Emily Derrick is a licensed marriage and family therapist who is also a six time egg donor and gestational carrier.  She has had personal experience with many aspects of third party reproduction, both personally and professionally.

During the episode, we talk about Emily’s experience becoming an egg donor, why she chose to be an egg donor, what the egg donor process was like for her, the outcomes of her donor cycles and her thoughts on connecting with the children that she is the biological mother of.

We dive into the importance of having accessibility to your donor going forward in the future for medical history, giving the kids the ability to get from their donor information, to know who they are and where they came from.

Emily and I also talk about her work as a therapist working with recipient parents and what you can expect during your psycho-social evaluation and we get into the meat of why it is SO important to unpack the feelings surrounding being a recipient parent and the personal emotional work it takes to get comfortable and excited about going down this path.

Emily Derrick is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in infertility and 3rd party reproduction, raising two children with her husband, a 6x egg donor and 1x gestational carrier. She works with clients who are seeking emotional support, skill building and education on their journey to family, whether through 1:1 therapy or clinic required psychoeducational consultations. Visit her website at www.emilyderricktherapy.com to learn more.

Resources from the Show:

Inheritance by Dani Shapiro

Brave new Humans by Sarah Dingle 

Children’s book resource on Emily’s website 

Emily's Instagram @emily.derrick.therapy

Today's episode is part 2 of a series I'm doing on fertility coaching.  If you haven't listened to Episode 22 - What is a Fertility Coach and Why Should I Invest in One I highly recommend checking out that episode first.  In that episode I talk all about what a fertility coach is, why it is good to have one, the difference between a coach and a therapist and what how to decide if having one is right for you.

Today we are diving into how to find a fertility coach that is right for you.  There are so many amazing coaches out there specializing in all kinds of support: from miscarriage to endometriosis to mind/body connections you can really find help for anything you are looking for.  But before you jump into a program, it’s important to know what you are struggling with the most right now so you can focus and to know how you best learn.  This will help you get the most out of your time and investment.

Below you will find some coaches who I personally recommend to get you started.

Mind Body Fertility Reset / Robyn Birkin - Mind Body Connection during Fertility 

Jen Robertson - IVF, Pregnancy after Loss / Infertility 

Studio Fertility / Bella Hilton - Unexplained Infertility

Ebony Hibbert - Solo Motherhood 

Embrace Fertility / Naomi Woolfson  - Fertility Hypnotherapy 

Feel Fully / Simone  - Endometriosis and Mindfulness 

Meta Getman  - Donor Conception (that's me!) 

Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide 

What the heck is a fertility coach and why should you invest in one? If you've ever asked this question or wondered this, today is the episode for you!  This is part 1 of a 2 part series.  Join me next week for Part 2! 

A fertility coach is a professional who specializes in helping individuals and couples navigate the challenges of infertility and reproductive health. They provide emotional support, guidance on medical options, and practical tools to increase the chances of conception. This episode explains the role of a fertility coach, the benefits of working with one, and real-life stories from those who have benefitted from this type of support. Whether you're just starting your journey to parenthood or have been struggling for a while, this podcast is for anyone looking to better understand the fertility journey and what options are available.

Sign up to join me at my free training on Friday, February 17th at 11:00 am CST called the Five Myths of Donor Conception. If you can't join us live, get the replay by signing up.  SIGN UP HERE  

Connect with me on Instagram 

Did you know that your brain is wired to fill in the gaps when you don't know things? Did you also know that the fear of the unknown is known as the biggest fear of all? 

Infertility is full of unknowns.  Things we don't know.  Things we can't control.  And because our brains want to fill in the gaps we are wired to worry and spiral and try to fill in what is missing.  

On today's episode I talk about this and share with you my best advice for navigating the unknowns and what you can do to make it easier.  

Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help. Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide 

Connect with me on Instagram

I have a confession...sometimes I wonder if my exposure to toxins in my environment impacted my ability to get pregnant using my own eggs.  I will never know the answer to that question but it is something I've become more aware of over the last 10 years.  

We hear it all the time...contaminates in the air, water, food, skin care, make-up, etc are causing issues in our bodies.  It can get overwhelming.  And it can be hard to know what is real vs what is data being twisted to scare us into doing something or trying some new product. 

But I do think there is enough data now to show that certain chemicals can be harmful to our health both short and long term.  And I do think that being mindful of what we put in and on our bodies along with the environments we are in can make a difference when it comes to our reproductive health.  

Today's episode is about those different toxins, my own experience, and some suggestions you can try if you are interested in reducing your exposure to environmental toxins. 

Products I Recommend 

(note, I may receive a commission from a purchase you make using this link or my code). 

Primally Pure

Use code META10 to get 10% off your first purchase 

BeautyCounter

Branch Basics

Resources:

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm

https://www.epa.gov/endocrine-disruption/what-endocrine-disruption

What are Endocrine Disruptors and Examples by Dr. Lora Shahine 

https://joe.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/joe/233/3/R109.xml

Environmental Working Group (EWG)

Failed IVF cycle after failed IVF cycle is the absolute worst for so many reasons.  For me, it was because I thought IVF with my own eggs was going to work, no questions asked.  The reality is that IVF doesn't always work and in fact, only works about 45% of the time for people under the age of 35.  

On the podcast today I'm talking about 5 reasons why your IVF cycles with your own gametes (egg and/or sperm) and what these reasons mean to you and your infertility journey.  

Connect with me on Instagram 

Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide 

Resources: 

https://www.sartcorsonline.com/rptCSR_PublicMultYear.aspx?reportingYear=2020

https://natalist.com/blogs/learn/guide-to-ivf-embryo-grading?gclid=CjwKCAiA76-dBhByEiwAA0_s9X3KZyKKPKcqK0Zi6U_j3Sr7axtMvK1NgagxTiTEUKoelfSv40NrPRoCnjAQAvD_BwE

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Do you feel like your partner shuts down as soon as you try to talk about your struggles with infertility? Or maybe you are the one feeling like you just can't talk to your partner about your struggles because it's too hard.  

Friend, you are not alone. 

Infertility can cause a huge wedge between you and your partner.  The good news is that it doesn't have to stay that way.  In fact, going through the challenges and struggles of having a baby can actually bring you closer together. 

In this episode of the podcast I'm sharing with you why I believe we tend to move away from one another and I'm giving you some easy tips to put into action today that will help you and your partner turn toward each other instead of away. 

Connect with me on Instagram

Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help. Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide 

Making decisions can be difficult and can often leave us feeling overwhelmed. The advice out there is to take your problem and break it into smaller parts. Then take time to consider the different options. Sometimes people recommend pros and cons lists, checking in with yourself, getting advice from others who have gone through a similar experience. All this is great advice but there is something you have to do first. Because if you don't do this one thing first...all the lists, checking in, etc will get you no where.

On the podcast today we are talking about why you are struggling with making a decision and what steps you can take to start feeling confident in the decisions you are making. 

Resources from the Episode: 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response

https://www.thescienceofpsychotherapy.com/prefrontal-cortex/#:~:text=The%20prefrontal%20cortex%20(PFC)%20is,making%2C%20and%20moderating%20social%20behaviour

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469#:~:text=Exercise%20increases%20your%20overall%20health,%2Dgood%20neurotransmitters%2C%20called%20endorphins

Choosing to use an egg donor is a big decision. Once you've made that one though...another big decision comes and it is around what kind of donor to choose.

I hear it all the time from my clients and from people I connect with on Instagram.  I also felt the exact same way: all the options are overwhelming and it is hard to know what the best choice is.

As future parents we are constantly thinking about what is best for our future children.

On today's episode, I'm diving deeper into the types of egg donor you can choose from, the pros and cons of each option, and the things you need to know going forward regardless of what option you choose.

Connect with me on Instagram 

Did you just learn that donor conception might be your path to parenthood? Or maybe you think it might be but are not sure yet? Or, maybe you already know but need some more help.  Get my free PDF download, The Donor Decision Guide https://www.metagetman.com/podcast 

I recently did a poll on my instagram and I wanted to share the results with you.  I've personally been feeling tired.  Burnt out.  And I asked if others were feeling the same thing.  I got an overwhelming response of YES! You are feeling burnt out just like me. 

It got me thinking...when we are feeling tired, burned out, or are forced to take a pause on our fertility journey it can feel so frustrating.  It can make us feel stuck when really what we have is an opportunity. 

On today's episode I'm sharing 10 tips to help you keep moving forward when you feel stuck.  This episode is great for anyone who is forced to take a break (a canceled cycle, a clinic closure for maintenance, etc.) or anyone who is just generally feeling tired and not sure how to move forward.  

Want an easy to reference free PDF download of these ideas? Go to https://metagetman.com/fertilityforward and download your free copy! 

Resources from this Episode: 

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/burnout-prevention-and-recovery.htm

https://www.betterup.com/blog/how-to-recover-from-burnout

5 Simple Mindfulness Practices for Daily Life

Insight Timer App