In this Stork’d Munchkin, James Mahan discusses how surrogacy law differs in each state and what you need to know in terms of contracts and such.
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In this Stork’d Munchkin, Michelle Yu discusses how companies are starting to recognize the value of working mothers and providing the right support to those working parents to help them thrive
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Michelle Yu co-founded Josie, a company designed to support new moms re-entering the workforce, using their “three pillars” to facilitate success. Josie works directly with the employer to educate and create an infrastructure of resources and policies, coaching to the new parent and, last of all, managerial training. Studies support working mothers bringing skills to the workplace such as empathy, the ability to listen and multitasking, functions they perform daily at home. Could the American culture contribute to the challenges women face when returning to the workforce after welcoming a newborn into their home? Don’t miss this enlightening episode that will educate employers, managers and new parents.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[3:03] Michelle shares her career background, and she recognized when she re-entered the workforce an unmet need, so she founded Josie
[6:36] There is data supporting employers appreciate mothers being in a leadership role because of the exact skills they use at home, they bring to the office and discussion regarding education needed to provide support for working moms at the business level
[8:58] Michelle feels that an essential component of returning to work for a thriving transition is to decide what your values and vision are going forward and get support from family and employee support groups
[13:05] What about the mom who does not have the resources or family support, and what resources does Josie provide
[18:24] Research about parenting in the US and talk about a parenting crisis
[22:39] Michelle explains how the interaction between her program and clients works and what she sees for the future
[27:19] What Michelle would want new parents to know and what her challenges are as a mom of a three and five-year-old
[33:06] Unmet expectations can defeat you
[41:01] Michelle shares what family means to her
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Moms ready to re-enter the workforce often don’t have the support they need because no program is in place at work that addresses the unique situation of working and having an infant at home.
When the transition back to work is unsuccessful, mothers can feel that they have unmet expectations and that they are failing their infant. Services like Josie can assist them through the transition.
Many businesses do not offer parental leave. This can cause women to be emotionally and physically exhausted, often causing them to leave the workforce because of the cost of child care.
RESOURCE LINKS:
https://myjosie.com/
BIOGRAPHY:
Michelle Yu is the CEO at Josie, whose mission is to transform the working parent experience. Her work focuses on cultural transformation at the organizational level and personalized support at the individual level to drive retention and engagement among the working parent population.
In this Stork’d Munchkin, Chelsea Conaboy discusses scientific research about the changes that occur in your brain in anyone responsible for the ongoing care of a baby, not just birthing mothers.
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In this Stork’d Munchkin, Chelsea Conaboy discusses scientific research on why the brain undergoes profound changes and expose the flaws perpetuated by the myth that mothering is solely a woman's domain, known as "maternal instinct."
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Many new parents share that they feel a shift in identity as they begin to care for a child in the house. It can be hard to identify what’s changed and why. If you have ever found yourself as a parent thinking, “I feel the same but also so different, why?” or “what is happening to me? Why do I feel the way I do?”, or “who am I now that I am a parent?” this episode is for you.
Chelsea Conaboy, author of Mother Brain, shares that this transformation into new parenthood has a scientific basis, affecting mothers and all individuals caring for an infant. The brain is being rewired for nurturing. She will share her scientific research on why the brain undergoes profound changes and expose the flaws perpetuated by the myth that mothering is solely a woman's domain, known as "maternal instinct." In truth, these changes occur in anyone responsible for the ongoing care of a baby. Get ready to discover the science behind the shift in all our brains, regardless of gender or parental role.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[3:03] Chelsea shares what drove her to write the book Mother Brain
[6:36] Chelsea discusses the concept of maternal instinct versus the science of the brain when you become a parent
[13:10] Discussion of the research in this field
[18:13] What advice would Chelsea give to a new parent? She describes the guilt she experienced when she had her son
[23:26] Chelsea dives into when you should seek help for your feelings and what she would change in our culture
[29:36] There is an impact on the entire family dynamic when a baby comes into the home, affecting even the relationships you have with other parents
[35:09] Chelsea would like to see more research in the area of fathers, non gestational parents and social policy
[38:01] Chelsea stresses that when you need help, ask for it, and a discussion of solo parenting and the shame they endure
[45:18] Discussion of how the human brain has developed over time, Chelsea's view of family and how her research has informed her parenting
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The maternal instinct theory has been passed down through generations trying to explain what goes on within the brain of a woman who has a child or cares for a child.
Two things shape the parental brain. One is hormones, and the other is experience. Babies are such powerful stimuli for the brain that anyone caring for them also experiences hormonal changes.
The bottom line for parents is that having a newborn is a process. It is hard, and that is normal. Accept that your brain changes when you commit to caring for an infant. Don't feel guilty if you struggle with how you feel inside.
RESOURCE LINKS:
BIOGRAPHY: Chelsea Conaboy
I am a health and science journalist. I started my career at the small but mighty Concord Monitor in New Hampshire, where I discovered my love for narrative writing. I wrote about health care at the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Boston Globe, and I was part of the Globe staff that won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings. For three years, I led the features report at the Portland Press Herald in Maine, where I edited weekly sections on arts and entertainment, books, food, and sustainable living. My writing has also been published by The New York Times, Mother Jones, Politico, the Boston Sunday Globe magazine, National Journal, The Week, ParentMap, and WBUR. I have been a fellow with the Poynter Institute, the National Library of Medicine and the Health Coverage Fellowship led by writer Larry Tye.
Mother Brain: How Neuroscience Is Rewriting the Story of Parenthood, published by Henry Holt & Co., is my first book. The writing and reporting of Mother Brain was supported by a generous grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Public Understanding of Science and Technology Program. Parts of Mother Brain were written in the cabins of the Hewnoaks Artist Residency.
In this Stork’d Munchkin, James Mahan discusses anonymity of sperm donors and how some states are moving away from complete anonymity to European models that allow children of sperm donors to know where they came from.
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In this Stork’d Munchkin, James Mahan discusses how surrogacy law differs in each state and what you need to know in terms of contracts and such.
If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts!
Resources:
Going through a fertility journey, you need a great fertility doctor and…. a lawyer? Both intended parents and those helping them conceive by donating sperm, eggs, embryos or serving as surrogates need lawyers to protect their rights and support the intention behind the relationship. James Mahan, a seasoned attorney and founder of The Surrogates Corner, brings his expertise to discuss putting your family-building intentions into a contractIn today’s episode Julia speaks with James to learn all the details of current fertility law practices including how and when to seek legal support, the are current political and ethical trends impacting fertility law and how the law and your emotions intersect. This episode unpacks crucial details about contracts, surrogate rights, donor selection (both egg and sperm), and the ever-evolving legal landscape of surrogacy across different states. While challenges may arise, the fulfillment of building a family outweighs the hurdles. If this topic resonates with you or someone you know, tune in for this informative episode!
IN THIS EPISODE:
[2:56] James shares how he became familiar with surrogacy and his naval background
[8:04] James discusses the differences between being egg, sperm and embryo donors
[12:07] Anonymous donations are not guaranteed, and the trend is moving in that direction
[16:32] Contracts have changed because the entire space has changed, and James discusses various clauses intended parents and surrogates want to be included in their contracts
[23:09] James discusses the under-representation of specific communities looking for donors from that community and how different states have different laws regarding surrogacy
[34:19] James discusses personhood rights, abortion rights and the rights of the surrogate
[39:08] Discussion of embryo donation, storage, gifting embryos and egg-freezing exchange
[45:39] Financial caps for egg donors versus sperm donors and when should a lawyer be engaged
[51:42] James “undefines” family
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
In the past, women who had a child through surrogacy often moved to avoid the stigma of not being able to become pregnant. Surrogacy is now an accepted way of building a family today.
Anonymous donations are not practical for the child for several reasons. Emotionally, they may want to know their parentage, and knowledge is power if there is a medical situation in the future.
Each state has its laws regarding surrogacy. Some states do not allow compensated surrogacy. Get informed about your state law before deciding to become a surrogate or an intended parent in your state.
RESOURCE LINKS:
BIOGRAPHY: James Mahan
I went to graduate school at Cambridge University and found myself boxing for the Cambridge University team. I had the fortunate experience of winning my Cambridge-Oxford bout and earned my Varsity Blue (essentially a varsity letter in the sport). My experience boxing and practicing in the ring became a metaphor for this new blog and law firm, The Surrogate’s Corner.
While still on Active Duty, I was able to return to my alma mater to teach in the Economics Department. During my time teaching at the Naval Academy and throughout my three years in law school, I worked for my parents’ law firm, getting to learn the ropes of the surrogacy field and Third-Party Reproduction law (TPR), which is also referred to strangely as ART law (Assisted Reproductive Technology). That became the focus of my law career. After graduating from Stanford in 2018, I earned my license in California and started taking over the day-to-day operations of the firm’s ART practice.
My experience working with Surrogates has always been meaningful and insightful. I began to hear stories from Surrogates who felt like they were on their own when it came to disagreements or uncertainties regarding the legal aspects of the surrogacy process, especially so after their initial surrogacy contracts were signed. Surrogacy agencies tried to help the matches succeed but often had to be the neutral referee between the Gestational Carrier and Intended Parent(s) when things got challenging. Many attorneys working with Surrogates are only hired to review their contracts. After that, if a Surrogate has questions or issues, they can find themselves independently without legal assistance unless they are willing to pay for it themselves.
In this Stork’d Munchkin, Gail Sexton Anderson discusses the role Donor Concierge plays in finding their clients' surrogates and the process around that.
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In this Stork’d Munchkin, Gail Sexton Anderson discusses the role of characteristics and DNA in finding a donor and potential complexities and tips when choosing a donor.
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