Community Guidelines
The Waiting Room was created to make an incredibly isolating experience feel a little less lonely. Our community brings together people navigating infertility, fertility treatment, pregnancy loss, pregnancy after infertility, and the many complicated seasons in between.
Our goal is to create a space where members feel supported, respected, and understood. Because every person's experience is different, we ask all members to approach this community with kindness, empathy, and grace.Be Kind & Respectful
Every member's story is different. Treatment decisions, diagnoses, finances, family-building paths, relationships, beliefs, and outcomes will vary from person to person.
We ask that members listen without judgment, avoid comparing journeys, and remember that what feels supportive to one person may not feel supportive to another.
Discrimination, harassment, bullying, personal attacks, or intentionally harmful behavior are not welcome in The Waiting Room.
A Note About Triggers, Pregnancy & Different Stages
One important thing to know: members of The Waiting Room are at many different stages of their journeys, and some members will become pregnant along the way.
We believe there should be room for both celebration and sensitivity. We celebrate our members' wins while recognizing that pregnancy announcements, treatment updates, losses, test results, due dates, and other conversations may bring up complicated emotions for others.
We encourage members to be thoughtful about potentially sensitive topics and to use trigger warnings when appropriate. At the same time, The Waiting Room cannot anticipate or eliminate every individual trigger or guarantee that every conversation, meetup, message, or interaction will feel comfortable for every member.
We ask everyone to extend grace to one another—and to themselves.
If something feels difficult or triggering, you are always welcome to mute a conversation, take a break, step away from a meetup, or rejoin when it feels right for you. If you experience something that you believe violates our Community Guidelines or requires additional support from our organization, you may contact The Waiting Room national team.
Protect Each Other's Privacy
What is shared within this community should be treated with care.
Please do not screenshot, photograph, record, repost, or publicly share another member's personal story, medical information, pregnancy or loss announcement, photos, or conversations without their permission.
Members may choose how much or how little of their own story they wish to share.
Support, Not Medical Advice
The Waiting Room is a peer community, not a medical, mental health, legal, or other professional service.
Members are welcome to share their personal experiences, but another person's experience should never be treated as medical advice. Questions about treatment, medications, symptoms, diagnoses, or medical decisions should be directed to your qualified healthcare provider.
Meetups & Events
Our hosts help create welcoming opportunities for members to connect, but they are volunteers and fellow community members—not counselors, medical professionals, or crisis responders acting on behalf of The Waiting Room.
Please treat hosts, members, venue staff, partners, and guests respectfully and follow any rules established by the venue or event organizer.
We're Building This Together
No community can promise that every interaction will be perfect. What we can promise is that we will do our best to foster a thoughtful, respectful community and take concerns seriously when they are brought to our attention.
By participating in The Waiting Room, we ask that you help us protect the spirit of this community: support one another, make room for different experiences, communicate with kindness, and remember that everyone here is carrying a story of their own.
Last updated: August 16, 2026