IVF DADDIES

In this episode, we interview Zach French, Vice President of SEEDTrust, an independent escrow company in the surrogacy industry. Zach shares his personal surrogacy journey and the challenges he faced, which led him to co-found the Gift of Surrogacy Foundation.

He also discusses the need for more support and transparency in the surrogacy industry. Zach explains the role of SEED Trust as an independent escrow company, ensuring the safety and security of funds throughout the surrogacy process. He highlights the importance of bonds and insurance in protecting clients' funds. Zach emphasizes the personalized support and communication provided by SEED Trust to intended parents and surrogates.

Takeaways

Surrogacy can be a viable option for individuals and couples who are unable to have children naturally.

The surrogacy journey involves various challenges, including financial costs, legal contracts, and emotional negotiations.

The Gift of Surrogacy Foundation aims to provide support, education, and financial assistance to families going through the surrogacy process.

SEED Trust is an independent escrow company that ensures the safe and transparent handling of funds in the surrogacy journey.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

00:59 Discovering Surrogacy as an Option

01:55 The Surrogacy Journey and Challenges

03:18 The Gift of Surrogacy Foundation

05:09 The Need for Support in the Surrogacy Industry

07:29 Meeting Richard and the SEEDS Conference

08:55 Introduction to SEED Trust

09:54 The Role of an Independent Escrow Company

10:48 Ensuring Safety and Security of Funds

12:42 The Importance of Bonds and Insurance

15:01 Costs and Fees of Escrow Services

16:27 Transparency and Access to Account Information

18:16 Handling Mistakes and Liability

21:04 Legal Representation and Contract Clarity

22:26 Bond Coverage and Insurance Claims

23:52 The Importance of Escrow in the Surrogacy Process

24:22 Personalized Support and Communication

26:18 Conclusion and Appreciation

In this episode, we interviews Molly O'Brien, a renowned egg donor and surrogacy lawyer. Molly explains the importance of having a lawyer in the IVF process and how they provide independent guidance to intended parents. The conversation then delves into the importance of contracts through the egg donation process, including choosing a donor, setting up a trust account, and the medical and psychological screening of the donor. The legal aspects of egg donation contracts are discussed, highlighting the rights and ownership of eggs. The different types of contracts, such as anonymous, semi-open, and open, are explored, along with the shift towards non-anonymous donations. The episode concludes with a discussion on contracts with family members or friends as donors.

Takeaways

Having a lawyer in the IVF process provides independent guidance to intended parents.

The egg donation process involves choosing a donor, setting up a trust account, and undergoing medical and psychological screening.

Egg donation contracts establish the legal rights and ownership of eggs.

There are different types of contracts, including anonymous, semi-open, and open, with a trend towards non-anonymous donations.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Importance of a Lawyer in the IVF Process

02:24 Egg Donation Process: Choosing a Donor and Setting Up a Trust Account

03:19 Medical and Psychological Screening of the Egg Donor

04:08 Signing the Egg Donation Contract

05:05 Legal Rights and Ownership of Eggs

06:04 Egg Donor Liability Insurance

07:33 Different Types of Egg Donor Contracts: Anonymous, Semi-Open, and Open

09:28 The Shift Towards Non-Anonymous Donations

11:22 Contracts with Family Members or Friends as Donors

12:49 Conclusion and Call to Action

This episode examines Black maternal health at the intersection of IVF, surrogacy, reproductive medicine, and public visibility.

As high-profile Black women publicly navigate fertility treatment and family building, this conversation grounds the cultural moment in medical reality, structural risk, and historical context. We discuss why visibility alone does not equal safety, and why Black women—regardless of status, wealth, or platform—continue to face disproportionate risks in reproductive and maternal care.

The episode addresses how IVF and surrogacy intersect with racial disparities in maternal health, access to fertility treatment, and systemic bias within medical systems. We explore surrogate health, informed consent, confidentiality, agency responsibility, and the ethical standards required to protect women throughout the surrogacy process.

This conversation also examines financial access to IVF and surrogacy, including the role of grants, foundations, and advocacy in expanding who gets to pursue family building without exploitation or harm. We challenge the assumption that reproductive care is neutral or equally safe for everyone, and explain why education, transparency, and accountability are essential—especially when fertility journeys are publicly visible but privately vulnerable.

This episode is essential listening for intended parents, individuals pursuing IVF or surrogacy, medical professionals, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how race, power, media visibility, and maternal health shape modern fertility care. It reframes IVF and surrogacy not as lifestyle choices or celebrity narratives, but as medical and human rights issues where protection, equity, and informed care must come first.

Takeaways

To Donate to the Miracle Family Foundation click here

Author of the book

Miracle Motherhood: A Tale of Mary's Gift

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:53 Becoming Involved in Surrogacy

06:10 Shadina's Impressive Resume

07:22 Being a Surrogate for Someone in the Limelight

09:15 Increasing Visibility of Surrogacy in Minority Communities

10:12 The Importance of Discussing Infertility and IVF

11:37 Supporting Surrogates and Ensuring Their Health

12:34 Confidentiality and Boundaries in Surrogacy

16:14 The Role of Surrogacy Agencies in Advocating for Surrogates

17:10 The Surrogacy Miracles Foundation and Providing Financial Assistance

19:12 The Need for Grants and Support for Minority and Same-Sex Couples

20:31 How to Donate to the Surrogacy Miracles Foundation

21:49 Supporting Individuals Going Through IVF and Surrogacy

22:25 Becoming a Surrogate and the Role of an Agency

24:59 Confidentiality and the Emotional Bond Between Surrogates and Intended Parents

29:14 Addressing the Pope's Concerns about Surrogacy

Sheryl Homa is an HCPC registered Clinical Scientist with a special interest in male fertility. She obtained her degrees in Biochemistry at Imperial College of Science and Technology and the Middlesex Hospital Medical School. 

She spent a large part of her career as an academic research scientist in the field of oocyte maturation, funded by the National Institutes of Health in the USA. For many years she served as Scientific Director of several fertility clinics in the UK working in both the public and private sectors. During this time, she became aware that male fertility is considerably marginalised and, as a result, opened Andrology Solutions in 2007 – the first and only HFEA-licensed clinic of its kind, dedicated to male infertility. 

She has collaborated on many research projects and is the author of numerous scientific articles, abstracts and book chapters in the fertility field. Her studies include investigating calcium signalling in sperm and, more recently, the role of oxidative stress and infection on sperm quality. Sheryl has been responsible for introducing and CE-marking novel, state-of-the-art testing for male infertility, including a chemiluminescence assay for measuring seminal reactive oxygen species. Currently Sheryl is honorary Professor in Biosciences at University of Kent, and consultant clinical lead for Andrology at The Doctors Laboratory.

This episode examines gestational surrogacy across three different systems—India, Canada, and the United States—and how legal frameworks, medical access, and emotional resilience shape the path to parenthood.

We explore what the surrogacy process actually involves by comparing two surrogacy journeys undertaken in different countries, highlighting how laws, regulations, costs, and protections vary dramatically depending on where surrogacy takes place. The conversation addresses why some families pursue surrogacy abroad, what risks are often underestimated, and how jurisdictional differences can fundamentally change the experience for intended parents and surrogates alike.

This episode also examines the emotional reality of infertility and long-term family building. We discuss how infertility reshapes relationships, the sustained anxiety that accompanies surrogacy journeys, and why becoming a parent is not defined by pregnancy but by the arrival of a child. The conversation reframes resilience, patience, and partnership as central forces in navigating surrogacy—not as abstract virtues, but as survival skills.

This conversation is essential for intended parents considering surrogacy, individuals comparing international surrogacy options, and anyone seeking a clearer understanding of how law, geography, and emotional endurance intersect in family building. It reframes surrogacy not as a single process, but as a profoundly different experience depending on where—and under what protections—a family is created.

In today's episode you will discover the heartwarming story of the power of chosen family, and how our dear friend Matthew Brown @ukrules, shares his story on becoming a solo gay parent, and the wonderful story on how his friend Julien, decided to ask Matt to have the same egg donor, creating a wonderful extended family that no one could have ever imagine.

Matthew is a wonderful man whom has a passion for travel, and have a successful real-estate business, which allows him to be a stay at home dad, providing him time to be involve in philanthropy and a huge advocate of active kindness.

I hope you enjoy today's episode.

This episode examines egg donation, egg freezing, and IVF decision-making from a medical and biological perspective with a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist.

We break down how egg donation actually works, what intended parents and donors are rarely told about female reproductive biology, and how eggs are evaluated, selected, and used in IVF treatment. The conversation addresses common misconceptions around egg donors, physical appearance versus medical criteria, and the biological factors that influence embryo creation and fertility outcomes.

This episode also explores egg freezing as a form of reproductive planning rather than a last-resort intervention. We discuss why fertility preservation has become increasingly relevant for women, LGBTQIA+ families, and intended parents navigating IVF, surrogacy, and donor conception. The discussion highlights how medical expertise, informed consent, and accurate education shape better fertility decisions.

This conversation is relevant for individuals considering egg donation or egg freezing, intended parents pursuing IVF or surrogacy, and anyone seeking a clearer understanding of how eggs, fertility, and reproductive endocrinology impact family building. It reframes egg-related fertility decisions as medical and biological issues—not cosmetic, emotional, or trend-driven choices.

12 years ago, the ability to find quality information on egg donation was limited. And I had no idea what I was doing. I spent many hours going through endless profiles of egg donors from different agencies online. Each presented their donors in a different way. Making it very dehumanising and complicated to understand. Choosing my donor, were around costs, and type of relationship with the egg donor.

Key Points Discussed:

Anonymous Egg donor.

Semi-known Egg donor.

Known Egg Donor.

Costs.

Pros and Cons on working with an Egg Donor Agency.

Risk of working with a First time Donor.

Experienced Egg Donors.

Medical Screening.

AFC, AMH, and STIs.

The least expensive way to find a donor. Is to work with a family member or a friend.

Pros and cons of using a friend or family member

In my opinion, the best option to keep costs down is to work with an IVF clinics, donor database. They have no agency fee. , donors have been pre-screened and generally the egg donors live close to the clinic. All of which can save you possibly up to about 30% of the cost of making your embryos.

Pros and cons of choosing. Through your IVF clinic.

Pros. No agency fees. Donors are pre-screened and costs are minimized. There is a limited amount of donors as the clinic will only recruit close to the clinic.

Unlike with surrogates, finding a donor through your clinic, doesn't have a conflict of interest as there are very specific medical data required to be an egg donor. And so that, you know, from the start, whether the donor is a good candidate or not, This medical data goes into her profile alongside educational and genetic history. And a lot more information so that you can make an informed choice. I looked at the photos and her profile and my donor is very Percy.

However, I also noticed how handsome her brother and father were. So I knew that she was the great choice for me.

At this point, I have my sperm and egg donor. And that was the part when everything lay within the hands of the clinic. All I could do was wait. It was emotional and unsettling. As the decision-making was no longer mine. When I chose her. I didn't really think about the impact of her being a first time donor. Making me question. If she. Had understood. What she was getting herself into. Especially with the injections or the effect that the medications would have on her. And if the expert grows successfully.

After 11 days of injections, they retrieved 12 eggs that were then fertilized. These were grown in the lab.

And on day five, I found out how many embryos were going to be frozen.

This was another few days of an emotional roller coaster, because one thing I had not understood. Was that every day they're in the lab. The number of embryos drops. I was terrified that all this time emotion. And effort would end up with me having no embryos. From the initial 12, it dropped and dropped. They thankfully on day five, there was a total of six embryos for freezing.

Why were the embryos frozen? There is no difference in success between fresh or frozen embryos. So the clinic focuses on the egg donor to maximize the number of eggs to retrieve without having to worry about the logistics around the surrogate.

By freezing embryos.

You get the option to do an embryo biopsy or PGT a pre-implantation genetic testing for. Aneuploidy. Which is where a few cells are biopsied from the outer cells of the embryo. And open up to see the number of chromosomes inside. If there are 46. Then the embryo is deemed chromosomally normal.

Why do PGT a. Two main reasons. Number one. Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester due to a chromosome abnormality. So, although PGT does not guarantee a pregnancy. It does minimize the risk of a miscarriage. Number two. By looking at chromosomes, you can tell if they are X, X, Or X, Y so you can tell this X.

This episode examines how IVF, surrogacy, embryo banking, and egg freezing collide with divorce, legal ownership, and unequal access to parenthood.

We break down what happens to embryos and frozen eggs when relationships end, how reproductive decisions made during IVF carry long-term legal and emotional consequences, and why these issues are rarely explained clearly to intended parents before treatment begins. The conversation addresses embryo custody, consent, reproductive autonomy, and the structural gaps that emerge when fertility care intersects with divorce law.

The episode also explores fertility inequality across countries, including the barriers faced by people navigating IVF and surrogacy from Europe, Spain, and Latin America compared to the United States. We discuss why egg freezing has shifted from a niche medical option to a form of reproductive planning—and why access to fertility preservation remains tied to wealth, citizenship, and geography.

This conversation is essential for anyone considering IVF, surrogacy, embryo banking, or egg freezing, as well as for those navigating separation, divorce, or cross-border fertility care. It reframes family building as a legal, medical, and ethical issue—not a lifestyle choice—and challenges the assumption that everyone has equal access to becoming a parent.

Here's the thing about miracles: they're expensive.