We sat down with actress, host of 'Trials to Triumphs' podcast, and soon-to-be mama Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins. We talked about what she’s looking forward to in motherhood, her experience with IVF, and what it was like designing her baby girl’s sunset-inspired nursery — the former guest room where she did all of her IVF shots. Here are the highlights:
What are you most looking forward to about motherhood?
What I’m looking forward to in motherhood is meeting my new favorite person. Watching her grow, and watching us grow together. Her teaching me things and uncovering things within me that I didn’t know were there, and me being able to prayerfully do the same for her.
What did your journey to motherhood look like?
My journey to motherhood was anything but linear. It had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of twists and turns. It involved a lot of faith. The constant in my journey was that my husband and I had to keep believing, and we had to stretch ourselves to the limits of who we were at the time. Now I would say we’re forever changed. I would say that it wasn’t easy but it was 1,000,000,000% worth it.
Could you tell us more about your experience with IVF?
Yes, IVF has honestly been one of the biggest blessings in my life. It was a pivot for us that we did not anticipate having to take, but after well over a year of trying to conceive naturally, our OBGYN suggested that we pivot and we talked to a reproductive endocrinologist who said that we were great candidates for IVF. We had no idea what was ahead, but we knew that we wanted to become parents and would do anything we had to do to get there. Sitting here, 36 weeks pregnant, is just such a testament to everything that we did to get here.
A little fun fact is that her nursery was the guest room in our home, and when you’re doing IVF you have to do a lot of injections. My husband and I committed to doing all of the shots in what was the guest room — we really put it out there and manifested that this would one day become her nursery. After all of the shots, all of the tears, all of the pain, and all of the appointments that we’ve been through, it’s miraculous and beautiful to sit in this room now, knowing she’s going to be in her crib in just a couple of weeks.
Can you tell me more about those initial moments when you found out that you were going to have your baby girl?
When we did the embryo transfer it was a very emotional day. It felt like everything culminated in this moment where we created this beautiful embryo, and we’re hoping that she stays with us. In the days following, there are about two weeks where you’re just waiting to see if the embryo implanted. It was filled with a lot of anxiety, excitement, so much unknown, and so much that we wanted for ourselves. On the day of the beta test, we saw a beautiful rainbow on our way there. I really feel like there’s always sunshine after the rain. Rainbows are a reminder that good things are coming. You might have been through a storm, but now a beautiful day is here.
We did the blood test, got back home, and waited a couple of hours. They called and said congratulations Ashley and Darroll, you guys are pregnant. To finally get the call, and then to take a pregnancy test and see that it was positive, was truly just one of the best days of our lives.
What is your message for other moms out there trying to conceive, maybe going through IVF right now?
My biggest message to women who are tackling unexplained infertility or any sort of reproductive issues is to believe. I think that belief is the most important ingredient in this. Also to surround yourself with wonderful people who are supporting you, who are lifting you up, who are praying for you, and who are believing in things that you’re too tired to believe in for yourself, because this journey is exhausting.
The other thing I would say is that if you are nervous about getting answers, don’t be. The best thing you can be is informed. So make a doctor’s appointment, take all the tests you can, and see what your insurance covers and doesn’t cover. It is your right as a woman to know what’s going on with you, and how to achieve whatever you want to achieve.
Can you tell me what inspired the design for this space?
One of me and Darroll’s favorite things is a sunset. We really wanted this room to feel like the calming energy of when you’re in nature and you see the sun setting. We wanted to find really warm-colored furniture that would also still go with the current design of our home. The idea was for her room to stand out, but also fit in.
I really love the honey color of the wood furniture in her room, and the cane. I think cane is classic, and I have so many memories of my own cane furniture growing up, so incorporating it into my daughter’s room was really nostalgic in a lot of ways. I think the honey wood is grounding, natural, and really elevates the room.
