Allison did IVF to Avoid Autism at 43

105. After anchoring the news for nearly 30 years, Emmy-award winner Marla Tellez found herself reporting on her own miracle: a successful pregnancy at 48 using her own frozen eggs. In this episode, Marla shares the incredible 12-year timeline from freezing her eggs at age 37 to welcoming her daughter, Sloan, just days before her 49th birthday. She pulls back the curtain on the technical and emotional hurdles of later-in-life parenting, including navigating a partner’s prior vasectomy through sperm extraction and the decision to pause treatments during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.Marla’s story is a testament to the power of proactive fertility preservation and the resilience required to chase a dream across decades. From running three miles on the day of her induction to the raw “identity crisis” of the postpartum period, she offers a candid look at what it really takes to conceive and carry a baby in your late 40s. Whether you are currently “TTC” or considering freezing your eggs, Marla’s journey provides a roadmap of hope, scientific possibility, and the reminder that the best headlines are often the ones we write for ourselves.Get the resources, transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode105/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/

104. Rosey is on to share her IVF pregnancy with donor eggs. Rosey shares the intimate details of her decade-long path to motherhood. After a relatively straightforward journey with her first daughter at age 36, Rosey was met with years of "unexplained" infertility while trying for a second child. She takes us through the clinical maze of IUIs and mini-IVF, the heartbreak of a mid-trimester loss, and her eventual decision to pursue donor eggs. Rosey speaks candidly about the importance of being your own advocate—specifically how she pushed for endometriosis testing when she was told "it’s just your age"—and how she navigated the transition to donor conception with a focus on bonding and peace.We also feature a special "update" where Rosey and I reconnect months after our initial recording. In this powerful segment, she reflects on how her story took one final, unexpected turn.Get the resources, transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode104/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/

103. For years, Karen was dedicated to her career and travel, waiting for the right moment and the right person. When she finally met Jason in her early 40s, they assumed their path to parenthood would require clinical intervention or adoption. But just as they were planning their future, a "Crohn’s flare-up" turned out to be a life-changing surprise: a spontaneous pregnancy at age 46.In this episode, Karen shares the shock of her "die stealer" pregnancy test and why she was firm about not being a pregnant bride, choosing to separate her wedding from her journey to motherhood. We dive into her experience navigating a teaching hospital, the "peanut gallery" of residents, and how she learned to advocate for her own rest during a grueling three-day induction. Karen also discusses her "mindful minutes" in the classroom and the bittersweet transition of surrendering the life she knew for the "miracle" daughter she waited so long to meet.Get the resources, transcript and more information about this episode:https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode103/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/

102. For years, Jude grappled with a single, heavy question: Do I actually want to be a mother? Feeling stuck in ambivalence, her quest for an answer took her from the high-stakes environment of the ER to the depths of the Amazon jungle. After a profound experience with a Shaman in Peru, the "indecision" finally cleared.In this episode, Jude shares her journey of meeting her partner at 39 and navigating the delicate balance of relationship-building with a "ticking clock." We dive into her spontaneous pregnancy at 41, the heartbreak of "twin demise," and her incredibly easeful pregnancy. Jude also tells the hilarious and harrowing story of her 10-centimeter-diluted dash to the hospital in a tiny Toyota Yaris. Tune in to hear how this medical professional learned to surrender her clinical mind to the mystery of motherhood.Get the resources, transcript and more information about this episode:https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode102/FREE registration to Fertility Over Forty Summit:https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/Fertilityover40SummitShop 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/

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/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/

100. To celebrate our milestone 100th episode, we are doing something different: hearing from women who are in the thick of it right now. Join host Jamie Massey as she sits down with four incredible women—Sarah (44), Johanne (44), Bidi (43), and Katie (46)—for a global roundtable discussion on the raw, real-time experience of being pregnant in your 40s. From Scotland to the U.S., these women pull back the curtain on what it actually feels like to navigate "advanced maternal age" before the baby arrives.This episode explores the vast spectrum of the "Over 40" experience, including Johanne’s 15-year journey of faith and six embryo transfers, Sarah and Katie’s empowering paths with donor eggs, and Bidi’s total shock at conceiving naturally at 43. We dive deep into the topics rarely discussed in clinical settings: the "mental scramble" of shifting your identity, navigating birth plans like VBACs and delayed cord clamping, and the resilience required to manage physical hurdles like grapefruit-sized fibroids. This isn't just a collection of success stories; it’s a masterclass in persistence and a reminder that you are never alone in this community.Get the transcript and more information about this episode:https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode100/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/

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/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/

098. What happens when you spend your 20s and 30s building a life, a marriage, and a career, only to wonder if you’ve missed the window for a second child? In this episode, we meet Amanda, who shares her deeply relatable journey from questioning if she wanted children at all to navigating a successful IVF pregnancy at 45 years old. Amanda opens up about the "epiphany" she had at 44 that led her to pursue fertility treatments in North Texas, overcoming the fear that she had waited too long to complete her family.This conversation follows Amanda’s path through a heartbreaking pregnancy loss, the spontaneous birth of her first son at 34, and the decade of career-building that followed. She dives into the clinical reality of starting IVF in her mid-40s, the emotional resilience required for the process, and the details of her surprising birth and recovery. Whether you are currently standing at a crossroads or seeking proof that it’s never too late to make a bold decision for your family, Amanda’s story is a masterclass in flexibility and hope.Get the transcript and more information about this episode:https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode98/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/

097. When Jessica received a call six months before her wedding informing her that her AMH levels were low, the news felt like a daunting hurdle in her plan to start a family. Having spent her 30s focused on her education to become an occupational therapist, she was finally ready to prioritize motherhood at 41, only to be told that while pregnancy was possible, it would be significantly challenging. This episode follows Jessica’s journey from the initial shock of her diagnosis to her proactive efforts to prepare her body, including weaning off birth control and experimenting with targeted supplements like B vitamins, probiotics, and mushroom extracts.Thirteen months postpartum, Jessica sits down to share the raw and inspiring details of how she moved from clinical concern to a spontaneous pregnancy. She discusses her experience navigating the world of fertility specialists, the role of manifestation in her journey, and the specific steps she took to support her hormonal health and address weaknesses in her ovaries. Jessica’s story is a powerful reminder that clinical statistics are not the final word, offering a message of hope and empowerment for any woman navigating a low AMH diagnosis in her 40s.Get the transcript and more information about this episode:https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode97/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/

096. Allison spent her life surrounded by children as a babysitter and camp counselor, yet the decision to become a mother wasn't always a clear-cut choice for her. Content in her 15-year relationship with her husband and close with her two stepchildren, she initially prioritized her love for travel and professional life over starting a family of her own. However, reaching the milestone age of 40 and getting married that same year sparked a profound shift in her perspective, leading her to seriously consider motherhood for the first time.In this episode, Allison shares the unique and deliberate steps she took to navigate pregnancy at 43, including why she opted for IVF to gender select for a girl and the proactive measures she took to mitigate specific developmental concerns. She opens up about the reality of undergoing five egg retrievals and the emotional resilience required to stay the course through the IVF process. Join us as Allison breaks down her journey from "maybe" to "definitely," offering a candid look at the medical and personal choices that shaped her path to becoming a mother in her 40s. Get the transcript and more information about this episode:https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode96/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/