Create A Happy Family

Why do our family-building stories matter, even before we know how they'll end? In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Whitney sits down with award-winning journalist, author, and host of the Infertile AF podcast Alison Prato to talk about the stories we tell about infertility, IVF, loss, and the many different ways families are built. Ali shares how her own experience with secondary infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss led her to start sharing her story, and why, nearly 400 episodes of Infertile AF later, she continues making space for others to share theirs. That belief in the importance of seeing our experiences represented extends to the stories we tell children, too. Whitney and Ali talk about her Work of ART book series and Petri Dish Princess, Ali's new book with Elizabeth Carr, the first person born through IVF in the United States, and what it means to bring a piece of IVF history to a new generation. In this episode, we discuss: Ali's experience with secondary infertility, pregnancy loss, and IVF The story behind Infertile AF Why family-building stories don't all need the same ending Representation in family-building stories Petri Dish Princess and Elizabeth Carr's IVF story #Infertility #infertileaf #ivf #familybuilding #petridishprincess CONNECT WITH INFERTILE AF https://www.infertileafgroup.com/ CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONS https://createahappyfamily.com/ @createahappyfamily [http://instagram.com/createahappyfamily]

Egg donation may begin with a decision someone makes today but what could that decision mean years from now? In this episode of Create A Happy Family, psychotherapists Kristin Maljean and Leslee Murphy join Whitney to talk about preparing egg donors for both the process in front of them and the future implications of their decision. What does it mean to know there may be a person in the world who shares your genetics? What happens if that person wants contact someday? What might you tell a future partner or your own children? And in a world of consumer DNA testing, what does "anonymous" donation even mean anymore? Kristin also shares her perspective as an intended parent who built her family through egg donation and why the donor's story can become a meaningful part of a child's own story. In this episode, we discuss: What happens during an egg donor psychological evaluation Informed consent and donor readiness Genetic and mental health history Future contact and donor-conceived people The changing meaning of anonymous egg donation Talking with partners, family, and future children about donating What intended parents should know about donor screening Subscribe for more conversations about egg donation, donor conception, IVF, surrogacy, and family building. #EggDonation #EggDonor #DonorConceived #DonorConception #FamilyBuilding CONNECT WITH MEMORIAL WELLNESS & COUNSELING https://memorialwell.com/ CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONS https://createahappyfamily.com/ @createahappyfamily [http://instagram.com/createahappyfamily]

How do you find an LGBTQ-friendly fertility clinic? Over three decades in reproductive medicine, fertility specialist Dr. Michael Guarnaccia has watched both fertility science and society's definition of family evolve. In this episode, he shares what LGBTQ individuals and couples should look for in a fertility clinic, and why personalized, relationship-centered care can make all the difference when building your family. Whether you're just beginning to explore IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, or other family-building options, this conversation offers practical guidance on choosing a fertility team that understands the needs of LGBTQ families and supports you every step of the way. In this episode, we discuss: How to choose an LGBTQ-friendly fertility clinic Why personalized fertility care matters Building a fertility team you can trust Egg donation and surrogacy for LGBTQ families Finding support throughout your family-building journey Subscribe for more conversations about IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, fertility, and family building. #LGBTQfamilybuilding #fertility #IVF #surrogacy #eggdonation CONNECT WITH NEW ENGLAND FERTILITY INSTITUTE https://www.nefertility.com/ @nefertility [http://instagram.com/nefertility] CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONS https://www.createahappyfamily.com/ @createahappyfamily [http://instagram.com/createahappyfamily]

What does ethical surrogacy actually look like, especially when something goes wrong? Recent conversations surrounding the Baby Rumi case have raised difficult questions about surrogacy: Who protects the surrogate? Who protects the intended parents? And what happens when people disagree after a pregnancy has already begun? In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Whitney is joined by Katy Encalade, President & CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, and Crystal Chaing, Vice President of Surrogacy Program & Client Content Development. But before leading and supporting families through surrogacy professionally, Katy was a surrogate herself, and Crystal built her own family as an intended parent through surrogacy. Together, they move beyond one headline to explore what ethical surrogacy looks like in practice, and the safeguards that should be in place before a journey ever begins. Because ethical surrogacy isn't defined by what happens when everything goes according to plan. It's revealed in what happens when it doesn't. In this episode, we discuss: - What ethical surrogacy actually means - Thoughtful matching and hard conversations before pregnancy - Surrogate autonomy and intended parent rights - Independent legal counsel, screening, and professional support - What happens when surrogates and intended parents disagree - The role of an agency when a journey becomes complicated - Red flags to look for when choosing a surrogacy agency Subscribe for more conversations about surrogacy, IVF, egg donation, intended parenthood, and family building. #EthicalSurrogacy #Surrogacy #GestationalSurrogacy #IntendedParents #FamilyBuilding CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONS https://createahappyfamily.com/ @createahappyfamily [http://instagram.com/createahappyfamily]

Birth rarely goes exactly as planned. When Jessica's surrogacy journey unexpectedly ended in an emergency C-section, the moment she had been envisioning all along didn't happen the way she expected, but it became even more beautiful. In this episode of Create A Happy Family, Jessica shares how trust, communication, and a genuine relationship with her intended parents transformed an unexpected birth into one of the most meaningful moments of her life. From matching and pregnancy to delivery and life after surrogacy, this conversation is a powerful reminder that the best journeys are built on connection, not perfection. In this episode, we discuss: Finding the right intended parents Building trust throughout a surrogacy journey When birth doesn't go as planned Creating meaningful relationships through surrogacy Supporting intended parents during delivery Life after a successful surrogacy journey CONNECT WITH EGG DONOR & SURROGATE SOLUTIONS https://createahappyfamily.com/ @createahappyfamily [http://instagram.com/createahappyfamily] #surrogacy #gestationalcarrier #birthstory #intendedparents #familybuilding