<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><?xml-stylesheet href="https://feeds.captivate.fm/style.xsl" type="text/xsl"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:podcast="https://podcastindex.org/namespace/1.0"><channel><atom:link href="https://feeds.captivate.fm/fertility-cafe/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><title><![CDATA[Fertility Cafe]]></title><podcast:guid>19f5a660-1a4b-57e3-9a4c-d78c20268e15</podcast:guid><lastBuildDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2025 14:46:14 +0000</lastBuildDate><generator>Captivate.fm</generator><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><copyright><![CDATA[2025 Fertility Cafe]]></copyright><managingEditor>Eloise Drane</managingEditor><itunes:summary><![CDATA[Who knew making a baby could be so hard?! Luckily, the fertility journey isn’t meant to be traveled alone. So grab a seat and let’s talk fertility and alternative family building with leading industry expert Eloise Drane here at Fertility Café! 

Fertility Café is here to support, encourage, and educate, anyone seeking to start or complete their family and the selfless women willing to help . This bi-weekly podcast discusses all aspects of the fertility journey experience, emphasizing alternative family forming methods. Explore modern family building through IVF, surrogacy, and egg donation, sperm donation and embryo donation . Whether you’re a straight couple, LGBTQIA+, single individual or anything in between, considering egg donation, thinking of becoming a surrogate, or dealing with infertility, you'll receive insider information. 

Join in-depth conversations that explore these methods from medical, legal, and financial standpoints. Learn how to empower yourselves when dealing with infertility and the unknowns of how to complete your family building. Gain understanding on how to become a surrogate or an egg donor and what you need to consider when you make your decision.

In addition to finding the best third-party providers and appropriate fertility solutions for you, learn about fertility awareness, the questions to ask and what steps you need to take to make the right decisions for you. There is so much information out there. How do you know what is fertility fact versus fiction. You’ll receive advice and tips on how to navigate the world of fertility options.  

Listen to fertility experts and medical practitioners as they impart valuable wisdom about all kinds of issues related to your fertility to include unexplained infertility, fertility preservation, PCOS, and fibroids to name a few. Their professional guidance is your best bet in increasing the likelihood of getting pregnant without fearing for your health or breaking the bank. 

This show is also for fertility professionals who want to widen their knowledge and expertise. By listening to fellow experts, discover brand-new information to share with your patients and improve your practice. 

Host Eloise has helped hundreds of people build (and grow) their families over the last 20 years. She always speaks candidly about the processes involved in making the dream of a baby a reality right now. Eloise helps individuals become surrogates and egg donors through Family Inceptions, an agency she founded in 2008. She highlights the importance of ethical and transparent practices. 

Above all, Eloise makes sure that young women who donate eggs or become surrogates are properly educated and empowered. Her reputation makes Eloise a top speaker and guest in many assisted reproduction technology events and shows. Her story and agency were even featured by OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. 

Eloise is not only a guide to surrogates and donors; she has been an egg donor six times and a gestational surrogate three times. She is a happily married mother of five who spends most of her free time with family. 

Failing to get pregnant should never lead to a life of regret, self-pity, and hopelessness. With egg donation, surrogacy, and medical advancements focused on fertility, your fight is far from over. You are not a lost cause. What you need is proper information, practical tips, and valuable insights on addressing your reproductive issues. Explore all this and more on the Fertility Café. 

Listen to the podcast right now at www.thefertilitycafe.com]]></itunes:summary><image><url>https://artwork.captivate.fm/80e58caf-a4aa-492f-b96a-0c474cb40764/62bWjtSkiVei2j1CRjDRmXq3.png</url><title>Fertility Cafe</title><link><![CDATA[https://thefertilitycafe.com]]></link></image><itunes:image href="https://artwork.captivate.fm/80e58caf-a4aa-492f-b96a-0c474cb40764/62bWjtSkiVei2j1CRjDRmXq3.png"/><itunes:owner><itunes:name>Eloise Drane</itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author>Eloise Drane</itunes:author><description>Who knew making a baby could be so hard?! Luckily, the fertility journey isn’t meant to be traveled alone. So grab a seat and let’s talk fertility and alternative family building with leading industry expert Eloise Drane here at Fertility Café! 

Fertility Café is here to support, encourage, and educate, anyone seeking to start or complete their family and the selfless women willing to help . This bi-weekly podcast discusses all aspects of the fertility journey experience, emphasizing alternative family forming methods. Explore modern family building through IVF, surrogacy, and egg donation, sperm donation and embryo donation . Whether you’re a straight couple, LGBTQIA+, single individual or anything in between, considering egg donation, thinking of becoming a surrogate, or dealing with infertility, you&apos;ll receive insider information. 

Join in-depth conversations that explore these methods from medical, legal, and financial standpoints. Learn how to empower yourselves when dealing with infertility and the unknowns of how to complete your family building. Gain understanding on how to become a surrogate or an egg donor and what you need to consider when you make your decision.

In addition to finding the best third-party providers and appropriate fertility solutions for you, learn about fertility awareness, the questions to ask and what steps you need to take to make the right decisions for you. There is so much information out there. How do you know what is fertility fact versus fiction. You’ll receive advice and tips on how to navigate the world of fertility options.  

Listen to fertility experts and medical practitioners as they impart valuable wisdom about all kinds of issues related to your fertility to include unexplained infertility, fertility preservation, PCOS, and fibroids to name a few. Their professional guidance is your best bet in increasing the likelihood of getting pregnant without fearing for your health or breaking the bank. 

This show is also for fertility professionals who want to widen their knowledge and expertise. By listening to fellow experts, discover brand-new information to share with your patients and improve your practice. 

Host Eloise has helped hundreds of people build (and grow) their families over the last 20 years. She always speaks candidly about the processes involved in making the dream of a baby a reality right now. Eloise helps individuals become surrogates and egg donors through Family Inceptions, an agency she founded in 2008. She highlights the importance of ethical and transparent practices. 

Above all, Eloise makes sure that young women who donate eggs or become surrogates are properly educated and empowered. Her reputation makes Eloise a top speaker and guest in many assisted reproduction technology events and shows. Her story and agency were even featured by OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. 

Eloise is not only a guide to surrogates and donors; she has been an egg donor six times and a gestational surrogate three times. She is a happily married mother of five who spends most of her free time with family. 

Failing to get pregnant should never lead to a life of regret, self-pity, and hopelessness. With egg donation, surrogacy, and medical advancements focused on fertility, your fight is far from over. You are not a lost cause. What you need is proper information, practical tips, and valuable insights on addressing your reproductive issues. Explore all this and more on the Fertility Café. 

Listen to the podcast right now at www.thefertilitycafe.com</description><link>https://thefertilitycafe.com</link><atom:link href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com" rel="hub"/><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type><itunes:category text="Kids &amp; Family"><itunes:category text="Parenting"/></itunes:category><itunes:category text="Health &amp; Fitness"><itunes:category text="Medicine"/></itunes:category><itunes:new-feed-url>https://feeds.captivate.fm/fertility-cafe/</itunes:new-feed-url><podcast:locked>no</podcast:locked><podcast:medium>podcast</podcast:medium><item><title>Surrogate Logistics – Travel, Timelines, and Support</title><itunes:title>Surrogate Logistics – Travel, Timelines, and Support</itunes:title><description><![CDATA[“It's viably gonna be one of the most intimate journeys you'll ever be on, just like your marriage, your relationship with your children. It's this infinite entanglement between you and them…” - April Whitford

Today on The Fertility Cafe, host Eloise Drane is joined by April Whitford, Journey Manager at Family Inceptions with a decade of experience at the company and 25 years in family building. April, who holds an LMSW from Florida State University, shares her extensive knowledge of guiding hundreds of surrogates through their journeys, emphasizing the importance of patience in what she describes as an 18-month marathon rather than a sprint.

The episode breaks down the practical aspects of surrogacy, from initial screening and matching to medical protocols and travel expectations. They discuss the comprehensive support surrogates receive, the importance of having family and employer backing, insurance considerations, and the legal process of establishing parentage. April and Eloise provide valuable insights into the logistical realities of surrogacy, including medication schedules, appointment frequency, and hospital birth plans.

April Whitford, Journey Manager for Family Inceptions. April has been in the family-building space since 2000, and her passion for helping others shows in every interaction. She's committed to providing the highest level of support to surrogates and intended parents, ensuring that every journey is handled with care and compassion. With over two decades of experience, April has guided hundreds of surrogates through every step of their journeys and has invaluable insights to share about the logistical realities of surrogacy.
<h2>In This Episode:</h2>
(00:00) Importance of understanding surrogate logistics

(04:18) April explains why surrogacy is a marathon requiring patience, not a sprint

(05:37) The detailed screening and matching process for surrogates

(11:06) Timeline expectations from match to embryo transfer

(12:59) Travel logistics and arrangements during the surrogate journey

(16:04) Understanding medication protocols and appointment schedules

(19:33) Building a strong support system throughout your surrogate journey

(24:06) Preparing family, children, and employers for your surrogacy process

(31:26) Insurance coverage and protective policies for surrogates

(34:08) Birth plans and hospital preparation for surrogate deliveries

Share with someone who may be interested, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!
<h2>Resources:</h2>
April Whitford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-whitford-784b2720/

Family Inceptions: https://familyinceptions.com/
<h2>Book a Free Consultation</h2>
Have questions about becoming a surrogate? Learn more: https://familyinceptions.com/surrogates/

Curious about how much you could make with surrogacy? Use our Compensation Calculator:

https://familyinceptions.com/surrogacy-compensation-calculator/
<h2>Stay Connected</h2>
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitycafe

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilitycafe

🌐 Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fertility-cafe/
<h2>More Resources</h2>
📚 Learn more about surrogacy &amp; fertility: familyinceptions.com

🎧 Listen to past episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@FertilityCafePodcast/playlists

📰 Get expert insights &amp; updates: https://thefertilitycafe.com/resources]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[“It's viably gonna be one of the most intimate journeys you'll ever be on, just like your marriage, your relationship with your children. It's this infinite entanglement between you and them…” - April Whitford

Today on The Fertility Cafe, host Eloise Drane is joined by April Whitford, Journey Manager at Family Inceptions with a decade of experience at the company and 25 years in family building. April, who holds an LMSW from Florida State University, shares her extensive knowledge of guiding hundreds of surrogates through their journeys, emphasizing the importance of patience in what she describes as an 18-month marathon rather than a sprint.

The episode breaks down the practical aspects of surrogacy, from initial screening and matching to medical protocols and travel expectations. They discuss the comprehensive support surrogates receive, the importance of having family and employer backing, insurance considerations, and the legal process of establishing parentage. April and Eloise provide valuable insights into the logistical realities of surrogacy, including medication schedules, appointment frequency, and hospital birth plans.

April Whitford, Journey Manager for Family Inceptions. April has been in the family-building space since 2000, and her passion for helping others shows in every interaction. She's committed to providing the highest level of support to surrogates and intended parents, ensuring that every journey is handled with care and compassion. With over two decades of experience, April has guided hundreds of surrogates through every step of their journeys and has invaluable insights to share about the logistical realities of surrogacy.
<h2>In This Episode:</h2>
(00:00) Importance of understanding surrogate logistics

(04:18) April explains why surrogacy is a marathon requiring patience, not a sprint

(05:37) The detailed screening and matching process for surrogates

(11:06) Timeline expectations from match to embryo transfer

(12:59) Travel logistics and arrangements during the surrogate journey

(16:04) Understanding medication protocols and appointment schedules

(19:33) Building a strong support system throughout your surrogate journey

(24:06) Preparing family, children, and employers for your surrogacy process

(31:26) Insurance coverage and protective policies for surrogates

(34:08) Birth plans and hospital preparation for surrogate deliveries

Share with someone who may be interested, like and subscribe to hear all of our future episodes!
<h2>Resources:</h2>
April Whitford LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-whitford-784b2720/

Family Inceptions: https://familyinceptions.com/
<h2>Book a Free Consultation</h2>
Have questions about becoming a surrogate? Learn more: https://familyinceptions.com/surrogates/

Curious about how much you could make with surrogacy? Use our Compensation Calculator:

https://familyinceptions.com/surrogacy-compensation-calculator/
<h2>Stay Connected</h2>
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilitycafe

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilitycafe

🌐 Website: https://thefertilitycafe.com

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fertility-cafe/
<h2>More Resources</h2>
📚 Learn more about surrogacy &amp; fertility: familyinceptions.com

🎧 Listen to past episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@FertilityCafePodcast/playlists

📰 Get expert insights &amp; updates: https://thefertilitycafe.com/resources]]></content:encoded><link><![CDATA[https://thefertilitycafe.com/podcast/112-surrogate-logistics-travel-timelines-and-support]]></link><guid isPermaLink="false">356faab7-2240-4afe-9ed3-32b902b6f388</guid><itunes:image href="https://thefertilitycafe.com/wp-content/uploads/FC-14.jpg"/><pubDate>Tue, 06 May 2025 06:00:00 -0400</pubDate><enclosure url="https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/356faab7-2240-4afe-9ed3-32b902b6f388.mp3" length="46610789" type="audio/mpeg"/><itunes:duration>39:37</itunes:duration><itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit><itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType><itunes:season>6</itunes:season><itunes:episode>112</itunes:episode><itunes:season>6</itunes:season><podcast:episode>112</podcast:episode><podcast:season>6</podcast:season></item></channel></rss>