Womb Service

Womb Service

She's my sister-in-law, and yes, she's having my baby.  After 9 years of struggling with infertility, 3 years of IVF, losses, and hearing the words "We've tried everything... I don't think there's anything left." from our doctor... we turned to surrogacy. We knew we couldn't afford going through an Agency, so we asked our friends and family. & that's how we got here! Our journey of surrogacy, where my sister-in-law has selflessly volunteered to be our gestational carrier. Join us weekly as we discuss the process, offer resources, and go through every step of the way together.  In hopes of our bring home baby joining us in the future. 3@fromivftosurrogacy on IG

Episodes

  1. Jun 5

    Episode 10: The Episode We Never Planned

    Trigger warning: this conversation includes miscarriage and pregnancy loss. One ultrasound can split life into a before and an after. We walk you through the day we expected a routine appointment and instead heard the words we were dreading: no growth and no cardiac activity. We talk about the moment the measurement didn’t match the timeline, how we read the doctor’s face before the explanation even landed, and what it feels like to leave the clinic while the world outside keeps moving like nothing happened.

    1h 8m

  2. May 27

    Episode 9: Love, Trust & a 40-Page Contract

    The legal side of surrogacy isn’t just paperwork, it’s where the trust gets translated into clear, protective boundaries. We’re doing an independent surrogacy journey (no agency), and we’re sharing what it really looked like to find attorneys, time the contract, and survive the constant curveballs that can come from a fertility clinic process. If this conversation helps, subscribe, share it with someone navigating IVF or surrogacy, and leave us a review so more intended parents and carriers can find practical guidance. What part of the legal process would you want a clinic to explain upfront? Have a question for us? Submit it via Yaya's instagram @fromivftosurrogacy

    1h 8m

  3. May 20

    Episode 8 - We've got a LENTIL cooking!

    The longest few seconds of our week happens in an ultrasound room when nobody is talking. Then we finally get the moment we’ve been working toward: clear signs of pregnancy at six weeks and two days, early cardiac activity, and the first real exhale we’ve had in a long time. If you connect with infertility, IVF, surrogacy, or early pregnancy anxiety, hit subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave us a review with the milestone you’re working toward right now. 0:00 - Welcome Back And Big News 1:20 - Wedding Weekend And IVF Shot Logistics 4:08 - Courtside WNBA Night And First Solo Shot 8:12 - A Busy Weekend  11:07 -  The First Ultrasound And Past Loss Fear 15:35 -  Subchorionic Hematomas Explained From Experience 21:28 - Six Weeks Baby Milestones And Next Scan 26:44 - Insurance Bills And What Coverage Missed 31:21 - Monitoring Plan And When Meds Stop 37:04 - Midwife Birth Center Care And Future Planning 41:39 - Communication Rhythms And Reassurance Tests 46:39 - Gratitude And One Big Favor 52:12 - Takeaways Plus Wild Pregnancy Stories

    56 min

  4. May 11

    Episode 7 - This Should Be Covered (Insurance Talk)

    A positive beta should feel like pure joy, so why does it sometimes feel like a trap door under your feet? We’re talking candidly about beta hCG numbers, the “it didn’t double” panic, and what helps us stay grounded while we wait for the first ultrasound.  Then we shift to the part of surrogacy that has surprised us the most: insurance. We break down the difference between infertility coverage and maternity coverage, why “covers infertility” can still mean you’re paying for IVF meds, PGT testing, embryo storage, or even transfers out of pocket, and how quickly costs can swing based on the plan and the pharmacy network.  If you’re navigating IVF, surrogacy, gestational carrier coverage, or just trying to understand your options during open enrollment, this conversation will save you stress and help you ask better questions. Subscribe, share this with someone who’s in the thick of it, and leave a review to help more families find us. 0:00 The First Insurance Hurdle 0:23 Beta Test Week Emotions 10:39 Numbers Anxiety And Waiting To Breathe 20:15 Lab Logistics And Standing Orders 29:10 Insurance Coverage Types Explained 30:33 IVF Coverage Reality And Hidden Costs 38:30 Maternity Coverage And Surrogacy Exclusions 41:25 Paying For An ART Risk Assessment 45:50 Birth Center Billing And Payment Plans 49:30 Transfer And Meds Not Covered 51:58 Specialty Pharmacy Shipping Chaos 57:18 What Keeps Us Level Headed 1:03:52 Wrap Up And Send Questions

    1h 5m

  5. May 4

    Episode 6 - The Price Is (Not) Right: Surrogacy Edition

    Recorded: May 1st, 2026 A single phone notification can change your whole nervous system. We’re on day nine after transfer, beta test is Monday, and we’re trying to hold two truths at once: we feel calmer than we expected, and we’re still staring down big emotions, big costs, and a lot of unknowns. We talk through the mental game of the two-week wait. We also get real about pressure from every direction as a gestational carrier and as intended parents: the fear of disappointing people, the vulnerability of waiting for lab results, and how faith and gratitude can keep you steady when the outcome isn’t in your hands. Then we break down the money. Our cost tracker is already over $14,000 and that’s without capturing every “small” expense like travel, gas, and copays. We compare independent surrogacy versus an agency route, explain why legal contracts matter even when you’re family, and share what we’ve learned about stipends, escrow decisions, insurance hiccups, grants, and creative funding ideas. If you’re researching surrogacy cost, IVF budgeting, or how to financially plan for a gestational carrier journey, this is the candid talk we wish we’d heard earlier. If this helped, subscribe and share the show with someone navigating IVF or surrogacy.... What question do you want us to answer next?

    56 min

  6. Apr 28

    Episode 5 - Transfer Day and the Two‑Week Wait

    We did the transfer. Now we wait. In this late‑night check‑in three days post‑transfer, we talk about the strange limbo of the two‑week wait... the moment you go from definitely not pregnant to maybe, with nothing left to do but notice everything. We unpack the emotional whiplash of gestational surrogacy (gratitude, grief, relief, and guilt), the uneven mental load between intended parent and gestational carrier, and the quiet panic that sets in after everyone goes to bed. Then we zoom out and get practical: what’s actually happening after transfer day, from hatching and implantation to hCG, trigger shots, early testing traps, and why beta bloodwork is the real answer. If you’re in the IVF waiting game,  or love someone who is, this one’s for you.

    46 min

  7. Apr 23

    (BONUS) Episode 4 - The Calm Before the Embryo

    Recorded: April 22nd, 2026 Tomorrow isn’t a vague someday anymore, it’s a scheduled frozen embryo transfer with a real clock, real meds, and very real feelings. We’re recording from a group sleepover the night before transfer, and the vibe is exactly what you’d expect: overly hydrated, trying to stay calm, and fighting the “what if” tunnel that shows up when you care this much. For this bonus episode, both husbands join us to talk about the other side of IVF and gestational surrogacy, the part people rarely hear.  We also walk through what happens during a frozen embryo transfer step by step: arriving with a full bladder, getting updates from the embryologist, what the catheter placement feels like, how the embryo is confirmed and transferred, and how fast it all moves when it finally happens. Then we zoom out to the bigger fertility journey, how common IVF really is, why so many people don’t talk about it, and what we’re learning about staying hopeful without pretending it’s easy. Cheers to Haley being PUPO (pregnant until proven otherwise) as of Thursday. @fromivftosurrogacy on IG 0:00 - Cold Open And Embryo Count 0:40 - Bonus Guests Join The Sleepover 1:19 - Going Public With The Podcast 4:42 - The Husbands’ Side Of Surrogacy 7:31 - Needles Pineapple And Weird Moments 12:08 - Tomorrow’s Frozen Transfer Step By Step 20:41 - How Common IVF Really Is 24:18 - Supporting Her Through The Spiral 27:31 - One-Word Hopes And Sign-Off

    29 min

  8. Apr 22

    Episode 3 - Lucky Socks & Sticky Vibes Only

    Recorded: April 18th, 2026 Surrogacy can sound like a neat plan on paper, then transfer week arrives and suddenly we’re living by alarms, protocols, and a whole lot of feelings. We’re Yaya and Haley, and we’re talking about the unglamorous reality of a medicated frozen embryo transfer, starting with the milestone nobody forgets: the first progesterone in oil shot. Yes, the “booty shot.” Even with medical know-how in the room, the anxiety is real, and the internet can either help or completely derail your peace.  We break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes of IVF and surrogacy: lining checks, hormone labs, TSH thyroid levels, and why progesterone is delivered in oil for intramuscular injections. Then we share the practical stuff we wish everyone told you upfront, like how to make nightly PIO shots more tolerable with heating pads, warming the syringe, massage, movement, and a routine strict enough to keep you from sliding into chaos.  Transfer week also comes with “empty space,” so we talk honestly about fertility superstitions and IVF traditions: Brazil nuts, pineapple core, warm socks, avoiding certain teas, and the legendary post-transfer fries. We also get into boundaries as we share our story more publicly, including the questions that sting, the comments that don’t help, and what supportive people can say instead.  If you’re walking through infertility, IVF, or supporting someone who is, listen along and share this with the person who needs it. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what transfer week ritual or shot tip you swear by. 0:00 - Surrogacy Setup And Humor 1:10 - First Progesterone Shot Anxiety 7:32 - Clinic Check Results And Hope 9:02 - Why Progesterone Comes In Oil 14:29 - Nightly Shot Survival Tools 21:21 - Transfer Week Superstitions Explained 29:01 - Exercise Rules And Bed Rest Myth 36:17 - Going Public And Setting Boundaries 42:19 - What To Say And Not Say 47:29 - Rapid Fire Stories And Googling 49:30 -Takeaways And Closing @fromivftosurrogacy on IG

    51 min

  9. Apr 22

    Episode 2 - Womb for Rent

    Recorded: April 11th, 2026 We break down independent surrogacy versus agency surrogacy, including what it costs, what it demands, and why we chose the path we’re on. We also get honest about infertility grief, control, trust, and what it takes to prep a gestational carrier for a transfer.  0:00 - Welcome And Quick Check-In 1:20 - Emotions, Estrogen, And Side Effects 5:20 - Agency Versus Independent Surrogacy 10:30 - The Real Price Of Surrogacy 14:40 - Choosing Parenthood Over Pregnancy 24:20 - Surrogate Qualifications And Trust 32:30 - Haley’s Concerns And Family Logistics 41:40 - Surrogacy Myths And How Transfers Work 43:15 - Transfer Prep Appointments And Lab Work 48:25 - Long Drives To The Fertility Clinic 49:35 - IVF Trauma, Anxiety, And Control 51:20 - Key Takeaways And Next Week Tease If there's any way for you to click follow us, subscribe us, whatever that looks like, do it, do that! @fromivftosurrogacy on IG

    55 min

  10. Apr 21

    Episode 1 - Let's Start at the Beginning

    Recorded: April 4th, 2026 We share how I went from years of infertility and IVF losses to preparing for an embryo transfer with a gestational carrier, who happens to by my sister-in-law. In this episode we talk through the emotional roller coaster, the awkward parts people do not know how to ask about, and why we want to normalize this path for anyone who feels alone.  Hopefully you stick around as we go through this journey together, sharing with you every Monday! 0:00 - Welcome To Womb Service 1:11 - Sports Night And Real Check-In 1:59 -The First Big Clinic Roller Coaster 4:27 - Why We’re Sharing This Story 4:36 -Years Of IVF And Miscarriage 9:26 - Haley Says Yes To Carrying 13:24 - Making The Journey Less Isolating 20:18 - How To Tell People You’re A Carrier 25:39 - Legal Steps Psych Eval Medical Clearance 31:47 - Insurance Costs And Hidden Surprises 34:59 - Patience Faith And Next Steps @fromivftosurrogacy on IG

    36 min
  • 10 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

She's my sister-in-law, and yes, she's having my baby.  After 9 years of struggling with infertility, 3 years of IVF, losses, and hearing the words "We've tried everything... I don't think there's anything left." from our doctor... we turned to surrogacy. We knew we couldn't afford going through an Agency, so we asked our friends and family. & that's how we got here! Our journey of surrogacy, where my sister-in-law has selflessly volunteered to be our gestational carrier. Join us weekly as we discuss the process, offer resources, and go through every step of the way together.  In hopes of our bring home baby joining us in the future. 3@fromivftosurrogacy on IG

Information

  • Creator
    Womb Service
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Womb Service
  • Show Website
    Womb Service