The night before discovering if our fifth and likely final embryo transfer had succeeded, I sat on the couch with my husband, sobbing. The emotional toll of the 10-day wait had been intense, fluctuating between hope and doubt. Despite trying everything from acupuncture to platelet-rich plasma therapy to address my thin uterine lining, I sensed that we hadn&rsquot succeeded. A negative home pregnancy test confirmed my fears the next morning. This heartbreaking moment was one of many throughout our journey toward conceiving a second child, a pursuit I continued alongside my demanding career as a justice correspondent at CNN.Jessica Schneider with her husband and son in Florida at six weeks pregnant.  Jessica Schneider/CNN

Our path included five embryo transfers, natural pregnancy attempts, and eventually exploring surrogacy. In early 2024, as I turned 44, I discovered I was pregnant naturally&mdashan unexpected miracle. The journey taught me resilience and the importance of advocating for oneself. I encourage other women to hold on to hope, seek support from others who&rsquove faced similar struggles, and remember that while the fertility journey can be grueling, sometimes the most challenging path leads to the most extraordinary results.