Real-life fertility stories: Jess & Matt’s New Year delivery
As the new year begins, many couples reflect on their future and make the life-changing decision to start trying for a family. It’s an exciting time full of optimism and, well, you know
But for some, the journey to parenthood can be fraught with challenges.
In Australia, around 15% of couples experience infertility, and about 1 in 5 couples trying to conceive will not fall pregnant within the first 12 months. For these couples, the road to starting a family can feel overwhelming and isolating.
But if there’s one thing we could all do with more of – in a world of doom-scrolling and Google rabbit holes – it’s a good news story. One that gives us hope when we need it most.
Today, we’re sharing Jess and Matt’s inspiring fertility journey.
This couple, who went from teenage co-workers at a fish and chip shop to a new family of three, have experienced the emotional rollercoaster of IVF and come out the other side with a gorgeous little miracle.
Q: Jess and Matt, let’s start at the beginning. How did you guys meet and end up together? How did it all start?
Jess: Matt and I met when we were 16, working at the same fish and chip shop. We became fast friends but stayed firmly in the “friend zone” for years. Honestly, I never thought we’d end up together! It wasn’t until my late 20s, after I went through a tough breakup, that I realised Matt had been my rock all along.
Matt: We’d always been close, but it just wasn’t the right time for us. Then when Jess broke up with her boyfriend, things sort of started to fall into place and we got together. It felt so natural. We moved in together a month later, and it’s been full speed ahead since!
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Q: Timing seems to be a big theme in your journey. How did you decide it was time to start trying for a family?
Jess: Definitely. Timing has been everything for us. We both wanted kids from the beginning, but we wanted to do things in the right order for us – buy a house, get married, and really build a strong foundation first. After our wedding in 2022, we took this amazing campervan honeymoon up the east coast of Australia, and when we got back, we felt ready to start the next chapter.
Q: What was it like when you first started trying to conceive?
Jess: I went off birth control in October 2022, but after a few months, we realised it wasn’t going to happen naturally. That’s when we decided to see a specialist. It was really hard at first – I had this idea in my head that it would just happen, you know? But I’m glad we didn’t wait too long to get help.
Q: Jess, you were diagnosed with low AMH levels early in your fertility journey. How did you handle the news?
Jess: It was such a shock. AMH levels can tell you about your egg reserve, and mine were lower than expected for my age. I remember leaving the appointment in tears. But Matt was amazing – he reminded me that we were in this together, no matter what.
Matt: Seeing Jess upset was tough, but I just focused on supporting her. We both had to stay hopeful, even when it felt like things weren’t going our way.
Q: IVF is such a physically and emotionally demanding process. How did you manage to stay strong through it all?
Jess: Honestly, it wasn’t easy. I have a phobia of needles, so giving myself daily injections was terrifying at first. And there were times when we’d go through a cycle and end up with no viable embryos – that was heartbreaking. But we kept reminding ourselves of why we were doing it.
One of the turning points for me was addressing my health. Dr Genia Rozen, our fertility specialist from Genea Melbourne City, talked to me about reducing the risks associated with pregnancy by losing weight. I’d struggled with my weight for years, but hearing it framed in terms of my fertility gave me the motivation I needed. I joined Weight Watchers and lost 45 kilos, which was a huge personal achievement.
Q: That’s incredible! What advice did your specialist give about weight loss for fertility?
Jess: Dr Rozen was so supportive but also very honest. She explained that while medications like Ozempic can help with short-term weight loss, sustainable lifestyle changes are far more effective in the long run – especially during and after pregnancy. Her advice really stuck with me, and it’s made such a difference.
Q: There must have been moments when you wanted to give up. How did you keep going?
Jess: After one particularly difficult egg retrieval where we got no eggs, I was ready to throw in the towel. We decided to take a break and went to Bali to recharge. That time away helped us reset and come back stronger. I realised it was okay to pause and prioritise our mental health.
Matt: Taking that step back was so important. It reminded us that we’re a team and that we needed to look after each other to keep going.
Q: What was it like when you finally got a positive pregnancy result?
Jess: Oh, it was surreal! We’d just done another round of IVF, and out of 13 eggs, we only ended up with two viable embryos. We transferred one and were waiting for the results, but the wait was unbearable!
Matt: We couldn’t help ourselves – we broke the rules and did a home pregnancy test. When we saw that second line, we were in shock. It didn’t feel real until the blood test confirmed it.
Jess: We told my mum on Mother’s Day with a jar of pickles and a pregnancy test. It’s a story we’ll be telling forever!
Q: Were there any hurdles still ahead?
Jess: Well at eight weeks, I had heavy bleeding while we were out to dinner. I honestly thought we’d lost the baby. We rushed to the hospital, and it was hours of waiting and worrying. When we finally heard the heartbeat, it was the biggest relief of my life.
Q: Looking back, what has this journey taught you?
Jess: It’s taught us the importance of resilience and leaning on each other. IVF is such an emotional rollercoaster, but having Matt by my side made all the difference.
Matt: It’s also shown us how important it is to talk openly about these experiences. So many people are going through similar struggles, but they don’t talk about it. Jess has been amazing at sharing our story to give others hope.
Q: What advice would you give to other couples starting their own fertility journey?
Jess: Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t wait too long to see a specialist if you feel something isn’t right. Also, take care of your mental health – this process is tough, and it’s okay to take breaks.
Matt: Remember, you’re in it together. Lean on each other, and don’t lose sight of why you’re doing this.
Watch Jess and Matt’s Brady Bunch-inspired pregnancy announcement here
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