Infertile But Fruitful | Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead cover art

Infertile But Fruitful | Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead

Infertile But Fruitful | Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead

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 Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead spent years navigating unexplained infertility before becoming a mother of four sons through adoption. Her debut book, Infertile But Fruitful: Finding Fulfillment When You Can't Conceive (Sophia Institute Press, 2026), is the book she wishes had existed when she was a young woman carrying that cross alone — a memoir, a resource, and a quiet argument that a marriage can be fruitful in ways that go far beyond biology. In this conversation, Leigh sits down with Laura to talk about the early shock of realising pregnancy might not happen, the complicated pull of IVF and why she and her husband Carter ultimately chose a different path, the grief that lingers even after four adopted sons arrive, and the everyday, stubborn work of keeping a marriage alive through all of it. She's honest about the jealousy, the shame, the self-blame that can sneak in, and generous about what held her and Carter together when the statistics say most couples don't make it through. Toward the end of the conversation, Laura asks Leigh to speak directly to the heart of what Love & Cherish is about — the sexual and emotional connection inside a long marriage, and how you protect it across decades, children, careers, and seasons where life simply gets in the way. Leigh's answer is one of the warmest and most grounded things we've had on the podcast. Whether you're walking the road of infertility yourself, love someone who is, or simply want to hear two women talk honestly about marriage, adoption, grief, and joy, this one is worth your time. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 0:40 First Realizing Infertility 4:45 Writing the Book 6:08 The Impact of Honest Storytelling 9:32 The IVF Temptation & Catholic Ethics 10:14 Seeing a Fertility Doctor 11:37 Dr. Hilgers & the Creighton Method 17:49 Walking Out on the IVF Doctor 18:09 Choosing Adoption 19:58 Life in Indiana & Building Community 21:07 Pursuing Both Adoption and Fertility Treatment 29:22 Grieving Infertility 35:39 Raising Sons & Modeling Marriage 38:42 Infertility's Impact on Marriage 41:58 Marriage Advice 56:54 Tally Keeping in Marriage 59:13 Division of the Sexes in Modern Culture 1:01:59 Intimacy in Marriage 1:07:39 Closing & Where to Find Lee ABOUT LEIGH Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead is a writer, speaker, and mother of four, and a Fellow with The Catholic Association. She co-hosts the nationally syndicated radio show Conversations with Consequences, and her writing has appeared in the National Catholic Register, the Washington Times, Newsweek, the Washington Examiner, Aleteia, and Theology of Home. She has spoken on marriage, family, adoption, and infertility at the University of Notre Dame's Vita Institute, the Napa Institute, the Edith Stein Project, and the Catholic Women's Forum. She lives in Indiana with her husband Carter of twenty-six years and their four sons. Infertile But Fruitful: Finding Fulfillment When You Can't Conceive draws on her own journey to offer encouragement, honesty, and practical wisdom to couples walking the same road, and to the family, friends, and clergy who walk alongside them. FIND LEIGH Book (Sophia Institute Press): https://sophiainstitute.com/product/infertile-but-fruitful/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leighsnead/ The Catholic Association: https://thecatholicassociation.org FIND LAURA Laura How is a relationship therapist specialising in sexless marriages and intimacy in long-term relationships. Website: https://laurahow.com The Love & Cherish Podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
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