Trying, Grieving, Googling—Then Building Something Better

After years of navigating loss and IVF, Monica Rutkowski Grippo built Rhea: a private space for support, care, and everything in between.

Welcome to the first Mom Friends With…

An interview series with women I’d actually want in my group chat. Smart, emotional, building something real—inside and outside of motherhood.

This week, we’re talking about the emotional system failure that happens when you’re grieving, Googling, and being told to “just relax.”

I’ve been tracking the fertility space for a while now—VC funding, femtech, hormone tests you can take in your bathroom—but writing about it always felt a little too… much. Too personal, too medical, too emotional. And honestly, too much for one newsletter to get close to right. So we tweaked the format.

Instead of trying to say everything, we’re starting with one story. Less links. More lived experience. Meet Monica. Founder of Rhea, a new platform for women navigating the gray areas of fertility and loss—built by someone who’s been through them. We talk gentle parenting, frozen embryos, failure, healing, and the Target aisle. (Truly, it all belongs.)

Let’s get into it.

So, what is Rhea—and why did you build it?

I’m building the support system I wish I had during my seven-year fertility journey—and still need. Rhea is a private, digital space for women navigating the gray areas of loss and infertility to find support, expert guidance, and each other. My vision? To make it the most trusted resource in women’s reproductive care.

What’s the biggest misconception about what you’re building?

People say, “You can find community anywhere” And yes, platforms like TikTok+ Reddit have helped many women feel less alone. But Rhea isn’t just about connection—it’s about changing the standard of care. After loss or exhausting fertility cycles, women are handed pamphlets (maybe) and platitudes. I’m building a system where emotional and mental health are foundational, not an afterthought.

What’s something we can’t Google about you—but that’s shaped how you show up in this work?

For a long time, I didn’t think motherhood was in my future—not because of biology, but because of childhood trauma. I had to rewire what I thought motherhood could look like. That gave me a broader perspective: there’s no “right” path. Support should be just as layered and nuanced as the people we serve.

How has your story shaped what Rhea offers—and why it’s different?

Emotional and mental health support for people navigating pregnancy loss or fertility treatment is nearly nonexistent. When someone feels like they’re free-falling, I want Rhea to be the safety net. Not just for support, but to get expert care—faster. We’re here for the “in-between” moments: when you’re TTC but not ready for a clinic. When you’re pregnant after loss. When you’re overwhelmed by all the internet noise. Ultimately, I want to offer trauma-informed, personalized support that’s accessible to anyone who needs it.

Fertility culture still centers on “fixing” what’s broken. What are you working to reframe?

That whole “you need fixing” narrative is baked into our culture. If we believe we’re broken, we’ll keep buying things to fix it. At Rhea, I want to shift the question from “What’s wrong with me?” to “What does my body need to feel safe and supported?” After a miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy, I did everything I could to “fix” my body—diet, exercise, therapy, stress work. Eventually, we chose IVF—and I cried all the way through it. Looking back, I see that so much of the grief came from feeling like I’d failed some unspoken standard of what fertility was supposed to look like.

Building a company is wildly vulnerable. How have you moved through it?

My husband and I were planning another embryo transfer this spring—but I wasn’t ready. Our last one ended in a second-trimester miscarriage, and even though it was a year ago, I didn’t feel physically or emotionally okay. My concerns weren’t being heard by my clinic. So I leaned on the Rhea community—and they showed up. We decided to delay, and I felt this huge weight lift. It’s vulnerable to build something while still in it—but I’m building this because I need it, too.

As a mom of a 3-year-old—what parenting trend do you love (or love to hate)?

We have to talk about “gentle parenting.” It’s the Millennial parenting trend. At its core, it s powerful—honoring kids’ feelings, nurturing independence. But it often gets twisted into “never upset your kid” or “never say no.” That’s not it. Gentle parenting only works when it’s paired with clear, consistent boundaries. Our job isn’t to remove frustration—it’s to help our kids feel seen and safe. And that often means the answer is a loving, firm “nope.”

If you could collaborate with anyone to bring Rhea’s mission to life—who’s on your list?

Influencer: Chrissy Teigen: She’s spoken openly (and unapologetically) about pregnancy loss, IVF, and surrogacy—and made millions of women feel less alone. When someone like Chrissy tells the truth, it gives the rest of us permission to do the same.

Health Brand: Kindbody
They’ve modernized fertility care—but the emotional side is often still an afterthought. I’d love to embed Rhea into their patient journey—So women aren’t just treated—they’re held.

Retail Brand: Target
So many women go to Target for their everyday needs. I’d love to build an in-store “Fertility Space” for those navigating miscarriage and fertility treatments. Support should be as accessible as diapers and detergent.

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Thanks for being Mom Friends, if you want to connect with Monica + learn more about Rhea do that here.