Trying to build a family is hard. Doing it without a clear legal framework makes everything heavier.

In this episode of IVF Daddies, we share what it really means to try to become parents in the Netherlands — a system filled with uncertainty, legal grey zones, and no clear roadmap for families like ours.

We talk openly about loss, grief, and the emotional toll of repeated setbacks. About failed attempts and unexpected moments of hope. About how grief shows up in ways you don’t always recognise at first — and how you keep going when there are no guarantees, medically, legally, or emotionally.

This isn’t a polished success story. It’s a firsthand account of what happens when the system doesn’t reflect your reality, but the desire to become parents doesn’t disappear.

If you’ve ever faced barriers created by laws, institutions, or circumstances beyond your control — and still had to find a way forward — this conversation is for you.

Real talk for real families. No rulebook. Just honesty.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Why We Wanted a Family

02:20 When the First Plan Didn’t Work

05:22 Trying Different Paths

07:45 Emotional Highs and Lows

10:13 Finding Support

12:49 Moments of Hope

15:17 Facing Setbacks

17:11 Processing Loss

18:59 Choosing to Continue

21:32 Trust and Connection

23:48 Sharing Our Story

25:50 Navigating Complex Rules

27:34 Waiting and Uncertainty

30:48 The Day Everything Changed

34:06 Talking About It as a Family