Three Makes Baby Podcast

In this special episode, fertility counselor Jana Rupnow invites Dr. Diane Tober, a medical anthropologist and associate professor at the University of Alabama, to discuss the intricate dynamics of egg donation. Dr. Tober delves into her research on egg donors and the global market for human eggs, providing insights into the experiences and challenges faced by donors. Dr. Tober shares compelling stories from her book "Eggonomics," including her eye-opening experience in a Spanish clinic observing an egg retrieval procedure, which shed light on the vulnerability and lack of recognition experienced by donors. Listeners will learn about the biopolitics of donor conception, the motivations and socioeconomic backgrounds of donors in the U.S. and Spain, and the ethical challenges surrounding donor anonymity and informed consent. The conversation emphasizes the need for better donor care and transparent practices, encouraging recipient parents to advocate for their donors and understand the long-term implications of donor-assisted conception.

Lindsay, a donor-conceived individual. continues to share her perspective on International Donor Conception Awareness Day, 2024. Learn one person’s perspective on controversial issues like donor anonymity, DNA testing, health information, and emotional ramifications. She shares how genetics significantly influence our sense of self and how comprehending biological lineage can be not only revealing but also liberating. importance of early and open conversations with donor-conceived children, fostering understanding, and acceptance. This episode highlights the integral role of a donor in a recipient’s identity formation and underscores the shared responsibility of parents to acknowledge and celebrate their child’s complete genetic heritage.

The future of donor conception is here! This episode features my special guest Danielle of The Seed Scout. She shares her and her wife's path to parenthood, including the challenges they faced with sperm banks. Danielle and her wife's path to parenthood took them through the maze of sperm banks, encountering impersonal processes that left them feeling disconnected. Fueled by this experience, they opted for a known donor, taking control of their process and creating a better way for others. We explore their challenges, shedding light on the significance of openness in genetic origins and the importance of updated medical histories for donor-conceived individuals and their families. With a deep understanding of LGBTQ+ needs, Danielle shares invaluable insights into the legal complexities of parental rights in donor conception. She addresses potential parents' concerns about privacy. Sharing how known donors can enrich your family's story without intruding on your personal life. The Seed Scout leverages their expertise to guide clients through every step of the process, ensuring a smooth and informed journey. Connect with them on social media @theeseedscout

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Hannah's resiliency after learning she was donor conceived in a hurtful way Her parents waited too long to tell her the truth. Hannah’s parents intended to tell her about her donor conception but never found the right moment. Then it was too late. Someone else who knew the secret, revealed the secret to Hannah in a hurtful way. By this time, Hannah’s dad had developed Alzheimer’s and she could no longer talk to him about it. Hannah speaks about how she used to be fundamentally opposed to donor conception but her viewpoint is shifting. She shows resiliency and depth in this new episode of Three Makes Baby podcast.

Renee and Tom manage grief as a couple on their long road of fertility treatments.

Esther was raised by two moms and always knew they used an anonymous sperm donor to conceive. She grew up with other families like hers and always felt that being donor-conceived was normal. From a young age, she also wondered about her biological father and had a strong desire to search for him. Esther talks about all of the emotions that come up before, during and after her search for her donor. She talks about the disillusionment of meeting her donor because of the fantasy she built in her mind.

Amy's husband was diagnosed with azoospermia and wasn't open to donation at first. After failed surgeries, they were able to move forward with sperm donation. Amy talks about his feelings, the donor selection process and her need for privacy during her pregnancy. #azoospermia

Julie experience premature ovarian failure and was concerned about her fertility. Her fears came true when she realized she couldn't have a biological child. She turned her pain into a gift for others, through her series of children's books. Her books are designed to create new narratives for all types of families created through donation; heterosexual or same-sex couples, a family through a gestational carrier or an embryo adoption, her books are ground-breaking for the fertility field.

Cam bravely shares about a chromosomal disorder she was born with that causes female infertility, called Turner Syndrome. This podcast episode is special for two reasons, Cam is the youngest guest to be on the podcast so far. As a member of Gen Z, she is proactively researching her options to grow a family long before she is ready to start one. Interviewing Cam made me realize how much our dialogue around infertility has change over the past decade and how proud I am to be part of this ongoing campaign. Cam was 8 years-old when I started doing this work. That fact and my looming birthday (tomorrow) are making me feel old. More importantly, I'm super proud that conversations like this continue to make a difference for others. Don’t miss Episode 18 of Three Makes Baby Podcast, available on all the podcast platforms.

Jeremy, who was sperm donor conceived and raised by a single mom shares the experience of meeting his donor and half-siblings. He talks about what the word “dad” means to him and how he relates to his donor today. We also talk about the show Almost Family and how parenting might influence or not influence how people feel about being donor conceived. It’s a great episode! We talk about hard stuff in a respectful way.

Ally discovered she was donor conceived in January 2019. Since then, she has discovered over a dozen half-siblings and is still coming to terms with her new reality. Ally discusses the complexities of discovering and managing relationships with multiple half-siblings and "the process" of growth she has gone through. She shares things she would do differently now that almost a year has past since her discovery. Ironically, Ally also discovered this year that she and her husband would need treatment to have a baby, as her parents did 30 years ago. Ally, compassionately reflects on what her parents must have gone through, especially now that she is facing infertility herself.

Colleen experienced infertility and her doctor recommended that she use an egg donor to conceive, but donor conception had turned her life upside down. Her own donor conception was concealed until she discovered the truth through a DNA test. Her biological dad was actually a medical student who donated his sperm anonymously. Finding out she was donor-conceived later in life caused Colleen an existential crisis, but things also begin to make sense to her. She recalled a family gathering when her dad was looking at her hands and said, “You have a crooked pinky finger!” “I have a crooked pinky finger!” The man that raised her passed away before she discovered the truth and she felt like she lost him all over again. . Experiencing infertility and being donor conceived, Colleen has a unique perspective, “I see a lot of hurt from people who are infertile and who are donor conceived and it’s not a tragedy competition.” Listen on your morning commute in iTunes.