Over 40 Fabulous and pregnant

101. We have Fallon on to share her spontaneous pregnancy at 40. Fallon was never the girl who dreamed of being a mother. A full-time yoga teacher with a life she loved, she was content being a “dog mom” until the loss of her dog and a new marriage changed her perspective. On the night of her 40th birthday, she and her husband decided to go for it. One month later, she was staring at a positive pregnancy test. In this episode, Fallon talks about the shock of conceiving so quickly, the challenge of navigating a pregnancy with hardware in her pelvis from a previous accident, and what it was like to hear her daughter’s heartbeat for the first time without her husband. From a scheduled C-section on the summer solstice to the ego-stripping challenges of breastfeeding and low milk supply. She reflects on the “sisterhood” of mothers that finally let her in and why she’s choosing to be one-and-done at 40. Get the resources, transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode101/ Please donate to the show if you found this podcast helpful! I can’t keep it going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please consider donating today! Thank you! https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/

100. Jamie is joined by four incredible women from around the world: Sarah (44), Johanne (44), Bidi (43), and returning guest Katie (46). All four are currently pregnant, and they are openly discussing their experience of pregnancy over 40. The goal of this show to hear about pregnancy over 40 straight from pregnant women themselves instead of hearing it after the birth. In this roundtable discussion, we dive deep into four very different journeys: Johanne shares her 15-year journey of faith, which included 6 embryo transfers and a life-changing myomectomy to remove fibroids before finally reaching 6 months pregnant. Sarah and Katie discuss the decision to use donor eggs after 40. Sarah shares her "dream" pregnancy in Scotland despite a grapefruit-sized fibroid, while Katie talks about the reality of a VBAC after a previous C-section. Last, Bidi, a former digital nomad, shares her shock at conceiving just two months after moving in with her partner at age 43. From delayed cord clamping and C-section birth plans to the "mental scramble" of losing your identity during pregnancy, no topic is off-limits. Whether you are dealing with unexplained infertility, navigating advanced maternal age protocols, or just need to hear that you aren't alone in the "miscarriage club," this episode is a testament to the power of persistence. Find out how these four women moved past the "geriatric" labels to embrace the beauty (and the heartburn!) of pregnancy in their 40s.  Get the transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode100/ Please donate to the show if you found this podcast helpful! I can’t keep it going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please consider donating today! Thank you! https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/

099. Stephanie is on share her spontaneous pregnancy at 43. Stephanie has been with her husband since she was 27 and married him at 39. She always wanted kids, at least one or two, but no more than three. Her husband is eleven years older than her with kids from a previous relationship and was open to having more. Once they decided to try to have a baby, she wasn't pregnant and thought something was wrong. Her husband had kids, so she went to the doctor a year and a half into trying to conceive to get herself checked out. All tests were normal. Eventually she just let it be. At 32 they found a fibroid, so they put her on birth control to shrink it. Luckily it worked and at 34, after getting off of birth control, she was pregnant with her son. When her son turned two, she was ready to try for another baby. At about the same time they were deciding, her husband got custody of his three kids. She instantly became a mama of four boys, a toddler and three preteens. Her blood pressure was high and she thought her family was complete. Find out how her blood pressure medication may have played a role in the surprise of her daughter of 43.  Get the transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode99/ Please donate to the show if you found this podcast helpful! I can’t keep it going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please consider donating today! Thank you! https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/

098. Amanda is sharing her IVF journey at 45. Amanda met her husband at 25 and married at 30. As a couple they thought about not have children at all. That is, until she was in her early 30's when her husband suggest they have children after he questioned what are they doing this for. She is the oldest of four kids and was a nanny all through college. She was flexible and had her son, spontaneously at 34 after a heartbreaking pregnancy loss. She had a great pregnancy with her first baby. Amanda's husband was ready for a second right away but Amanda wasn't sure. She started a business and time went on. In her early 40's she wondered if she waited too long to have a baby. At 44, she had an epiphany that if she wanted another baby, she better make the decision now. Not wanting to wait, she assumed her only option was IVF, and made consultation appointments with a few clinics in North Texas. Find out how her IVF journey went, her pregnancy, a surprising birth and recovery.  Get the transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode98/ Donate to the show: If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I can’t keep the podcast going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please donate HERE.

097. Jessica is on to share her spontaneous pregnancy story at 41. She is sharing her story 14 months postpartum. Jessica met her future husband at 33 and married him when she was 37. They discussed having kids briefly, but her priority was finishing school to become an occupational therapist. She knew she wanted a family. Before getting married she wanted to prepare her body for pregnancy by weening off birth control and getting her hormones tested. She took B vitamins, probiotics, and a mushroom extract vitamin for weakness in one of her ovaries. Six months before her wedding, she got the call where she was told her AMH is low. She was told she could get pregnant, but it would be challenging. Find out her journey to seeing a fertility specialist to manifesting her spontaneous pregnancy.  Get the transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode97/ Get notes and more information on It Starts with the Egg: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/itstartswiththeegg/ Donate to the show: If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I can’t keep the podcast going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please donate HERE.

096.  On episode 96, we have Allison on to share her pregnancy journey at 43. Growing up, Allison was always babysitting and spent summers being a camp counselor. She spent lots of time around children, but being a mom wasn’t an obvious choice for her. She had friends that either couldn’t wait to be a mom or never wanted to be a mom, but she didn’t feel like she fit on either side. She’s been with her husband for 15 years who has two children who she is very close with. She loves to travel and wasn’t sure motherhood was for her. When she turned 40, she married the same year and starting really thinking about having a baby. Find out why she went straight to IVF to gender select a girl, her five egg retrievals that led to her journey to motherhood.  Get the transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode96/ Donate to the show: If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I can’t keep the podcast going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please donate HERE.

095. We have single mother by choice, Melissa on to share her IVF journey at 42. At 40, she thought she was probably running out of time to have a baby but always wanted to be a mother. Her friends suggested she should get a dog instead. She got a golden retriever she named Marvin. After having Marvin for a year, Melissa decided she still wanted to conceive. She says she hasn’t met the person she wants to have a child with yet, so find out how she did this journey on her own. Get the transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode95/ Donate to the show: If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I can’t keep the podcast going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please donate HERE. 

BE04: We are discussing 10 ways to prepare for a transfer. I created this list based off of research, my experience of two transfers and ways that guests have shared from their stories.  If you are like me, you are searching the internet on how to make this transfer successful. You might feel like the more you do, the higher the chances are of it being successful. I suggest doing what feels good to you from this list. Because you can do all of them and it work, and you can do none of them and it work. DISCLAIMER: This is NOT medical advice. I am not a doctor, so talk with your doctor about doing any of things.  Episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/bonusepisode4/ Connect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/over40fabulousandpregnant/ 20 Journal Prompts during TTC: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/20-journal-prompts-while-ttc/ 5 Better Questions to Ask during TTC: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/5-questions-to-ask-yourself-while-ttc/

094. We have Rosanne Austin on to share her spontaneous pregnancy at 44. She is the creator of the Fearlessly Fertile Method and host of the Fearlessly Fertile Podcast. She helps women get and stay pregnant by leveraging the mind-body connection. She started her career as a prosecutor in California when she and her husband wanted to start a family. She was prosecuting sex crimes into her late 30's. Her plans for getting pregnant on her timeline weren't working. She didn't even want to bother working with her OBGYN and wanted to go straight to a fertility clinic. Her OBGYN had previously told her she was close to 40, so it would be hard for her to get pregnant. She took that advise to heart. When she went to the fertility clinic the pressure got worse. Join us how she shares her IVF experience to changing her mindset to her fearless pregnancy.  Get more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode94/ Get The Fearless Pregnancy by Rosanne Austin: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/FearlessPregnancyBook Donate to the show: If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I can’t keep the podcast going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please donate HERE. 

093. We have Kayla on to share her spontaneous pregnancy at 41. Kayla lives in Bay City, Michigan with her husband and 13-month old son. Kayla never really wanted to have kids, that is until her 40th birthday. Her and her husband decided to try to have a baby. She had been on birth control for 26-years, so she assumed it would take some time for her body to adjust. She was pregnant quickly. Find out how loss of her first pregnancy made her desire for a baby even stronger and how back surgery could have helped her conceive her rainbow baby.  Get more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode93/ Donate to the show: If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I can’t keep the podcast going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please donate HERE. 

091. Neesha is on to share her pregnancy story at 44, using donor eggs. She is originally from the Caribbean, but lives with her husband and daughter in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada . She married her husband when she was just 29 and wanted to enjoy each other before starting a family. At 33, she started thinking about having a baby. At 35, nothing was happening, so we wanted to see a doctor. Her husbands test results came back fine, so the doctor told her coldly, it was obviously her. A year later, while studying in the USA, Neesha was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis with a 10% chance of conceiving naturally. Later, no cycle for an entire year: post menopausal. Find out on this episode how she navigated her diagnoses that led to using donor eggs and the birth of her daughter at 44.  If you are just starting your journey to conception with donor eggs, I have a FREE guide that will make the process so much easier!  It’s a 10 Q&A that will help you through the process from where to find a donor to how you should talk to you child about donor egg conception: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donoreggguide Get more information about this episode:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode91/ Donate to the show: If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I can’t keep the podcast going without your help. If you received value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please donate HERE. 

BE03. This is episode 3 of a 3-part series sharing my story. I'm talking about my recovery. During this recording, I'm six months postpartum. I am so lucky to be sharing my story!  We left off the last episode with THE BIRTH STORY as us leaving the hospital as family of three. The first bonus episode we talked about being Over Due. Those two bonus episodes were in chronological order. However, in this show, there are over 25 topics I will to discuss and not be in any particular order. If this is your first time here, I’m Jamie Massey, 43 and the host of the podcast. It took us 3 years, 5 pregnancies, failed IVF, and a failed embryo transfer to have our first baby using donor eggs.    If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I I can’t keep the podcast going without your help! If you receive value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please consider donating through the link below. THANK YOU for making this podcast successful! https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ Get the links, resources and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/bonus3/

BE02. This is episode 2 of a 3-part (maybe 4) series sharing my story. I'm talking about my birth story with my good friend, Chantel. During this recording, I'm 4.5 months postpartum. I am so lucky to be sharing my story!  We left off OVER DUE BONUS EPISODE 1 with my midwife appointment on Friday where I was scheduled to be induced on Sunday. This episode I share how we went our Saturday, how labor started on Sunday, and then the birth of my baby boy. If this is your first time here, I’m Jamie Massey, 43 and the host of the podcast. It took us 3 years, 5 pregnancies, failed IVF, and a failed embryo transfer to have our first baby using donor eggs.     If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I I can’t keep the podcast going without your help! If you receive value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please consider donating through the link below. THANK YOU for making this podcast successful! https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ Get the links, resources and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/bonus2/

BE01. This is episode 1 of a 3-party series sharing my story. We are talking about the ECV, when the doctor turned the baby from breech to head down, my expectations of starting labor, my birth plan, ways we tried to turn the baby head down, and how we tried to induce labor. The next episode is the BIRTH STORY, and the last one is postpartum RECOVERY. If this is your first time here, I’m Jamie Massey, 43 and the host of the podcast. It took us 3 years, 5 pregnancies, failed IVF, and a failed embryo transfer to have our first baby using donor eggs. I am so lucky to be sharing my story with my baby sleeping next to me.    If you found this podcast helpful, I would love if you made a donation! I am staying at home with the baby, and I can’t keep the podcast going without your help. If I get 100 people to donate by October 1st, 2024, I’ll start a private FB group. I don’t want to go the ad or sponsorship route, but there are costs to keep the show going. If you receive value from this show, even if it’s as small as the price of a coffee, please consider donating through the link below. THANK YOU for making this podcast successful! https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ Get the full story, resources and more information about this episode:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/bonus1/

090. We have two returning guests on to discuss pregnancy after loss over 40. The goal of this show is to share our experiences and normalize loss over 40 because loss is a part of so many of our journeys and we are not alone. We have returning guest from episode 48, Jamey. Jamey had a 10-year IVF journey that included two miscarriages and many other losses along the way to her pregnancy at 41 with her daughter using embryo adoption. Jenna, from episode 44 had four daughters with four losses before her fifth daughter at 43.  If you are trying to have a baby over 40, I’d love to invite you to 40.40 Society! It’s a 6-week program that teaches you the same tools I used to have a good TTC experience and validate your feelings with bi-weekly small support groups. Join the wait list to be the first to know when the program is open to learn how to handle the ups and downs of TTC and feel supported through your journey:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/waitlist   Get the transcript, resources and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode90/  

089. Alice Grist lives in the UK with her husband and three children. She was happy with her two daughters who were 12 and 8. She says she wasn't one of those little girls who fantasized about babies. Alice was 44 and assumed she was perimenopause and couldn't have more children, so little precaution was used to prevent it. Join us as Alice shares how babies weren't even something she was thinking about and how this pregnancy ended up being the toughest. If you are trying to have a baby over 40, I’d love to invite you to 40.40 Society! It’s a 6-week program that teaches you the same tools I used to have a good TTC experience and validate your feelings with bi-weekly small support groups. Join the wait list to be the first to know when the program is open to learn how to handle the ups and downs of TTC and feel supported through your journey:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/waitlist Get the full story, resources and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode89/

088. Kerra lives in small town Graham, Texas with her husband and six boys. Kerra's journey to motherhood started when she was just 18 years old in high school. She went on to have four more boys with a previous marriage. Kerra had no intention of getting married again or having more children until her best friend turned into her husband. He told her he couldn’t have children because he had cancer a few years back. It didn’t matter to her because she already had five children, but in the back of her mind she always thought it might be possible. Join us as Kerra shares her shocking pregnancy at 42 and a delivery at home with a midwife. If you are trying to have a baby over 40, I’d love to invite you to 40.40 Society! It’s a 6-week program that teaches you the same tools I used to have a good TTC experience and validate your feelings with bi-weekly small support groups. Join the wait list to be the first to know when the program is open to learn how to handle the ups and downs of TTC and feel supported through your journey:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/waitlist Get the full story, resources and more information about this episode:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode88/

087. Kristen is from Rochester Hills, Michigan. She moved to Barcelona, Spain, after graduating with a masters in Spanish and met her husband there. They married when she was 27. Her first pregnancy she says was easy and assumed any pregnancy following it would be the same. Baby number two was a rainbow that didn’t come so easy. She wanted a third baby over 40 but wasn’t sure she was ready for the possibility of another loss. Join us as Kristen shares her journey to her natural pregnancy with baby number three, her second rainbow baby. If you are trying to have a baby over 40, I’d love to invite you to 40.40 Society! It’s a 6-week program that teaches you the same tools I used to have a good TTC experience and validate your feelings with bi-weekly small support groups. Join the wait list to be the first to know when the program is open to learn how to handle the ups and downs of TTC and feel supported through your journey:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/waitlist Get the full story, resources and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode87/

086. Lorraine was born and raised in Azusa, California. She lives there with her 15-month-old healthy boy and husband. At 37, she lost her fiancé to 11-month battle with cancer. At 40, she met her husband and knew they would need fertility treatments. In the middle of her IVF journey and right before her wedding, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Join us, as she shares her emotional journey to motherhood at 44. If you are trying to have a baby over 40, I’d love to invite you to 40.40 Society! It’s a 6-week program that teaches you the same tools I used to have a good TTC experience and validate your feelings with bi-weekly small support groups. Join the wait list to be the first to know when the program is open to learn how to handle the ups and downs of TTC and feel supported through your journey:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/waitlist Get the full story, resources and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode86/

085. Judy was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 12 years old and PCOS at 16 years old. Doctors told her she could never have children. She tried to have a baby in her 20’s but nothing happened. Judy believes it was a miracle to have a healthy baby at 37 years old and deliver at only 24-weeks of gestation. After a loss at 41, she never thought pregnancy would be an option again for her. Join us as Judy shares her pregnancy to her second baby at 46 and what she believes helped her get pregnant.   If you are trying to have a baby over 40, I’d love to invite you to 40.40 Society! It’s a 6-week program that teaches you the same tools I used to have a good TTC experience and validate your feelings with bi-weekly small support groups. Join the wait list to be the first to know when the program is open to learn how to handle the ups and downs of TTC and feel supported through your journey:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/waitlist Get the full story, resources and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode85/