116. IVF, Donor Eggs & Adoption: The Fertility Decisions No One Prepared Us For with Kristen Mayer

What happens when IVF finally gives you embryos, but also leaves you carrying questions no one prepared you to answer? In this episode, I’m joined by Kristen Mayer for an honest conversation about infertility, IVF, donor eggs, adoption, miscarriage, embryo decisions, and faith. Kristen shares how her fertility journey began, what it felt like to be told donor eggs were her only option, and the heartbreak of finding out on Mother’s Day that none of their embryos had made it to blast. After their first failed IVF cycle, Kristen and her husband chose adoption and welcomed their daughter in 2019. Years later, they returned to fertility treatment, walked through more failed rounds and loss, and eventually used donor eggs to welcome their son through IVF. But this conversation goes deeper than the outcome. We talk about the questions many couples are never fully prepared for before fertility treatment, including what to do with remaining embryos, the emotional and spiritual weight of IVF decisions, and why “just do IVF” is not always as simple as it sounds. Kristen also shares how infertility impacted her marriage, her faith, her body, and the way she now sees motherhood, adoption, and trusting God in the middle of a story that did not unfold the way she expected. Connect with Kristen: Instagram: @riseandrootmethod Next Steps: Join the Rooted Community: https://susangladstein.com/community Ready to look at the full fertility picture? Get your Rooted Fertility Audit: https://susangladstein.com/fertility Connect with me on Instagram: @susangladstein.co