Grow the Family Podcast

Infertility in a Blended Family: Comparison, Pain, and Hope - Rachel

In this episode of Grow the Family, our guest shares her deeply personal journey through infertility, remarriage, and becoming a mother after navigating both PCOS and blocked tubes. After experiencing divorce due to differing desires about having children, she entered a new marriage filled with hope—but also new challenges, including blending a family and walking through infertility while her husband already had children.Her path to motherhood required a vasectomy reversal, fertility treatments, and ultimately IVF. While her journey led to the birth of her son, it also came with unexpected complications, including a premature delivery and an experience that left her carrying both gratitude and grief.In this honest conversation, she opens up about the emotional weight of comparison, feeling like her body was the problem, and what it looked like to walk through parts of her journey feeling alone. Through it all, she shares the growth, resilience, and perspective she’s gained along the way.This episode is a powerful reminder that even when the journey doesn’t look the way we imagined, there is still meaning, strength, and growth to be found.✨ Favorite Quotes from This Episode“It’s okay to feel sad. It’s okay to be upset. But you just don’t live there.”“Everyone dreams of being Cinderella — no one dreams of being the stepmom.”“Nobody’s story is really perfect. We need to remind ourselves that normally we are just seeing people’s highlight reels.”“If she didn’t give you trauma, is she even your mama?”“Make the plan, execute the plan, expect the plan to go off the rails, throw away the plan.”

From Infertility to Foster Care: The Beauty, Grief, and Growth of Family

In this episode of Grow the Family, Hannah shares how she and her husband navigated infertility with the understanding that endometriosis would likely make growing their family more challenging.After trying medical options without success, Hannah began learning more about foster care—and quickly felt a strong pull in that direction. With her husband’s full support, they stepped into the foster care process, trusting that this was the path meant for their family.Hannah walks us through what it really looks like to become a foster parent, including the TIPS certification process, what it takes to welcome a child into your home, and the emotional realities that come with it.She speaks candidly about the grief of saying goodbye, while also sharing the beauty of reunification—and how foster care has expanded her understanding of love, family, and purpose.Their journey has also included adoption. They have adopted one daughter through foster care and are currently in the process of adopting a little boy, with hopes of finalization in the coming months.Looking ahead, they also plan to pursue IVF, using infertility coverage through her husband’s employer, continuing their journey to grow their family in multiple ways.This episode is a powerful reminder that family doesn’t always come the way we expect—but it can still be deeply meaningful, intentional, and full of love.

Four Egg Retrievals, Six Transfers, and the Faith That Carried Them Through - Brittany

In this episode of Grow the Family, Brittany shares her powerful journey through male factor infertility and IVF. After meeting her husband in college in Tennessee, they began trying to grow their family and quickly realized their path to parenthood would not be simple.Their journey required incredible perseverance — including four egg retrievals and six embryo transfers through IVF. Along the way they faced disappointment, loss, and the emotional challenges that infertility can place on a marriage. Brittany also shares how doctors eventually learned more about how her body responded to treatment, which ultimately helped their embryos begin to successfully implant.Today they are grateful parents to a little girl and a little boy, and they still have one frozen embryo they hope to transfer in the future.In this honest conversation, Brittany talks about:• Navigating male factor infertility• The emotional toll of multiple IVF cycles• What it’s like to go through four egg retrievals and six transfers• Strengthening your marriage during infertility• The role of faith, prayer, and scripture during seasons of loss and waiting• The importance of advocating for yourself when it comes to your infertility journey whether that be to the doctors and medical personnel, familiy, etc. Brittany’s story is a reminder that infertility journeys often take unexpected paths, and that hope, faith, and perseverance can carry couples through even the most difficult seasons.If you or someone you love is navigating infertility, IVF, miscarriage, or waiting to grow your family, this conversation is for you.🤍 Subscribe to Grow the Family for more real infertility stories, expert insights, and encouragement for couples navigating the journey to parenthood.Suggested Hashtags (helps discoverability)#InfertilityJourney#IVFJourney#MaleFactorInfertility#IVFSuccess#FertilitySupport#InfertilityPodcast#EggRetrieval#EmbryoTransfer#TryingToConceive

Unexplained Infertility and the Courage to Choose a New Direction - Zyanya

In this episode of Grow the Family, Zyanya shares her and her husband’s 11-year journey through unexplained infertility, marked by four miscarriages and the ongoing weight of unanswered questions. She speaks honestly about the deep grief of loss, the emotional toll of repeated disappointment, and the strength it has taken to keep moving forward.Through it all, their marriage has remained a steady source of unity, faith, and support. After years of trying to conceive, they have made the courageous decision to stop pursuing pregnancy and begin the adoption process. Zyanya shares the honest conversations they’ve had along the way — acknowledging that adoption, like infertility treatment, does not guarantee a child. Together, they are choosing to move forward in faith while also protecting their hearts and accepting the reality that some families may ultimately live without children.This conversation is a powerful reminder that growing a family doesn’t always look the way we expect — and that courage, love, and hope can coexist with uncertainty, grief, and the unknown.

From Diagnosis to Daughter: Tristana’s Story

Courtney introduces Tristana as the third guest on her new podcast "Grow the Family," where they discuss Tristana's background and her journey through infertility, including her diagnosis of PCOS and subsequent fertility treatments leading to the birth of her daughter. Tristana shares her experiences with fertility treatments, including IVF challenges and the emotional impact of navigating fertility issues as a young couple, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong marriage despite external pressures. Despite having untested embryos, Tristana and her husband have chosen not to pursue additional pregnancies due to health concerns, and she suggests creating resources to help others navigate their own fertility journeys.