Never Thought We'd Be Here

In this episode of 'Never Thought We'd Be Here', host Maya Grobel speaks with Hannah, an embryo donor, about her journey through embryo donation.

Hannah shares her experiences with IVF, the emotional complexities of donating embryos, and the relationships she has built with the recipients of her embryos. The conversation explores themes of openness, flexibility, and the importance of communication in navigating the embryo donation process. Hannah reflects on her identity as a donor and the support she has received throughout her journey, emphasizing the significance of being prepared for the unknown and the evolving nature of this experience.

Chapters:

02:44 Hannah's Journey as an Embryo Donor

05:12 Building Relationships with Embryo Recipients

08:55 Navigating Expectations and Boundaries

11:45 Emotional Preparedness and Awareness

14:53 The Complexity of Emotions

17:50 Deciding to Donate Embryos

20:56 The Unique Experience of Each Embryo Donation

23:11 Communication Dynamics with Embryo Recipients

25:48 The Role of Flexibility in the Process

29:50 Future Considerations for More Embryo Donations

32:47 Identity as an Embryo Donor

35:53 Looking Ahead and Advice for Others

Thank you for listening! To learn more about EM•POWER with Moxi or Moxi Matching, visit our website.

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Have questions about becoming an embryo donor or recipient? Schedule a free 15 minute consultation here!

In this into to 'Never Thought We'd Be Here’ Maya introduces the ⁠EM•POWER with Moxi⁠ team and shares their personal journeys with infertility and embryo donation, as well as their professional experiences in the field of reproductive medicine. 

Maya is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and psychotherapist in reproductive medicine. Her diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve in her early 30s sent her straight to IVF, which resulted in no embryos to transfer and intense heartbreak. Over the next 4 years, she and her husband tried everything assisted reproductive medicine had to offer and documented the entire journey, which resulted in a feature-length film called One More Shot that debuted on Netflix in 2018 and is now available on Amazon. The end of their journey was the birth of their daughter who was conceived via embryo donation. 

When Maya isn’t interviewing embryo donors or recipients, she will explore special topics in embryo donation and will be joined by her two partners at EM•POWER, Gina Davis, a board-certified and multi-state licensed genetic counselor and founder of Advocate Genetics, who has been immersed in the field of reproductive medicine for the past 20+ years. Gina is a mother of two via IVF and an open embryo donor. And Jennifer Vesbit, a Nationally Certified Counselor who founded Embryo Donation Support, a web-based community for embryo donors. Jen has twins via IVF and is also an open embryo donor.

These three women co-founded EM•POWER with Moxi, an organization deeply rooted in education, support, and ethical practices for embryo donation and  Moxi Matching, a directed embryo donation matching platform where embryo donors and interested recipients can match in a connected and open way.

This podcast aims to explore various themes related to embryo donation and alternative family building, providing insights and support for others navigating similar paths.