In this series of archive episodes of The Fertility Podcast find out about alternative routes to parenthood including donor conception, fertility preservation, surrogacy, adoption and co-parenting.
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Donor Conception Podcasts

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The Single Greatest Choice: For Single Women Exploring Solo Motherhood by Choice (SMBC), Fertility, and Having a Baby on Their Own Through Donor Conception or Adoption
Katie Bryan
You always imagined becoming a mom someday, but what if someday doesn’t look the way you expected? Maybe you're considering solo motherhood, wondering if having a baby on your own is really possible. Maybe you know you want to be a mom, but the clock is ticking, you’re single and aren’t sure what to do next. Perhaps you’re already on the path: researching sperm donors, weighing IVF or adoption, or navigating pregnancy without a partner. Wherever you are in your journey, The Single Greatest C ...
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Single Mother by Choice (former co-host of The Mocha SMC Podcast) Hera McLeod teams up with her precocious nine year old daughter Estela for the podcast "Seeking Different". The Mom and Kid duo explore what it looks like to navigate the world as a non-traditional family. They discuss hot topics such as donor sibling relationships, family travel, school choice, race relations, and navigating the playground.
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Following on from series one of the previously named ‘Redefining Parenthood Podcast’, host Becky of DefiningMum is joined by co-host Hayley King of All Things Donor Conception to form the ‘Paths to Parenthub podcast’. Sharing perspectives as parents to donor-conceived children, and in Hayley’s case being a donor-conceived person herself, they focus on conversations about some of the more complex, nuanced aspects of donor conception. With the hope of providing different perspectives, informat ...
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Fertility psychotherapist, Jana Rupnow, interviews parents, donor conceived individuals and professionals about the challenges and dilemmas of assisted reproductive technology baby-making and the expect-able tensions between positive and negative feelings that come along the way when, instead of baby makes three; three makes baby.
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Follow comedian and sperm donor baby Laura High as she dives into to the terrifying world of donor conception and the infertility industry. This unregulated unethical multi-billion industry has created an InsemiNATION. And we are going to fix it together.
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Welcome to Proud Conception, a podcast that explores the diverse parenthood journeys of LGBTQ+ families in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Each episode dives into real stories of parenthood, focusing on the lived experiences of queer parents as they navigate the path to building their families. Keep listening for the expert interviews where we hear from the people supporting these paths to parenthood. This podcast is about giving voice to the many ways LGBTQ+ families come to be and creating a world ...
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Welcome to Building Your Family, the only expert-guided community platform designed for parents and parents-to-be using reproductive medicine to build their families. We provide unique strategies to help make your path to parenthood smoother and more informed—empowering you to navigate the critical decisions that shape your family’s future. At Building Your Family, we’ve already helped thousands of people navigate the complexities of family building and parenting with confidence. Our goal is ...
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Who’s the Daddy w/ Alexandra K is a podcast for women who are rewriting the rules of motherhood—on purpose. Hosted by Alexandra K, a single mom by choice and former fertility patient, this show dives deep into the real stories, messy emotions, and hard-earned wisdom behind donor conception, solo parenting, and navigating modern fertility systems as a Black woman. Alexandra started this podcast with one goal: to make sure no one has to wonder if this path is possible—or if they’re the only on ...
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Venus Rising builds on the work of the Center for Bioethics and Culture in the space of fertility, infertility, high-tech baby making and women's reproductive health. We sit down and chat with experts, authors, medical professionals, egg and sperm donors, as well as surrogates, and of course, women themselves, with their personal and often heart wrenching stories. Our guests include a wide-range of voices, even those we often have major disagreements with in the spirit of public conversation ...
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#DISUNOMICS is a very straightforward concept. Making economics relevant, relatable & entertaining to the general public!
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A Podcast of Mothers' stories of childbirth. Weekly interviews with mothers giving their first hand accounts of child birth in Australia. Designed to help educate and inform first time pregnant women, parents wanting to have better subsequent births and birth enthusiasts who love to hear and tell birth stories. An entertaining and heartfelt resource for pregnancy, labour and delivery and postpartum. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Egg Meets Sperm: Because Fertility Takes Two. Attention: Women and couples in their 30s & 40s, CEOs, high-achieving badasses. If you're struggling to conceive, there is likely a reason. On Egg Meets Sperm, Dr. Aumatma interviews leading experts in fertility & wellness to help you on your journey to parenthood. Starting Season 3: Dr. Aumatma will also offer a short, informative masterclass. If you want to get answers to your burning questions, send them here: https://www.speakpipe.com/EggMeet ...
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The fertility world a multi-billion dollar industry, run by so-called professionals we put our trust in? But should we? there is a lot about the IVF world that they don't want us to know about while controlling us with fear. We explore alternative avenues and speak to various guests and listen to their stories. For more information http://www.spermdonationworld.com
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Interviews with thought-leaders about their new books. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/van-leer-institute
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S8E13 Pregnancy Without a Partner: Facing Hyperemesis and Finding Strength With SMBC Mel Anderson
1:12:17
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1:12:17Pregnancy doesn’t always go the way you imagined it would. For my dear friend and fellow SMBC, Mel Anderson, what began with excitement quickly turned into one of the hardest seasons of her life. Instead of hiking and practicing yoga through her pregnancy as she had envisioned, Mel faced hyperemesis: severe nausea and vomiting that left her unable …
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Tayla: Two mums, Facebook donor, at-home insemination & the low maintenance way to have a baby
1:06:47
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1:06:47This week’s guest slid into my DMs and boy am I glad she did! Tayla, fiancé to Jess and mummy to 3-year-old Angus, is raw, real and so relatable. In this episode, she takes us through the step-by-step of at-home insemination with hilarious detail and finding their sperm donor through a Facebook donation group; an approach she jokingly calls the “lo…
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Detox Before Pregnancy? The Truth About Preconception Cleansing for Fertility & Healthy Conception
20:11
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20:11Should you detox before trying to conceive—or is it risky for your fertility and future baby? As a fertility practitioner who’s helped hundreds of couples achieve natural, healthy pregnancies, I get this question every single day. In this episode (Part 1 of my Fertility Detox Masterclass), we’ll dive deep into the research on detoxification, concep…
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Energetic Fertility: How Your Emotions, Thoughts & Spirit Shape Your Path to Pregnancy | Deep Dive with Lindsay
39:52
39:52
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39:52✨ “You are not broken — you are being invited to awaken.” ✨ In this powerful episode, Dr. Aumatma sits down with holistic fertility mentor Lindsay Goodwin for a profound exploration into the energetic, emotional, and spiritual side of conception. If you’re feeling exhausted by protocols, supplements, testing, and still not getting answers, this is …
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573 | Claire's first birth, home to hospital transfer, asynclitic baby, emergency caesarean
56:08
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56:08Claire - a midwife and nurse from south of Sydney - shares her first birth experience with baby Maeve. Despite her professional background, Claire's journey from planned home water birth to emergency caesarean beautifully illustrates that birth often doesn’t goes to plan, but can still be incredibly empowering. Her story offers invaluable insights …
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Genetic Testing: Myths Busted (What Helps vs Hurts) | Doctor + Geneticist
37:07
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37:07What genetic tests actually do—and what they don’t—so you know when to use them (and when not to). Practical next steps. Chapters below. For step-by-step guides + live Q&A, join the community: https://familybuilding.net/building-your-family-community/ You’ll learn: Screening vs diagnostic: what each actually tells you Carrier testing, NIPT, and emb…
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The Truth About Fertility After 30 — How I Stopped Panicking, Reclaimed My Body, and Built Stress-Resilient Fertility
22:19
22:19
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22:19I grew up hearing one story: your fertility drops off a cliff at 35. That belief drove me into panic — until I started asking questions. In this episode, I walk you through my 10+ year journey from medical student to naturopathic doctor to a woman who chose her timing — without letting fear run the show. This is a compassionate, evidence-aware look…
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Episode 5: Akua’s story – Surrogacy, Sperm Donation and Finding Strength in Adversity
57:24
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57:24Warning: Discussions of birth trauma during parts of this episode In this heartfelt episode of the Paths to Parenthub Podcast, Becvky and Hayley are joined by Akua, who openly shares her family building story as a mum through surrogacy and sperm donation with her husband. Akua talks candidly about the many challenges she and her husband faced along…
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Low AMH & High FSH: Is Donor Eggs REALLY Your Only Option?
33:44
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33:44So many women are told that if they have low AMH and high FSH, their only path to pregnancy is through donor eggs. But is that the whole story? In this powerful conversation, Sarah shares her personal journey with premature ovarian insufficiency, the devastation of being told she had “no chance,” and the hope she’s seen after 25 years of supporting…
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Genetic Screening 101: How To Reduce Risk Before Pregnancy (Doctor + Geneticist)
27:30
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27:30If you could reduce medical risks for your future child, would you? A reproductive medicine doctor + geneticist explains what actually helps before pregnancy—so you know where to start today. You’ll learn: what genetic screening covers (and doesn’t), how to think about carrier testing and embryo testing, practical preconception steps to lower risk,…
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572 | Nonny pre-conception testing, spontaneous labour, private hospital birth
47:05
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47:05Nonny Naitanui shares her journey from fertility concerns to an unexpectedly early but beautiful birth experience. After receiving concerning AMH results that initially sparked fears about her fertility, Nonny conceived within three months of trying. Today's sponsor - iL Tutto iL Tutto design nursery furniture that’s as stylish as it is supportive.…
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Fertility Timing Secrets: Conception Windows, Implantation, & A 2-Week TTC Blueprint
37:21
37:21
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37:21If you’ve been staring at ovulation strips, waiting for the “perfect day,” and wondering why pregnancy still isn’t happening—you’re probably timing sex wrong. The truth is, your fertile window isn’t just one day, and ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) or basal body temperature (BBT) charts don’t tell the whole story. In fact, relying on them alone mig…
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571 | Sophie - Clinical Psychologist, Two Physiological Births, “Big Baby”, Home Birth
1:09:35
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1:09:35Today I chat with Sophie, a clinical psychologist and mother of two who runs her own practice, Nimble Minds Clinical Psychology, in Sydney's Sutherland Shire. Sophie shares her journey from a 10-month conception period during COVID lockdowns to two incredibly positive birth experiences at the Royal Hospital for Women. Her first birth with daughter …
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S8E12 Managing Expectations & Embracing Flexibility as a SMBC (A SGC Village Podcast Sneak Peek)
38:27
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38:27Motherhood—especially solo motherhood—rarely unfolds exactly the way we imagined. Fertility treatments don’t always go as planned, babies don’t follow sleep schedules, and even our best-laid visions of how life “should” look often get disrupted. In this episode, I’m sharing one of our private Village Podcast episodes on the theme of Managing Expect…
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Unexplained Infertility & SIBO: How Gut Health Impacts IVF, Hormones, and Pregnancy Success
40:10
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40:10Did you know your gut health could be the missing link in your fertility journey? 💡 If you’ve been struggling with unexplained infertility, repeated IVF failures, hormone imbalances, or pregnancy loss, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) may be playing a bigger role than you think. In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Jen Yundt Co…
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570 | Tamsyn - 2 Births, DCDA twins, vaginal twin birth, birth advocacy, midwifery support, physiological labour
1:00:12
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1:00:12Tamsyn shares her journey from first-time mum to birthing fraternal twins vaginaly at 40+6 weeks. After experiencing a medicalised first birth with Maya during COVID lockdowns, Tamsyn was determined to achieve the physiological birth she envisaged for her twins. Despite facing significant pressure from hospital staff to accept routine interventions…
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PCOS: What I Do Myself (Doctor + Patient) | Dr. Roohi Jelani
40:48
40:48
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40:48A fertility doctor who also has PCOS shares exactly what she does herself—and what she recommends to patients. Dr. Roohi Jeelani (MD, PhD) also breaks down ovarian aging, environmental toxin exposure, and the emotional/practical tools that actually help when you’re trying to conceive. You’ll learn: how to recognize symptoms and pursue diagnosis, wh…
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Mary-Frances O’Connor, The Grieving Body: How the stress of Loss Can be an Opportunity for Healing (Harper One, 2025)
37:16
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37:16The Grieving Body: How the stress of Loss Can be an Opportunity for Healing (Harper One, 2025)by Mary-Frances O’Connor, Ph.D. The follow-up to celebrated grief expert, neuroscientist, and psychologist Dr. Mary-Frances O’Connor’s The Grieving Brain focuses on the impact of grief—and life’s other major stressors—on the human body. Coping with death a…
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Fertility & Pregnancy Nutrition: The Essential Guide for Moms AND Dads | Detox, Diet & Epigenetics
25:42
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25:42Your baby’s future health starts long before pregnancy—and BOTH parents play a critical role. In this empowering interview, Dr. Michael Karlfeldt reveals how nutrition, detoxification, and lifestyle choices in the pre-conception phase can shape not just your baby’s health at birth, but their lifelong well-being. Dr. Michael Karlfeldt, ND, PhD, is a…
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Using a Known Donor at a UK HFEA Clinic - What You Need to Know
37:11
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37:11In this special episode of the Paths to Parenthub Podcast, Becky and Hayley are joined by not one, but two leading specialists in donor conception. We welcome Anest Mathias, solicitor and legal expert at TV Edwards, and Mr. James Nicolopoulos, consultant gynaecologist at The Lister Clinic, to explore a topic that is often less talked about: using a…
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569 | Ruby - Midwife, low-lying placenta, Royal Women's homebirth program, positive induction experience
59:17
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59:17In this episode, Ruby - a registered nurse turned midwife and maternal child health nurse - shares her positive birth experience through the Royal Women's Hospital homebirth program in Melbourne. After initially planning a homebirth, Ruby's journey took several turns including a low-lying placenta scare that kept her in limbo for months, waters bre…
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PCOS: Real Patient Journey + What Actually Helps | Ashley “PCOSgurl” Levinson
37:28
37:28
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37:28Ashley “PCOSgurl” Levinson shares her PCOS journey—from diagnosis to national advocacy—and what actually helps when you’re overwhelmed. You’ll learn: how to recognize symptoms and pursue diagnosis, evidence‑aligned lifestyle and medical steps, advocacy lessons, and where to start if you think you might have PCOS. Want live support and workshops? Jo…
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Your fertility isn’t just about eggs, sperm, or hormones—it’s about your entire ecosystem.
13:19
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13:19In this episode, I’ll show you how your gut microbiome, vaginal microbiome, and endometrial microbiome all work together to influence your ability to conceive naturally or succeed with IVF. We’ll take the latest peer-reviewed research and break it down into clear, actionable steps you can begin today. Hi, I’m Dr. Aumatma—a licensed Naturopathic Doc…
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Marty: Two dads, permanent foster care, managing complex needs & supporting rainbow families at work
58:33
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58:33In this episode of Proud Conception, we speak with Marty, who is husband to Mike (for 30 years!), and dad to their son Xavier, who’s now 18. Their family’s journey began before marriage equality, at a time when adoption and surrogacy were limited pathways for queer couples in Aotearoa. Instead, Marty and Mike pursued permanent foster care which led…
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Nicole Nehrig, "With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories" (W.W. Norton, 2025)
39:40
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39:40In this first of a series of episodes on healing, we speak with Nicole Nehrig, whose book With Her Own Hands: Women Weaving Their Stories (W.W. Norton, 2025) is a rich and intimate exploration of how women have used textile work to create meaningful lives, from ancient mythology to our current moment. Knitting, sewing, embroidery, quilting―througho…
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S8E11 Pursuing Solo Motherhood, Part 2: Tara Resnick on Resilience and IVF as a Single Woman
53:28
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53:28Even with careful planning, none of us can predict how our path to motherhood will unfold. When we last spoke with Tara Resnick, she was preparing for another egg retrieval and left us with quite the cliffhanger. Today, she’s back to share the next chapter of her journey toward solo motherhood. In this conversation, Tara speaks with honesty and vul…
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How Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Boosts Fertility, Hormones & IVF Success | Natural Fertility Support
48:30
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48:30What if oxygen could be one of the most overlooked keys to fertility? 🌱✨ In this in-depth conversation, we explore Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) — a safe, non-invasive therapy that super-saturates the body with oxygen under gentle pressure. By doing so, HBOT supports cellular energy, repair, blood flow, and hormone balance — all critical factors…
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568 | Gen - PT, three babies, prolapse recovery, 44-year-old home birth
1:00:23
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1:00:23In this episode, personal trainer and mother of three Gen takes us through her complete motherhood journey from Richmond to the Victorian coast. Her first pregnancy was unplanned but led to a powerful physiological birth at the Royal Women's Hospital. After moving through various challenges including COVID lockdowns, job redundancy, and relocating …
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Bonus Episode – Trying to Conceive? You Don’t Want to Miss This!
16:05
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16:05In this bonus episode of the Paths to Parenthub Podcast, Becky and Hayley are back to share something very special – the return of their much-loved in-person event: Donor Conception: Connecting Through Conversations. Now in its 4th year running, this sold-out every time event is designed for: Those considering donor conception Anyone currently tryi…
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PCOS Fertility: What Really Works (Evidence‑Based) | Dr. Kristen Cain
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32:02PCOS Awareness Month is coming—get the facts from a veteran reproductive endocrinologist. Dr. Kristen Cain shares evidence‑based steps that actually help PCOS patients improve fertility and overall health. Want live support? Meet Dr. Cain in our workshop and get expert guidance, stress‑reduction strategies, and community support. Join here: https:/…
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567 | How to donate and receive donor breastmilk with Chris from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
42:12
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42:12Today I chat with Chris, a registered nurse and midwife who has been working with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood's milk program for eight years. Chris takes us through the fascinating world of donor breast milk - from the rigorous screening process for donors to how this precious resource supports the tiniest and most vulnerable babies in neonatal …
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Male Fertility Crisis? How to Boost Testosterone, Sperm Health & Overall Reproductive Wellness Naturally
39:38
39:38
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39:38Male fertility is declining — and it’s time we start talking about it! In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, we dive deep into the often-overlooked side of fertility: Men’s Reproductive Health. From falling testosterone levels in younger men to environmental toxins, stress, poor sleep, and overlooked medical factors, we unpack the hidden r…
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566 | Jordan - Midwife births with colleagues, 31-hour first labour, quick second birth, rural South Australia
1:07:17
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1:07:17In this episode, Jordan, a 28-year-old midwife from rural South Australia, shares her two incredibly positive birth experiences at the hospital where she works. Living 600 kilometres from Adelaide in the tiny farming town of Port Neill, Jordan navigated the unique experience of birthing alongside her colleagues whilst balancing her partner's demand…
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Donor Conception & Donor Eggs | Emily Patel (Hopeful Mama Foundation)
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56:15Emily Patel, founder of Hopeful Mama Foundation and a mother through donor eggs, joins me to share a not-so-typical path to parenthood, one that reveals the stress, doubt, and decision-making traps families face during donor conception. Emily discusses why family is more than genetics, what she’s learned from the many women who seek support through…
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The Fertility Breakthrough Doctors Overlook: How Methylation Impacts Conception, IVF, and Egg Quality
13:08
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13:08Struggling to conceive? Experiencing unexplained infertility, failed IVF cycles, or even recurrent pregnancy loss? You’re not alone — and there may be a missing piece no one has explained to you. In this eye-opening video, Dr. Aumatma — Holistic Fertility Specialist with almost two decades of experience — uncovers the critical role of methylation i…
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565 | Steph Claire Smith – second baby, breech presentation, spontaneous labour, drug-free birth
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54:41Today Steph Claire Smith returns to share her second birth experience with daughter Billie. After Harvey's induction at 41 weeks, Steph was determined to experience spontaneous labour this time around. Her journey included navigating a breech presentation, trying every trick in the book to encourage baby to turn, and ultimately achieving the birth …
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Expert Dr. George Parker: Inclusive pregnancy care & studying rainbow families nationwide
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44:12In our first expert episode of the season, we sit down with Dr. George Parker, senior lecturer of health service delivery at Victoria University of Wellington. With a clinical background in midwifery and a PhD in sociology, George has dedicated their career to making perinatal spaces safer and more inclusive for rainbow whānau. We talk about the co…
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S8E10 Julie Ferguson on IVF, Solo Motherhood, and Finding Love After Baby
1:04:19
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1:04:19Julie thought she was freezing her eggs for a future partner. Instead, she ended up fertilizing all of them on her path to become a mom on her own—then finding love and partnership afterward. That’s the short version of Julie Ferguson’s story, but there’s so much more to it. Julie is a PR firm owner and solo mom by choice who’s been through more th…
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When Is It Time to Stop Trying for a Baby? The Honest Conversation No One Has
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41:53For many couples, the journey to parenthood is filled with hope, heartbreak, and hard choices. But there’s one question that almost no one talks about openly: “When should I stop trying for a baby?” In this episode of Egg Meets Sperm, I am joined by Gabriela Rosa. She has been doing this for years before I started! Gabriela Rosa is a Harvard-awarde…
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564 | Celeste - Three very different births, Multiple sclerosis, induction, precipitous labour, mastitis
1:23:56
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1:23:56Celeste's three births showcase dramatically different experiences within the same hospital system. Her first birth involved an induction that led to forceps delivery and NICU admission, her second was a precipitous labour where she dilated from 3cm to fully dilated in just 30 minutes, and her third was a planned induction that resulted in her drea…
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