Beyond The Filter: TikTok Stars Share Fertility Journey To Help Others

Viral pup, Sapphie the Pomsky is about to be a big sister again!

The TikTok famous dog, who talks with the help of word and phrase buttons, is already a big sis to a 1-year-old little boy, and now she's gearing up for another baby in the family. Her human parents, Sheena and Sunit Shah, are beloved by their more than 7 million TikTok followers for sharing Sapphie's hilarious antics and other comedic content. However, they also tackle deeper topics like mental health—and most recently, their personal fertility journey.

Sheena recently opened up about her journey on social media and spoke exclusively with The Blast about her decision to share her personal experience with millions of followers.

Sheena and Sunit share their lives on TikTok and have a loyal following. What started out as videos highlighting their smart and sassy pup who talks with word and phrase buttons has turned into an amazing community for the couple.

Sheena, a Physician Assistant specializing in psychiatry, has also made it a point to share mental health awareness content in the hopes of making it less taboo and to help others in the process. She recently pivoted her content to share another often-taboo topic - fertility.

"Pregnancy announcements often come with joy, but what’s rarely shared are the struggles, the heartaches, and the quiet battles we fight along the way," she wrote in a social media caption. "After three miscarriages, we had our son in 2023. We had three more miscarriages after our son, including a devastating ectopic pregnancy. And, we are now expecting our second baby this July."

The video shared on both Sapphie the Pomsky and Mind Body and Shahs' social media pages showed some of the couple's journey and the feelings that went along with it.

"We have learned that behind every pregnancy announcement, there can be a journey we can’t see. Instead of the excitement of being pregnant again, there is this constant fear & anxiety of loss happening again, which can make the journey difficult," the caption continued."

"We want to use this platform to show the rawness and glimpses of what makes us human. Social media is notorious for showing the highlights and although we don’t post 24-7 of our lives, it is important for us to share with people that they are not alone."

The caption concluded by explaining that anyone who's "struggling to conceive," is "not alone."

Having a large social media platform, the couple decided to open up and share the ups and downs of their fertility journey.

"We chose to share our fertility journey because we believe in being authentic to ourselves. Social media often only highlights the best moments, and this can make it easy for people to compare their lives to the filtered versions they see online," Sheena told The Blast exclusively.

"Our goal is to make others feel less isolated in their struggles, and to talk about topics that are often overlooked or considered taboo. We want to normalize sharing raw, real moments because that’s what life is all about. Life isn’t a carefully curated feed—it’s a mix of highs, lows, and everything in between. Now that we have a platform, we want to use it to raise awareness and let others who are facing fertility challenges know they are not alone."

At first, they were "nervous" about sharing so much of their story online but realized that it's important and want others to feel less alone.

"We’re not seeking sympathy, but we want others to know that they’re not alone—that we’re just ordinary people, far from perfect, who face our own challenges too," she continued. "The more we thought about it, the more we wanted to use our platform to inspire, educate, and support others. This felt like a meaningful way to make a difference, even if it’s just helping one person feel less alone."

Since sharing their journey openly on social media, Sheena said she's received a large number of responses, with many people sharing their own struggles and "expressing gratitude for our post and how it made them feel seen and less isolated."

Sheena's message to others going through a similar journey, "To all the people out there struggling to conceive, please know you are not alone. It’s normal to feel isolated when it seems like everyone around you is pregnant, but your pain, your loss, and your hopes are valid. Your journey is uniquely yours, and yes while it is normal to compare your journey to another’s, remember that sometimes what you see on social media is not reality."

Throughout the journey of both motherhood and fertility struggles, Sheena said she learned "the importance of resilience and grace" toward herself, especially.

"With miscarriage, I learned that healing doesn’t follow a linear path. It’s messy, unpredictable, and at times, it feels like you’re not making progress, but each small step forward counts. I also realized that it’s okay to grieve in my own way, and that feeling a mix of emotions doesn’t make me weak or less capable," she told The Blast.

"Through motherhood, I’ve learned that I can handle much more than I ever thought I could. There are moments of pure joy, but also moments of deep exhaustion, doubt, and vulnerability. I’ve discovered that it’s okay to not have all the answers and that asking for help doesn’t make me less of a mom. Embracing imperfection has been one of the most freeing things I’ve learned—both as I navigated the heartache of loss and now, as I raise my child. Life, and motherhood, are both full of unexpected twists, but I’ve learned to take each moment as it comes, to trust the process, and to have compassion for myself along the way."

Another thing that's become clear is that "self-care is crucial." Sheena said journaling has been helping her process her thoughts and feelings. She also relies on mindfulness and meditation to manage any stress, as well as exercising and taking simple walks.

The couple's child, baby B, is now 17 months old and Sapphie's bestie.

Motherhood has shifted a bit "in some beautiful and challenging ways." And of course, Sapphie is there every step of the way.

"Motherhood now feels like a balance between nurturing his independence and still providing the comfort and security he needs. I can see the little person he’s becoming, and it’s both joyful and a bit emotional. Some days, I wish I could slow it down, but other times I feel so proud of all the new things he’s learning. It's a phase of discovery for both of us, and I’m learning right alongside him," Sheena shared with The Blast. 

"Sapphie has been nothing short of amazing with our baby boy. From the very beginning, she’s shown such a deep sense of care and tenderness toward him. She’s incredibly gentle around him, always aware of his little needs. Even when he grabs her toy, she’s so patient and lets him have it without hesitation, never showing any signs of frustration. It’s such a beautiful thing to witness."

Sheena said their connection grows stronger daily and watching the two of them bond has been "one of the greatest joys for us as parents."

"Every smile, every giggle, and every playful moment they share reminds us just how special their relationship is. We absolutely love seeing them together and can't wait to watch their friendship continue to blossom," she said. "I definitely think she will be the same way with baby 2." 

And for fans who ask why the couple doesn't show baby B's face or share his name, she wants people to understand it's about safety and privacy.

"The reality is that we can’t always control who is seeing our posts on social media, so we want to be cautious. Additionally, we want to respect our baby's privacy and ensure that, when he’s older, he has the choice to decide for himself whether or not he wants his face shared publicly," she said. "It's important to us to protect his personal boundaries and allow him to make that decision when the time comes. We will do the same with baby 2 as well."