Carey Cook, a Fertility Coach and Self-Care Strategist is dedicated to supporting the LGBTQ+ community as they navigate the intricacies of building a family. Carey shares her journey with IUI, Reciprocal IVF and ultimately embryo donation.  She shares how she and her wife found their embryo donor, how they each experienced emotional reactions to the experience of sharing or not sharing a genetic relationship with your child, and how the embryo donation experience has shaped their child’s half sibling group.     In this episode, Carey shares how to pivot your expectations as your fertility path changes, and how to use your own body and intuition to make decisions that are right for you.  This episode of Stork’d is more than just a conversation—it's a valuable opportunity for a free therapeutic experience. You don't want to miss out.   IN THIS EPISODE: [3:00] Carey shares her family planning journey [6:45] Carey talks what the genetic composition of their child would look like based on the provided options  [10:12] Carey talks about the feelings surrounding being genetically connected.  [12:08] Carey walks through the decision to do a private embryo donation and the multiple ways of finding a donor [21:22] Carey discusses the type of therapy she practices, how your body gives you clues to support your decisions and how she teaches her clients to know the difference between what a yes or a no feels like [25:00] The process after the embryo donor decision is made and deciding  how much communication you want [31:37] Carey discusses the information she can share with her child when the time comes, and she talks about the differences between the  LGBTQ+ and straight communities going through this journey [34:21] Discussion surrounding society’s opinions of what is right and wrong for gays and solo parents and the questions that Carey’s clients have for her [39:00] Carey talks about her soul family; she defines what family means to her and reminds the listener there are many free sources on the internet and social media   KEY TAKEAWAYS: When a couple cannot have a child, they sometimes say, “If we don’t, it’s okay.” That statement is more than likely said to protect their emotions.” There is a lot of grief associated with failed treatments for having children. Being genetically connected to your child is an emotion that some people need to have. It troubles them when they think about it. Other people are happy to have a child and don’t emotionally deal with genetics. There are multiple ways of finding donated embryos. Each has different caveats that the recipient needs to research before deciding.   RESOURCE LINKS: Stork'd - Facebook Stork'd - Instagram Stork'd - YouTube  Embodied Pride - Website Embodied Pride - Instagram   BIOGRAPHY:  Carey Cook, Fertility Coach and Self-Care Strategist, is passionate about helping people who are spiraling into the anxious abyss of expanding their families. I have a MA in Counseling Psychology and 13+ years helping people move through trauma and transform their lives. I help people get out of their heads and into their bodies so they feel more connected to their fertility process in a trusting, confident way. During my own fertility process, I witnessed how wildly hetero the whole process is. That’s why I started Embodied Pride. This is a dedicated space for LGBTQ+ to explore our unique needs around growing their families.  I believe that the entire fertility journey goes beyond the person who wants to grow a baby in their uterus. The fertility journey is happening for all persons who are creating and welcoming a new baby. You are on a whole fertility journey if you are a partner or using a surrogate. You are on this journey whether you are using your own sperm, egg or womb or using donors. Embodied Pride is for all persons who are a part of the whole fertility journey.