Swimming Aimlessly

One Man's Journey through Infertility and What We Can All Learn from It

by Jon Waldman

tagged: infertility, personal memoirs, fatherhood

Description

Using his own journey as inspiration, writer Jon Waldman offers this heartfelt and funny guide for men and couples struggling with infertility.

Take a moment to scroll through the contacts on your phone or your friends on Facebook. One in six of them is struggling with infertility. The affected women have most likely reached out to family, close friends, support groups, or online communities. They ask for the help they need, and often get it on behalf of themselves and their partners.
But men don’t always handle infertility well. Regardless of the underlying cause, the inability to conceive naturally can be extremely painful. The resulting feelings of inadequacy, shame, and isolation can change how a man acts towards those closest to him. But Jon Waldman wants to change that.
In Swimming Aimlessly, Waldman shares his family’s infertility story, a years-long, crazy expensive, physically and emotionally exhausting ride. He also speaks with other couples, doctors, and fertility experts, providing not only the latest science, but more intimate advice about the ups and downs of trying to conceive, keeping the partnership healthy, and dealing with the inevitable losses that come—even when the journey ends in a baby.

About the Author

Jon Waldman

Contributor Notes

Jon Waldman is a Winnipeg-based writer. His most recent book, 100 Things Jets Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, was shortlisted for the Winnipeg Book Award (2015). Jon has spoken at TEDx and the United Kingdom’s National Infertility Awareness Week, and been interviewed by the CBC and HuffPost, among others. His work has appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press, The Hockey News, and The Toronto Sun. In 2009, Jon and his wife Elana embarked on a six-year journey through infertility, which concluded in July 2015 with the birth of their daughter, Kaia. Jon is a spokesperson for Fertility Matters Canada.

Editorial Reviews

"If you know someone who is suffering through infertility, start the conversation with a simple question such as, “How are you really doing?” Then, do the best listening you’ve ever done." —Globe and Mail

"Infertility struggles often aren't told from the male perspective—but they should be. This autobiographical account shines a light on one man's personal experience and the inevitable losses that come with it—even when the journey ends in a baby. Infertility struggles often aren't told from the male perspective—but they should be. This autobiographical account shines a light on one man's personal experience and the inevitable losses that come with it—even when the journey ends in a baby."—The Kit

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