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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 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

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

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

How do you find an LGBTQ-friendly fertility clinic?Over three decades in reproductive medicine, fertility specialist Dr. Michael Guarnaccia has watched both fertility science and society's definition of family evolve. In this episode, he shares what LGBTQ individuals and couples should look for in a fertility clinic, and why personalized, relationship-centered care can make all the difference when building your family.Whether you're just beginning to explore IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, or other family-building options, this conversation offers practical guidance on choosing a fertility team that understands the needs of LGBTQ families and supports you every step of the way.In this episode, we discuss:How to choose an LGBTQ-friendly fertility clinicWhy personalized fertility care mattersBuilding a fertility team you can trustEgg donation and surrogacy for LGBTQ familiesFinding support throughout your family-building journeySubscribe for more conversations about IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, fertility, and family building.#LGBTQfamilybuilding #fertility #IVF #surrogacy #eggdonationCONNECT WITH NEW ENGLAND FERTILITY INSTITUTEhttps://www.nefertility.com/@nefertilityCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://www.createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

What does ethical surrogacy actually look like, especially when something goes wrong?Recent conversations surrounding the Baby Rumi case have raised difficult questions about surrogacy: Who protects the surrogate? Who protects the intended parents? And what happens when people disagree after a pregnancy has already begun?In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Whitney is joined by Katy Encalade, President & CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, and Crystal Chaing, Vice President of Surrogacy Program & Client Content Development. But before leading and supporting families through surrogacy professionally, Katy was a surrogate herself, and Crystal built her own family as an intended parent through surrogacy.Together, they move beyond one headline to explore what ethical surrogacy looks like in practice, and the safeguards that should be in place before a journey ever begins.Because ethical surrogacy isn't defined by what happens when everything goes according to plan. It's revealed in what happens when it doesn't.In this episode, we discuss:- What ethical surrogacy actually means- Thoughtful matching and hard conversations before pregnancy- Surrogate autonomy and intended parent rights- Independent legal counsel, screening, and professional support- What happens when surrogates and intended parents disagree- The role of an agency when a journey becomes complicated- Red flags to look for when choosing a surrogacy agencySubscribe for more conversations about surrogacy, IVF, egg donation, intended parenthood, and family building.#EthicalSurrogacy #Surrogacy #GestationalSurrogacy #IntendedParents #FamilyBuildingCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

Birth rarely goes exactly as planned.When Jessica's surrogacy journey unexpectedly ended in an emergency C-section, the moment she had been envisioning all along didn't happen the way she expected, but it became even more beautiful.In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Jessica shares how trust, communication, and a genuine relationship with her intended parents transformed an unexpected birth into one of the most meaningful moments of her life. From matching and pregnancy to delivery and life after surrogacy, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the best journeys are built on connection, not perfection.In this episode, we discuss:Finding the right intended parentsBuilding trust throughout a surrogacy journeyWhen birth doesn't go as plannedCreating meaningful relationships through surrogacySupporting intended parents during deliveryLife after a successful surrogacy journeyCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily#surrogacy #gestationalcarrier #birthstory #intendedparents #familybuilding

When should you tell your donor-conceived child their story?Not "if," but "when." In today's world, donor conception is no longer something families can, or should, keep secret. More importantly, experts and donor-conceived adults agree that children benefit from growing up knowing their story.In this episode of Create A Happy Family, reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Danny Shapiro and donor-conceived adult Josh McLaurin share why early disclosure matters, how it shapes identity, and why DNA isn't destiny. Together, they offer practical guidance and reassurance for parents navigating donor conception with honesty, love, and confidence.In this episode, we discuss:When to tell your donor-conceived childWhy early disclosure mattersIdentity and donor conceptionMeeting your biological donor as an adultCommon concerns intended parents haveWhy DNA doesn't define a familySubscribe for more conversations about donor conception, IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, and family building.#donorconception #ivf #eggdonation #familybuilding #intendedparentsCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

What happens when a surrogacy journey doesn’t go the way you hoped?In this episode, our host Whitney Hall gets vulnerable and shares the part of her story she rarely talks about: her third surrogacy journey ending after two failed transfers and the emotions that followed.After two successful journeys, Whitney never expected how much her identity had become tied to being a “successful surrogate” until that role suddenly changed. What followed was a complicated mix of grief, anger, loss, and questioning where she still fit within a space that had once felt so deeply connected to her purpose.This conversation explores:* the emotional impact of failed transfers in surrogacy* how identity can become tied to outcomes* unnamed grief and loss after a journey ends* what happens when hope no longer feels certain* learning to hold both heartbreak and meaning at the same time* why support matters even when a journey doesn’t move forwardThis episode is an honest reflection on surrogacy, loss, identity, and the quieter parts of this work that often go unseen.And for anyone navigating disappointment, grief, or an unexpected ending in this space, this conversation is a reminder that your story, your effort, and the hope you carried still matter.

Many people know they want to build a family, but they don’t fully understand the options available to them, or even where to start.In this episode of Create a Happy Family, Justine Witzke, PhD, MPH, Founder & CEO of Aligneage Fertility, shares how understanding your fertility can bring greater clarity to the family-building process.From semen analysis and male fertility preservation, to donor sperm, and coordinated care, Justine explains how better information can help intended parents make more informed decisions about their next steps, and why fertility care is about more than test results. It’s about understanding the whole person, their goals, and the path their path to parenthood.In this episode, we discuss:• What a semen analysis can tell you• Common misconceptions about fertility• Fertility preservation and future planning• Donor sperm and care optionsWhether you’re exploring IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, or sperm donation, this conversation offers practical insight to help you better understand your options and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.CONNECT WITH ALIGNEAGE FERTILITYhttps://www.aligneagefertility.comCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://www.createahappyfamily.com@createahappyfamily

In this episode of Create A Happy Family, psychotherapists Leslee Murphy and Kristin Malejan explain how surrogacy psych evaluations really work, why clinics require them, and what they're actually looking for. Rather than searching for perfection, they're looking at the whole person to help set surrogates and intended parents up for a healthy, successful journey.In this episode, we discuss:What happens during a surrogacy psych evaluationCommon misconceptions about psychological clearancesHow ASRM guidelines are used in real lifeWhy psychologists look beyond a checklistWhy communication, support, and expectations matterCONNECT WITH MEMORIAL WELLNESS & COUNSELINGhttps://memorialwell.com/CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily#surrogacy #psychologicalevaluation #gestationalcarrier #intendedparents #familybuilding

Jordan dreamed of becoming a surrogate for more than a decade before finally taking the leap. In this episode, she shares what it's really like to be a surrogate, from matching with intended parents and navigating a surrogacy journey to delivery and life after birth.She opens up about the fears many women have before becoming a surrogate, the incredible relationship she built with her intended parents, and why she says surrogacy was one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. When baby faced unexpected medical challenges after birth, Jordan found herself asking a question many surrogates fear: "Was this somehow my fault?" She shares how she worked through those emotions and what the experience taught her about trust, communication, and support.In this episode, we discuss:• Becoming a surrogate• Matching with intended parents• Pregnancy, delivery, and life after birth• Common fears and misconceptions about surrogacy• Navigating unexpected challenges after delivery• The power of communication, trust, and supportWhether you're considering becoming a surrogate, exploring surrogacy as part of your family-building journey, or simply curious about the process, this conversation offers an honest look at what surrogacy is really like, and why Jordan says she'd do it again.CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily#surrogacy #surrogate #intendedparents #familybuilding

Hannah first considered egg donation as a way to help pay for college. What she didn't expect was how much the experience would change her life.In this episode, Hannah shares her journey as an egg donor, from seeing an ad on social media and navigating the screening process to helping create a family and learning that one of her donations resulted in a live birth. Now pregnant with her own daughter, she reflects on egg donation with an entirely new perspective and explains why she says she'd do it again.In this episode, we discuss:• Why Hannah chose to become an egg donor• Common fears and misconceptions about egg donation• The egg donation process and what to expect• Egg banks vs. private donation• Learning that a donation resulted in a baby• How becoming pregnant changed her perspective on helping other familiesWhether you're considering becoming an egg donor or simply curious about the experience, Hannah offers an honest look at the process, the impact it had on her life, and the families she helped along the way.CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamilyCONNECT WITH CHILES & WARRENhttps://www.chileswarrenlawgroup.com/

Every few months, another headline or proposed law leaves intended parents and surrogates wondering:“How could this impact my journey?”In this episode, ART attorney Joni Franklin breaks down what’s actually changing in surrogacy and IVF law, what people are misunderstanding online, and what intended parents and surrogates should really be paying attention to right now.We discuss evolving regulations, growing oversight, compensation shifts, legal misconceptions, and why experienced professionals matter more than ever in today’s landscape.This conversation isn’t about panic. It’s about clarity, realistic expectations, and moving through this process with confidence.CONNECT WITH FRANKLIN LAW OFFICEhttps://www.jfranklinlaw.com/CONNECT WITH ART RISK FINANCIAL & INSURANCE SOLUTIONShttps://www.chileswarrenlawgroup.com/CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily

Learning how to choose a surrogacy agency is one of the biggest decisions you'll make, whether you're hoping to become a surrogate or grow your family through surrogacy.But not all surrogacy agencies operate the same way.In this episode of Create A Happy Family, the Education and Matching Team at Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions shares what every surrogate and intended parent should know before saying yes to a surrogacy agency. From matching and education to communication, screening, advocacy, and support, we discuss the questions you should be asking and the standards every agency should meet.In this episode, we discuss:How to choose a surrogacy agencyQuestions to ask before signing with an agencyRed flags to watch forWhat ethical agency standards look likeHow agencies should support surrogates throughout their journeyHow agencies should support intended parents from match to deliveryWhy communication, transparency, and advocacy matterWhether you're just beginning your research or deciding between agencies, our hope is that this conversation helps you move forward with confidence and clarity.#surrogacy #surrogacyagency #gestationalcarrier #intendedparents #familybuildingCONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONShttps://createahappyfamily.com/@createahappyfamily