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In this episode, Heather's journey towards parenthood took an unexpected turn, filled with challenges and self-discovery. 

In her own words, Heather reflects on her earlier naivety when it came to conception and pregnancy. Having effortlessly conceived her first born in her twenties, Heather believed that expanding her family would not pose any difficulties. Little did she know that this next chapter of her life would prove to be challenging.

Before Heather could even consider having another child, she and her husband faced a significant hurdle—his vasectomy. Initially, her husband was hesitant about the idea, and they found themselves on different pages. 

However, Heather's determination prevailed, and together, they decided to pursue a reversal procedure. While many professionals cautioned against it, they proceeded with a TESI procedure (Testicular Sperm Extraction). It wasn't an easy decision, and it took time for Heather to convince her husband that it was the right path to take.

Following the TESI procedure, Heather dove headfirst into her first cycle of trying to conceive. However, she soon faced a setback. Her doctors expressed doubt about the process, given her age and underlying perimenopause symptoms. Although she initially remained optimistic, the truth was eventually revealed—premature menopause. It was a harsh reality to accept.

Nevertheless, Heather's spirit refused to be defeated. She swiftly redirected her focus to exploring the option of using donor eggs. Even before her own cycle was canceled, she had already begun researching and considering this alternative path. Deep down, Heather felt a profound calling to pursue this route. It was as if her dreams and intuitions were guiding her towards this pathway to motherhood.

One fascinating aspect that Heather shared was the vivid dreams she experienced, where she envisioned herself holding her future baby. “there was a calling of my heart that this was something that we wanted to do. It seemed a little bit supernatural. I kept having really vivid dreams about having the baby in my dream.”

It was as if an unexplainable force was urging her to embark on this journey. The energy and determination she felt resonated with the belief that these unborn souls choose their parents and guide them on their path. This realization brought Heather solace, confirming that her calling was not in vain. To witness Heather’s incredible journey of hop

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In this episode, we hear the incredible journey of Lily, who was diagnosed with Turner's syndrome at the age of 15. Turner's syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects one in 2,500 female births, characterised by the absence of part or all of one X chromosome. This condition leads to various health issues, including heart problems, hearing loss, short stature, and most importantly, fertility challenges.

Lily always dreamt of becoming a mother and took on a nurturing role early in life, caring for her younger sister. After a few failed relationships and considering her fertility challenges, Lily decided to pursue motherhood through either adoption or a donation process. Given the complexities of her condition, she had to undergo hormone treatments and growth hormone injections to help her grow physically and prepare for fertility treatments.

She embarked on her journey to parenthood by using both egg and sperm donors. Her first attempt at IVF was successful, and she gave birth to her son. However, her second attempt resulted in a failed transfer, which brought its own set of challenges. Lily later learned that her son also had a genetic condition, and she had to focus on getting him diagnosed and receiving proper support.

Determined to have another child, Lily saved up money for a third attempt at IVF. She traveled to Barcelona, Spain, for the treatment, and this time, the process went more smoothly. Lily underwent acupuncture and followed various rituals, including eating pineapple and wearing warm socks, as per popular beliefs to enhance IVF success.

Through perseverance and the support of her friends, Lily successfully completed her third IVF transfer. Currently, she is seven weeks pregnant and experiencing all the emotions that come with early pregnancy. She is hopeful and excited about the journey ahead.

Throughout her journey, Lily faced challenges, but she never let her condition hinder her dreams of motherhood. Her story highlights the resilience, determination, and love that can lead to fulfilling dreams and creating a beautiful family, despite the obstacles life throws our way. We wish Lily the best in her pregnancy and celebrate her courage in sharing her amazing journey with us. Tune in to this episode for an inspiring and heartwarming account of determination to become a mother despite the challenges of Turners.

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In this episode we had the pleasure of hearing from Becky Morrison, also known as Nurse Becky, a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner in Alberta, Canada, who has experienced incredible resilience and strength throughout her journey. She has faced six miscarriages, one ectopic pregnancy, and to her shock had a stroke whilst holidaying in Hawaii. Despite these challenges, Becky successfully had a son through egg donation and went on to write a series of children's books to address and reduce stigma surrounding fertility issues. 

Becky's fertility struggles began in her early 30s, and she initially believed she would easily conceive. However, she faced difficulties and went through failed IUIs and a miscarriage. She then experienced an ectopic pregnancy, resulting in the removal of one of her fallopian tubes. To relax before starting IVF, Becky and her husband traveled to Hawaii, where she unexpectedly had a stroke.

Returning to Canada, Becky discovered she had suffered a stroke and feared it would hinder her chances of trying to conceive. After a year of recovery, including heart surgery, she received approval to undergo IVF with certain limitations. However, despite multiple attempts with her own eggs and her husband's sperm, Becky faced more miscarriages, causing her mental health to deteriorate. In her lowest moment, Becky was struggling despite her background as a mental health nurse practitioner. On the day of her final IVF attempt, she rushed home to take a pregnancy test, hoping for a positive result. However, the ongoing challenges took a toll on her mental well-being.
“You have to take care of your holistic self. It's not just not drinking alcohol, eating healthy. You have to also work on your mental health because your mind and your brain controls the rest of your body. So it comes down  to ‘what can I control’? Because a lot of the things we lose control of when we go through fertility treatment, however, we can take control of our holistic health. That’s what we can do and be okay with.” 

Tune in to this episode for an inspiring and heartwarming account that will leave you inspired.

Becky offers all of our listeners some great resources.
Please contact her via her website for her free CBT course: Ninja Mind F$&@ therapy
Her book The Search for the Magical Egg
Www.beckymorrison.ca
Instagram @infertility_ninja

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In today's episode, we have the honor of sharing Sam's extraordinary journey from battling lymphoma to embracing motherhood. Get ready to be inspired by her resilience, hope, and unwavering love. Sam's life took a dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with lymphoma. Knowing that chemotherapy could make her infertile, she faced a difficult decision. Determined to preserve her dream of becoming a mother, Sam chose to undergo egg collection before starting treatment. This decision was the first step on her path to motherhood.

Finding the right egg donor was a complex and emotional process for Sam. Initially hesitant about using donor eggs, she explored various options, including offers from friends and online communities. Eventually, she discovered Reprofit, a clinic in the Czech Republic, known for its high success rates and strict embryo transfer criteria.
Embarking on the journey to the Czech Republic was both exciting and nerve-wracking for Sam. With the support of the clinic and available resources, she felt confident in her decision. Despite encountering obstacles and setbacks, Sam held onto hope and embraced the unknown.

Finally, the most beautiful part of Sam's journey arrived—motherhood. Holding her child for the first time, Sam experienced indescribable joy and fulfillment. Despite the challenges she faced, her love for her child knows no bounds.

Thank you for joining us on this remarkable journey of hope and triumph. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in our upcoming episodes.

Be supported on your donor egg journey with the Community Membership

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In this episode, I had a heartfelt conversation with Tara and Katherine, where they shared their incredible story of friendship and the journey to motherhood.

Tara began by recounting her experience with IVF, describing it as an immensely stressful process. She underwent three retrievals, but unfortunately, she didn't have much success. Being slightly older, she humorously said her eggs had retired. Despite their best efforts, including the three retrievals and even enduring a devastating miscarriage, Tara and her husband realized they needed to explore other options if they still wanted to become parents.

Although her husband strongly desired a child genetically related to him, Tara knew they had to consider alternative paths. Interestingly, Katie had casually mentioned to Tara before that she was willing to donate her eggs. Tara had never imagined having to ask her friend for something so significant, but as they faced the reality of their situation, she decided to broach the subject with Katie.

So, Tara asked Katie, "When you mentioned giving me your eggs, how serious were you?" To her surprise, Katie replied, "I'm completely serious. I would gladly do this for you." Tara was taken aback by how easy the conversation was, as it's not something one expects to ask of a friend.

Tara underwent three egg retrievals, endured two miscarriages, and ultimately embarked on an egg donor cycle that resulted in eight embryos. Despite the challenges, Tara's first embryo transfer proved successful, and now she joyfully celebrates her beautiful one-year-old daughter.

To truly witness the strength of friendship and the power of love and determination on the path to motherhood, don't miss out on Tara and Katherine's incredible story. Tune in to this episode for an inspiring and heartwarming account that will leave you inspired.

Be supported on your donor egg journey with the Community Membership (insert link https://www.donoreggmama.com/membership)

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✨Follow me on Instagram for all topics IVF, Donor IVF, Pregnancy and Loss

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In this episode, I had an amazing conversation with Anna, who proudly calls herself an "advanced maternal age Mama." She earned this title through her unwavering determination and a challenging six-year journey of struggling with infertility.

Anna's story was filled with obstacles, including a big financial burden that left her feeling trapped and overwhelmed in her quest to have a baby.  She found it really hard to get her head around using donor eggs, but after experiencing multiple failures and running out of money, she had to consider new options that lead her to a fantastic clinic in Mexico and the baby that she desired with all of her heart.  

Despite feeling discouraged and thinking about giving up, Anna's determination never wavered. She refused to let go of her dream of becoming a mother and kept pushing forward. While exploring more affordable options within the US, they came across fertility programs at universities. However, it was through a lucky encounter on a Facebook group that they discovered a clinic in Mexico, opening up a whole new possibility of affordable IVF treatment and the chance to make their dream of parenthood a reality.

Unfortunately, after her first transfer, Anna experienced a devastating miscarriage. It was during the subsequent medical examinations that doctors made a significant discovery—she was diagnosed with chronic endometritis, which is an inflammation of the endometrium. However, there was hope on the horizon thanks to the intervention of Dr. Mack. She prescribed a targeted course of antibiotics to address the chronic endometritis, and her treatment proved successful. This renewed Anna's optimism and set her back on track towards her journey of becoming a mother once again.

Anna experienced an outpouring of support from her family, friends, co-workers, and medical team when she finally conceived. Her doctor provided exceptional emotional support, offering reassurance by saying, "I know you're worried. You can come in anytime you want and listen to the baby's heartbeat to make sure that they're okay." The unwavering presence of her loved ones and the dedication of her medical team made a profound impact on Anna's journey towards motherhood.

Note: Dr. Brean is no longer accepting new patients. Anna advises researching a reputable medical team that is willing to support overseas IVF donor egg IVF. For those interested, an excellent facility and clinic in Mexico that offers a live birth guarantee can be found at https://www.ingenes.com.

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In this episode, we have the pleasure of hearing from Lea, a licensed therapist and IVF Coach with a remarkable journey. Seven years ago, at the age of 30, she began experiencing unusual symptoms like night hot flashes and irregular, heavier periods. Concerned about her health, she visited her gynecologist who conducted tests revealing alarmingly low levels of anti-malarial hormone (AMH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) for someone her age. This news hit her hard, especially since she was already facing the challenges of a failing relationship.

The diagnosis left Lea questioning her suitability as a partner due to her perceived inability to conceive. However, fate smiled upon her when she found an incredibly supportive partner who understood her situation. They got married and gathered the courage to pursue their shared dream of starting a family. Their path was far from easy, though. After careful consideration, they made the difficult decision to use donor eggs to fulfill their parenthood aspirations.

Lea eventually found peace in choosing an egg from a donor, someone she felt a deep connection with.

“I found somebody that I loved, it was interesting because I felt like she seemed almost like my little sister in a weird way. Like she had a lot of very similar experiences in life.”

However, their journey still had its struggles. Despite getting pregnant after the first transfer, Lea unfortunately experienced a miscarriage. This took a toll on her mental and emotional well-being. Despite the challenges, she found solace in journaling, using it as an outlet to express her thoughts and emotions. After making positive adjustments in her life, her body eventually became capable of conceiving again.

If you want to delve deeper into Lea's journey, be sure to listen to this episode.

To learn more about coaching services from Lea, go to www.leanicolecoaching.com/workwithme

Follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/leaivfcoach/

Get her Free Class, Triple your IVF Success with Less Stress: www.leanicolecoaching.com

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Be supported on your donor egg journey with the Community Membership.

In this episode, I have an amazing conversation with Cassandra, a bereavement doula who shares my passion for helping others. Cassandra has supported women who have reached out to her, providing them with companionship and helping them navigate their own unique paths.

Cassandra's own journey towards parenthood was filled with challenges. She experienced multiple pregnancy losses and, at the age of 36, was introduced to the idea of using an egg donor by her OB. Despite trying various methods to improve her fertility, including adjusting their exercise routine and following a specific plan, they didn't achieve the desired results. This led Cassandra and her family to consider using donor eggs.

They had a consultation with a donor coordinator and eventually found a suitable donor who had children of her own and a genuine desire to help others. Cassandra connected with her donor through a match page and sent her a heartfelt letter expressing gratitude. Their relationship blossomed, and they stayed in touch throughout Cassandra's pregnancy.

Cassandra recalls the support she received from her donor:

“The day that I went for my transfer, she was texting me like, I really hope this goes well. And I've been praying for you. It was really nice. And all my OB appointments, she would ask me how it went and like that she was so happy.”

If you want to learn more about Cassandra's journey, make sure to listen to this episode. It's filled with inspiring stories and valuable insights. And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast for more engaging conversations. Thank you for joining us and being a part of our community.

If you would like to find out more about Cassandra check out her website: www.donoreggdoula.com

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Be supported on your donor egg journey with the Community Membership.

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Samantha, a retired pastry chef turned domestic engineer aka stay at home mom, who faced the challenging journey of infertility despite already being a mother. After a smooth first pregnancy, Samantha and her husband sought to expand their family when their first child turned three.

However, after 22 months of trying, they sought professional help due to difficulties conceiving their second child. Samantha's low AMH levels prompted her to consult a fertility specialist, and she faced additional obstacles like miscarriage and mini polyps. These challenges led her to consider donor eggs as an option.

Samantha also struggled with negative self-talk, questioning whether having one beautiful child should be enough and why she was putting herself and her family through this journey. However, she realized that her love and desire for another child were profound, and she couldn't be truly content without giving it her all. Knowing she wasn't alone in her experiences brought her comfort and reassurance.

Samantha also generously shared her personal experience in selecting a donor. 

“I wanted to know about her personality. One thing that she (the donor) wrote about in her questionnaire was when she was in a car driving, she's more likely to be listening to a podcast than to music. Yeah. And I don't know what it was about that, but just that phrase, that sentence, I thought, that's me. I listened to podcasts in the car instead of music. And there's this mundane detail, but it's something that we share and that just kind of pushed it over the edge”

It served as a tangible connection, a small but significant sign of similarity that pushed her decision forward.

Join us in this episode as Samantha shares her emotional journey, offering valuable insights and inspiration to others facing similar struggles.

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Your feedback means so much [email protected]

Be supported on your donor egg journey with the Community Membership.

In this episode, I shared a heartfelt and candid conversation with Alison, a teacher from Hong Kong who wanted to have her own baby at the age of 40. She shared her personal journey of trying to conceive and the challenges she faced along the way.

Alison initially hesitated to pursue the option of donor eggs and spent a significant amount of money on IVF. Her body did not respond well to hormones and regular IVF treatments. She then attempted donor egg treatment in Thailand, but felt scammed by an unqualified doctor, which led her to experience feelings of despair. She later went to Greece and underwent three successful transfers, but unfortunately miscarried.

During her journey to becoming a mother, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Hong Kong went into lockdown, preventing her from leaving the country. Adding to her hardships, she discovered one day that her husband had left her, forcing her to choose between the baby or her marriage. Despite the disappointment of failed attempts and the emotional toll it took, Alison expressed her unwavering determination to have a baby.

After enduring six rounds of IVF, including four cycles with donor eggs, she finally succeeded in her seventh attempt and joyfully welcomed her long-awaited and deeply cherished child into the world.

However, after conceiving, she received a call from her best friend, who wanted to end their relationship because she believed Alison would become needy due to her pregnancy. Along her journey, she lost both her husband and her best friend. Nevertheless, she found support from numerous people, including old friends and a group of supporters.

"Basically, love and support have come from the strangest places because everything that should have supported me didn't, and all these unexpected people have provided support. So, yeah, it's been quite beautiful."

Don't miss Alison's remarkable story of resilience and hope as she shares her experiences with fertility astrology, the challenges she faced, and the unexpected sources of love and support she found. This episode is a powerful reminder to keep an open mind when dealing with infertility challenges. Listen now for inspiration and to witness the joy of welcoming her long-awaited child into the world.

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