Wanting One More: Thyroid Struggles to Natural Pregnancy at 41

121. Ali Prato, from Infertile AF Podcast shares her raw, personal story of navigating the emotionally taxing space between having her first child naturally in her mid-30s and struggling to expand her family years later. From the emotional toll of four miscarriages to borrowing funds from family to afford a single round of IVF, Ali details the daunting process of self-administered injections, waiting on embryo genetically testing results, and putting all her hopes into a single healthy embryo.Ali's story moves from the anxiety-ridden early days of pregnancy after loss to the overwhelming joy of hearing her son’s heartbeat and delivering him safely via C-section at age 41. Beyond her birth story, Ali discusses the reality of parenting later in life, the power of finding a community that understands fertility struggles, and her ongoing work to destigmatize assisted reproductive technology through her children's books and media platform. Her experience offers reassurance, practical perspective, and deep comfort to anyone currently navigating the uncertain path to completing their family.Get the resources, transcript, and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode121/Shop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ 

120. Can you really get pregnant in your mid to late 40s after years of loss and failed cycles? Lisa joins us to explore her incredible path to motherhood. Lisa shares how she navigated silent endometriosis, seven grueling egg retrievals, and 11 embryo transfers, eventually quitting her full-time job to open a flexible business that could fund and accommodate her intensive IVF schedule. After overcoming multiple early miscarriages, she welcomed her first son at age 45 using donor eggs, proving that "lucky" comes in many different forms. Now 6.5 months pregnant with her second son at age 48, Lisa reflects on what it takes to stay resilient when the odds feel stacked against you. She breaks down the exact lifestyle shifts, immune protocols, and mindset reframes that brought her success, as well as her transition into mentoring other women navigating complex fertility treatments. Whether you are considering donor eggs, managing transfer fatigue, or simply looking for real proof of pregnancy over 40, Lisa’s story offers an empowering blueprint and a powerful reminder that you are never alone on this journey. Get the resources, transcript, and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode120/Shop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ 

119. Rebekah Rhodes turned 40, she looked at her husband and declared, "We must have one more baby." Having already built a full life and family on their North Carolina homestead, stepping back into the journey of trying to conceive brought a brand-new set of triumphs and trials. In this episode, Rebekah opens up about navigating her very first pregnancy loss at 40, managing Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, tracking ovulation to finally conceive with her 5th baby, and overcoming the deep emotional fears that so often accompany loss.What begins as an inspiring story of deciding to try again after 40 takes an unforgettable turn after her labor stalls. After experiencing prodromal labor and making the late-night decision to transfer to the hospital, Rebekah’s birth plan unfolded in the most unexpected way possible, delivering her son in the front seat of their car in a gas station parking lot at age 41. Tune in for a candid, full-circle conversation packed with encouragement, natural health insights, and a birth story you have to hear to believe.Get the resources, transcript, and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode119/Shop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ 

On Bonus Episode 5, host Jamie Massey announces the end of Over 40, Fabulous and Pregnant after four years of celebrating pregnancy stories over 40. Jamie opens up with raw honesty about the real-life shifts driving this decision, from navigating family caregiving, an upcoming home renovation, and stepping back from social media burnout, to choosing physical wellness and fully leaning into a new season. Tune in to hear the roadmap for the remaining episodes.Get the resources and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/bonusepisode5/Shop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ 

118. We welcome Sarah back to the podcast to share her decade-long journey to motherhood. After years of trying naturally in her 30s, Sarah and her husband faced unexplained infertility, the overwhelming grief of monthly disappointments, and the practical challenges of seeking fertility care from a remote Scottish island. When a massive, undetected fibroid disrupted their plans for NHS-funded IVF, Sarah was forced to navigate private fertility clinics, age-related pushback, and the emotional transition to donor eggs.Sarah opens up about the raw realities of her path to parenthood, including a chemical pregnancy, the devastating loss of an embryo at seven weeks, and the high-stakes birth of her daughter via c-section. From dealing with a vehicle fire on the way home from the hospital with a newborn to tackling postpartum hormones, flat nipples, and relationship shifts, Sarah shares an inspiring, unfiltered look at why a fertility journey is not over in your 40s and how life experience shapes early motherhood.Get the resources, transcript, and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode118/Shop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ 

117. When Ana started her journey to motherhood at 36, she expected a straightforward path. Instead, she entered a harrowing seven-year battle marked by ectopic pregnancy, hydrosalpinx, severe adenomyosis, and an AMH level that dropped to 0.1. Navigating misdiagnoses and dozens of protocol failures, she reached a breaking point that ultimately sparked a total transformation in how she approached her fertility.By throwing herself into researching, advocating for proper uterine diagnosis, and completely redesigning her daily protocol, Ana overturned the odds and carried a healthy baby boy at 42. In this episode, she candidly breaks down the emotional toll of medical burnout, how to recognize when a clinic isn't serving you, and the practical methodology she created to help women navigate complex fertility struggles without losing themselves in the process.Get the resources, transcript, and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode117/Shop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ 

116. Alisa experienced unexplained hot flashes and night sweats in her early thirties, no doctor thought to test her hormone levels because of her young age. It wasn't until she was diagnosed with advanced early menopause at 31 that her long, winding path to parenthood truly began, a journey that would span a divorce, years of self-advocacy, and knowing the love of her life for years.In this open and inspiring episode, Alisa candidly shares how she navigated choosing donor eggs, traveling to Barbados for IVF, overcoming pregnancy anxiety, and ultimately welcoming her baby girl at age 47. From using a laptop and a glass of wine to pick their egg donor to experiencing a room full of supportive women during her delivery, Alisa's story is a powerful reminder that motherhood over 40 doesn't follow a rigid timeline and your dream is worth fighting for.Get the resources, transcript, and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode116/Shop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ 

115. Fertility coach Jen Richards shares her raw, beautiful, and seven-year-long journey to motherhood. From navigating the confusing world of unexplained infertility at age 40 to experiencing the BOGO "dating website" swirl of sperm banks and the heartbreaking silence of a 13-week miscarriage, Jen opens up about what it really takes to survive the emotional trenches of late-30s and 40-plus family building.Jen shares the incredible, fortuitous turning point in her story: navigating the "new frontier" of private embryo donation after a close friend offered a basket of hope. We talk about the unspoken realities of a 48-hour C-section labor, the severe postpartum anxiety that followed her victory, and the liberating day she finally said goodbye to the breast pump. Whether you are currently staring down a difficult medical crossroads, considering donor options, or looking for permission to let go of a strict natural birth plan, Jen’s relentless hope and grounded wisdom will make you feel less alone in the woods of your own journey.Get the resources, transcript, and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode115/Shop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ 

114. Ruth, an oil painter and children’s book author, shares her journey to welcoming her daughter at 43. Ruth opens up about the reality of facing back-to-back miscarriages in her 40s, how receiving genetic testing results brought unexpected healing, and the radical mindset shift that allowed her to view her body not as failing, but as profoundly "badass."Moving past the fear and labels of a typical clinical setting, Ruth shares her experience working with a practice of supportive midwives to plan a natural home birth. From a sudden, explosive water-breaking moment on the toilet to an efficient, 8-minute standing labor, Ruth's story is a beautiful, primal, and refreshingly positive look at later motherhood. Whether you are currently trying to conceive over 40, recovering from pregnancy loss, or exploring the care model of midwifery, this episode offers a powerful reminder to slow down, practice rest as resistance, and trust the pace of your own life.Get the resources, transcript, and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode114/Get Rejoova Eggs & Rejoova Repair. Use code FAB for 10% offShop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/ 

113. When Jeani scheduled a doctor's visit to address hot flashes, night sweats, and an elevated FSH level, she assumed she was simply following in the footsteps of her mother and sisters who had all entered early menopause. Instead, a routine ultrasound revealed a dislodged IUD, and a month later, on September 11th, a positive pregnancy test that quite literally left her weak in the knees. At 43 years old, with her oldest daughter on the cusp of high school graduation, Jeani found herself forced to completely rewrite the blueprint for her upcoming retirement years. In this episode, she dives deep into the complex, heavy emotions that followed, bravely uncovering the profound sense of shame and unworthiness she carried throughout her pregnancy as she struggled to accept a gift she felt she hadn't planned for or deserved.Jeani pulls no punches when discussing the distinct physical and emotional differences of carrying a baby in her 40s versus her 20s. From an early fetal viability scare and a whole new level of bone-deep exhaustion to a sudden preeclampsia diagnosis at 38 weeks, her path to the delivery room required total mental endurance. She walks listeners through her intense, multi-hour induction in Sioux Falls, detailing the physical agony of a grueling hour-and-a-half push to deliver a sunny-side-up baby—and the incredible labor positioning trick from a seasoned nurse that finally brought her son safely to her chest. Looking back with a heart full of grace, Jeani shares an emotional message for other women navigating later-in-life motherhood, wishing she could tell her pregnant self to banish the embarrassment, accept the support of a baby shower, and fully celebrate the beautiful disruption of a mid-life miracle.Get the resources, transcript, and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode113/Get Rejoova Eggs & Rejoova Repair. Use code FAB for 10% offShop the Show 🛍️ To browse every product recommended by our host and guests, visit:  https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/shop/ (Note: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you—it helps keep the episodes coming!)Support the Pod ❤️ If you enjoy our content and want to help us stay independent, you can donate to the show here: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/donate/