[Self-Introduction] I am an office worker in my late 20s who overcame 50 hours of overtime per month and in vitro fertilization.

Introduction

Nice to meet you! My name is "Bisco".
I am an office worker in my late 20s working full-time with an average of 50 hours of overtime per month.👩‍💻

When I was in high school, I loved Bisco and the "Shirokuma-kun" (polar bear) on the back of the package,
and because my friends used to call me the Bisco character, I chose this name and icon.🐻‍❄️

Full-time work and fertility treatment

I work full-time, 10 hours a day,
to put it nicely, a "high-powered career woman",
to put it bluntly, a "limit-pushing corporate slave."

A few years after getting married, I wanted to have children but couldn't conceive easily, sowhile continuing my demanding full-time job, I started fertility treatment...

After a year of timed intercourse at a clinic near my home without success,
I made up my mind to transfer to a well-known hospital in Tokyo,stepped up to in vitro fertilizationand was lucky enough to get pregnant.

Every time my basal body temperature dropped and every time my period came, I cried a lot by myself.
I couldn't sleep at night, so I would get up alone and cry on the living room sofa, stifling my voice.

Work was busy, and even though I tried my best to adjust my schedule to go to the clinic, it didn't work out.
The time in the waiting room until I was called for my appointment felt like an eternity.

I am sure there are many people who are going through the same feelings.

Child-rearing without relying on parents

Just recently, I was able to safely start my maternity leave and am currently preparing for childbirth.

We are planning toraise our child with both of us taking parental leave, without relying on our parents.

Since both of our parents have health issues or are still working, we are not in a situation where we can rely on them, so we decided that
each of us will take one year of parental leave.

While long-term parental leave for men is still a high hurdle in many cases, fortunately, my husband's workplace is very understanding and supportive.
My husband himself is also looking forward to his one-year parental leave, saying,"I want to see our child grow up from the closest distance" and "Let's make lots of memories as a family of three."

What I will share on this note

On this note, I will share:

• The reality of balancing full-time work and fertility treatment(costs/schedule/mental care/how to tell your workplace)

• Taking on the challenge with zero support from parents!The realistic preparations for a couple both taking parental leave

about these topics.📝

I hope to deliver realistic personal experiences that will be helpful not only for those currently undergoing fertility treatment but also for those who are wondering whether to start.I would be happy to exchange information and connect with everyone who is about to start childbirth and child-rearing!
If you could like or follow me, it would be a great encouragement during my maternity and parental leave.🫶