More than 500 women from across the community attended the annual brunch of fertility support organisation Chana, at which its first book was launched.

The book, Un-expecting: Personal Stories of Resilience, has 40 contributors, some anonymous, who recount their experiences.

Louisa Conn, Chana’s project manager, said “the book takes the theme of ‘un-expecting’ and uses it to embrace all sorts of unexpected challenges that life can throw at us. They include not only infertility but bereavement, illness and trauma. We are so grateful to those who have bravely shared their personal stories in order to provide inspiration and encouragement to others.”

Chana colleague Carolyn Cohen added that clients came to the charity “in a far more complex state than simply not being pregnant. They are not expecting the challenges they are having to face [or] the strain on their close relationships and marriage, which is sometimes a result.” Nor did they anticipate “the invasion of privacy of the tests and treatments, the huge emotional strain and prohibitive financial costs”.

Two contributors to the book, Sarah Max and Shelley Harrod, spoke at the Barnet brunch about their own experiences and how Chana helped them through their darkest days. They both went on to have children.

Chana expects to bring in £70,000 to develop its services.