IVF DADDIES Richard Westoby and Julio Gaggia

Aemilia shares her journey of freezing her eggs at the age of 40 and undergoing IVF to have a baby at age 47. She emphasizes the importance of taking control of one's fertility and making informed decisions. Aemilia's story highlights the success of her single embryo transfer and the support she received from her friends and medical professionals. She encourages others to consider egg freezing as a way to preserve their options and break the taboo surrounding fertility treatments.

Takeaways

Egg freezing can provide women with the flexibility to decide when to have a baby and alleviate the pressure of the biological clock.

Choosing a single embryo transfer can reduce the risk of multiple pregnancies.

Having a supportive network of friends and medical professionals is crucial throughout the fertility journey.

Breaking the taboo surrounding fertility treatments is important to empower individuals to make informed decisions about their reproductive health.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Recap

00:56 Aemilia's Journey from Egg Freezing to Motherhood

03:50 Making the Decision to Have a Family

06:41 Navigating the IVF Process with Support

09:26 Preparing for the IVF Cycle

13:26 Choosing a Single Embryo Transfer

20:30 The Wait and Confirmation of Pregnancy

23:25 Emotional Journey and Support

28:11 The Taboo Surrounding Fertility Treatments

31:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Keywords

egg freezing, IVF, fertility, single embryo transfer, support, decision-making

Sound Bites

"I had already for a year been doing acupuncture with my acupuncture specialist in fertility and knew about this process."

"All eight are viable. 100 percenter."

"Oh, great. The heartbeat. All of you were in tears. Oh my God. And by God, you're pregnant."


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/support

In this episode, Julio and Richard discuss their experiences at a Men Having Babies conference in Berlin and the importance of educating people about the basics of IVF and surrogacy. They highlight the mix of attendees at the conference, from newbies to those who have done extensive research. They emphasize the need for more education and understanding about fertility and the various paths to building a family. The conversation also touches on personal topics such as divorce and the emotional challenges of deciding what to do with frozen embryos.



Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Setting

00:30 Attending the Men Having Babies Conference in Berlin

07:14 Starting Conversations and Providing Support

12:02 The Emotional Challenges of Divorce and Frozen Embryos

23:19 Legally Owning Embryos and Future Decisions

26:34 The Emotional Impact of Protecting Children

29:29 The Importance of Providing Information and Personal Experiences

34:57 Conclusion and Future Episodes

Keywords

IVF, surrogacy, Men Having Babies, conference, education, fertility, basics, attendees, research, paths to parenthood, divorce, frozen embryos

Takeaways

Men Having Babies conferences provide valuable information and resources for those interested in IVF and surrogacy.

There is a need for more education and understanding about fertility and the different paths to building a family.

The emotional challenges of divorce and deciding what to do with frozen embryos can be difficult to navigate.

Open and honest conversations about these topics can help provide support and guidance for others going through similar experiences.

Sound Bites

"There is a need for people to understand the basics."

"The need for people to understand the basics."

"Starting the conversation, whether it is good comments or bad comments, it allows us to listen."




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/support

In this episode, the guest shares her experience as a Black transgender woman going through the IVF and surrogacy process in New York City. She discusses the importance of understanding empathy and the challenges faced by minority groups in the United States. She also highlights the disparities in access to healthcare for Black women and the high maternal mortality rates. The guest emphasizes the significance of building relationships and finding a supportive community during the IVF journey. She talks about her criteria for choosing an agency and the obstacles she faced in finding information and support.

Takeaways



Understanding empathy is crucial in supporting minority groups going through the IVF and surrogacy process.

There are disparities in access to healthcare and high maternal mortality rates for Black women.

Building relationships and finding a supportive community is important during the IVF journey.

Choosing an agency that aligns with personal values and provides a sense of affinity can enhance the experience.

Finding information and support can be challenging, but connecting with others who have gone through a similar journey can be invaluable.

Chapters



00:00 Introduction: A Powerful Story of Identity and Activism

03:16 Chapter 1: Empathy and Activism: Understanding the Challenges Faced by Minority Groups

16:14 Chapter 2: Building Relationships and Finding Support in the IVF Process

28:58 Chapter 4: Overcoming Obstacles: Finding Information and Support

Sound Bites



"A powerful story of identity and activism"

"New York City: A welcoming and diverse environment for the IVF journey"

"The importance of love and family beyond genetics"

Sound Bites



"A powerful story of identity and activism"

"New York City: A welcoming and diverse environment for the IVF journey"

"The importance of love and family beyond genetics"


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/support

Summary



Dr. Amy Kaing discusses the basics of IVF and the process of residency and fellowship in the medical field. She explains that IVF involves taking eggs and sperm and developing embryos in a laboratory before transferring them to the uterus. She also explains the concept of ectopic pregnancy and the importance of the uterus for a successful pregnancy. Dr. Kaing emphasizes the importance of early fertility planning and recommends getting an AMH test to assess ovarian reserve. She also discusses the challenges faced by individuals with low ovarian reserve and the options available for preserving fertility. Dr. Kaing touches on the topic of transgender individuals and their fertility planning, as well as the impact of age on the success of egg and sperm freezing.

Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Background

06:06 Importance of Early Fertility Planning

14:58 Challenges and Options for Low Ovarian Reserve

23:23 Fertility Planning for Transgender Individuals



Takeaways



IVF involves taking eggs and sperm and developing embryos in a laboratory before transferring them to the uterus.

An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.

Early fertility planning is important, and an AMH test can assess ovarian reserve.

Individuals with low ovarian reserve may face challenges in conceiving and may need to consider options like egg donation.

Transgender individuals may need to plan for fertility preservation before starting hormone therapy.

Age is a factor in the success of egg and sperm freezing.



Keywords



IVF, residency, fellowship, basics, ectopic pregnancy, uterus, AMH test, ovarian reserve, fertility planning, low ovarian reserve, preserving fertility, transgender, age, egg freezing, sperm freezing



Sound Bites



"IVF is basically a process of taking eggs and putting it together with sperm in a laboratory setting and developing embryos that we can then grow to a certain stage before we put it back into a uterus."

"Ectopics in general are just pregnancies outside of the uterus where they're meant to grow."

"I'm seeing people in their late 20s, early 30s that are just thinking about their fertility. They aren't actively trying, they're not technically infertile, but they're trying to plan ahead."


---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/support

In this episode, Richard Westoby interviews Molly O'Brien, a legal expert in surrogacy. They discuss the legal aspects of surrogacy contracts, including the importance of having a contract to establish parental rights, the timing of obtaining a court order, and the potential challenges that may arise. They also touch on the importance of trust and communication between intended parents and surrogates, as well as the financial and emotional aspects of the contract. The conversation concludes with a discussion on termination of pregnancy and the role of compensation in surrogacy.



Keywords



surrogacy, legal aspects, surrogacy contract, parental rights, court order, trust, communication, termination of pregnancy, compensation



Takeaways



Surrogacy contracts are more complex than egg donation contracts because they involve parental rights.

A court order is necessary to establish the intended parents as legal parents and remove the surrogate's legal rights.

Trust and communication are crucial in the relationship between intended parents and surrogates.

Compensation in surrogacy should be fair and not coercive.

Termination of pregnancy should be discussed and agreed upon by both parties in the contract.



Sound Bites



"Surrogacy is a lot more complicated. The legal contract is much longer, more detailed, because we are dealing with parental rights when it comes to surrogacy."

"Everything isn't really completed and secured until after the birth. So in some states there is a little bit of a timeline where the surrogate is technically the legal parent until that paperwork is completed."

"Communication is key. As with everything in life, communication is key."



Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Background

04:17 Financial Aspects of Surrogacy Contracts

09:55 Addressing the Sensitive Topic of Termination

16:22 Psychological Assessment and Compensation




---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/support

Summary



Joey Guzman, a licensed therapist specializing in fertility, IVF, and surrogacy counseling, shares his personal journey of building a family through surrogacy and egg donation. He discusses the importance of open communication, setting expectations, and navigating the emotional complexities of the process. Joey emphasizes the need for informed decision-making, including considerations for donor selection, single vs. double embryo transfer, and the relational dynamics with surrogates. He also highlights the role of mental health providers in providing education, support, and empathy to intended parents and surrogates throughout their journey.



Takeaways



Open communication and setting expectations are crucial when involving family members in the surrogacy and egg donation process.

Informed decision-making is essential, including considerations for donor selection, single vs. double embryo transfer, and the relational dynamics with surrogates.

Mental health providers play a vital role in providing education, support, and empathy to intended parents and surrogates throughout their journey.

The surrogacy process can be emotionally challenging, and having a strong support system is important for both intended parents and surrogates.

Empathy and understanding are key in navigating the complexities and emotions involved in building a family through surrogacy and egg donation.



Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Personal Journey

03:21 Donor Selection and Embryo Creation

07:22 Navigating Surrogate Selection

10:43 The Role of Mental Health Providers

23:07 Supporting Surrogates and Donors

25:26 Understanding Double Embryo Transfer

29:21 Personal Experience and Emotional Challenges

35:28 Importance of Support and Empathy



Sound Bites



"It is important to have a support system. It is important for you to be able to express yourself and to have your people there because you need people to help you with this."

"There's more to think about than just the thought of we wanna be parents and I wanna have a baby and I wanna transfer two embryos."

"You nearly made me cry. That must've been so tough. I'm really sorry that you went through that."



Keywords



fertility, IVF, surrogacy, counseling, donor selection, embryo transfer, mental health, support, empathy








---

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/message
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ivfdaddies/support