I Want to Put a Baby in You!

Latest Episodes:

Episode 154: Parents Via Egg Donation Pt. 1 – Marna Gatlin Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

Marna Gatlin is an egg donation and embryo donation industry professional, and a patient advocate with a specialty in open egg donation and open embryo donation. She works to educate, support, and empower individuals in forming or adding to their family. With over 20 years as an infertility and donation professional, many refer to her as the “go to” person regarding all things egg donation and embryo donation. Marna works with an amazing network of third-party experts. Her peers and professional colleagues would describe her as a creative-strategy problem solver and a detail-oriented team player with the proven ability to lead. “Facilitator” is her middle name! Regardless of whether you are an intended parent or an industry professional, she is always willing to roll up her sleeves and assist with the challenge at hand. Listen to Marna as she discusses with Ellen and Jenn: • The origination story of Parents Via Egg Donation. • Her hopes and dreams of becoming a mother, but nothing going as planned. • Meeting a parent who conceived through egg donation. • Getting her dream doctor by pure luck! • Having a difficult and scary pregnancy, but delivering a health boy at 39 weeks. • Her original expectations as to her donor. • Her son asking to meet the donor, and working to support his request. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ Learn more about Parents Via Egg Donation: https://www.pved.org/

Episode 153: Busting The "Just Adopt" Myth – Lila Bradley Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

Lila Newberry Bradley is a partner in the law firm of Claiborne|Fox|Bradley|Goldman, which focuses its practice on family building through adoption and assisted reproduction. Lila is a Fellow in American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and the Georgia Council of Adoption Lawyers. Lila attended the University of Georgia for both undergraduate and law school. Lila is the former director of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s Children’s Law Programs where she worked with volunteer lawyers to provide pro bono legal representation for children who were in foster care or were the subject of high-conflict custody disputes. Lila continues to have a special interest in the legal issues surrounding children in foster care, and she provides training to foster parents on how the law and the court process can ensure that children’s rights and interests are protected. Listen to Lila as she discusses with Ellen and Jenn: • Starting her legal career in corporate transactions. • Stepping away from work to focus on raising her family. • A chance meeting leading her to work in child welfare law and foster care. • 10 years working with foster care cases, including those that moved to adoption. • Why the question “Why don’t you just adopt?” is so problematic. • A little history. How the Baby Boom impacted adoption and the “Baby Scoop” era. • The cost of adoption, ranging from $10,000 to over $75,000. • The multi-step, and frequently lengthy, adoption process. • Varying state adoption laws. • The risk and likelihood of a change of mind. • How the genetic father’s involvement can affect the potential of adoption. • Open versus closed adoption and the historical shift. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ Learn more about Lila’s law firm: www.gababylaw.com

Episode 152: DNA Test Surprise Part 2 – Eric Mobley Sep 21, 2022

Show notes

Eric Mobley, 28, is donor conceived. He resides in Louisville, Kentucky with his husband, Jeremy, and 1 year old Yorkie, Ellie. Eric did not discover he was donor conceived until he was 26 years old and received a 23&Me kit for Christmas. Eric works in higher education admissions and loves anything Disney related. Listen to Eric as he discusses with Ellen and Jenn:  Eric has new 23&Me results!  Finding more siblings.  His relationship with his Donor taking an unexpected turn.  Working through the trauma.  Offering support for his new siblings.  Facing triggers, anxiety, and depression.  Becoming more accepting of his parents’ decisions. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997- 1903. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ Learn more about DNA results: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/blog/2021/9/14/episode-123- your-dna-guide-diahan-southard-and-jayne-ekins Learn about We Are Donor Conceived Magazine: https://www.wearedonorconceived.com/magazine/

Episode 151: National Embryo Donation Center – Mark Mellinger Sep 14, 2022

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Mark Mellinger handles all marketing and public relations functions for the NEDC and is also in charge of development efforts. His background consists of almost three decades in broadcast journalism. From 2011 to 2018, Mark served as a contributor to The Gospel Coalition, one of the world’s largest Christian websites, where he helped start TGC’s podcast operations. The National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC) has facilitated more embryo donations, and births from embryo donation (nearly 1250), than any organization in the world. NEDC’s mission is to protect the lives and dignity of human embryos by promoting, facilitating, and educating about embryo donation. Listen to Mark as he discusses with Ellen and Jenn: • NEDC’s size and history. • The term “Embryo Adoption” instead “Embryo Donation” as NEDC’s preferred language. • The NEDC’s internal rules requiring of recipients that: o they be a heterosexual couple; o they have a home study by an accredited organization; and o the female recipient be 46 years or younger and able to carry a pregnancy. • If three cycles does not result in a child, recipients must return the embryos to the NEDC. • The consideration of who receives embryos and their proximity across the US. • Allowing selection and use of embryos with certain genetic markers or mosaicism. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ Learn more about the NEDC here: https://www.embryodonation.org

Episode 150: Experiencing Both Sides – Sasha Swift Sep 07, 2022

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Sasha became a mom at the age of 19 and a single mother at age 23 after leaving a toxic situation. She met the love of her life in 2018 and is now happily married. Sasha and her husband have been struggling to grow their family for a few years and her daughter is impatient, asking for a sibling. Their family of three humans and two dogs enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family. Her fertility journey includes everything from teen pregnancy to egg donation, and now infertility. Listen to Sasha as she discusses with Ellen and Jenn: • Giving her parents the news of her pregnancy at the age of 18. • Her father offering to adopt her child. • Coming across a Facebook ad to donate eggs. • Deciding to donate after watching her parents struggle with infertility. • Completing three total cycles, two for the same couple. • Experiencing a terrible third retrieval -- they counted 80+ eggs but only retrieved 33, leaving her to pass the rest. • Meeting her now husband and explaining how she could have children out there from her egg donations. • The inadvertent way her parents found out she was an egg donor. • Experiencing a miscarriage in early 2022 and waiting to get in with a specialist. • Colorado offering insurance-covered fertility access in large group market come January 1, 2023. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Episode 149: You Can Donate Your Uterus?! – Nikki Wehmeir Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

Born and raised in Texas, Nikki Wehmeir now lives in California -- though is very eager to move back closer to her family at some point! Nikki is an incredibly proud mother of two (an almost 22 year old daughter, Hayli, and a 13 year old son, Kaden). Nikki is completely obsessed with animals -- especially dogs. Her career has been built around the infertility field, specifically egg donation and surrogacy. She truly can't imagine doing anything else. Listen to Nikki as she discusses with Ellen and Jenn: • Starting work with an egg donation and surrogacy agency with three people and helping it grow to over 20! • Managing the donor program, working on a personal level, and connecting with the families and donors one-on-one. • Considering being an egg donor herself, but not qualifying. • Considering becoming a surrogate. • Coming across a Facebook post from a friend who was donating her uterus. • Applying to donate her uterus! • Feeling so certain this was something she was supposed to do. • Her first match falling through. • Go through the entire process without meeting the recipient -- but sending her a care package the day of surgery. • 13 hours of surgery. • Fast-forward … her excitement meeting the recipient and the baby! • Connecting with young women who reach out to her after learning they do not have a uterus. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ Learn about the uterus transplant program here: https://fertilitycenterofdallas.com/blog/12-live-births-from-uterus-transplants/

Episode 148: Surrogacy Changes Lives (and Careers) – Courtney Johnson Aug 17, 2022

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Episode 148: Surrogacy Changes Lives (and Careers) – Courtney Johnson by I Want to Put a Baby in You!

Episode 147: Influencer IVF Illuminations – Liliana Vazquez Jul 20, 2022

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Emmy-winning host and TV personality Lilliana Vazquez is a trailblazing interviewer, style expert, and author. Capturing an audience’s attention behind the microphone, the enterprising star has curated a career that began from a small blog to being seen by millions daily on numerous platforms. Liliana opens up about her fertility experience and the struggles through IVF while navigating work, life, family, and everything in between. After years of her life going towards fertility treatments, she achieved her dream of becoming a mother. Now she prioritizes moments with her son and continues to feed her audience and entrepreneurial spirit by collaborating with select media and brand partners. Listen to Liliana as she discusses with Ellen and Jenn: • Moving across the country and her exciting career rise, including hosting E! News. • At 35, her doctor recommending a blood test for egg quantity “just to check.” • Receiving shocking results. • Seeking out the best fertility doctors in New York. • Shifting her focus from wanting to be pregnant to wanting to be a parent. • Not sharing her IVF process out of a desire to avoid anyone pitying her. • Keeping her job as her safe space • Telling her family and her mom’s response being just was she needed. • Being sure to advocate for her mental health and seeking a therapist to navigate the new feelings and emotions throughout the different stages. • Learning about and advocating for a “Gentle C-section.” Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ Learn more about Liliana here: https://www.lillianavazquez.com

Episode 146: Surprise Siblings – Larry Bruck Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

Episode 146: Surprise Siblings – Larry Bruck by I Want to Put a Baby in You!

Episode 145: The Trying Game – Amy Klein Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

Amy Klein is the author of The Trying Game: Get Through Infertility Treatment Without Losing Your Mind, based on her New York Times "Fertility Diary" column. It took her four years, ten doctors, nine rounds of IVF and three miscarriages to have their daughter. Don't feel bad about "baby envy," or more accurately, "pregnancy envy," that ugly green monster of jealousy that rears its ugly head every time you hear that another friend, frenemy, or family member is pregnant. Amy has gone to every baby shower, every baby naming party so that you don't have to. She discusses how to set boundaries with others and for yourself, and how not to feel bad about not feeling good for everyone else. Listen to Amy as she discusses with Ellen and Jenn: • Her fertility treatment experience in New York City and lack of available care. • How she began writing about fertility. • Her appreciation for doctors that provide individualized patient care. • Limiting herself to three cycles per doctor and why. • Her advice for a D&C over other options for handling a miscarriage. • Advocating for your care and reminding listeners that the doctors work for you! Be that person. • How to protect yourself emotionally through fertility treatments. • How she felt when her sister was pregnant. • Going through secondary infertility and balancing the education of others while protecting herself. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ Get the book The Trying Game here: www.thetryinggamebook.com Find Amy on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/thetryinggame_infertilitybook/

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