Editorial

Michelle Obama reveals fertility challenges and how IVF helped her conceive daughters

In a recent exclusive interview with ABC News anchor Robin Roberts, Obama candidly shared about going through a miscarriage 20 years ago. During the intimate conversation, she also revealed that

  • PublishedNovember 11, 2018

In a recent exclusive interview with ABC News anchor Robin Roberts, Obama candidly shared about going through a miscarriage 20 years ago.

During the intimate conversation, she also revealed that she conceived her daughters, Malia and Sasha, through IVF.

Obama is promoting her book, Becoming Michelle Obama, which goes on sale from 12 November 2018. There are a series of book launches and discussions taking place over the next few weeks. The first one is scheduled for 13 November and will be moderated by Oprah Winfrey. Other moderators participating in the book tour include Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Here are three insightful quotes from Michelle’s TV interview:

On the hardships of a miscarriage: “I felt lost and alone and I felt like I failed, because I didn’t know how common miscarriages were because we don’t talk about them. We sit in our own pain, thinking that somehow we’re broken.”

On honest, open communication between women: “I think it’s important to talk to young mothers about the fact that miscarriages happen… I think it’s the worst thing that we do to each other as women – not share the truth about our bodies and how they work, and how they don’t work.”

On sustaining the joy in marriage: “For those young people out there who think that marriage is supposed to be easy – and marriage counseling for us was one of those ways that we learned to talk out our differences – I want them to know that Michelle and Barack Obama, who have a phenomenal marriage and who love each other, we work on our marriage, and we get help with our marriage when we need it.”

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