Mothers in Arms

A conversation with Gila Block, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Yesh Tikva, a non-profit offering a variety of resources for Jewish women and their loved ones, navigating every stage of family building. The center is offering Emotional Survivor Toolkits to make it through Mother's Day. They also have one for grandparents in waiting, who are hoping to support their family infertilty with sensitivity and presence on this journey.https://yeshtikva.org/Mother's Day toolkit:https://yeshtikva.org/resource/protecting-your-heart-on-mothers-day/https://yeshtikva.org/resource/when-your-child-is-facing-infertility/https://resolve.org/events/month-of-action/ https://a.co/d/04dTwhHChttps://www.goodinside.com/lp/social/IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.pod@yesh_tikvaResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

I’m joined by Founder & Host of, Smart is the New Sexy, Arsiak Vartenian, who is an advocate for every woman fighting to have their baby via IVF. She joins me to discuss the recently available "fertility deal” that expands access to IVF by lowering costs for Americans pursuing fertility care via IVI RMA North America, Sesame and Costco."By combining transparent pricing with coordinated care, they remove the barriers that have historically kept quality fertility treatment out of reach for too many families.” - Richard Stephens, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy at CostcoIG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.pod@arsiakResources:https://rx.costco.com/fertilityhttps://sesamecare.com/https://www.arsiak.com/abouthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/arsiakvartenian/https://www.bundlfertility.com/https://www.fertilityassociates.com/about/https://www.havingbabies.com/https://www.futurefamily.com/https://patientfi.com/https://www.capexmd.com/https://www.lendingclub.com/patient-solutions/about-ushttps://www.sofi.com/our-story/https://www.get-carrot.com/https://www.cadefoundation.org/

Where Silence Ends is a book written by Angela Ruiz, recounting the memoir of her mother being sexually abused by her father. Angela is a #1 NY Times Bestselling Author. This book is recognized as the embodiment of the transmission of intergenerational trauma. It's a story of resilience and growth snd tskes us on the journey of healing through storytelling.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.pod@letterevolutionResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Alicia Galindo Núñez trabaja para Extraordinary Conceptions, una agencia internacional que conecta donantes de óvulos y madres gestantes, con quienes necesitan servicios reproductivos assistidos.Nos explica paso a paso el proceso de ayudar como donante. Hablamos de que importante es, que las latinas también podamos dar ese apoyo en esta comunidad. Socials:IG - @extraordinaryconceptions IG - @mothersinarms.pod TikTok - @mothersinarms.pod Resources:https://www.extraconceptions.com/ https://seedsethics.org/ @californiafertilitypartners @cryobank @cedarssinai Credits: @headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy PodcastsIG - @extraordinaryconceptions IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:extraconceptions.comseedsethics.org@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Founder of Simple Steps Fertility, Tina Sarkisyan, on setting up your "first date" and game plan to making your dream of a family come true. She has an extensive nurse's background with over 20 years of experience in the field of surrogacy and gamut donors.Tina is third generation of women helping women with their birth plans. She advocates for education, ethical standards and putting out fires before they start.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.pod@simplestepsfertilityResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai https://simplestepsfertility.com/ https://seedsethics.org/Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

President & CEO of the Tsong Law Group, Ralph Tsong. has a practice that bring unmatched authority and care to family-building journeys. Ensuring his clients rights are protected from every possibility - this fertility super lawyer is even ready to tackle what we have NOT yet seen. Inspired by a family journey of his own, Ralph's practices continues to educate and support his clients in 6 states. The firm even offers probono assistance for those in need of financial assistance through a program called SeedCoach. @tsonglawgroupIG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai https://www.tsonglaw.com/https://tsonglaw.fertilityfinancialguidance.com/ https://seedsethics.org/https://adoption.com/https://adoptionart.org/https://www.acal.org/https://www.superlawyers.com/https://www.iaealliance.org/https://www.iaealliance.org/https://www.newsweek.com/surrogate-keeps-baby-debate-1843420 https://www.get-carrot.com/Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Seedtrust Escrow has been empowering families with peace of mind, security & transparency for the last 10 years. Founded by Adam Winder, who's extensive background and passion in financial services, has led him to becoming a key advocate for reducing unnecssary risk in escrow services within third party reproduction.He believes Intended parents should focus on what matters most - building and growing their families.IG - @seedtrustescrowIG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai https://seedtrustescrow.com/ https://seedsethics.org/ https://abc7.com/post/hope-heartbreak-families-allege-surrogacy-escrow-company-stole-millions/15126930/. Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Analu works as a Travel Case Coordinator for Extraordinary Conceptions, an International agency that matches egg donors and gestational carriers to anyone needing third party reproductive services. She breaks down what it took her to become an egg donor and the conversartions she had with the loved ones around her. Analu advocates and educates other young women to consider becoming egg donors, in order to bring life to anyone suffering from various forms of infertility. @extraordinaryconceptionshttps://www.extraconceptions.com/ https://seedsethics.org/IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

In conversation with Anna Hornbostel, founder of YET Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy on how infertility continues to impact her family and their dream of having children together. We get into the meaning of prolonged grief disorder and how infertility does not mean one's life has to stop. Anna talks about how trauma can impact adopted and foster children in similar ways it does to grown ups. How resilience, TBRI and animal assisted therapy, are all a part of her passions in helping others. We bond on the need to share our stories and explain Child-Less is not Child-Free. Show Notes, References, and Resources:https://www.yet.care/https://resolve.org/https://www.asrm.org/https://child.tcu.edu/about-us/tbri/#sthash.Ht1hDMxb.dpbshttps://www.psychotherapy.net/article/grief/trauma-and-the-reproductive-story#section-trauma-and-the-reproductive-storyIG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Megan's personal journey with years of struggling with IVF, loss and a gestational carrier journey, that eventually led to her having twins, is what inspired her to found her boutique surrogacy agency. Over the Rainbow, aims to provide a smooth, kind and thoughtful experience to the delicate slippery slope of third party reproduction. https://www.overtherainbow.net@overtherainbowsurrogacy IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Founder of Counseling with Joey, licensed marriage and family therapist in multiple states, Joey Guzman-Kuffel talks about the importance of feeling supported on the joys and challenges in third party reproductions, for both those that want to help others as well as intended parents. We get into the challenges he faced with medical benefits as an LGBTQ military family and the hoops he and his husband had to go through.Show Notes & Links:https://www.counselingwithjoey.com/ https://www.asrm.org/ https://menhavingbabies.org/https://seedsethics.org/https://resolve.org/https://www.sdfertility.com/ Socials:IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy PodcastsIG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

My sister cousin, Virna Hernandez, educator and mom of four, shares the space in talking about the history of sexual assaults in our family. We discuss when my eldest sister X, as a teenager, was a victim of a priest, and how it affected our entire family. We get into not repeating the non-communication cycle that has caused pain and standing up against an existing predator.IG & TikTok - @Virna95IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Clinical Psychologist Dr. Sadaf Sahibzada is also a licensed marriage and family therapist, as well as the founder of Embra Health. Dr Sadaf joins the show to discuss her passion for the meaningful role mental health plays in family-building, and committed to making sure it’s treated as a vital part of the process.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.pod@embrahealth @dr.sadafsResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Creator of Battered Brilliance and three time Cupcake Wars Champion, Hollis Wilder opens up about her experience of being abused as a toddler and the way predators can hide behind denial. Relevant Links:https://www.nsvrc.org/find-help https://rainn.org/ https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/media-room/national-statistics-on-child-abuse/ https://www.batteredbrilliance.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Savory-Bites-Meals-Make-Cupcake/dp/1617690198?https://www.yelp.com/biz/david-j-radis-law-offices-los-angeles?uid=gWvAd4-dVmzEPrIscICH2Q&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)Socials:IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podIG - @batteredbrilliance TikTok - @hollis_elizabeth_wilder_ FB - SweetByHollyResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Creator of Battered Brilliance, Hollis Wilder shares how her bipolar wellness way of living helps her accept the mixture that makes her in order to find her brilliance. She believes that not being ashamed of her diagnosis but instead owning her condition is what allows her to love herself. Hollis talks about her two year process to adopting her two children, Georgia and Whitman.Relevant Links:https://www.batteredbrilliance.com/https://www.amazon.com/Savory-Bites-Meals-Make-Cupcake/dp/1617690198fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafdGDkcT0ejIc92eqr3C040UOKpaJySxm2XaF_AGB05RWt8l1lkTHmicSkoQw_aem_YBs7cVs8nie8mY1CovQ6Xwhttps://www.yelp.com/biz/david-j-radis-law-offices-los-angeles?uid=gWvAd4dVmzEPrIscICH2Q&utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)Socials: IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podIG: @batteredbrilliance TikTok: @hollis_elizabeth_wilder_ FB: SweetByHollyResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Real Estate Entrepreneur, Founder & Host of Smart is the New Sexy - Arsiak Vartenian talks about the importance of mental health support during a surrogacy journey and being aware of your reproductive fertility health. Arsiak's Links and Socials:Website - https://www.arsiak.com/about YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@arsiakV LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/arsiakvartenian_hello-linkedin-im-arsiak-yes-this-activity-7295142682664820737-jliO? Referenced Surrogacy Agency - https://www.conceiveabilities.com/TikTok - @arsiakIG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Founder & Host of Smart is the New Sexy, Real Estate Entrepreneur, Investor and Mama to a Toddler - Arsiak Vartenian, talks about processing a devasting loss, how to always look at your options and becoming a mom in her 40's via surrogacy. Arsiak's Links and Socials:Website - https://www.arsiak.com/about YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@arsiakV LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/arsiakvartenian_hello-linkedin-im-arsiak-yes-this-activity-7295142682664820737-jliO? Referenced Surrogacy Agency - https://www.conceiveabilities.com/TikTok - @arsiakIG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Co-Founder of Pathways to Surrogacy Wendy Ruiz, educates and guides women considering becoming gestational carriers. She gets candid about the highs and lows of her own journeys, the taboos in surrogacy and the need for these ways of thinking needing to be dismantled.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @pathwaystosurrogacyResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai https://www.betterhelporg.com/ https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/mental-health https://confidentialnursingcare.com/ https://store.happymammoth.com/collections/allCredits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy PodcastsTopics Covered:surrogacy journey, gestational carrier, becoming a surrogate, IVF and surrogacy, fertility journeys, surrogate mother stories, surrogacy education, Pathways to Surrogacy, Wendy Ruiz surrogacy, fertility support, surrogacy taboos, ethical surrogacy, emotional side of surrogacy, surrogacy myths, gestational surrogacy process, intended parents and surrogates, women supporting women fertility, surrogacy community, real surrogate experiences, breaking surrogacy stigma

Intuition Guide, Psychic Medium and Model, Alysa Conger talks to us about her journeys as an egg donor.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podGuest: @alysamconger on IG & TikTok Resources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcastshttps://www.hellowhosaidthat.com/https://www.hot8yoga.com/https://seedsethics.org/https://resolve.org/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ClomifeneIntuition Guide, Psychic Medium and Model, Alysa Conger talks to us about her journeys as an egg donor.Socials:IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.pod@alysamconger on IG & TikTok Resources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy PodcastsTopics: surrogacy,fertility issues,mothers in arms,adoption,infertility,IVF,egg donation,sperm donation,surrogacy stories,fertility treatments,pregnancy loss,miscarriage,infertility support groups,fertility clinics,surrogacy contracts,surrogacy agencies,surrogacy laws,surrogacy success stories,fertility challenges,surrogacy costs

Founder, Producer and Mommy of three Sydney Holland talks about her independent surrogacy journeys with two different agencies. In her 30's, she discovered she had a rare blood clotting disease which didn't allow her to carry children. She didn't let that stop her. She discusses the importance of vetting the companies you choose, building your community, making genuine connections and the rest will all fall into place. Show Notes, Socials, and Links:@sydneyHolland @thirteenlune @theurbanandthemystic@drkellybaek https://www.unapologeticallysydney.com/https://thirteenlune.com/https://theurbanandthemystic.com/https://www.lajollaivf.com/https://www.scripps.org/physicians/5374-david-smotrich https://www.californiafertilitypartners.com/https://www.pumpstation.com/https://babygroup.me/https://resolve.org/ https://a.co/d/clXPrP5 for The Conscious Parenting Book: Transforming Ourselves, Empowering Our Children#SurrogacyPodcast #Emotions#parentingtipsIG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

My surrogacy team and I reminisce on how we navigated covid as we had a baby in the oven. Mellisa and Brian talk about this unique third surrogacy journey together with their children.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:https://bryanjcollins.kw.com@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Simple to access Level I pilates based tools you can do anywhere. Spine Twist & Spine Roll Down. Dedicated to my family and friends continued recovery from the CA wildfires. IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

I take the plunge.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Simple to access Level I pilates based tools you can do anywhere. Sitting Spine Stretch & Tree Pose. This episode is inspried by the Eaton Fire victims and survivors. IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Dr. Louize Carroll, a psychologist & the creator of Wisely Attached, shows us how to heal wounds, master triggers and tools for how we can transform our relationships.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Pilates based exercises where using your breath will release the stress from your pelvis and neck. These are two areas where we hold a lot of emotions. IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts

Can we look at how we support and acknowledge the friends and family in our lives who do not have children? Is it by choice or do we need to support them in other ways?IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Edited by Pretty Easy Podcasts

A ribcage breathing exercise to help ground yourself into the now.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace Music by @dantepascuzzo Logo by Logo by @mstrburnesEdited by Pretty Easy Podcasts

On this first edition of Mothers in Arms, Leslie Lopez opens up about her deeply personal journey of pregnancy and loss. Learn why Leslie decided to start the podcast as she shares the story of the sudden medical crisis that led to the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Lena.IG - @mothersinarms.podTikTok - @mothersinarms.podResources:@californiafertilitypartners@cryobank @cedarssinai Credits:@headspace @dantepascuzzo Pretty Easy Podcasts