://www.sands.org.uk/
💛 Raising with the Village
This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
New episodes every Thursday!
🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.
If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.