Through their family creation journey, Morgan and her wife learned just how important it is to understand who might be the best fit to carry a pregnancy. They worked with a wide range of practitioners along the way—but it wasn’t until much later in the process that someone finally slowed things down and shared the types of testing that could actually support their decision-making.

Today, Morgan is a Queer TTC (trying to conceive) support coach and Doula, using her experience to guide others through similar paths.

You can learn more about Morgan and the incredible work she’s doing by following her on Instagram @iam_mamomhk

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Bethan. She and her wife just became parents to baby number two only five days before we recorded this conversation.

Bethan and I take some time to talk about how they made the decisions that they did as they set about creating the family of their dreams. Now they have two gorgeous children and some decisions to make.

Today, I'm stepping outside the norm to introduce you to Dr. Sue Ellen Carpenter. While she is not a member of the Queer community, she works closely with and supports Queer individuals and couples in their journey to create families. Through her expertise and the innovative use of INVOcell technology, Dr. Carpenter helps people with uteruses achieve their family-building dreams.

You can learn more about the work that Dr. Carpenter does by visiting their website:  www.hellobloomfertility.com and visiting the INVOcell website: www.invocell.com as well as by following them on Instagram @hellobloomfertility

If you have been listening to this podcast you know that I have been excited to introduce you to two incredible Canadians, Jen and Shawnee Kish. They joined me today to share their family creation story and explain how they made the decisions that they made on their path to becoming parents. 

You can learn more about these Canadian icons by following them on social media. You can find Shawnee on TikTok & Instagram @shawneekish  You can find Jen on Instagram @jen_kish. And sweet Harley has her own Instagram channel @harleykish

Full disclosure, not only have I been a fan of mombian.com and it’s creator, Dana Rudolph for two decades, but I also love chatting with both Dana and her wife Helen about women’s sports and specifically the PWHL. 

Today I share with you my chat with both of them. We talked about their family creation journey, and about choosing a donor. We also discussed the evolution of mombian.com (IG: @mombian) and coming to a place in the world where we acknowledge how far we have come even when we know there is a vast distance yet to go. 

Bios for both:

Dana Rudolph (she/her) is founder and publisher of the two-time GLAAD Media Award-winning blog Mombian, which since 2005 has offered lesbian moms and other LGBTQ parents a mix of news, opinions, resources, and more. It includes a growing database of over 1,700 books for and about LGBTQ families. 

Helen Maynard (she/her), Dana's spouse, is a retired semiconductor engineer who now spends her free time 3D printing. Helen and Dana have been together almost 32 years and have a son in college.

Rebecca Nayak is many things; a mom, a step parent, a coparent, a lawyer. Today we have a chance to learn from her about some of the legal framework as it exists for Queer parents in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She offers insight into questions hopeful, expectant, and new parents may want to ask their own legal teams as they navigate family creation.

You can learn more about Becca by emailing her at: rnayak@hangley.com

Or finding her through her  law firm:https://www.hangley.com

Other resources Becca made note of include:https://adoptionart.org/find-an-attorney/attorney-directory/#!directory/map/ord=rnd andhttps://lgbtqbar.org/programs/member-practice-area-groups/family-law-institute/family-law-attorney-directory/

When you ask Mathew Boudreaux how he feels about being a parent to 11 year old Helena, you can feel the excitement through the screen.

Their journey to family creation came by way of public adoption. It was not a traditional way along that pathway though and it was intriguing to hear Mathew lay out all that transpired to allow them to be the family they are today.

You may also know Mathew as @mxdomestic. They have a HUGE social media following for doing what they love to do . . . sewing, crocheting, weaving, quilting and they educate the world as to some of the techniques to massage your hidden talents!

It’s true that Ben Ptashinsky-Skinner is likely best known for his acting and comedic prowess but for the last 7 years he has shifted his focus to be dad to Charlotte.

Ben and his husband Aaron adopted Charlotte by way of public adoption. They had considered all of the options available to them, as ways of building their family, and adoption felt like the path the resonated most. 

We were also able to spend some time talking about “blue circles” and he helped to debunk the idea that just because one resides in a state that is perceived, from the outside, as being intolerant, it doesn’t mean it is the lived experience of Queer parents in that state. It is always refreshing to be educated and encouraged to think outside of our expected boundaries.

You can learn more about Ben by following him @equityben

One of the most entertaining and engaging facts about chatting with Sa’iyda Shabazz is that you never know where the conversation will go but you DO know that you will love every second of it!

Today we chat about coming into one’s own sexuality after becoming a parent as well as then navigating the world of parenting during times of huge international upheaval and turmoil.

You can learn more about Sa’iyda by reading her writing on https://www.autostraddle.com and https://substack.com/@saiydashabazz

She is also on IG @xoxsai and Bluesky

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Calvin Ozzi. We know a little bit about Calvin's current living arrangements and family dynamics from the conversation I had with his spouse Dr. Jeni Wahlig in season two.

This time we dive into Calvin's family creation story from before he partnered with Jeni. He talks about his relationship with his ex-wife and stepping into the role of bonus parent to his stepson 15 years ago. We follow that with conversation about his own egg retrieval and his reciprocal IVF path with his ex-wife which resulted in a singleton birth followed, two years later,by twins. 

Now Calvin is sharing his gift even further by allowing families to adopt his embryos so they can carry a child of their own through the organization: Embryo Connections (https://www.embryoconnections.org).

I found my conversation with this relationship coach who works alongside his spouse to be engaging, fun and dynamic.

You can learn more about the work that he and Jeni do through their business, https://www.powerfulove.com

Follow him on IG & FB @osilical 

He's a fantastic conversationalist so it was easy to slide into an informative and educational discussion about family creation with Christopher Katis.

Christopher isn't new to the parenting process. He and his husband Kelly have two adult sons. That said, his lived experience in creating his family with his husband is remarkably familiar. 

He is also an author and he has been writing the “Whose Your Daddy” column for QSaltLake.com for years.

You can learn more about Christopher and his family by following him @christokatis

I promise I didn't spend the whole time fan-girling . . . but I wanted to. 

I am extremely honoured to be able to speak with the brains behind the outstanding movie, “The Mattachine Family,” writer Danny and director  Andy. The Vallentines.

If ever there was a movie that highlighted some of the honest and raw emotions that surround Queer family creation, this is it. It is a major motion picture and it has done the Film Festival circuit. You want to see it!

Our conversation wasn't only about the work that they do. In fact, the first half of our conversation was about how the two of them created their family together, as it is so far.

To learn more about the Vallentines, you can find them on social media: @Andyvallentine & @dkishvallentine

Watch their masterpiece: The Mattachine Family - Apple TV (CA)Apple TVhttps://tv.apple.com › movie › the-mattachine-family

Gabrielle always knew she wanted to become a parent—but what she didn’t expect was meeting someone who would join her on that journey. She had imagined becoming a solo parent by choice, but life had other plans. Soon after meeting her wife, they embraced co-parenting together. Now, they’re raising a ten-year-old and a one-year-old—and they have a feeling their story is still unfolding.

You can follow the beautiful evolution of Gabrielle’s family on Instagram @queer.quirky.cool

I can't believe that we are standing on the precipice of Season 3 after over 80 episodes have been released to date.

On "becoming babyREADY" we talk about the best parts of life - even when there are struggles - as they relate to our Queer families and our Queer family planning and creation.

This year I will introduce you to both new and seasoned parents as well as professionals who help make these families happen.

Are you someone I NEED to connect with? Do you know parents or professionals who would be a PERFECT fit to be guests? Let me know: babyREADYlgbtq@gmail.com

You hear people talk about taking a deep breath to calm themselves. What does that really mean? How do we use breath work to navigate some of the strong emotions that can be associated with Queer family creation?

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Ashlee Livingstone. Ashlee has been on the Podcast before to speak about boundaries and setting boundaries as expectant and new parents. Today though we're talking about facilitating, using a positive mindset and breath work to support a more regulated nervous system through the more frightening and emotional parts of transitioning to parents.

You can find Ashlee and learn more about the work she does by visiting her on IG @ashlee.livingstone

I am so lucky to introduce you today to Christina and Rad. Between them they have three children; two that Christina birthed and one that Rad birthed.

They spoke openly about using a known donor, inseminating at home, and some of the struggles of pregnancy that Rad experienced. Some were a result of being a trans man and some were truly obscure.

These two are ALSO travelling, vegan wedding caterers who own, @knifeyspooneykingston. They travel around southern Ontario, providing elegant feast for guests attending weddings. It is also fundamental for them to work to make their community a safer, healthier, and more environmentally sound space.

Learn more about them at www.knifeyspooney.com

The location of the market that they spoke about is 303 York Street, Kingston, ON

Newman-Goldfarb Lactation Induction Protocol: https://www.canadianbreastfeedingfoundation.org/induced/regular_protocol.shtml

Tom Dean minces no words when he describes the absolute joy he feels in parenting his son with his husband, Brett.

Through my conversation with him today, he outlined their experience adopting through the public system in England. 

You hear joy in every word he utters about parenthood. Follow Tom and Brett on their parenting journey by checking out @dose of deans

#becomingbabyREADY

#babyREADY 

#2SLGBTQIA

#fertility  

#surrogacy 

#adoption 

#parenting 

#fostertoadopt

#eggdonor  

#infantfeeding 

#lgbtq 

#lgbt 

#lesbianmoms 

#gaydads  

#newbornbaby 

#RIVF  

#twomums 

#twomoms 

#transparenting

#IUI 

#IVF 

#momandmom 

#dadanddad 

#baba 

#twodads 

#inclusiveparenting  

#samesexfamilies

What if the stereotype of growing up, getting married and having children wasn’t your dream? 

What if it took meeting the love of your life to realize that having a family together would just make everything even better? 

Today I get to introduce you to Jayelle, who with her wife Steph, have two beautiful children. They did things their own way. They went private instead of through the NHS. RIVF instead of IUI. And sperm was just an ingredient.

It seemed like the perfect set up. An egg donor who was related. It should have been straightforward and easy. And it wasn’t.

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Ravi and dips who our parents to a beautiful baby girl. We have a conversation about the many ups and downs they faced on their family creation pathway.

Note: throughout the episode, Ravi refers to IVF. In his context, he is referring to egg donation and egg retrieval and not in vitro fertilization which is the transfer of a fertilized egg into a uterus.

When you are a queer couple with two uterus and you’re talking about starting a family, but one of you works within the realm of adoption services then really, what pathway will you take to create this family? 

I’m excited to introduce you to Cait. She and her wife “Wanda,” live in Virginia and today our conversation dives into politics, procreation, adoption, and more. 

To learn more about Cait and her family you can find them on Instagram and TikTok @2.ladies.and.2.babies

www.adoptuskids.org is the organization that Caitlyn speaks about to learn more about public adoption process in the US.

Creating a family using reproductive technology and support in a state that is predominantly red can be isolating and emotionally challenging.

Today I chat with Liz and Tabitha about their family creation journey. Liz carried their first child using IUI and Tabitha is getting geared up to carry baby number two.

We chat about the ups and downs of conceiving a baby and growing our families, as well as the challenges we face with the existence of current legislation and how laws differ from state to state and country to country.

When a used to be lawyer and a paediatrician get together and decide they want to create a family and need sperm to do it then logically they would end up creating their own business to accommodate their specific needs in a known Donor.

Today I get to introduce you to Danielle, reformed lawyer (her words) and Dr. Paige to hear their family creations story and how that led to starting their own business.

Additionally, you will hear us speak about a Queer physician database, and the link for that is: https://lgbtqhealthcaredirectory.org/

Doctor P's clinic is accepting new patients. The name and location for that is: Potomac Pediatrics, in Rockville, MD

Finally, their business is: The Seed Scout: www.theseedscout.com

@theseedscout

What do lesbian relationships, PCOS, cross-country moves, fertility treatments, trans spouses and polyamory have in common? The answer is obvious, Dr. Jeni Wahlig. 

Today Dr. Jeni shares her story about her struggle to family creation, as well as the evolution of discovering who she is, in her soul.

Additionally we have the opportunity to learn more about what Dr. Jeni and her partner, Cal, do in their work together. They empower couples and individuals with strategies to live their best lives.

To learn more about their business visit: https://www.powerfulove.com and you can find her on FB & IG @jeniwahlig

I have a special place in my heart for those who choose to grow their families through the public system. They step into a process where rules can change at any moment, yet they open their hearts time and time again. With unwavering love, guidance, and support, they welcome children into their homes—sometimes as a temporary refuge, and sometimes as the forever family those children deserve.

Today, I’m honoured to welcome Marc and Eben to the show to share their journey of fostering to adopt. When they first met in the Midwest in 2003, they probably never imagined they'd one day call Rhode Island home. But two decades later, they’ve built a beautiful life there, raising two children and caring for a collection of animals on their hobby farm.

In this episode, we talk about their experience navigating the foster system in Rhode Island and the meaningful connections they’ve maintained with some of their children's biological family members.

You can learn more about them and their life by following them on IG @2dadlife

Many people in the Queer community assume that they will not struggle with conceiving as long as they have the gametes needed to create a foetus. The reality of the situation is that Queer individuals are no more exempt from fertility challenges than their cisgender, heterosexual peers.

Today I have the opportunity to speak with Katherine Kent about the entire journey she and her wife have been on to create the family they have.

We talk about insurance and cost and benefits and emotional struggles. We discuss honestly the need to find a therapist that aligns with you and Support to the way you need to be supported. That is also true for your care team.

To learn more about Katherine and her beautiful family you can follow them on Instagram @two_mama_bears

When we decide to create a family with a partner many of us assume that we are with our forever love and that our relationship will last forever. Statistics and reality often remind us that that may not be the case.

Today I have the gift of speaking with Ali Hendry of www.alihendry.co.uk about the 4 year journey she and her ex-wife embarked upon to create their family, the ending of that relationship and the value of having a respectful and open co-parenting relationship moving forward.

To learn more about Ali and to follow her on Instagram, please find her @alihendrycoaching 

Unfortunately, the reality of life is that for some people creating a family isn’t easy. 

Today the conversation I have with Ginny Gane is very different than other episodes I have recorded so far. For them, when they started to discuss family creation, there were two uteruses in the relationship however, only Ginny wanted to carry. 

So what if that doesn't work? What if IUI, IVF, etc don’t work and adoption or surrogacy is the only alternative? How do we navigate our feelings and come to terms with the cards that life has dealt us?

You can learn more about Ginny through her website: www.ginnygane.com and on Instagram @ginnygane

We hear people talk about the ways that pregnancy, labour and birth can be different for everyone but one of the most fun ways to talk about that is when there are two people, each with a uterus, from the same family telling their stories.

Today I am speaking with Mariah and Solicia about how each of them were able to carry and birth a child - with the help of a friend who was their known donor, giving them the family they have today.

To learn more about Mariah’s doula work, please find her on Instagram @mariahalbanstoft. Please also consider supporting queer youth in Santa Rosa by following LGBTQ Connection Sonoma @lgbtqsonoma 

The reasons we decide to create our families the way that we do is as varied as the people making these families. Today I have the chance to introduce you to a new mom (names and locations are being withheld to maintain safety for my guests) who chats about how she and her husband, a tradesman, made the choices they did.

They navigated PCOS, a private donor and a challenging pregnancy to become the family of three that they are today.

To learn more about this family, you can follow them on Instagram @familyplansandtrans

The ovulation prediction sensor mentioned can be found at https://www.ovusense.com/

The app that they located sperm with is called: "Just A Baby: Become a Parent"

Please note that babyREADY does not specifically endorse the use of either Ovusense or the Just A Baby app.

With almost 2 years under the "becoming babyREADY," belt, it felt right to pause for a moment, and just highlight exactly how the show got started and some of the kinds of stories we've celebrated. 

On the show today, I take a few minutes to talk not only about all of this but also about the in person event that will be happening next June 2025.

I know I am lucky to be able to do the work that I do and connect with the people that I connect with. Each and every conversation I have had honour to have has been a genuine gift to me.

I invite you to share this podcast with anyone you know who may be thinking about starting or growing a family in the not-too-distant future.

Throughout my conversation with Julia and Ali, there were moments of laughter and levity, as well as moments of true seriousness as they share their story of family creation. 

We talked about rules and laws in various parts of the world. We talked about midwifery care and doula support. We talked about homebirth and hospital birth. And more than anything we discussed that every human has the right to do what works best for them, their body and their family as they navigate the journey to parenthood. 

This was truly one of the most enjoyable conversations I have had creating this podcast.

Oh, and even though I have been in this industry for over 25 years, I had the chance to learn something new.

You can follow Julia on IG @whoruntheworldsquirrels

When you set out on your journey to create a family, you don't always immediately take into consideration where it is that you live. What are the rules and regulations in the part of the country where you live? What are the expectations?

Today I have the chance to introduce you to JaneiJackson and we talk about the journey that she and her wife (Takiya) embarked upon; using IUI for the first pregnancy and RVF for the second. Sometimes you will hear their sweet son(Blake’s) voice in the background.

We discussed the difficulties and finding black donors and some of the potential reasons for that. We also talk about CNY Fertility. They're an organization based in the US and they work hard to ensure that fertility has the potential to be affordable for all. https://www.cnyfertility.com

You can learn more about Janei by following her on Instagram @sayhey_mrsjackson

Sometimes when you come out later in life, you have already experienced things like having a family that potentially your new partner hasn’t had the opportunity to enjoy. So what do you do? 

If you are David Miller, then you start the journey with your new love, and you plot out, of course, to create a new life through surrogacy. Today I have the opportunity to share and Dave’s story with you about how their son Miller came to them.

Learn more about David and Dave follow them on Instagram @2davesandababy

All of us know that when you’re creating a Queer family, there are many decisions that need to be made. 

Dan Emerson is my guest today and we will talk about the choices he and his husband, Steve, made when navigating their path to start their family. 

You will light up because you will hear the smile on Dan‘s face as we talk about their journey to becoming the dads of Andy.

You can see more of Dan’s parenthood pathway by checking him out on IG and Threads @danemers

So many people dream of having a baby and building a family, only to be met with the harsh reality of how financially out of reach the process can feel. So what do you do?

If you're Sabrina and her wife, you start by exploring online donor profiles—searching for someone who feels like the perfect fit for your future family.

Today, Sabrina shares their incredible journey to parenthood, including the emotional rollercoaster of a 92-day NICU stay with their newborn baby girl.

Want to learn more about Sabrina and her family? Follow their story on Instagram @alainas_mam90

My conversation today contains conversation about the role religion can play in the dynamics of a relationship, especially when it comes to creating a family. 

I have the distinct honour of introducing you to Mario and Monte and they may not be new to you. You may have seen them on their Instagram @marioandmonte. You may have seen them on the Ellen show (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-yoa7e7Qfo) in the Spring of 2021. You may also have seen them on the Hulu series, “We Live Here: The Midwest.”

Today we speak about using a traditional surrogate in the form of a friend who has given them the greatest gift they could ever have asked for, their daughter. 

Today's episode is a little bit different. Let me introduce you to Emmalie. Emmalie and Hansof co-writers who are working collaboratively to create a short film that depicts a lesbian couple hoping to start a family. 

At the moment, they are process of trying to get together resources to put this production together. Their hope is that this will become a feature film which highlights, in an entertaining fashion, at least one of the ways that Queer couples can create a family. 

So as I say, it's a little bit different, but I think you will enjoy it. You can learn more about the crowdfunding by visiting: https://igg.me/at/YouandMemakesThreeCrowdfunder/x/19173093#/

They are also on Instagram at: @youandmemakesthreefilm and Emmalie has an Instagram page at: @editor_emmalie 

There are many people in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who think that Queer trans individuals have it “easy” when it comes to creating a family. After all, both parties have the potential to have the necessary reproductive organs to create and carry a child. What gets completely disregarded and ignored is the dysphoria and hormone dysregulation that can come with needing to alter the hormone treatments and therapies that have been part of someone's life for (potentially) many years.

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Jerome. Jerome is a kind and articulate man. He just loves being a parent you can find him him as @seahorsedaddy_22 on Instagram and  today he does a beautiful job of describing how his family came to be.

Today I’m excited to introduce you to Stevy and Michelle from Adelaide, Australia. We had a chance to talk about both of them navigating endometriosis, then egg retrieval, RIVF, searching for a donor, finding a clinic that makes you feel welcome and safe and so much more. 

In the background, you will hear a sweet little voice from their three month old as the conversation unfolds. 

I am excited to introduce you to Yanica and Leah Faustin, a “Multicultural Two Mom Family.” Our conversation went so many different places. One of the key elements we discussed was how, with an interracial family, you need to constantly advocate for your children while at the same time, important it is to teach children feel confident advocating for themselves.

We also talked about something that straight couples & many Canadian lesbian couples don’t need to take into consideration when creating a family; a non-birthing and/or non-biologic parent needing to actually ADOPT THEIR OWN CHILD! This is regardless (for many of our American peers) of what or who is on the birth certificate. 

You can see them together on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheFaustinFam? and on Instagram @thefaustinfam

Well, of course I’m going to launch this episode when it’s the week of “Stanton family day!”  You know that the story is going to be good when the snippet that you get to know about is that they legally adopted three of their children the same day that they legally got married because the laws changed to allow that to happen.

The conversation I have with Bryan and Kevin Stanton is one you don’t want to miss. We talk about adoption and Foster to adopt. We talk about some of the emotional upheaval of children coming through the foster care system. And we talk about what it means to be a family.

Check out Bryan’s “Teaching While Queer” podcast: https://www.teachingwhilequeer.org and see the podcast on Instagram @teachingwhilequeer Additionally you can find Bryan on IG @thebryanstanton 

Sometimes the only thing that you know for certain is that you want to become a parent. When you first start thinking about it, you aren't necessarily certain whether or not you want to be biologically related to the child or if just simply being someone's parent is enough.

Today I have the distinct honour of being able to introduce you to Graham and Shaun from Perfectly Muddled. After much soul-searching, they chose to adopt a child from the foster care system. They educated themselves in Canada and in the UK and are now gifting the world with books about family creation and exploration.

To learn more about their books and the work that they do, please visit: https://perfectlymuddled.com and you can find them on Instagram @perfectlymuddled 

Having a mixed race child is one decision that parents may make. Having a child with Irish parents born outside of Ireland is another. Having a mixed race child with an Irish parent who is ALSO is in a same-sex relationship is yet one more.

Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Mark O'Looney-Cannon, one half of @twomenandasurrogacy. We have an in-depth conversation about all of these topics and more; not the least of which is the discriminatory legislation that all members of the Queer community (birthing children inside AND outside of Ireland) face when it comes to registering birth and parenthood as well as obtaining passports for their biological offspring.

Many people with a uterus dream of birthing a baby some day. Lauren took that dream to the next level when, as a child, she remembers having a literal dream wherein she felt the baby move.

Dreams were kind of a theme of the conversation I have today with one half of @thetwomom_browns, Lauren. Lauren is the parent who birthed their two children with the eggs of her wife. 

We talked about Reciprocal IVF, donor sperm, surrogacy (because Lauren wanted to do what she could to help two men by birthing a baby for their family too), parenting, living our destinies and so much more!! 

This amazing family can be found on Instagram as they document their journey through this world!

All of us know that there is very little that is more serious in this life than family creation and child rearing. Sure there are moments of happiness, joy and excitement. There are also moments of frustration, anger and overwhelm. What brings everything together in a universal fashion is the way we let ourselves laugh about all of it. 

Today I have the gift of being able to share with you the conversation that I had with one half of The Gaytriarchs Podcast Duo, David FM Vaughn. Sure, we had some serious conversation about how he and his husband created their family and why they made the decisions that they made, but we also made sure to keep things light sometimes too.

To learn more about David, you can follow him on Instagram @davidfmvaughn and check out his podcast @gaytriarchspodcast, also at https://gaytriarchs.com

One of the most painful challenges in parenting can be navigating the breakdown of a relationship, especially when it feels like the world—and the system—isn't on your side.

Today, I have the honour of introducing you to Tiq Milan. His story is deeply moving. Right now, Tiq doesn't have a relationship with his daughter, after the courts in Texas ruled in favour of his ex.

Despite the heartbreak, Tiq continues to seek out light in the darkest places. Grounded in his faith, he chooses hope, resilience, and love—finding moments of beauty and strength even in the most difficult times.

To learn more about the incredible human that Tiq is, follow him on Instagram @themrmilan

This is one of those rare occasions when I have the opportunity to speak with someone who literally ticks ALL of the boxes. Today I have the opportunity to introduce you to Marea Goodman. Marea is a queer parent to 3 children, a queer midwife, the founder of the community “Pregnant Together,” fertility coach, author, and really, if it is related to family creation, I suspect they have done it. 

We spend time talking about the role midwifery can play in the fertility process as well as through pregnancy, labour, birth, and postnatally. We dive into discussing the need for community throughout the journey, regardless of where you live.

I am sure that you, like me, will learn SO much from this conversation today.

The book is: “Baby Making For Everybody: Family Building and Fertility for LGBTQ+ and Solo Parents,” by Marea Goodman,  LM, CPM and Ray Rachlin, LM, CPM - find the IG page @babymakingforeverybody

You can find Marea by visiting: https://www.pregnanttogether.com 

The link to the Pregnant Together site is: https://community.pregnanttogether.com

Check out their Instagram page, @pregnanttogether.community

I flipped the tables today. On my other podcast, @boobsbodsandbrains, I work with a cohost, @laurelcrossley. Today Laurel and I chat and she is interviews me about the upcoming queer family planning event that I am hosting in June @the519.

Ultimately, before I started this podcast, my focus was to bring together Queer professionals and Queer parents to speak to the questions that 2SLGBTQIA+ people have or may have as they think about a life that includes parenthood for themselves. 

What do they need to know. How much will it cost? Where are the best resources found? Are there queer professionals who will hear what they have to ask and respect them for who they are?

Today Laurel and I also talk about the reality that I am deeply humbled by the work that I have had the honour of doing for so many years. 

For more information about the show follow me on Instagram or TikTok @babyREADYlgbtq or visit my website: www.babyREADY.info

Having a massage can feel luxurious and frivolous to some people. Other people understand the physically therapeutic benefits. Whether you see a Registered Massage Therapist for relaxation and fun, or for therapeutic reasons to treat existing challenges and concerns there is no debate that this treatment can leave some people feeling vulnerable. 

Today I have the opportunity to speak with Keeley Shantz, a Registered Massage Therapist from Ajax, Ontario. Keeley addresses the need for care providers to be conscious of their bias and their language when they're working with vulnerable populations. Keeley also talks about the work that they do to educate care providers.

You can learn more about Keeley and the work that they do by visiting: https://www.ontariomobilemassage.com and you can find them on Instagram @ontariomobilemassage

Meet Freya Lyon. She and her wife, Hannah, have two beautiful children that were created using IUI and open-donor sperm. In and of itself, not necessarily a new topic of conversation here on this show. What is new is that Freya herself is donor conceived. Her moms wanted children and used IUI and an anonymous donor to conceive both Freya and her sister. 

Funny isn’t it?  Sometimes we are so wrapped up in our own journeys of family creation that we let ourselves forget that this option has been available for decades.  

Some of the rules have changes. Some have become more current. Others have not and have a long way to go. I am honoured to have the chance to speak with and learn from Freya; not just about how they created their family but also about the work the Freya continues to do to educate those in the reproductive health world in the UK. 

Also, she was excited to share the names of two books she can’t recommend highly enough:

“The Queer Parent: Everything You Need to Know From Gay to Ze,” by Lott Jeffs and Stu Oakley (@lottejeffs & @mrstuoakley)

and

“Sperm Not Included: The Queer Couple’s Guide to Getting Pregnant in the UK,” by Sarah Wayne 

PS - she also talks about being a donor herself . . . (@unicorndcp - IG and @thequeermama - TT)