Women who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) to assist in the conception of a child know the process can be difficult, both physically and emotionally. The Sher Fertility Institute recently shared a striking photo on its Facebook page of an infant surrounded by a heart of syringes, and wrote that it “shows the true definition of the love that went into making this gorgeous new baby girl.”

The photo was taken by the baby’s mother, Angela, who told others in a similar situation with IVF to hang in there.

“The needles were the easy part,” she told ABC News. “It was the emotional struggle, the ups and downs, that really took a toll. I’m single and waited a long time for a husband to come. And then by that time it was difficult to get pregnant.”

Lisa Stark, the director of communications at Sher Fertility Institute, told USA Today that the photo has had an incredible impact. “We felt like it was a provocative, emotional photo that captures the joy and pain of IVF,” she said. “We are overwhelmed by the response pouring in from women who can relate to the photo.”

Mothers shared their support through Facebook, where many left comments about their own experiences. “My IVF twins are 13 now,” one mother wrote. “They were worth every injection, every procedure, every mile driven to the fertility clinic.”