PreConceived: 5 Stories of IVF and Surrogacy

Libby never thought about becoming a surrogate, until she did. And two families' lives will never be the same. Hers is a reminder that the infertility journey is unique for every couple and that IVF is a roller coaster no matter how perfect the situation.

Part 2 of Heidi's story. In Episode 3 we heard Heidi's positive experience as a gestational carrier, for which we used the more common term of surrogate. In this episode, we hear her experience of becoming a gestational carrier once more. This time, things did not go as smoothly. Learn of the highs and lows from the surrogate's perspective. A must listen for anyone planning on becoming, working with or hiring a surrogate.

Heidi felt a call to become a gestational carrier, more commonly called a surrogate. After extensive research she jumped in. Anyone who's thinking about hiring a carrier through an agency or becoming a carrier through an agency should hear the story of everything going right, from the gestational carrier's perspective. We chat in depth about the process along with the highs, lows and lessons along the way.

What would you do if you knew your child could be born with a genetic disorder? Kate and her husband, both carriers of Cystic Fibrosis (CF), knew their children could be born with CF, just as her nephew was. They decided to pursue IVF with preimplantation genetic diagnosis, through which they were able to test their embryo for the disorder prior to transfer. We chat about the discovery, the pursuit, the challenges and the outcome.

Endless IVF or surrogacy? One couple's quest to having a baby reveals the complicated choices along the path for 1 in 8 couples who struggle to become parents. We talk with Laura about her discovery of the causes of her infertility including Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS, the recurring miscarriages that came after rounds of fertility treatments, and the physical and emotional complexities of the process. Anyone who wants to learn more about IVF, might be going through IVF, or wants to support those going through it should listen to this episode. We talk PCOS, miscarriage, stigma, pain, difficult decisions, support, and triumph! Share this story with someone who needs to hear it.