Fertility Cafe artwork

Fertility Cafe

103 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 months ago -

Who knew making a baby could be so hard?! Luckily, the fertility journey isn’t meant to be traveled alone. So grab a seat and let’s talk fertility and alternative family building with leading industry expert Eloise Drane here at Fertility Café!

Fertility Café is here to support, encourage, and educate, anyone seeking to start or complete their family and the selfless women willing to help . This weekly podcast discusses all aspects of the fertility journey experience, emphasizing alternative family forming methods. Explore modern family building through IVF, surrogacy, and egg donation, sperm donation and embryo donation . Whether you’re a straight couple, LGBTQIA+, single individual or anything in between, considering egg donation, thinking of becoming a surrogate, or dealing with infertility, you'll receive insider information.

Each week, join in-depth conversations that explore these methods from medical, legal, and financial standpoints. Learn how to empower yourselves when dealing with infertility and the unknowns of how to complete your family building. Gain understanding on how to become a surrogate or an egg donor and what you need to consider when you make your decision.

In addition to finding the best third-party providers and appropriate fertility solutions for you, learn about fertility awareness, the questions to ask and what steps you need to take to make the right decisions for you. There is so much information out there. How do you know what is fertility fact versus fiction. You’ll receive advice and tips on how to navigate the world of fertility options.

Listen to fertility experts and medical practitioners as they impart valuable wisdom about all kinds of issues related to your fertility to include unexplained infertility, fertility preservation, PCOS, and fibroids to name a few. Their professional guidance is your best bet in increasing the likelihood of getting pregnant without fearing for your health or breaking the bank.

This show is also for fertility professionals who want to widen their knowledge and expertise. By listening to fellow experts, discover brand-new information to share with your patients and improve your practice.

Host Eloise has helped hundreds of people build (and grow) their families over the last 20 years. She always speaks candidly about the processes involved in making the dream of a baby a reality right now. Eloise helps individuals become surrogates and egg donors through Family Inceptions, an agency she founded in 2008. She highlights the importance of ethical and transparent practices.

Above all, Eloise makes sure that young women who donate eggs or become surrogates are properly educated and empowered. Her reputation makes Eloise a top speaker and guest in many assisted reproduction technology events and shows. Her story and agency were even featured by OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.

Eloise is not only a guide to surrogates and donors; she has been an egg donor six times and a gestational surrogate three times. She is a happily married mother of five who spends most of her free time with family.

Failing to get pregnant should never lead to a life of regret, self-pity, and hopelessness. With egg donation, surrogacy, and medical advancements focused on fertility, your fight is far from over. You are not a lost cause. What you need is proper information, practical tips, and valuable insights on addressing your reproductive issues. Explore all this and more on the Fertility Café.

Listen to the podcast right now at https://familyinceptions.com/fertility-cafe

Alternative Health Health & Fitness Kids & Family ivf infertility eggdonation eggfreezing embryodonation familybuilding fertility fertilitypreservation spermdonation surrogacy
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Episodes

Ep. 47 | Paying for Fertility Care

October 29, 2021 06:00 - 36 minutes - 82.7 MB

Ep. 47 | Paying for Fertility Care Episode Summary  Join host Eloise Drane for an honest look at the financial side of fertility. It’s not always easy having a baby. Millions of people struggle with their fertility for a variety of reasons, and while technology and medicine have advanced to make parenthood possible for nearly anyone, it still remains inaccessible to a lot of intended parents because of the cost. Fertility care and third-party reproduction can be very costly, but there ...

Ep. 46 | Military Family Building with Ellen Gustafson & Katy Hendrickson

October 22, 2021 06:00 - 59 minutes - 137 MB

Ep. 46 | Military Family Building with Ellen Gustafson & Katy Bell Hendrickson   Episode Summary  Today on the Fertility Café podcast, Eloise gets to talk with Ellen Gustafson & Katy Bell Hendrickson about fertility for military families. They share their journey that led them to be activists for change to help military service members and their spouse receive the fertility services they need. Ellen Gustafson is a social entrepreneur, author, activist, and, most importantly, Mom and ...

Ep. 45 | When Third-Party Goes Wrong

October 15, 2021 06:00 - 34 minutes - 79.9 MB

Ep.  45 | When Third Party Reproduction Goes Wrong   In today’s episode, host Eloise Drane tells several tales of third-party reproduction gone wrong. With over two decades of experience in the infertility industry, Eloise often feels like she’s seen it all! And yet, every once in awhile stories come across her news feed that have the power to surprise her.  Eloise looks at a variety of situations, from clinic equipment malfunctions to questionable actions on the part of doctors and su...

Ep. 44 | Mental Health & Family Building with Lori Metz, LCSW

October 08, 2021 06:00 - 39 minutes - 91.4 MB

Episode Summary  On this episode of Fertility Cafe, Eloise gets to talk to Lori Metz who is a licensed Clinical Social Work/Therapist and certified case manager. She works with individuals, couples, and families and specializes in relationships and fertility.  She is the creator of  I Dreamed of You: The Story of an Egg Donor Baby a children's book about egg donation written for a young audience to introduce the essential conversation of honest and honored origins and has her own podcast...

Ep. 43 | Body Autonomy For Surrogates and Egg Donors

October 01, 2021 06:00 - 34 minutes - 79.7 MB

Episode Summary  On this episode of Fertility Cafe, Eloise dives into the topic of bodily autonomy in surrogacy and egg donation arrangements. Much of the opposition to surrogacy as a practice stems from a misunderstanding of what it means to be a surrogate today in America. Modern gestational surrogacy involves a mutually agreed-upon relationship with clear boundaries and complete respect and autonomy given to the surrogate mother. Eloise explores the nuances of bodily autonomy and offers...

Ep. 42 | State Advocacy with Mollie Walker & Chelsea Caldwell

September 24, 2021 06:00 - 45 minutes - 104 MB

Episode Summary  Fertility care is ever-involving. For many, medical treatments are not covered by their insurance. Coverage for infertility and fertility preservation can currently be disallowed by insurance companies. Many insurance companies have fertility coverage classified as cosmetic or elective.   On this episode of Fertility Cafe, Eloise gets to talk to Mollie Walker and Chelsea Caldwell. Two ladies who took up the fertility-care torch as advocates to help change the fertility...

Ep. 41 | Third-Party Reproductive Demand

September 17, 2021 06:00 - 30 minutes - 70.7 MB

Episode Summary  On this episode of Fertility Cafe, Eloise dives into the complicated question: what’s happening with supply and demand in the world of third-party reproduction? COVID-19 has certainly had a drastic effect on the availability of surrogates, egg donors, and sperm donors, yet at the same time, the demand for these crucial pieces to the third-party reproduction puzzle has only increased. Can it all be blamed on the pandemic, or is something else going on here?   Eloise exp...

Ep. 40 | Medical Side of 3rd Party Reproduction

June 18, 2021 06:00 - 46 minutes - 106 MB

Dr. Lori Marshall is the medical director and a founding partner of Pacific Northwest Fertility in Seattle as well as Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at University of Washington School of Medicine.  She serves as the director of the Pacific NW Fertility Center for Collaborative Reproduction, overseeing its donor egg bank, and donor egg, gestational carrier, and donor embryo programs.

Ep. 39 | Agency Owners Roundtable

June 11, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 69.2 MB

Following her own very personal experience as a parent through gestational surrogacy in 1990, Darlene first served as a contract coordinator in a reproductive law firm. She learned about the legal aspects of egg donation and surrogacy while coordinating documentation for intended parents, donors, and surrogates during the legal contract stages. Darlene started to successfully connect high-profile clients with egg donors and surrogates in 1998—and did so with absolute confidentiality. In 2000...

Ep. 38 | Legal Aspects of Surrogacy

June 04, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 86.5 MB

Richard Vaughn is a parent via surrogacy and egg donation and is the founding principal of International Fertility Law Group, a law practice focused exclusively on assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Links for more resources Learn more about Richard Vaughn:  International Fertility Law Group Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions Learn more about independent surrogacy: Surrogacy Roadmap Rate, Revi...

Ep. 37 | Husband's Are You Prepared

May 28, 2021 06:00 - 39 minutes - 90.6 MB

This episode is about surrogate partner involvement. The husband, wife, or committed boyfriend or girlfriend of a would-be surrogate has an important role to play which cannot be overlooked. In this episode, we talk all about how surrogacy is a shared experience and what partners should expect when the lady in their life becomes a gestational surrogate.  We Discuss Topics Such As: Why so many partners are initially opposed to the concept of surrogacy. We clear up the 7 most common misco...

Ep. 36 | Embryo Donation

May 21, 2021 06:00 - 1 hour - 145 MB

Today I have the pleasure of speaking with….Maya Grogel, Jennifer Vesbit and Gina Davis of Empower Donation. These are three women united, on a mission to normalize embryo donation as a family building option.  Together they have founded Empower Donation, an education company dedicated to increasing awareness, empowering choice and fostering understanding for everyone involved in embryo donation. Links for more resources Learn more about our guest: Em*Power Donation Learn more about our...

Ep. 35 | Infertility Epidemic

May 14, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 85 MB

More and more Americans seem to be struggling with infertility these days. Is this a matter of increased awareness? Certainly, more people are talking openly about their struggles than ever before. But can the numbers really be chalked up to less stigma around the conversation of infertility. On this week’s episode, host Eloise Drane dives into what the science says about the increase in fertility issues in the United States. Studies point to an alarming decline in the average male’s sperm...

Ep. 34 | Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility

May 07, 2021 06:00 - 53 minutes - 122 MB

Our guest today is Chiquita Lockley, Executive Producer and Director of Eggs Over Easy. Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility is a documentary film about black women fertility, family building choices, and maternity care.   Links for more resources Learn more about: Eggs Over Easy Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions Learn more about independent surrogacy: Surrogacy Roadmap Blog: Why Many Black...

Ep. 33 | Choosing a Fertility Clinic

April 30, 2021 06:00 - 34 minutes - 77.9 MB

In today’s episode, host Eloise Drane gives her insight into the ins and outs of choosing an IVF clinic. With over two decades of experience in the infertility industry, Eloise has seen it all! From state-of-the-art clinics to single practitioners who offer highly personalized service, she’ll discuss what to look for, what to avoid, and how to evaluate success rates when shopping for a fertility clinic.  Eloise covers questions and topics such as:  How do you evaluate a fertility clinic’s...

Ep. 32 | PCOS

April 23, 2021 06:00 - 43 minutes - 100 MB

Sasha Ottey is Founder and Executive Director of PCOS Challenge: The National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Association. Serving 55,000 members, PCOS Challenge is the leading patient support and advocacy organization for people with PCOS. Sasha started PCOS Challenge after she was diagnosed with PCOS and experienced great dissatisfaction with the availability of support resources for women with the condition. Links for more resources Learn more about the National Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ...

Ep. 31 | What I Wish I Knew As A Surrogate

April 16, 2021 06:00 - 31 minutes - 71.4 MB

Everything you never knew you needed to know about surrogacy! On this week’s episode, we’re spilling the tea on all the strange facts, surprising details, and interesting tidbits about surrogacy. We asked our surrogates, past and present, our staff, and our buddies in the field to share what they wish they knew before beginning a surrogacy journey. From what not to do during the application process (hint: don’t assume a particular answer will disqualify you!) to the surprisingly common “cr...

Ep. 30 | Donor Conceived Children

April 09, 2021 06:00 - 41 minutes - 93.9 MB

Erin is a freelance writer and a donor conceived rights advocate. At age 35, she found out from her parents that she was conceived using donated sperm. It was all a shocking experience and it inspired her to create the community and resource “We Are Donor Conceived”. Erin wanted other donor-conceived people to benefit from the resources she had amassed in her own search. Links for more resources Learn more about Donor Conceived Children:  We Are Donor Conceived Learn more about our podc...

Ep. 29 | Surrogacy for Gay Men

April 02, 2021 06:00 - 34 minutes - 78 MB

On today’s episode of Fertility Cafe, we explore everything you need to know about surrogacy for gay parents. With advancements in assisted reproductive technology and expanded access to family-building resources for the LGBTQ community, it’s fully possible for gay men to have their own biological children. More gay men are turning to parenthood via surrogacy than ever before. Host Eloise Drane dives into how surrogacy works for gay men and what they can expect from the process. We cover t...

Ep. 28 | If These Ovaries Could Talk

March 26, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 152 MB

On this episode we have two lesbians chatting about non-traditional families. Jaimie Kelton and Robin Hopkins, the creators and hosts of the popular podcast If These Ovaries Could Talk, realized the world needed to know there was more than one way to make an LGBTQ family. Links for more resources Learn more about guest:  If These Ovaries Could Talk Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions Learn more about ...

Ep. 27 | Military Wives and Surrogacy

March 19, 2021 06:00 - 36 minutes - 84.2 MB

On today’s episode of Fertility Cafe, we talk about one special group of women who just so happen to make up a large share of surrogate mothers in the United States: military wives. What makes these women so uniquely suited to serve as surrogates? Is there something in particular that motivates or inspires them to answer the call? Surrogacy has long been a hot topic in military circles, and for good reason: military wives happen to make up a significant portion of all surrogates in the Uni...

Ep. 26 | Sisters in Loss

March 12, 2021 08:00 - 46 minutes - 106 MB

Erica McAfee is the Founder and CEO of Sisters in Loss, a maternal child health company that helps Black women replace silence with storytelling around pregnancy and infant loss and infertility.  She is also a Certified Birth & Bereavement Doula, Doula Trainer and Mentor, and Mom to 2 babies in heaven and one rainbow baby Maxwell also known as Super Mighty Max. Sisters in Loss provides pregnancy, birth, postpartum, bereavement, and grief services to help women step beyond anxiety and fear ...

Ep. 25 | Fresh Egg Donor Cycles

March 05, 2021 08:00 - 34 minutes - 78.2 MB

On today’s episode, we’re going to talk about what happens after an Intended Parent has finally found his or her ideal egg donor. Host Eloise Drane tells it like it is, setting realistic expectations, in hopes of warding off disappointment and frustration during the egg donor process. The decisions, first to work with an egg donor and then who your donor will be, are huge and can be emotionally fraught. It can help to have a complete overview of the process, from start to finish, including...

Ep. 24 | Women of Color and Infertility

February 26, 2021 08:00 - 52 minutes - 119 MB

Black and brown women experience infertility at almost 2x the rate of our counterparts and yet are least likely to seek treatment. In addition, many conditions that directly impact fertility, such as fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, and others disproportionately affect black women as well. On today’s episode, Rev. Stacey Edwards-Dunn Founder of Fertility for Colored Girls shares her own infertility journey, her organization, the cultural norm of silence shrouding fertility and family buildin...

Ep. 23 | Sensational Surrogacy

February 19, 2021 08:00 - 36 minutes - 82.4 MB

On today’s episode, we’re going to look into some of the most sensationalized surrogacy cases that have hit the headlines. While a lot of these stories have the appeal of a juicy tabloid exposé, they’re worth examining as cautionary tales and as a way to understand why so many are vocally opposed to the practice. Surrogacy gives intended parents hope where they were lacking it before—everyone deserves to experience parenthood if they so desire, and without alternatives to traditional famil...

Ep. 22 | Independent Surrogacy with Candace Wohl

February 12, 2021 07:00 - 53 minutes - 121 MB

In this episode of Fertility Cafe, host Eloise Drane talks with Candace Wohl about safe independent surrogacy. Candace Wohl, writer, public speaker, and over-sharer of all things infertility is now a mother through surrogacy after over a decade long struggle. Candace and her husband Chris decided that in order to overcome adversity, they must stare it directly in the face with humor and positivity through their award-winning blog, “Our Misconception” which started in 2012. The couple was als...

Independent Surrogacy with Candace Wohl

February 12, 2021 07:00 - 53 minutes - 121 MB

In this episode of Fertility Cafe, host Eloise Drane talks with Candace Wohl about safe independent surrogacy. Candace Wohl, writer, public speaker, and over-sharer of all things infertility is now a mother through surrogacy after over a decade long struggle. Candace and her husband Chris decided that in order to overcome adversity, they must stare it directly in the face with humor and positivity through their award-winning blog, “Our Misconception” which started in 2012. The couple was als...

Covid and Surrogacy in 2021

February 05, 2021 05:00 - 35 minutes - 80.7 MB

In the season two opening episode of Fertility Cafe, host Eloise Drane is talking about how COVID-19 affected surrogacy. In this episode, she talks about the struggles that both surrogates and their intended parents faced during the early to middle stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Ep. 21 | Covid and Surrogacy in 2021

February 05, 2021 05:00 - 35 minutes - 80.7 MB

In the season two opening episode of Fertility Cafe, host Eloise Drane is talking about how COVID-19 affected surrogacy. In this episode, she talks about the struggles that both surrogates and their intended parents faced during the early to middle stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Links for more resources Learn more about our podcast: Fertility Cafe Learn more about our surrogacy and egg donation agency: Family Inceptions Learn more about independent surrogacy: Surrogacy Roadmap

Surrogacy and Psych Screening

October 09, 2020 06:00 - 42 minutes - 101 MB

In Fertility Cafe episode #20, Host, Eloise Drane and Dr. Bethea-Walsh talk about the psychological evaluations and mental health consultations which kick off a surrogacy journey. Both intended parents and surrogate candidates often feel nervous about the prospect of speaking with a mental health professional but as Eloise and Dr. Bethea-Walsh discuss, there is nothing to be nervous about. Your mental health professional is not looking for perfection. They simply want to make certain that bo...

Ep. 20 | Surrogacy and Psych Screening

October 09, 2020 06:00 - 42 minutes - 101 MB

In Fertility Cafe episode #20, Host, Eloise Drane and Dr. Bethea-Walsh talk about the psychological evaluations and mental health consultations which kick off a surrogacy journey. Both intended parents and surrogate candidates often feel nervous about the prospect of speaking with a mental health professional but as Eloise and Dr. Bethea-Walsh discuss, there is nothing to be nervous about. Your mental health professional is not looking for perfection. They simply want to make certain that bo...

Ep. 19 | Comparing Adoption and Surrogacy

October 02, 2020 18:44 - 33 minutes - 62.6 MB

The most common questions that a potential intended parent asks often is what’s the difference between: Adoption and Surrogacy? A common misconception is that adoption and surrogacy are the same thing, which I can tell you: they are not! Today, I’d like to share my thoughts about each path, and what you’ll want to consider, plan for, and think through before navigating each one. In no way is this podcast all-inclusive, covering every single aspect of both surrogacy and adoption. Instead it...

Ep. 18 | Independent Surrogacy: Learn How Surrogacy Without An Agency IS Possible

September 25, 2020 07:30 - 35 minutes - 81 MB

After being in the industry for now 20 years, I’ve become increasingly troubled by the realization that a huge percentage of people can’t fulfill their dreams of parenthood because of the staggering costs. IVF is expensive. Surrogacy is expensive. And these costs keep too many people from pursuing their dreams of becoming parents.  So yes, I am an agency owner, but I know that agency costs can be prohibitive. Because of this, I’m on a mission to make it known that you CAN do surrogacy with...

Ep. 17 Part 2 | Broken Brown Egg at the Fertility Cafe: Personal Stories of Infertility in the African-American Community

September 18, 2020 07:30 - 46 minutes - 106 MB

Join us for Part 2 of Regina Townsend - founder of The Broken Brown Egg - and Eloise's very honest and important conversation about Black women's reproductive health and fertility. Black women experience infertility at almost 2x the rate of our counterparts and yet we are least likely to seek treatment. In addition, many conditions that directly impact fertility, such as fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, and others disproportionately affect black women as well. The harmful stereotypical bel...

Ep. 17 Part 1 | Broken Brown Egg at the Fertility Cafe: Personal Stories of Infertility in the African-American Community

September 12, 2020 00:20 - 44 minutes - 103 MB

Black women experience infertility at almost 2x the rate of our counterparts and yet we are least likely to seek treatment. In addition, many conditions that directly impact fertility, such as fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, and others disproportionately affect black women as well. The harmful stereotypical belief that black women are somehow more fertile, or that we don’t participate in foster care, adoption, or fertility treatments is yet another factor. Newsflash: We aren’t, and we do. T...

Ep. 16 | Gaining Fertility Benefits and Insurance with Advocate Davina Fankhauser

September 08, 2020 15:28 - 59 minutes - 137 MB

There are many costs associated with fertility treatment, pregnancy and eventually, the delivery of one (or more) children in the case of multiples. Whether it’s the in vitro process, your gestational surrogate’s care, or unexpected NICU costs, considering insurance coverage, what you have, what your surrogate has, and what you may need is highly recommended With only thirteen states requiring insurance companies to cover infertility treatment, securing fertility benefits through your heal...

Ep. 15| Becoming an Egg Donor: Do You REALLY Understand the Donation Process?

August 28, 2020 07:00 - 30 minutes - 68.8 MB

Are you being called to be an egg donor? Then this episode is for you - the potential egg donor - and we'll be answering all of your lingering questions about the egg donation process. This episode will inspire you and inform you so that you can move through this journey with confidence and make your egg donation journey a fulfilling one. Listen in as Eloise addresses some of the more commonly asked questions potential egg donors have and some of the less obvious ones which are equally as im...

Ep. 14 | You CAN Do This! A 5-Time Gestational Surrogate Tells Her Story

August 21, 2020 07:00 - 33 minutes - 76.3 MB

You've been thinking about becoming a gestational surrogate for a while now. For months, maybe even years, you've thought about what it would be like to give someone the precious gift of motherhood or fatherhood. It's been weighing on your heart. So what's stopping you from pursing your calling? In this week's episode, Eloise talks with 5-time surrogate Rebekah Hills about the highs and not-so-highs of surrogacy. Learn why the Dr.'s have dubbed her uterus "golden" and what she looks for in t...

Ep. 13 | Becoming a Surrogate: Do You REALLY Understand the Surrogacy Process?

August 14, 2020 07:00 - 34 minutes - 78.2 MB

In this episode of Fertility Cafe, we're going to focus on the more complicated and emotionally charged surrogacy topics specifically relevant to your journey to become a surrogate: why your BMI is so important; the psychological evaluation and the role of mood stabilizing drugs; receipt of government assistance as a disqualifier; and even the topic of termination and selective reduction. Buckle up ladies - Eloise doesn't sugar coat the truth, and this is going to be a bumpy ride! Let’s St...

Ep. 12 | A Spouse's Perspective on His Wife Becoming a Surrogate

August 07, 2020 14:48 - 18 minutes - 41.7 MB

You want to become a surrogate, but you're wondering how to make sure your partner or spouse is on board with your decision? One of the most important aspects of a successful surrogacy journey is a strong support system. Your partner or spouse is obviously a HUGE part of that support. Eloise's husband Anthony joins her in The Fertility Cafe to have an open, honest, and REAL discussion about a spouse's reaction to his wife becoming a surrogate. Grab your partner and listen together - you may ...

Ep. 11 | Surrogacy Laws: What You Need to Know Before Starting Your Journey

July 31, 2020 07:00 - 36 minutes - 84.6 MB

If you’re thinking about being a surrogate or becoming a parent via surrogacy, this episode is a must-listen! When it comes to the legalities of parenthood using a surrogate, you do NOT want to cut any corners. Surrogacy law is at once complex, fascinating and often inconsistent depending on what country, state, or even county you live in. Here’s the good news, though: gestational surrogacy has become a common practice in many countries, and there ARE legal regulations in many places that ma...

Ep. 10 | How to Find Your Best Egg Donor

July 24, 2020 22:12 - 33 minutes - 76.8 MB

Egg donation is not a new technique. The success rate for pregnancies from donor eggs has increased dramatically over the years, with 55% of all embryo transfers using donor eggs results in a successful pregnancy. But how do you go about choosing an egg donor? In this episode, we'll cover the qualities you should look for when searching for a donor, pros and cons to the various methods of finding a donor, and even the most common fears we hear from intended parents as they weigh their decisi...

Ep. 09 | Make Me a Match: How to Find the Right Woman to Be Your Surrogate

July 16, 2020 15:36 - 37 minutes - 85.9 MB

How do you find the right woman to be your surrogate? This is one of the most important decisions you will make, and there are many factors to consider when finding the right match for your journey to parenthood. When it comes to finding your surrogate, you’re looking for someone you’ll be spending a decent amount of time with. You have to be aligned in your expectations. You'll want to find a woman who is stable, healthy, trustworthy, and open-minded. In this episode of Fertility Cafe, Eloi...

Ep. 08 | Six-Time Egg Donor and Three-Time Surrogate Eloise Drane Shares Her Story

July 09, 2020 20:00 - 49 minutes - 114 MB

What inspires a woman to donate her eggs six times and serve as a gestational surrogate three times? In this episode of Fertility Café, host Eloise Drane shares her own donation and surrogacy story. Listen as she details every step of the journey, from her first donation (though not her eggs!) to actualizing her dream of starting the first surrogacy and egg donation agency in the South. Honest, real, and raw – it’s the inside story you’ve been wanting to hear. Let’s Stay in Touch Want to ...

Ep. 07 | Dr. Camille Hammond on Overcoming Infertility and Providing Hope Through Fertility Grants

May 12, 2020 15:10 - 39 minutes - 91.5 MB

It’s 2020, and there are still stigmas about infertility. Seriously?! In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise talks with Dr. Camille Hammond – a physician, author, keynote speaker, CEO of the Tinina Q. Cade Foundation, and infertile woman turned infertility advocate. In 2004, Dr. Hammond’s own mother, who was 55 years old at the time, served as a gestational carrier for Camille and her husband, Jason, carrying and giving birth to three healthy babies. Listen as Camille discussed her own jo...

Ep. 06 | Family Building Financials - Talking Escrow and Taxes with Sonia Stewart, CPA

March 19, 2020 14:14 - 33 minutes - 75.7 MB

We can all admit that modern family building isn’t cheap. But the good news is you don’t need to navigate the financial aspect of your journey alone. In this episode of Fertility Café, Eloise talks with CPA Sonia Stewart, owner of Ally Escrow Management and third-party reproduction financial expert. Sonia will answer the biggest money questions that come up: How can I pay for my journey? Are surrogacy and egg or embryo donation expenses tax deductible? How do I manage the payment schedules a...

Ep. 05 | Embryo Donation 101: When It Takes a Village to Start a Family

March 12, 2020 14:21 - 36 minutes - 83 MB

It’s time to talk about embryo donation - one of the many paths to modern family building. Eloise will cover the basics of how it works and where the embryos come from, and even address the tough legal and ethical considerations behind the practice, and the reasons why someone may choose to donate their surplus embryos as opposed to choosing another disposition for them. We’ll also look at the recipient side of things - how do you find and qualify to receive donor embryos? Where do you even ...

Ep. 04 | Egg Donation 101: When It Takes a Village to Start a Family

March 05, 2020 18:26 - 31 minutes - 74.1 MB

Egg donation may seem like a straightforward process, but whether you are an egg donor or a donor egg recipient, there are a lot of decisions to be made along the way. How do you know where to find an egg donor or where you want to donate? Do you want to work with an egg bank, a fertility clinic with an in-house donor program, or an egg donation agency? Should you choose a fresh or frozen cycle? Six-time egg donor Eloise Drane breaks down all your options when it comes to egg donation and em...

Ep. 03 | Black Women and Infertility: Real Talk with Dr. Monica Best

February 27, 2020 07:00 - 49 minutes - 115 MB

Top reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist Dr. Monica Best of Reproductive Biology Associates in Atlanta, GA joins Eloise in the Fertility Café to discuss black women and infertility, and why so many women are suffering in silence. Black women are twice as likely to experience infertility but are half as likely to seek treatment. Listen in for an honest discussion about the fertility issues most common to black women, the types of treatments available, and the steps for diag...

Ep. 02 | Surrogacy 101: When It Takes a Village to Start a Family

February 20, 2020 13:30 - 30 minutes - 58.2 MB

What is surrogacy and how does the process work? Surrogacy truly takes a village. Whether you are an intended parent curious about parenthood-via-surrogacy or you are a woman considering becoming a surrogate, this episode lays the foundation of the surrogacy journey from the perspective of both the gestational surrogate and the intended parents. Eloise Drane reviews the cost of surrogacy, the professionals you need in your village, and the top qualities of successful surrogates. Show notes: ...

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