A positive beta should feel like pure joy, so why does it sometimes feel like a trap door under your feet? We’re talking candidly about beta hCG numbers, the “it didn’t double” panic, and what helps us stay grounded while we wait for the first ultrasound. 

Then we shift to the part of surrogacy that has surprised us the most: insurance. We break down the difference between infertility coverage and maternity coverage, why “covers infertility” can still mean you’re paying for IVF meds, PGT testing, embryo storage, or even transfers out of pocket, and how quickly costs can swing based on the plan and the pharmacy network. 

If you’re navigating IVF, surrogacy, gestational carrier coverage, or just trying to understand your options during open enrollment, this conversation will save you stress and help you ask better questions. Subscribe, share this with someone who’s in the thick of it, and leave a review to help more families find us.

0:00

The First Insurance Hurdle

0:23

Beta Test Week Emotions

10:39

Numbers Anxiety And Waiting To Breathe

20:15

Lab Logistics And Standing Orders

29:10

Insurance Coverage Types Explained

30:33

IVF Coverage Reality And Hidden Costs

38:30

Maternity Coverage And Surrogacy Exclusions

41:25

Paying For An ART Risk Assessment

45:50

Birth Center Billing And Payment Plans

49:30

Transfer And Meds Not Covered

51:58

Specialty Pharmacy Shipping Chaos

57:18

What Keeps Us Level Headed

1:03:52

Wrap Up And Send Questions

Recorded: May 1st, 2026

A single phone notification can change your whole nervous system. We’re on day nine after transfer, beta test is Monday, and we’re trying to hold two truths at once: we feel calmer than we expected, and we’re still staring down big emotions, big costs, and a lot of unknowns.

We talk through the mental game of the two-week wait. We also get real about pressure from every direction as a gestational carrier and as intended parents: the fear of disappointing people, the vulnerability of waiting for lab results, and how faith and gratitude can keep you steady when the outcome isn’t in your hands.

Then we break down the money. Our cost tracker is already over $14,000 and that’s without capturing every “small” expense like travel, gas, and copays. We compare independent surrogacy versus an agency route, explain why legal contracts matter even when you’re family, and share what we’ve learned about stipends, escrow decisions, insurance hiccups, grants, and creative funding ideas. If you’re researching surrogacy cost, IVF budgeting, or how to financially plan for a gestational carrier journey, this is the candid talk we wish we’d heard earlier.

If this helped, subscribe and share the show with someone navigating IVF or surrogacy.... What question do you want us to answer next?

We did the transfer. Now we wait. In this late‑night check‑in three days post‑transfer, we talk about the strange limbo of the two‑week wait... the moment you go from definitely not pregnant to maybe, with nothing left to do but notice everything. We unpack the emotional whiplash of gestational surrogacy (gratitude, grief, relief, and guilt), the uneven mental load between intended parent and gestational carrier, and the quiet panic that sets in after everyone goes to bed.

Then we zoom out and get practical: what’s actually happening after transfer day, from hatching and implantation to hCG, trigger shots, early testing traps, and why beta bloodwork is the real answer. If you’re in the IVF waiting game,  or love someone who is, this one’s for you.

Recorded: April 22nd, 2026

Tomorrow isn’t a vague someday anymore, it’s a scheduled frozen embryo transfer with a real clock, real meds, and very real feelings. We’re recording from a group sleepover the night before transfer, and the vibe is exactly what you’d expect: overly hydrated, trying to stay calm, and fighting the “what if” tunnel that shows up when you care this much.

For this bonus episode, both husbands join us to talk about the other side of IVF and gestational surrogacy, the part people rarely hear. 

We also walk through what happens during a frozen embryo transfer step by step: arriving with a full bladder, getting updates from the embryologist, what the catheter placement feels like, how the embryo is confirmed and transferred, and how fast it all moves when it finally happens. Then we zoom out to the bigger fertility journey, how common IVF really is, why so many people don’t talk about it, and what we’re learning about staying hopeful without pretending it’s easy.

Cheers to Haley being PUPO (pregnant until proven otherwise) as of Thursday.

@fromivftosurrogacy on IG

0:00 - Cold Open And Embryo Count

0:40 - Bonus Guests Join The Sleepover

1:19 - Going Public With The Podcast

4:42 - The Husbands’ Side Of Surrogacy

7:31 - Needles Pineapple And Weird Moments

12:08 - Tomorrow’s Frozen Transfer Step By Step

20:41 - How Common IVF Really Is

24:18 - Supporting Her Through The Spiral

27:31 - One-Word Hopes And Sign-Off

Recorded: April 18th, 2026

Surrogacy can sound like a neat plan on paper, then transfer week arrives and suddenly we’re living by alarms, protocols, and a whole lot of feelings. We’re Yaya and Haley, and we’re talking about the unglamorous reality of a medicated frozen embryo transfer, starting with the milestone nobody forgets: the first progesterone in oil shot. Yes, the “booty shot.” Even with medical know-how in the room, the anxiety is real, and the internet can either help or completely derail your peace. 

We break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes of IVF and surrogacy: lining checks, hormone labs, TSH thyroid levels, and why progesterone is delivered in oil for intramuscular injections. Then we share the practical stuff we wish everyone told you upfront, like how to make nightly PIO shots more tolerable with heating pads, warming the syringe, massage, movement, and a routine strict enough to keep you from sliding into chaos. 

Transfer week also comes with “empty space,” so we talk honestly about fertility superstitions and IVF traditions: Brazil nuts, pineapple core, warm socks, avoiding certain teas, and the legendary post-transfer fries. We also get into boundaries as we share our story more publicly, including the questions that sting, the comments that don’t help, and what supportive people can say instead. 

If you’re walking through infertility, IVF, or supporting someone who is, listen along and share this with the person who needs it. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what transfer week ritual or shot tip you swear by.

0:00 - Surrogacy Setup And Humor

1:10 - First Progesterone Shot Anxiety

7:32 - Clinic Check Results And Hope

9:02 - Why Progesterone Comes In Oil

14:29 - Nightly Shot Survival Tools

21:21 - Transfer Week Superstitions Explained

29:01 - Exercise Rules And Bed Rest Myth

36:17 - Going Public And Setting Boundaries

42:19 - What To Say And Not Say

47:29 - Rapid Fire Stories And Googling

49:30 -Takeaways And Closing

@fromivftosurrogacy on IG

Recorded: April 11th, 2026

We break down independent surrogacy versus agency surrogacy, including what it costs, what it demands, and why we chose the path we’re on. We also get honest about infertility grief, control, trust, and what it takes to prep a gestational carrier for a transfer. 

0:00 - Welcome And Quick Check-In

1:20 - Emotions, Estrogen, And Side Effects

5:20 - Agency Versus Independent Surrogacy

10:30 - The Real Price Of Surrogacy

14:40 - Choosing Parenthood Over Pregnancy

24:20 - Surrogate Qualifications And Trust

32:30 - Haley’s Concerns And Family Logistics

41:40 - Surrogacy Myths And How Transfers Work

43:15 - Transfer Prep Appointments And Lab Work

48:25 - Long Drives To The Fertility Clinic

49:35 - IVF Trauma, Anxiety, And Control

51:20 - Key Takeaways And Next Week Tease

If there's any way for you to click follow us, subscribe us, whatever that looks like, do it, do that!

@fromivftosurrogacy on IG

Recorded: April 4th, 2026

We share how I went from years of infertility and IVF losses to preparing for an embryo transfer with a gestational carrier, who happens to by my sister-in-law.

In this episode we talk through the emotional roller coaster, the awkward parts people do not know how to ask about, and why we want to normalize this path for anyone who feels alone. 

Hopefully you stick around as we go through this journey together, sharing with you every Monday!

0:00 - Welcome To Womb Service

1:11 - Sports Night And Real Check-In

1:59 -The First Big Clinic Roller Coaster

4:27 - Why We’re Sharing This Story

4:36 -Years Of IVF And Miscarriage

9:26 - Haley Says Yes To Carrying

13:24 - Making The Journey Less Isolating

20:18 - How To Tell People You’re A Carrier

25:39 - Legal Steps Psych Eval Medical Clearance

31:47 - Insurance Costs And Hidden Surprises

34:59 - Patience Faith And Next Steps

@fromivftosurrogacy on IG