Ep. 287: Choosing an Egg Donor with Laura Watson

Ep. 287: Choosing an Egg Donor with Laura Watson

Author: HeHe Stewart August 23, 2024 Duration: 1:21:42
Today, HeHe is joined by fertility coach, Laura Watson, to explore the conversation of growing your family through donor eggs, how to navigate that decision making process and what that process looks like! Laura shares the various routes families can consider when trying to find a donor, how to discover agencies in your area and how to talk to your kids about being donor conceived. If you've been navigating this conversation in your own life and are feeling alone in the grief and big feelings that often accompany the decision to use donor eggs-- this is a must listen because Laura shares what that process was like for her. We will also dive into anonymous vs known donors, what to know about the legal contracts (your rights and your donor's rights) and the financial commitment involved!    Guest Bio: Laura Watson is a fertility coach and mom to two donor conceived children. Her personal journey included failed fertility treatments, several unsuccessful rounds of IVF, and three heartbreaking pregnancy losses before completing her family with donor egg IVF. She now supports women pursuing fertility treatments to build their families and helps them find control, confidence, and even joy in a complicated process. Laura founded her coaching services, Positive Fertility, in 2022. She is the author of the Positive Fertility Blog, was a featured author in the 2021 collaborative book, Infertility Success: Stories of Help and Hope for Your Journey. She lives in Boston, MA, USA with her husband and two children. INSTAGRAM: Connect with HeHe on IG  Connect with Laura Watson on IG  Connect with HeHe on YouTube   BIRTH EDUCATION: Join The Birth Lounge here for judgment-free childbirth education that prepares you for an informed birth and how to confidently navigate hospital policy to have a trauma-free labor experience!   Download The Birth Lounge App for birth & postpartum prep delivered straight to your phone!   LINKS MENTIONED: Connect with Laura here: h

Hosted by birth and newborn expert HeHe Stewart, The Birth Lounge Podcast creates a thoughtful conversation around the many paths through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood. This podcast moves beyond simplistic advice to explore the wide spectrum of normal experiences, offering evidence-based insights alongside real stories from parents. HeHe, who founded Tranquility by HeHe Maternity Concierge, guides these discussions with a blend of professional knowledge and deep empathy, aiming to demystify the process and empower your choices. Each episode serves as a gathering place-a safe space where clinical expertise meets lived experience, covering topics that span education, family dynamics, physical fitness, holistic health, and parenting young children. You’ll find a supportive resource here, one that acknowledges the variables and nuances of bringing a child into the world and navigating the postpartum chapter. Tune in for honest dialogues that honor different perspectives, providing companionship and reliable information for your own journey. The goal is to leave you feeling more prepared, less alone, and confident in your unique path through parenthood, all within the supportive community of this podcast.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 432

The Birth Lounge Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Ep. 115: Friday Free Talk, Eating + Drinking during Labor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:02
Studies show that, on average, 80% of laboring people don’t eat the entire time they are in labor and 60% don’t drink during labor! YET, 95% of them would have chosen TO eat and drink during labor if they had been given…
Ep. 114: How to Cloth Diaper with Bailey Bowman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:12
Today’s episode is so timely! At the time of recording, I had no idea that we’d be in the middle of a global pandemic when it aired, but here we are. The decision to cloth diaper is on more people’s minds than ever befor…
Ep. 113: Friday Free Talk: Pro-Plan or No Plan? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:01
Which team are you on? Would you believe me if I said I’m team middle? I am! I do’t think the power is so much in having a written out plan as there is in having already given thought to how you want your birth to unfold…
Ep. 112: Hormones 101 with Dr. Maggie Luther [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:38
Help people balance their hormones to get their energy back. She loves her incredible perception to help women heal & listen to your body and then respond to that message. She helps women relearn how to tap into their gu…
Ep. 111: Friday Free Talk, Alcohol in Pregnancy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:54
In my endless scrolling on social media, I inevitably see an expecting parent jokingly say they wish they could have a glass of wine or a glass of beer. I never know if I should write in that it’s A-OK to have something…
Birthing in the COVID-19 Pandemic with Pediatrician, Julia Brown, MD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:47
In this episode, HeHe is joined by Julia Brown, MD to discuss COVID-19 and newborns/infants! Julia is a local pediatrician at one of the top 5 birthing hospitals in Massachusetts and is sharing what parents need to know…
Ep. 108: Friday Free Talk: What to Expect at Triage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:40
If you don’t know..you might not get to the hospital and go straight to Labor and Delivery. Sometimes you do, but sometimes you don’t. When you get to the hospital, you will most likely be asked to go to a smaller exam r…
105: Exploring Sensuality & Yoni Eggs with Ann Marie Paul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:56
Today, HeHe is joined by Ann Marie Paul, a spiritual activator for divine feminine wisdom. She teaches the ancient art of Yoni Eggs which opens up a woman to her own bodies wisdom and sensuality. She is leading us today…
104: FFT: Overcoming Fear & Birth Trauma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:16
Are you a mama that wonders if your birth is "normal"? Do you look back on your birth and think "Things didn't go... like I thought they would." Maybe you know your birth was traumatic and you're trying to navigate that…