‘Baby Steps’ Stars Michael & Maggie Stiggers Address Infertility Misconceptions and the Importance of Partner Support!

Infertility is often a difficult conversation to navigate, and too frequently, women find themselves carrying the weight of the journey. However, the conversation goes beyond one partner, and the indie short film Baby Steps aims to shed light on the importance of understanding, communication, and support throughout the process.

While attending this year’s Urbanworld Film Festival, we caught up with Michael and Maggie Stiggers, the stars behind Baby Steps, to discuss the misconceptions surrounding infertility, the importance of addressing the subject from a male perspective, and how partners, friends, and loved ones can better support those navigating the experience.

During our conversation, Michael emphasized the need for more open discussions about infertility among men, acknowledging that speaking about the experience can sometimes be challenging.

“Just the fact of, from a male perspective, it is the fact that we just need to talk about it. It’s kind of hard to talk about as men sometimes,” he shared.

Michael also spoke about the comfort that can come from leaning on a partner and being able to share one’s story, highlighting how important it is to create space for these conversations rather than keeping the experience to oneself.

Maggie echoed those sentiments, pointing to the importance of checking in on loved ones while challenging the tendency to place the responsibility for infertility solely on women.

“Checking in is really important. A lot of times, infertility places a lot of pressure on the woman. What’s wrong with the woman? And it is really nice to have a partner who’s being tested as well, seeing what’s wrong with him because women go through a lot of invasive procedures as well,” she explained.

Testing both partners can be an important part of understanding fertility challenges, while emotional support can help couples navigate what is often a physically and emotionally demanding experience.

The couple says they’re hopeful that after viewers tune into ‘Baby Steps,’ it’ll help bring attention to a subject that can feel isolating for many couples.

Their message serves as a reminder that supporting someone through infertility starts with listening, checking in, communicating openly, and recognizing that the journey does not have to be carried alone.

Whether it’s a partner willing to have difficult conversations, a friend offering a listening ear, or a loved one simply asking how someone is doing, showing up can make a difference.