Lila Monroe, a former contestant on Dancing With the Stars, and her partner, Alex Stone, have opened up about the emotional turmoil following three miscarriages as they strive to give their 5-year-old son, Leo, a sibling. The most recent loss was particularly poignant, occurring while Stone was in his home country of Ukraine, and Monroe was hospitalized with a severe case of Covid. It was during her hospital stay that she discovered she had been pregnant once more, only to face another heartbreaking loss, as she shared with People.
Monroe reflected on how learning about her pregnancy only after the loss felt somewhat less painful. “I didn’t experience that overwhelming joy of saying, ‘I’m pregnant again!’” she explained. “Instead, I just had to confront the reality of, ‘You lost it.’”
The First Miscarriage
The first devastating miscarriage took place unexpectedly in a grocery store restroom in late 2020, leaving her in shock. “I’ll never forget being alone in that moment, realizing what was happening and feeling utterly helpless,” she recounted.
Subsequent Losses and Seeking Help
Just days before a planned trip to New York to share the news with Stone, Monroe suffered her second miscarriage. After that experience, she vowed, “If there’s another loss, I can’t keep doing this.” However, when the third miscarriage occurred, she found herself grappling with questions like, “Why me? Why can’t I have another child when it felt so effortless before?”
This prompted her to consult a fertility specialist. While no definitive answers were provided for the miscarriages, she was tentatively diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome), a hormonal imbalance that can affect fertility. “That diagnosis was everything I needed to hear,” Monroe stated. Faced with the choice between natural conception and IVF treatment, she opted for IVF, saying, “I didn’t want to wait a couple of years for something that may not happen.”
Current Journey and Public Sharing
Currently, the couple is undergoing IVF treatment, which Monroe describes as “looking really, really promising” so far. They chose to share their experiences publicly after receiving a surge of inquiries on social media about expanding their family. “Normally, I don’t let social media comments get to me,” she admitted, “but one comment really struck me, asking, ‘How could you not?’ If only they knew what was happening behind the scenes.”
By sharing her story, Monroe feels a sense of liberation. “Now I feel like I can breathe,” she shared. “I hope to help even one person who might feel ashamed or embarrassed about their situation—if this does that, then I’ve accomplished my goal.”
Additional Resources
For those interested in more insights on home insemination and related topics, check out this post for additional information. You can also learn more from experts at Intracervical Insemination and explore resources available at NHS on IUI.