Infertility And Me: Stories of Infertility Survivors, IVF, & TTC

Joanna Pendergrass joins us to discuss her battle with multiple losses due to chromosomal egg abnormalities and unsuccessful IVF cycles. Joanna's journey is unlike many we hear about in the fertility community because she once held uncertainty about motherhood and how that would affect the career she worked arduously to achieve.

We explore the expectations society forces onto women to bare children after marriage, the grief of miscarriage, and planning a nursery. Joanna is a veterinarian and freelance medical writer in Atlanta, GA. In her writing, she focuses on pet owner education and human health journalism. JoAnna is passionate about providing patients and pet owners with the medical information they need to make informed health decisions for themselves and their pets. In her spare time, JoAnna enjoys baking, exercising, and playing the viola in a local community orchestra. She and her husband have been married for seven years. Join us as we break down societal structures and heal the silent-sufferer within.

Episode Highlights:

02:50- Hesitant to have kids

05:33- I don't want kids

07:55- Societal structures and expectations

12:58- I'm ready now

16:58- Understanding grief

20:58- 1st IVF round and COVID

24:25- Fertility treatment is not elective

29:48- Baby room planning

33:50- Finding community on Instagram 

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Do you ever feel like you're stuck, desperately seeking answers to your emotional, mental, and physical well-being during family building? Pradeepa is a fertility coach who survived 12 years of infertility, loss, and repeated unsuccessful cycles.

Navigating the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual trauma of infertility is no easy task. We're often left searching for the many questions we ask, such as "Why have I been chosen to bare this burden," will my life ever feel normal again," and last but not least, "when will it be my turn?" Join us we explore the emotional voids of Infertility.

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Are you a couple or single individual considering adoption to grow your family? If so, you'll want to tune-in to today's episode with Sharika Kellogg. Sharika shares with us her unique journey to motherhood as a single woman. She is an angel mom who has suffered multiple miscarriages, IUI's, and IVF treatment cycles- totaling more than one-hundred thousand dollars.

She is a single mother or rather a choice mother of 3 little boys (5,4,3) - 2 are adopted - and the eldest whom she has permanent guardianship of. This journey to motherhood is nothing short of determination. Sharika continues to advocate for women through Resolve National Infertility Awareness Association as a mentor. 

Episode Highlights:

01:00- Here's Sharika

02:03- When it all changed

03:29- Creating a life I envisioned

07:47- Fostering to adopt

15:19- Mother's Day adoption

20:25- Moments of uncertainty

26:23- Entrepreneurship

34:10- Considering adoption? Here's a few tips adopting as a single woman  

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LaKeisha has over 10 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing and developed her toxic-free, plant derived, US based product line as a sufferer of sensitive skin due to PCOS, and after her battle with infertility. 

LaKeisha reminds us in this episode, why it is so important to live toxic-free during and after fertility treatments. After conceiving her eldest child via IUI, Lakeisha and her husband miraculously conceived twins four years later naturally. It was then that she quickly realized her purpose was much greater than what she imagined. 

Episode Highlights:

1:20- We're ready

3:00- 15 months later we conceived & PCOS symptoms

06:00- Trying for a sibling

10:26- The stress of infertility and marriage

14:10- The birth of Elements of Aliel Skincare line

17:39- Gather & Glow Podcast 19:06- In closing

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This episode is for the Moms who have suffered through losing a baby from miscarriage, stillbirth, or any type of child-loss. You are not alone Momma and Jasmine has so graciously offered her story through two losses, one from miscarriage at 11wks, and stillbirth at 19w 5d gestation while in an ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Through her journey, Jasmine created the JMason Foundation meant to serve Moms in need with essential baby items. I hope that you are staying safe, getting plenty of outdoor stimulation, and love from those closest to you. I am thinking of you friend and sending love!

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Attorney Jackson shares his wealth of knowledge and expertise for families considering surrogacy, egg, and sperm donation. Attorney Jackson has witnessed first-hand the selfless impact surrogacy and egg donation has on families by his mother and also his wife.

When preparing for the process, it is important to note that there are three pillars:

1.) The legalities

2.) Agency

3.) The medical end/clinic.

Attorney Jackson also explain the difference between traditional and gestational surrogacy, egg/sperm donation process, and which States are considered "Red light" and do not honor contractual agreements for surrogacy. 

*At the time of this recording, New York was a "red light" state. Since then, New York has passed new laws and is no longer a "red light" state.

Episode Highlights:

00:30- Attorney Jackson's Inspirations for family law

02:06- Consulting with a lawyer 06:35- Traditional vs. gestational surrogacy

09:38- Red Light States & surrogacy 

00:12:25- Egg/sperm donor-ship

00:13:23- COVID19

00:19:10- Things to keep in mind

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"Every cycle is not the same, won't be the same, and to be able to try again is a humbling privilege." Nikita shares the success of conceiving her and her wife's son through IUI, after being diagnosed with irreversible tubal blockages, and battling with insurance companies as a same-sex couple.

When she decided it was time to try again for a sibling, Nikita's journey would prove that no two fertility cycles are the same and certainly not as easy as she'd hoped. 

Episode Highlights:

00:01:31- Finding Love

00:02:55- Motherhood journey begins

00:06:00- Infertility in a same-sex marriage

00:10:55- Trying for a sibling

00:15:58- Can we endure again

00:18:50- The gift of surprise

00:21:16- Cancelled by COVID19

00:24:04- A forced time of healing

00:28:18- In closing

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It's National Infertility Awareness Week, so I am bringing you a special BONUS episode with Margaret Rogers. Margaret is the Marketing Director at Natalist. Natalist creates "Fertility and pregnancy products; inspired by beauty and backed by science." Finding the right products that you can trust while trying to conceive and during infertility treatments, can be overwhelming. Natalist's products are very easy to use, created and tested by Doctors and Scientists, and affordable to help you along your journey to conception. Margaret also shares her personal journey with trying to conceive and becoming a new Mom.

Visit Natalist's website here to learn more about their products!

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In episode 26, we are joined by founder and host of the Sisters In Loss digital media platform Erica McAfee. Erica's journey to motherhood is a perfect example of turning pain into purpose. After suffering multiple losses, Erica began to question why she and her husband were victims to such tragedies and what it all meant. The birth of her premature son Maxwell, brought new meaning and a never-ending well of Joy into her life she never imagined. Erica is a grief specialist and Doula to families impacted by loss and fertility. Sisters In Loss podcast has been serving women since 2017 and is a place where black women replace silence with storytelling around pregnancy, infant-loss, and infertility.

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Episode Highlights: 02:23- Multiple losses 09:43- Ready to try again 13:40- The joy of life 15:49- Caring for Maxwell during COVID19 19:29- Sisters In Loss is born.

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This FREE event is to encourage those struggling with infertility, loss, and/or who have had delayed treatment due to COVID-19.Shara Hutchinson, founder of "I still want to be a mom" foundation, author, and TEDx speaker has created this virtual summit for you warrior in lieu of National Infertility Awareness Week. It will be held on April 25th, 11am-1pm et. I will be in attendance as well as a moderator/co-host, there will also be four key note speakers. Why should you attend?

Our goal is to provide those in attendance a community for support during their fertility journey, hope after loss, and the reassurance that they are not alone. Infertility can cause you to want to isolate yourself in shame and silence, but it’s important for you to surround yourself with people who can help you keep the faith during this emotional roller-coaster. Join us for discussions, panel interviews, raffles, and more.

Click the link below to read the full itinerary and I hope to see you there!!!Virtual Summit registration, click here!(https://www.eventbrite.com/e/niaw-2020-infertility-support-awareness-summit-virtual-tickets-102536146374)I still want to be a mom foundation, click here!(https://www.iswtbamfoundation.org)Let me know what topics you'd like to hear on the podcast or how I can better support you!(www.infertilityandmepodcast.com/contact)Infertility And Me on Instagram!(https://www.instagram.com/infertilityandmepodcast)

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