becoming babyREADY with Sam Leeson - All About Queer Family Planning & Creation

If you know anything about queer family creation than you know that there are a variety of different ways that a family can be created. Surrogacy, adoption, IVF, IUI, RIVF, and the list goes on and on. 

Today you have the opportunity to listen to the conversation I had, just before the end of 2023, with Bridget and Michelle about the choices that they made and all of the various paths that they investigated to create the family that they have today. They are engaging and dynamic speakers and I learned SO much from them! You don’t want to miss a minute!

This homeschooling family shares some of their educational tips and tricks on the IG page @rainbowhomeschool - check out the links in their bio

Generally speaking, when we think about Naturopathy and creating a family, we think of the supplements that can be prescribed and if for a queer family, perhaps what the people with uteruses need to do in order to stay as healthy as possible.

Today, as we have a chance to talk with Dr. Jess (she was not yet finished writing her ND exams but has since earned the designation of doctor) she is able to explain the role she plays - as outlined above - and also for surrogates, intended parents, parents wanting to induce lactation and more.

To learn more about working with Dr. Jess, please visit: ⁠https://jessicanazareth.com⁠ and find her on Instagram @drjessnd

The idea of setting yourself up to foster a child can be overwhelming at best. The fear is always present that something will happen, and the child will be, as the state intends, to be returned to the birth parents. 

This week we have the honour of hearing the story of Ramiro and Cameron, The Kepfords, about their journey to becoming foster parents.  As a result of choosing that path, they were able to create a family consisting of five humans and two dogs.

To learn more about this beautiful family, please visit them on Instagram: @thekepfords

Welcome to Season 2 - Episode 1 of the "becoming babyREADY" podcast.

On today's episode you'll have a chance to hear me describe where babyREADY came from, why I am hosting this podcast and all about an in-person, baby event being staged in Toronto during Pride Month, 2024.

I would love to have the opportunity to chat with you and learn more about you and the path you and your hopeful family are on. Please visit my website to connect with me. https:www.babyREADY.info

Find me on all of the social media channels as @babyREADYlgbtq

While you are here, listening to this episode, don't forget to write review subscribe/follow and tell absolutely everyone, you know!

The countdown was on!  As we recorded this conversation, Nyema was days away from a scheduled induction. 

It was amazing, enlightening and fascinating to have the opportunity to speak with Nyema and Sondra about their journey through parenting. Neither is new to the parenting journey and yet this was a new way for their family to have a baby. Using technology that is cutting edge, INVOcell, they were able to harvest eggs from Sondra and have Sondra carry the fertilizer egged while they incubated for 5 days before they were transferred to Nyema to carry to term. 

Don’t miss the chance to listen to this amazing conversation about the decisions they made, why they made them and everything else involved!

You can learn more about Nyema and Sondra by following them on TikTok and Instagram @2moms1oven

There are articles here in which the family story is further explained:

https://gayparentmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/GPM-Sept-Oct-2022-issue-copy-144-v4-cmp.pdf

and

https://gayparentmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GPM-March-April-2023-issue-147-cmp.pdf

I am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+

My conversation today, with Jen Bowers - TCM Practitioner, based in Toronto, ON, centres around how they love to provide the kind of support you may need while going through a journey as vulnerable and unfamiliar as fertility.  

Jen describes how TCM practices and acupuncture can facilitate the reduction of stress, balance hormones and increase the likelihood of conception as a person navigates their fertility journey.

You can learn more about Jen by visiting her website: https://www.littledragonacupuncture.com or finding her at one of the clinics in Toronto that she works at:

WSB Massage & Wellness: https://www.wsbmassage.com @wsb_massage_wellness

Urban Wellness: https://www.urban-wellness.ca @urbanwellnessto

Renni Clinic: https://renni.ca @renni.ca

Admittedly, when I started this conversation, I knew very little about the foster care system in Ontario (and I acknowledge that I still have a LOT to learn). Through speaking with Marnie and Tova today I had the opportunity to learn more about the journey to be coming, foster parents and the process of adoption through the CAS organization. 

The story that Tova and Marnie share about meeting and adopting their son and then later, having the opportunity to meet and adopt their daughter is inspiring, heartwarming and so much more. I invite you to sit back and enjoy this conversation about family creation through foster care.

I am SO excited to bring you the “becoming babyREADY” podcast! Listen in as I talk about starting or growing a family with parents and professionals alike. All of the people I speak with identify as 2SLGTBQIA+

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Dr. Cindy Gilbert, who is a naturopathic doctor in Toronto. Dr. Cyndi’s practice has been focussed on helping individuals and couples achieve their goals of becoming parents. Dr. Cyndi takes the time to explain the role that naturopathic medicine can play in this process.m

You can learn more about Dr. Cyndi by visiting: https://cyndigilbert.ca and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/drcyndind/ 

**This conversation was originally recorded in Summer 2022 and is available to watch at https://www.babyREADY.info/welcometothebabyshow **

When I reached out to “Two Wives and A Spark” podcasters Lia and Rachel, I was looking to learn more about their journey to family creation. What I learned from them was so much more! 

Together we talked about personal journeys, the biases and microaggressions hopeful parents may face throughout the process, and how to advocate for ourselves ALL of the way through the process. 

If you’ve not listened to their podcast before then I encourage you to have a listen, wherever you like to listen to podcasts. 

To learn more about the two of them and the work they do check out their website by visiting: https://www.twowivesandaspark.com and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/twowivesandaspark/

Too often when we hear people speaking about massage, we think of a spa-like setting, and us having an opportunity to relax and spend some time doing something for ourselves. That isn’t to say that therapeutic massage can’t be that but it is also (and more importantly), a health practice to ensure that our body is functioning, as well as it possibly can. 

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Registered Massage Therapist and Doula, Lydia – Carlie and we have the opportunity to learn through this conversation about the role massage therapy plays throughout a pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum process.

You can learn more about Lydia-Carlie, by visiting: https://www.sagefemmewell.com and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sagefemme_wellness/