Madison Pico is a mother of two living children who has also experienced three pregnancy losses while navigating complex family-building decisions.
In this episode of Finding Hope After Loss, Madison shares her journey through miscarriage, chemical pregnancy, ectopic pregnancy, IVF, and a genetic diagnosis that changed the way she approached future pregnancies. After learning that her youngest child had 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome and discovering she was a carrier herself, Madison was faced with difficult decisions about genetic testing, fertility treatment, and the possibility of passing the condition on to future children.
Madison opens up about the emotional complexity of pursuing IVF when infertility was not the reason she sought treatment, the grief of experiencing additional losses while trying to grow her family, and the frustration of feeling like her concerns were not being taken seriously by medical providers.
Throughout this conversation, she shares the importance of trusting your instincts, advocating for yourself in healthcare settings, and continuing to search for answers when something does not feel right. Her story highlights the challenges of navigating uncertainty while holding onto hope.
This episode is for anyone experiencing miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, IVF, fertility treatment, genetic diagnoses, recurrent pregnancy loss, or the emotional challenges of family-building after loss.
Table of Contents
In This Episode
- Miscarriage and pregnancy loss
- Chemical pregnancy
- Ectopic pregnancy
- IVF and fertility treatment
- Genetic testing and family planning
- 15q13.3 microdeletion syndrome
- Self-advocacy in healthcare
- Trusting your intuition
- Methotrexate treatment
- Endometriosis diagnosis
- Pregnancy after loss
- Finding hope after loss
Memorable Quotes
“At the time, I didn’t know about how common miscarriages were.”
“You are telling me that 50% of my embryos will have this genetic condition and we only have one embryo?”
“If you knew your kid would have a genetic disorder, would you still try to get pregnant?”
“I was just so obsessed with the idea that something was wrong and it just felt like nobody was listening to me.”
“I had gone to the hospital on Christmas Day and came home with no answers.”
“I think people think an ectopic pregnancy is a rare phenomenon, but I don’t think people realize how common it actually is.”
About Madison
Madison is a mother of two living children who has experienced miscarriage, chemical pregnancy, and ectopic pregnancy while navigating genetic testing and family-building decisions. Through sharing her story, she hopes to encourage others to trust their instincts, advocate for themselves, and know they are not alone in their journey through infertility and loss. Ectopic pregnancy survivor, 15Q13.3 microdeletion advocate and BSW student.
Connect with Madison
Instagram: @madisonpico_
Related Episodes
How Do You Cope with IVF, Miscarriage, and a Genetic Condition?
Can Foster Care Be a Path to Parenthood After Infertility and Miscarriage?
Keeping Faith After Four Pregnancy Losses (Twin Loss, Miscarriage, Ectopic)
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Miscarriage, Ectopic, Twin Loss, Unexplained Infertility
Miscarriage, Chemical Pregnancy, Ectopic Pregnancy, Stillbirth
If Madison’s story resonated with you, please consider sharing this episode with someone navigating miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, IVF, or genetic testing decisions. Stories like these help families facing loss feel understood, supported, and less alone.
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