I’m trying to decide whether to go ahead with my first round of IVF, which is booked in for January, or delay it by a month. I already have one child but we have struggled to conceive a second. I am about to turn 42, and given my age feel like I need to get on with it as soon as possible. But I am in a really difficult patch stress-wise for a whole load of reasons (work and life). My period came 10 days early this month, which gave me quite a shock, and my doctor thinks it is likely due to all the stress. So I’m thinking about delaying the IVF by a month to give me time to reduce my stress levels and feel better mentally and physically first. I know logically that a month’s delay isn’t a big deal. But I feel this internal pressure to get on with it, as it’s taken a long time already to get to this point. I feel guilt already about being an older mum, without delaying things further. And I had wanted to have a second child closer in age to my first than would be possible now even if the IVF works, so as each month has ticked past with no luck I have had to let go of that vision for my life. I’d love some coaching on letting that go and looking forward.