Queer Family Building: Navigating IVF, Birth Trauma and Anxiety (Ep. 450)

I’m honored to interview Jaimie Kelton for today’s episode. She shares interesting parts of her journey as a queer parent, discusses elements of queer family building, and opens up about her three-year infertility journey as a queer woman. Her motherhood story includes birth trauma and postpartum anxiety. As a podcast host, Jaimie explains how hearing from the guests on her show has helped her on her healing journey.  Jaimie Kelton hosts The Queer Family Podcast, an award-winning show that uplifts and normalizes LGBTQIA+ families by sharing real, candid, and often hilarious stories about queer family building. She is a Webby Honoree and was named one of GO Magazine’s “100 Women We Love.” Jaimie has also been named one of Podcast Magazine’s “Top 50 Moms in Podcasting.” Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, People, Parents Magazine, and more. She is the co-author of If These Ovaries Could Talk: The Things We've Learned About Making an LGBTQ Family. A longtime performer, queer mom, and outspoken advocate, Jaimie brings humor and heart to every conversation about parenting, visibility, and justice for LGBTQ families.  Show Highlights: Jaimie’s family-building journey for her and her wife to have two children, making a lot of decisions quickly The logistics of each of them carrying a child, which meant multiple IUI and IVF cycles for Jaimie to get pregnant Switching doctors and clinics: why it was refreshing to change things up Differences in clinics for LGBTQIA+ families and non-LGBTQIA+ families Jaimie’s philosophy of “gay drafting”and how it works for queer families The not-so-simple process of filling out paperwork for their babies’ birth certificates Jaimie’s relatively easy pregnancy and the traumatic birth of her son via emergency C-section Postpartum struggles with severe anxiety and fears about her son dying Feeling “out of control” and stuck when you know you should be grateful Parenting with “a little more than normal” worry and fears Jaimie’s podcast topics, which allow her to learn and experience healing from hearing other people’s stories Resources: Connect with Jaimie Kelton: Website, Instagram, TikTok, The Queer Family Podcast, and If These Ovaries Could Talk: The Things We've Learned About Making an LGBTQ Family Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visitcdph.ca.gov. Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773.  There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to be more supportive in offering services. You can also follow PSI on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and most other platforms. Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/for information on the grief course.  Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!  If you are a California resident seeking a therapist in perinatal mental health, please email me about openings for private pay clients.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices