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Looking back on my time spent in the hospital for labor, delivery, and recovery, I now understand the importance of planning and asking questions in preparation for giving birth. Here are some of the questions I wished I had asked before going into labor.

When my mom used to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I told her that I wanted to be a dad. The journey to fatherhood with cystic fibrosis is full of obstacles, but I would give anything to pass on the traits I've gained from living with this disease to a child of my own.

Sometimes during weak moments, when my lung function has dropped despite doing everything in my power to hold off the destruction, I think, “What's the point?” Then I remind myself of the larger goal …

After being told at the age of 14 that I was probably infertile, the day finally came when this news mattered to me. But with IVF and the support of our church, my wife and I are now the proud parents of three biological children.

I've known for a while that pregnancy isn't an option for me due to complications related to my cystic fibrosis. Now that my husband and I are planning for children, here are some of the thoughts and considerations that impacted our family planning decisions.  

In this “Living Today” video, we learn how Carrie Giddens, a 30-year-old with CF, and her husband, Craig, decided to have their first child through IVF and surrogacy.

When my husband and I were given the thumbs-up from my cystic fibrosis doctor to start trying for our own family, it felt like a small victory 12 years in the making. After being referred to a maternal-fetal medicine physician for a preconception consultation, we are finally taking our first steps toward parenthood.

As an infertile man with cystic fibrosis, I never thought my wife and I would be on the cusp of our first pregnancy. Fortunately, over the last 18 months, we've learned a thing or two about navigating the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process.

As a social worker who specializes in helping adults with cystic fibrosis, I realized several years ago that there's a connection between intimacy and sexuality, and the successful management of a daily CF treatment plan. By "partnering with your partner," you can work together to enhance your relationship and minimize the barriers to your care.