Building your family

Today Show Chloe Melas fertility journey

Chloe Melas is a reporter for the Today Show, an author, and an advocate.  In this episode you will hear about all of her incredible pursuits and most of all, her infertility journey, which led to her two beautiful boys.  After much heartache, Chloe decided to open up about her experiences to People magazine, CNN and now to us. Chloe recounts her treatment failures, marital struggles and battle with feelings of depression and anxiety. She has now decided to become an advocate for progress and spreading good information so more people can receive the assistance they need and feel less alone.    I am sure you will feel as moved and inspired by her story as I did. And please don’t forget to subscribe, give it a thumbs up if you like it, and share it with someone who can use it.
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
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Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
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Tara Lipinski shares her heart and her story

The gold medalist joins us on the show to share her difficulties through her five year journey to have a baby, including all of the losses and treatments she endured.  Tara reflects on how the attributes that made her an international superstar also made fertility treatment more difficult, how she and her husband Todd, struggled with their different perspectives and through their hurts, developed a greater closeness.
She opens up about her fears of pregnancy and loss and how her experiences have changed her life forever.  This journey led Tara and her husband to create their podcast, called "Unexpecting", where they chronicle their journey and speak openly about feelings and experiences they never spoke about before with the wish that their story will give others hope, and comfort in knowing that they are not alone.
Tara is brave, resilient, and so incredibly articulate about feelings that so many of us have, but so few share.  This is an episode not to be missed!
 
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
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Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
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Secrecy vs Privacy

Most of us know that if you used a third party to help you build your family, or if you are adopting, it is essential to share this with your child. We also know that "early and often" works best for the children and the parents.  Talking to your child early and often helps your child integrate their sense of who they are from the beginning.  It has also been shown to help children have better relationships with their parents and to have a positive impact on their teen years. 
When we practice things, we get better, and sharing with your child how you built your family can feel uncomfortable or even awkward at best.  Practicing your narrative, trying on different versions of your story and getting to a place where you can craft a narrative that feels like it suits your family is an important process. Practicing that story will help you get the kinks out and help your child feel more comfortable with their story as well.  By the time it becomes natural for you to tell it, your child will begin to hear the story, or even just pick up words or phrases and those words will feel natural. This in turn can help your child feel like their story is a good story, and their story is simply the way you created your family.
So, what about telling others your story?  The nosy aunt for example? The neighbors who stare at you and your child back and forth, looking for some resemblance as you ride the elevator each morning?  What about the PTA president or the soccer coach who makes comments about your child having inherited your genetics?  These are all situations that are unique to each family. they are also unique to each person, which means a difference of opinion can cause conflict.  As you will hear in this week's episode, it can also cause issues that are tough to unwind. 
So why not practice your story? Practicing this with your partner, if you have one, or a trusted friend can help you anticipate, and possibly prevent difficulties down the road. 
 
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
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Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
 

Donor conceived advocate shares problems and solutions

Peter Boni was donor conceived long before 23 and Me was even an idea.  So you can imagine how difficult it was, especially when there was even more shame around donor conception, to come to terms with it and then search for genetic relatives.  As with most people, there were other issues in his life that made making peace with being donor conceived even more difficult.
Peter has written a book about his experiences and has become an advocate of rights for the donor conceived community. In this episode, he will share his journey to discovery.   
Peter will also discuss some ways to fix the problems in the industry and will offer some suggestions for putting guard rails on the process to minimize the number of people who can donate multiple times and create tens, and even hundreds of donor related siblings.
This episode is a little different from previous episodes because it focuses on the donor conception industry, rather than conceiving or parenting, but is also very important for us to understand.
 
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
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Nutrition and Acupuncture: how to support a pregnancy

If you have been up and down the fertility roller-coaster, you have spent a great deal of time, effort and money trying to have a baby, but have likely had little time to think about the pregnancy.
Or, if you are like me, you may feel too nervous to think about the pregnancy for fear of jinxing it or setting yourself up for possible disappointment. 
However, at some point, you need to turn your thoughts to the pregnancy. Whether you are getting pregnant, or working with someone who will be carrying the pregnancy for you, there is much to learn.
In this episode, Aimee Raupp will tell us what we need to know about supporting the pregnancy and the baby. She is a nutritionist and an acupuncturist and has taught hundreds of people how make changes, big and small, to support the pregnancy and have a better delivery.
She talks about helpful foods, how to remove toxins from your environment, the benefits of acupuncture, and how to decipher what is most important from the issues that are not as important. Her advice is invaluable. 
Aimee will teach us not to be so hard on ourselves and provide us with simple and easy to implement tips that can be beneficial for everyone.
 
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
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Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
 

Camille Guaty’s fertility journey part 2

I hope you were able to watch or listen to Camille Guaty's interview last week.  She is an American film and television actress, and can currently be seen on the HBO Max series, Duster.
In this first part of the interview, we learned about her infertility discovery, the struggle to keep it secret, juggling life and work on the set, suffering inside, and ultimately coming to terms with the idea of donor conception and more. In the second episode you will learn how Camille navigated treatment and the donor conception process, which was not simple.  You will also hear how she and her husband came to a better understanding of each other, and how she feels about her donor and parenthood now...with a new lens. Camille gives us a window into her world, and her transformation to parenthood. She is the first celebrity to be fully open about her donor conception story, and hopefully not the last.  Camille is a trailblazer, and we are so appreciative she has shared her story with us.
Enjoy!
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
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Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
 

Camille Guaty’s fertility journey

Camille Guaty-Kaye is an American film and television actress, and can currently be seen on the HBO Max series, Duster. By far, Camille’s favorite role is being a Mom.  Unfortunately, this was the most difficult part for her to get.  
In this two-part interview, we explore Camille’s fertility journey, preconceived thoughts about her cultural background, her fears about donor conception, the rollercoaster of treatment, and her determination to get pregnant.  
This is such an inspiring and heartfelt episode. Camille generously shares her life struggles, and reveals experiences that many have, but rarely discuss.
She is the first celebrity to be fully open about her donor conception story and we are so grateful she shared it with us.  Her generosity and warm heart are truly extraordinary.
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
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Cultural and racial obstacles

Dr. Loree Johnson is a mental health professional, a former fertility patient, and an advocate for visibility, representation and for helping people who want to have a child have an easier journey.
After her own experience of fertility treatments, losses, and nearly  deciding to live child free, Loree decided to help others for whom getting and staying pregnant is not easy.
As a black woman, she understands the cultural pressure to be fertile, the reality of struggling to have a child when your career or lack of a partner has left you with "old eggs", the maternal health risks for black women and the importance for representation at your doctor's office. 
In this episode, she digs into these issues and more.  I found her perspective to be illuminating. I am sure you will agree.
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
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Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
 

She loves being an open donor

Megan was a fertility nurse who works for an egg donor agency, and...is a donor!  
On this podcast, Megan shares her experience as a fertility nurse. She understands, first hand, how painful the process of moving to donor conception can be, and talks about how she doesn't want her recipients to feel any pressure.
At the same time, she is keenly aware of the importance of openness and is glad to be in touch with future offspring if they desire.
Megan may sound too good to believe, but through my experience creating an open donor program, I have found that many donors have big hearts and rational minds like Megan.
Megan doesn't know if she will ever have children of her own, but she is glad to help others build the families they desire.
So many people worry about what donors are thinking.  Tune in this week to hear from a lovely one!
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
You can also find me and lots of great resources at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
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Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM
 

The Guide to Donor Conception

My book is finally here! After decades of personal and professional experience, I have created a book to help you have an easier journey to parenthood. My hope is that the book will make the path to parenthood easier, provide you with easy to digest medical and genetic information and provide you with helpful tools to talk to your children about their origins and reduce your stress. I wish I had a book like this when I was trying to build my family. My hope is it serves you well and feel free to reach out to me anytime.
xo Lisa
 
If you are interested in any of the topics discussed in this episode...
Subscribe to the YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@thecenterforfamilybuilding
Order the book today at https://familybuilding.net/
Join our community, We would love to have you. https://familybuilding.net/newsletter-sign-up/
Author: Building Your Family; The Complete Guide to Donor Conception https://read.macmillan.com/lp/building-your-family/
Follow me here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecenterforfamilybuilding/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FamilyBuild
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familybuildingcenter
Looking for My Lifebook? https://a.co/d/deSACrM