23. A Mother’s Ethical Journey to IVF with Ansley Smith

Jan 1

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Stitcher

Overview

As medicine continues to advance, reproductive technologies provide more options to hopeful parents. Lauren’s sister, Ansley, shares her journey to motherhood with great vulnerability. This episode provides a frame for those who have wandered through ethical questions of in vitro fertilization. The things Ansley discusses here offer both challenge and hope in the midst of family planning.

“It's such a sensitive topic and something that so many women are facing more and more every day and I longed for so much more support as I was going through the process.”

“It's hard when you don't have a clear right or wrong answer.”

“Women's health issues are one of the least talked about medical phenomena. The medical industry is predominantly male and women are not often the doctors in the room or the ones leading the research and so that puts Women's Health at a disadvantage.”

Episode Highlights

3:34 - An introduction to Ansley Smith

8:15 - Ansley’s health and family journey

14:42 - What is endometriosis?

19:14 - The options and conversations for Ansley and her husband

24:53 - Ethics and IVF

29:40 - Ansley’s IVF journey

35:28 - Impacts of sharing her story

Links

⁠⁠⁠⁠Kindred Exchange⁠⁠⁠⁠ - Become a monthly donor to support this show and our mission

⁠⁠⁠⁠Think Orphan ⁠⁠⁠⁠- Learn more and listen to the podcast

Emmaus House - Learn more about their work with orphaned youth in Haiti