Create A Happy Family

Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions
  • 4.9 (49)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

Who knew it could take more than two people to have a baby?  Create A Happy Family is a weekly podcast for anyone exploring surrogacy or egg donation — hopeful parents, surrogates, and egg donors alike.   This show brings you real stories, expert insights, and honest conversations from people who’ve lived it.   Hosted by Whitney Hall — a two-time surrogate and surrogacy coordinator with Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions — each episode offers the clarity, transparency, and support you need to explore your family-building options with confidence.   You’ll hear from intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, and professionals, each sharing their unique perspective to help guide yours.   Whether you’re just beginning or deep in the decision-making process, Create A Happy Family will equip you with the knowledge, encouragement, and reassurance to move forward — feeling truly informed and supported.   💫 Creating Happy Families via Egg Donation & Surrogacy, one relationship at a time. Please click -->  Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions to find out more!

  1. 1d ago

    What Genetic Screening Actually Tells You

    Genetic screening can sound overwhelming, intimidating, and honestly… a little scary, especially when you’re already navigating the emotional and logistical complexities of building a family.In this episode, genetic counselor Sarah Stueber from Natera breaks down what genetic carrier screening actually is, how the technology works, and why it plays such an important role in egg donation, IVF, and family building.We also unpack some of the biggest misconceptions around genetic screening, including what these tests can and cannot tell intended parents, why “negative” results don’t guarantee perfect outcomes, and why genetic screening is about informed decision-making — not creating “designer babies.”In this conversation, we discuss:* what clinics and donor programs are actually screening for* why family history still matters alongside genetic testing* what happens when donors and sperm sources are genetic matches* how genetic counselors help patients navigate anxiety and uncertainty* the role of carrier screening in creating healthier outcomes* why patients shouldn’t get lost in Google searches and information overload* how genetic screening helps families move forward with more clarity and confidenceWhether you’re exploring egg donation, IVF, surrogacy, or simply trying to better understand the role of genetics in fertility care, this episode offers an approachable and grounded conversation about a topic that can often feel far more complicated than it needs to.

    What Genetic Screening Actually Tells You

  2. Nov 4

    Why Is Surrogacy So Different This Time?

    You've been a surrogate before. You know the appointments, the medications, and the embryo transfer process, so why can a new fertility clinic make your next surrogacy journey feel so different?In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Whitney sits down with Dr. Armando Hernandez-Rey, reproductive endocrinologist, founder and medical director of Conceptions Florida, to talk about why fertility clinic protocols can vary from one surrogacy journey to the next.From surrogate screening and mock transfers to IVF medications and embryo transfer protocols, Dr. Hernandez-Rey explains why fertility care isn't always one-size-fits-all, what a medical team can learn from a surrogate's previous journeys, and why "I've done this before" doesn't always mean the next journey will follow the same plan.They also explore how fertility protocols evolve, why individual medical circumstances matter, and what experienced surrogates can ask when a recommendation looks different from what they've done before.In this episode, we discuss:Why fertility clinic protocols can differWhat previous surrogacy journeys can tell a medical teamWhy experienced surrogates may have different screening or protocolsHow IVF and embryo transfer recommendations can change over timeQuestions surrogates can ask to better understand their medical care#surrogacy #experiencedsurrogate #fertilityclinic #ivf #embryotransferCONNECT CONCEPTIONS FLORIDAhttps://www.conceptionsflorida.com/@conceptionsfloridaCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    Why Is Surrogacy So Different This Time?

  3. Oct 28

    Your Surrogate is Pregnant. Now What?

    What is it really like for two dads to build their family through surrogacy?In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Whitney sits down with Will and Chris as they prepare to welcome their first child. They share how they found their way to surrogacy, what it’s been like building a relationship with their surrogate, Brie, and how they’ve stayed involved in the pregnancy while living in different states.Their journey has brought exciting milestones, unexpected challenges, and plenty of moments when they’ve leaned on each other, their surrogate, and their team at Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions. But their circle of support has grown beyond the people directly involved in their journey.What began as a way to document their experience for themselves and their son has grown into @twogaysandababy, where they share their journey as a gay couple building a family through surrogacy. While sharing their story has meant navigating difficult questions and comments, it has also opened the door to educating others about surrogacy and connecting with dads who understand their path to parenthood firsthand.In this episode, we discuss:- Choosing surrogacy as a path to fatherhood- Building a relationship with a surrogate across the distance- Navigating the surrogacy process with a trusted support team- Sharing their family-building journey publicly- Preparing to welcome their first child#surrogacy #gaydadsviasurrogacy #intendedparents #lgbtqfamilybuilding #twogaysandababyCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    Your Surrogate is Pregnant. Now What?

  4. Oct 21

    Are Sibling Surrogacy Journeys Easier?

    Are sibling surrogacy journeys easier?It's easy to assume a second surrogacy journey with the same intended parents will be easier. But as Erika shares, the same family doesn't always mean the same journey.In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Erika shares what it was like to carry siblings for the same family, navigating pregnancy loss, anxiety, healing, and ultimately helping her intended parents welcome their second child. Along the way, she shares honest advice for surrogates and intended parents about communication, trust, and finding hope when the journey doesn't go as planned.In this episode, we discuss:Sibling surrogacy journeysPregnancy loss during surrogacyWhy every surrogacy journey is differentBuilding trust throughout the journeySubscribe for more conversations about surrogacy, IVF, family building, intended parents, and reproductive medicine.#surrogacy #gestationalsurrogate #ivf #familybuilding #intendedparentsCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    Are Sibling Surrogacy Journeys Easier?

  5. Oct 14

    What Happens When IVF Doesn't Work?

    What happens when IVF doesn't work?After a failed IVF cycle, miscarriage, or difficult diagnosis, it's easy to feel like you've run out of options. But according to reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Leah Kaye, you're never just a diagnosis, and your story isn't over.In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Dr. Kaye shares how she helps patients navigate infertility with compassion, balance hope with realistic expectations, and explore the next steps in family building, including egg donation and surrogacy when appropriate.In this episode, we discuss:• Failed IVF cycles and pregnancy loss• When to consider egg donation or surrogacy• How fertility specialists approach complex cases• Why feeling heard is medicine• Supporting the whole person, not just the diagnosisContent note: This episode includes discussion of miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Please take care while listening if these topics are especially tender for you.#ivf #infertility #fertilityjourney #surrogacy #familybuildingCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    What Happens When IVF Doesn't Work?

  6. Oct 7

    What Happens After a Surrogate Gives Birth?

    What happens after a surrogate delivers and everyone goes home?In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Whitney sits down with Barette Best, a licensed postpartum doula and Surrogacy Education & Engagement Specialist at Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, to talk about a part of the surrogacy journey that doesn't always get as much attention: the fourth trimester.So much of a surrogacy journey is focused on getting to delivery. But once the baby is born and the journey everyone spent months preparing for is technically over, the surrogate begins a transition of her own—one that isn't always an obvious part of preparing for surrogacy.Whitney and Barette talk about a surrogate's life after a surrogacy journey, why the fourth trimester deserves its own conversation, and the new Fourth Trimester Program created to provide Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions surrogates with an additional layer of support after delivery.In this episode, we discuss:The fourth trimester after surrogacyA surrogate's life after a surrogacy journeyWhat can change after deliveryPostpartum support for surrogatesEgg Donor & Surrogate Solutions' Fourth Trimester Program#surrogacy #fourthtrimester #surrogatesupport #postpartum #lifeaftersurrogacyCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    What Happens After a Surrogate Gives Birth?

  7. Sep 30

    Why Do Infertility Stories Matter?

    Why do our family-building stories matter, even before we know how they'll end?In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Whitney sits down with award-winning journalist, author, and host of the Infertile AF podcast Alison Prato to talk about the stories we tell about infertility, IVF, loss, and the many different ways families are built.Ali shares how her own experience with secondary infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss led her to start sharing her story, and why, nearly 400 episodes of Infertile AF later, she continues making space for others to share theirs.That belief in the importance of seeing our experiences represented extends to the stories we tell children, too. Whitney and Ali talk about her Work of ART book series and Petri Dish Princess, Ali's new book with Elizabeth Carr, the first person born through IVF in the United States, and what it means to bring a piece of IVF history to a new generation.In this episode, we discuss:Ali's experience with secondary infertility, pregnancy loss, and IVFThe story behind Infertile AFWhy family-building stories don't all need the same endingRepresentation in family-building storiesPetri Dish Princess and Elizabeth Carr's IVF story#Infertility #infertileaf #ivf #familybuilding #petridishprincessGet your copy of Petri Dish Princess by heading to the link below! https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksCONNECT WITH INFERTILE AFhttps://www.infertileafgroup.com/CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    Why Do Infertility Stories Matter?

  8. Sep 23

    What Should You Know Before Becoming an Egg Donor?

    Egg donation may begin with a decision someone makes today but what could that decision mean years from now?In this episode of Create A Happy Family, psychotherapists Kristin Maljean and Leslee Murphy join Whitney to talk about preparing egg donors for both the process in front of them and the future implications of their decision.What does it mean to know there may be a person in the world who shares your genetics? What happens if that person wants contact someday? What might you tell a future partner or your own children? And in a world of consumer DNA testing, what does "anonymous" donation even mean anymore?Kristin also shares her perspective as an intended parent who built her family through egg donation and why the donor's story can become a meaningful part of a child's own story.In this episode, we discuss:What happens during an egg donor psychological evaluationInformed consent and donor readinessGenetic and mental health historyFuture contact and donor-conceived peopleThe changing meaning of anonymous egg donationTalking with partners, family, and future children about donatingWhat intended parents should know about donor screeningSubscribe for more conversations about egg donation, donor conception, IVF, surrogacy, and family building.#EggDonation #EggDonor #DonorConceived #DonorConception #FamilyBuildingCONNECT WITH MEMORIAL WELLNESS & COUNSELINGhttps://memorialwell.com/CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

    What Should You Know Before Becoming an Egg Donor?
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4.9
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

Who knew it could take more than two people to have a baby?  Create A Happy Family is a weekly podcast for anyone exploring surrogacy or egg donation — hopeful parents, surrogates, and egg donors alike.   This show brings you real stories, expert insights, and honest conversations from people who’ve lived it.   Hosted by Whitney Hall — a two-time surrogate and surrogacy coordinator with Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions — each episode offers the clarity, transparency, and support you need to explore your family-building options with confidence.   You’ll hear from intended parents, surrogates, egg donors, and professionals, each sharing their unique perspective to help guide yours.   Whether you’re just beginning or deep in the decision-making process, Create A Happy Family will equip you with the knowledge, encouragement, and reassurance to move forward — feeling truly informed and supported.   💫 Creating Happy Families via Egg Donation & Surrogacy, one relationship at a time. Please click -->  Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions to find out more!

Information

  • Creator
    Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    155
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions. All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Create A Happy Family

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