Infertile AF: Infertility and Modern Family Building through ART

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, Ali and her Fertility Rally co-founder, Blair Nelson of Fab Fertility, talk about how they met and bonded right away, why this infertility community means so much to them, and what—and who—everyone can expect at the very first Fertility Rally, happening October 23-25 in Brooklyn. Make sure to follow @fertilityrally for updates, and sign up for the newsletter at www.fertilityrally.com.

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, Ali and her Fertility Rally co-founder, Blair Nelson of Fab Fertility, talk about how they met and bonded right away, why this infertility community means so much to them, and what—and who—everyone can expect at the very first Fertility Rally, happening October 23-25 in Brooklyn. Make sure to follow @fertilityrally for updates, and sign up for the newsletter at www.fertilityrally.com.

Today, Lia tells Ali all about her long and difficult journey to motherhood, including a pregnancy that ended tragically after her uterus ruptured at 31 weeks. She also talks about the two different and amazing surrogates who came into their lives, and how tragedy struck again, heartbreakingly, before they had their healthy baby girl. Lia also explains why she started Fly Bravely, a NYC consultancy dedicating to de-stigmatizing infertility and raising awareness for pregnancy and infant loss. 

On today's episode, we're partnering with Circle Surrogacy, which is celebrating 25 years of making parenthood possible for heterosexual and LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. Circle partners with their surrogates, intended parents and egg donors until they achieve success together. Learn more at circlesurrogacy.com or by emailing [email protected]

Today, Ali talks to her friend Janna about going through infertility for six excruciating years. Her story includes full-blown IVF, mini IVF, IUI, lots of heartbreak, a devastating miscarriage and D&C and ultimately, the adoption of her now-almost one year old son, Zeke. She also describes that brutal moment when the nurse is looking at your ultrasound, gets quiet and says, 'I need to talk to the doctor...'"

Today we are partnering with Extend Fertility, https://extendfertility.com/, the largest egg freezing practice in the nation. Extend has now expanded to offer a full range of infertility services—including IVF—in a small practice environment that is more personal, data driven, and higher quality.

Maddy Gutierrez describes herself as a "body positive Manhattan mom, Fashion Lover and Beauty Junkie," and today, she talks to Ali about all of those things, as well as her struggle with secondary infertility, which she's in the middle of right now. Maddy gets into the details of her journey, including having her now five-year-old son with no issues, going through multiple IUIs, how Covid-19 has affected her next steps, and the poor treatment she gets from doctors because she is a plus size woman.

This episode, we're partnering with Gennev, an online clinic dedicated exclusively to women. Gennev is all about women’s health, and right now, as COVID 19 cases are filling up our medical facilities, Gennev, is expanding their offerings to include primary care. Access their doctors through their telemedicine services for safe, convenient, at-home consultations at Gennev.com.

Today, Ali talks to Dr. Liz Kane, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Natalist, where she develops pregnancy tests, ovulation kits and more to help people who are trying to conceive. Liz, who ran a research lab at Harvard, talks about the challenges of leaving academia to start a family, how her chronic migraines affected her fertility journey, the postpartum hemorrhage that threatened her life, feeling "betrayed by her body" and how she ended up using a surrogate for her second child, who is due very soon. 

This episode is brought to you by The Oh Hell No Podcast, a show for young people transitioning into adult life or adults who are looking for motivation in getting to their next level. To subscribe and listen, go here: https://www.ohhellnopodcast.com/

Today, Ali talks to Nathalie, an infertility warrior, mama of one and the founder of Fertilust, a fertility-inspired wellness and nutrition hub. Self-described as "a recovering workaholic and type A down to the blood type," Nathalie shares her story of unexplained infertility, silent endometriosis, several IVF cycles, pity parties, how changing her nutrition changed everything, and why this community is so important to her. Nathalie's story is not over yet: After a recent transfer that unfortunately didn't end with a pregnancy, she's not sure what's going to happen next…

Today we are partnering with Extend Fertility, https://extendfertility.com/, the largest egg freezing practice in the nation. Extend has now expanded to offer a full range of infertility services—including IVF—in a small practice environment that is more personal, data driven, and higher quality.

Today, Ali talks to Cynara, who she met when they were both in Albany lobbying to make gestational surrogacy legal in New York. Cynara used a surrogate to have her daughter, Pearl, and today she chronicles her entire journey, including unexplained infertility, having eight miscarriages in 10 years, feeling broken, and having suicidal thoughts. As she says, "It was like, 'There's something wrong with me. I'm defective.' I was so hard on myself."

Today we are partnering with ConceiveAbilities, a leading surrogacy and egg donation agency that has been around for 24 years, with thousands of babies born. If surrogacy or egg donation is part of your journey, make sure to check out conceiveabilities.com. And make sure to tell them Infertile AF sent you!

We are also partnering with Extend Fertility, https://extendfertility.com/, the largest egg freezing practice in the nation. Extend has now expanded to offer a full range of infertility services—including IVF—in a small practice environment that is more personal, data driven, and higher quality.

Today, Ali talks to Samantha Busch, wife of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch, star of Racing Wives, and Infertility Advocate. Samantha gets real about having their first baby through IVF, how infertility has affected her marriage, going through it all in the public eye, her devastating recent miscarriage, and how they're considering using a surrogate for their next child. Samantha also talks about her upcoming infertility memoir and her nonprofit, Bundle of Joy Fund, which has awarded 54 grants to couples going through IVF, with 25 babies born and 5 more on the way.

On today's episode, we're partnering with Circle Surrogacy, which is celebrating 25 years of making parenthood possible for heterosexual and LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. Circle partners with their surrogates, intended parents and egg donors until they achieve success together. Learn more at circlesurrogacy.com or by emailing [email protected]

Elyse Ash is an infertility warrior and the founder of Fruitful, a fertility mentor service that pairs mentees who are going through infertility with mentors who have come out the other side. Fruitful is "committed to making infertility suck less." Today, Elyse talks to Ali about everything she went through before finally having her baby, including endometriosis with no symptoms, ovarian cysts, and scrolling through Instagram and being "so jealous and heartbroken and wondering what it would look like when it was my turn."

Today we are partnering with ConceiveAbilities, a leading surrogacy and egg donation agency that has been around for 24 years, with thousands of babies born. If surrogacy or egg donation is part of your journey, make sure to check out conceiveabilities.com. And make sure to tell them Infertile AF sent you!

We are also partnering with Extend Fertility, extendfertility.com, the largest egg freezing practice in the nation. Extend has now expanded to offer a full range of infertility services—including IVF—in a small practice environment that is more personal, data driven, and higher quality.