Episode 141: EM•POWERing Embryo Donation – Maya, Gina, and Jen

I Want to Put a Baby in You!

EM•POWER with Moxi is an organization dedicated to empowering choice and fostering understanding for all stakeholders involved in embryo donation. Maya is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker and psychotherapist who specializes in supporting individuals and couples struggling to conceive or building their family in alternative ways. Additionally, her background in child welfare allows her to have a keen understanding of not only the needs of patients/parents but also the needs of children born through third party reproduction. Maya is also a documentary filmmaker and co-producer of One More Shot, a feature length film she produced with her husband documenting their tumultuous journey to parenthood. Gina has been a genetic counselor in the field of reproductive medicine for over 17 years. Her company, Advocate Genetics, provides genetic counseling for fertility patients and those connected to third-party reproduction. She had been working in the field of infertility for 6 years before her own 3-1/2 year fertility journey began. Her story involved multiple surgeries and a heartbreaking miscarriage, but also resulted in the birth of her two amazing children via IVF. After she felt her family was complete, she also had 16 remaining embryos and some big decisions to make. Years later, she has donated her remaining embryos to two families, one of whom now has a beautiful and spunky daughter. Jennifer is a Nationally Certified Counselor who founded Embryo Donation Support, a web-based community for embryo donors. Through facilitation of pre- and post-donation online support groups to women with frozen embryos, Jennifer has built a solid understanding of the questions, needs, fears, and challenges that patients face when considering embryo donation. Jennifer also advocates for embryo donation and donor support through podcasts, live events, social media outlets, and blog contributions. Jennifer is a proud mother of twins conceived through IVF, and proud donor of one embryo who is now a healthy boy. These three women created EM•POWER to support the various complex elements of embryo donation and simplify the process for both patients and clinics. They created an education platform and a community platform that includes Moxi Matching, a private space where embryo donors can connect and match. Listen to Maya, Gina, and Jen as they discuss with Ellen and Jenn: • Maya’s film “One More Shot” documenting her up close and personal road to parenthood. • Jen’s fertility journey and experience becoming a donor with only one embryo and strong feelings on what that arrangement should look like. • Gina’s professional path leading her to the fertility world before experiencing her own difficult path to parenthood. • Considering the options and challenges involved in embryo disposition. • “Adoption” vs “donation” terminology for embryos. • How people choose a donor or recipient for embryos • Empower with Moxi, a hub for education and support for the embryo donation community. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: [phone]. Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ Learn about Empower with Moxi here: https://www.empowerwithmoxi.com Find Embryo Donation support here: http://embryodonationsupport.com Watch One More Shot here: http://www.onemoreshotfilm.com Learn about Maya Grobel here: https://www.mayagrobel.com Find Empower with Moxi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/empowerwithmoxi/ Find Empower with Moxi on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/empowerwithmoxi Find Empower with Moxi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empowerwithmoxi/