What happens when you’ve done everything right — but your path to parenthood still feels impossible?

In this episode, Maria Feekes sits down with Irina to share her deeply personal story of infertility, surrogacy across Ukraine and the United States, and building a family through uncertainty.

If you’re navigating:

• fertility struggles and loss of control
• surrogacy in Ukraine vs USA
• uncertainty and emotional challenges during IVF or surrogacy
• questions about resilience, timing, and trust in the process

— this conversation offers both perspective and reassurance.

Irina shares:

• How she navigated surrogacy across two countries, including Ukraine and the United States
• What it was like pursuing multiple paths to parenthood in parallel, especially during COVID and global uncertainty
• The emotional reality of infertility, including grief, loss of control, and managing expectations
• What life looks like raising three young children and a teenager after surrogacy
• How shifting from control to gratitude and acceptance changed her experience
• How technology and AI can support fertility journeys, from research to emotional support

This is a powerful and honest fertility and surrogacy story, showing that even when the journey is unpredictable, it can still lead to something meaningful.

If you are in the middle of your fertility or surrogacy journey, this episode will remind you that you are not alone — and that hope can take unexpected forms.

Irina is a mother of multiple children, including babies born through surrogacy, whose journey has spanned both Ukraine and the United States. She shares an honest and reflective perspective on infertility, resilience, and building a family across borders.

1. Fertility journey and loss of control: building trust and support systems [00:02:09]
2. Surrogacy in Ukraine vs USA: navigating multiple paths during COVID and global uncertainty [00:06:11]
3. Life after surrogacy: raising three toddlers and a teenager [00:10:04]
4. Letting go of perfectionism: gratitude, resilience, and meaning in fertility struggles [00:14:01]
5. How AI and technology support fertility journeys and decision-making [00:32:02]

Your host, Maria Feekes, can be found online at:

Website: smartpathfertilityintl.com

Website: mariafeekes.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mariafeekes

Instagram: instagram.com/mariafeekes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-feekes-738576127/

What is it really like to have twins through surrogacy — and should you transfer two embryos?

In this episode, Maria Feekes sits down with Stacie and Iran to share their real-life experience of having twins through surrogacy, including the emotional decision behind double embryo transfer, the risks involved, and what life looks like raising twins.

If you’re researching:

• can you have twins through surrogacy
• double embryo transfer risks and success rates
• IVF twins pregnancy risks for surrogate and babies
• single vs double embryo transfer decision
• what it’s like raising twins after surrogacy

— this episode gives you both practical insight and real-life perspective.

Stacie and Iran share:

• How they approached the decision to pursue double embryo transfer
• The emotional and medical considerations behind hoping for twins
• Honest discussion of the risks and ethical questions surrounding twin pregnancies
• What daily life actually looks like raising twins — from routines to the unique bond between siblings
• How they supported their older child and navigated family dynamics
• Their advice for intended parents on resilience, partnership, and self-care

This is not just about twins — it’s a real, unfiltered look at surrogacy decisions and family life after IVF, helping intended parents understand both the hope and the responsibility that comes with transferring two embryos.

If you are considering surrogacy and embryo transfer options, this episode will help you think through one of the most important decisions in your journey.

Stacie and Iran are parents to three children, including twin girls born through surrogacy after years of fertility treatments and setbacks. They share an honest perspective on the realities of twin pregnancy, family dynamics, and the lessons they learned advocating for their journey.

1. Double embryo transfer decision: emotional and medical considerations for twins [00:38]
2. Risks of twins in surrogacy: medical, ethical, and practical realities [02:08]
3. Raising twins after surrogacy: routines, challenges, and sibling bond [12:22]
4. Family dynamics with twins: supporting older children and transitions [19:13]
5. Advice for intended parents: resilience, self-care, and partnership [22:20]

Your host, Maria Feekes, can be found online at:

Website: smartpathfertilityintl.com

Website: mariafeekes.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mariafeekes

Instagram: instagram.com/mariafeekes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-feekes-738576127/

What happens when your fertility journey doesn’t follow the plan you’ve worked so hard to create?

In this episode, Maria Feekes sits down with Keena to share a deeply personal story of infertility, loss, and ultimately finding hope through surrogacy.

If you’re experiencing:

• fertility struggles and emotional ups and downs
• grief after loss or failed treatments
• stress around timelines and feeling out of control
• comparison to others on their fertility journey

— this conversation will resonate on a very real level.

Keena shares:

• What it felt like to move from control and planning into uncertainty during her fertility journey
• How she navigated grief, setbacks, and emotional challenges along the way
• The shift from focusing on timelines to embracing acceptance and perspective
• The importance of support systems, community, and sharing your story
• How resilience is built by focusing on what you can control — and letting go of what you can’t

This is a powerful and honest conversation about infertility and surrogacy, offering reassurance, perspective, and emotional support for anyone walking a similar path.

If you are in the middle of your fertility or surrogacy journey, this episode will remind you that you are not alone — and that hope can take unexpected forms.

Keena shares her personal fertility and surrogacy journey, offering honest insight into the emotional challenges of loss, the pressure of timelines, and the transformation that comes with letting go of control.

1. Letting go of control during fertility and surrogacy: why timelines create stress [06:00]
2. Emotional challenges in infertility: grief, loss, and finding support [10:19]
3. Gaining perspective during fertility struggles: gratitude and avoiding comparison [12:21]
4. The importance of community in the fertility and surrogacy journey [15:30]
5. Building resilience through acceptance and navigating uncertainty [27:37]

Your host, Maria Feekes, can be found online at:

Website: smartpathfertilityintl.com

Website: mariafeekes.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mariafeekes

Instagram: instagram.com/mariafeekes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-feekes-738576127/

What is surrogacy in Mexico really like from the surrogate’s perspective?

In this episode of Your Fertility Story, Maria and Anna speak with Genny, a surrogate mother in Mexico who recently carried a baby for intended parents from the United States. Genny shares her honest experience becoming a surrogate, including the fears she faced before starting the surrogacy process, the emotional highs and lows of the journey, and the important role family support played throughout the experience.

This episode explores what it is really like to be a surrogate mother in Mexico, how trust is built between surrogates and intended parents, and why emotional support and communication are essential during the surrogacy journey.

Whether you are considering surrogacy in Mexico, researching international surrogacy, exploring IVF and embryo transfer journeys, or wanting to better understand the surrogate experience, Genny’s story offers a rare and heartfelt look inside the process.

Genny joins Your Fertility Story to discuss:

• Why she decided to become a surrogate mother
• How she prepared emotionally for surrogacy
• The importance of agency and family support
• How she explained surrogacy to her son
• What intended parents should understand about the surrogate experience

KEY TOPICS

1. Genny’s motivation to become a surrogate mother and help another family while supporting her own family [02:10]
2. Overcoming fears about surrogacy and building trust through research, education, and agency support [05:52]
3. The emotional realities of being a surrogate and the importance of family support during the surrogacy journey [11:38]
4. How Genny explained surrogacy to her son and involved her children in the experience with honesty and openness [21:10]
5. What makes intended parents and surrogacy agencies feel trustworthy and supportive from a surrogate’s perspective [32:11]

Your host, Maria Feekes, can be found online at:

Website: mariafeekes.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mariafeekes

Instagram: instagram.com/mariafeekes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-feekes-738576127/

Is surrogacy in Ukraine legal — and who qualifies for the program?

In this episode, Maria Feekes speaks with experienced attorney Oksana Lutsenko to explain surrogacy laws in Ukraine, including eligibility requirements, legal parentage, and the process of bringing your baby home after birth.

If you’re researching:

• is surrogacy legal in Ukraine for foreigners
• who qualifies for surrogacy in Ukraine (legal requirements)
• surrogacy laws Ukraine birth certificate parents’ rights
• genetic link requirements for Ukraine surrogacy
• Ukraine surrogacy exit process and embassy timeline

— this episode provides clear, experience-based answers.

Oksana explains:

• How surrogacy laws in Ukraine work and why the legal framework is considered one of the most structured internationally
• Who qualifies for surrogacy, including medical criteria and marriage requirements for intended parents
• How birth certificates are issued in Ukraine, with intended parents listed and no mention of the surrogate
• The role of genetic link requirements in establishing legal parentage
• The full exit process, including embassy procedures, documentation, and how long it takes to bring your baby home

This is a practical legal guide to surrogacy in Ukraine, designed to help intended parents understand the process before starting their journey.

If you are considering international surrogacy in Ukraine, this episode will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

1. Surrogacy laws in Ukraine: who qualifies and why legal clarity matters [00:02:01]
2. Surrogacy requirements in Ukraine: medical criteria and marriage rules [00:03:09]
3. Birth certificate in Ukraine surrogacy: parents’ rights and no surrogate listed [00:06:08]
4. Genetic link requirement in Ukraine surrogacy and legal parentage [00:08:05]
5. Ukraine surrogacy exit process: embassy steps and timeline to bring baby home [00:13:00]

About Oksana Lutsenko:

Ukrainian lawyer with more than 10 years of professional experience in the field of assisted reproductive technologies and surrogacy law. Since 2014, she has been providing legal support for international and domestic surrogacy programs, including contract drafting, parental rights documentation, coordination with clinics and agencies, and guidance on Ukrainian family and reproductive legislation.

Our guest, Oksana Lutsenko, can be reached at:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oklutsenko/

Your host, Maria Feekes, can be found online at:

Website: smartpathfertilityintl.com

Website: mariafeekes.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mariafeekes

Instagram: instagram.com/mariafeekes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-feekes-738576127/

In this episode, Maria Feekes sits down with Mexican attorney Ramiro Alejandro García Flores to break down surrogacy laws in Mexico, including the real legal process, parental rights, and common mistakes that can delay or derail a journey.

If you’re researching:

• is surrogacy legal in Mexico for foreigners
• surrogacy in Mexico laws by state (Tabasco, Sinaloa, Mexico City)
• how parentage is established in Mexico surrogacy
• what is amparo in surrogacy Mexico
• do intended parents need DNA testing or travel to Mexico

— this episode gives you clear, experience-based answers.

Ramiro explains:

• How surrogacy laws in Mexico work, including differences between states and the role of Supreme Court guidance
• The amparo process and how intended parents establish legal parentage (pre-birth vs post-birth)
• What the new voluntary jurisdiction process means and why contract ratification before embryo transfer is critical
• Common misconceptions about DNA testing, power of attorney, and parental presence in Mexico
• How procreative intent and human rights principles shape surrogacy outcomes in Mexican courts

This is a practical, legal breakdown of surrogacy in Mexico, designed to help intended parents understand the real process - not just assumptions or outdated information.

If you are considering surrogacy in Mexico, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and move forward with clarity and confidence.

KEY TOPICS

1. Surrogacy laws in Mexico: legal foundations, state differences, and Supreme Court guidance [04:32]
2. Amparo process explained: how legal parentage is established in Mexico (pre-birth vs post-birth) [08:36]
3. Voluntary jurisdiction in Mexico surrogacy: why contract ratification before transfer matters [18:12]
4. Surrogacy myths in Mexico: DNA testing, power of attorney, and travel requirements [35:26]
5. Procreative intent and human rights in Mexican surrogacy law [49:24]

About the Guest:

Ramiro Alejandro García Flores has been working with surrogacy and assisted reproduction cases in Mexico for over 14 years. He personally manages the Amparo filings and court procedures for the families and oversees the legal process from preparation through the final court steps.

Ramiro Alejandro García Flores, can be found online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramiro-alejandro-garcía-flores-2b135593/

Your host, Maria Feekes, can be found online at:

Website: smartpathfertilityintl.com

Website: mariafeekes.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mariafeekes

Instagram: instagram.com/mariafeekes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-feekes-738576127/

How does embryo transport actually work - and is it safe to ship embryos between clinics or across countries?

In this episode, Maria Feekes explains embryo transport step by step, including how embryos are safely moved between fertility clinics in the USA and internationally (Mexico, Ukraine, and beyond).

If you’re researching:

• how embryo transport works in IVF
• shipping embryos between clinics
• embryo transport international safety
• can embryos be damaged during transport
• IVF embryo shipping USA to Mexico or abroad

— this episode gives you a clear, real-world understanding of the process.

Maria walks through:

• How embryos, eggs, and sperm are tracked and stored inside embryology labs before transport
• What embryo transport containers actually look like (and why they are not like traditional freezers)
• How long embryos stay safely frozen during transport and how delays are handled
• The difference between cargo vs hand-carry embryo transport, and why it matters
• Whether embryos can be damaged during shipping and how risk is minimized
• The full documentation and coordination process between clinics and couriers
• Key regulations for embryo transport, including FDA requirements in the USA and international considerations

This is a practical, behind-the-scenes explanation of IVF embryo transport, designed to help intended parents feel informed and confident when moving embryos between clinics or countries.

If you are planning surrogacy or IVF abroad, understanding embryo transport is a critical part of protecting your future family.

KEY TOPICS

1. Emotional concerns about embryo transport: is it safe to move embryos, sperm, and eggs? [00:10]
2. How IVF labs track and label embryos and eggs for safe transport between clinics [05:11]
3. Embryo transport explained: liquid nitrogen tanks, hand-carry vs cargo, and shipping timelines [13:14]
4. Embryo shipping process: paperwork, verification, and clinic-to-clinic coordination [23:03]
5. Embryo transport regulations: FDA rules, customs, and international legal requirements [26:07]

Your host, Maria Feekes, can be found online at:

Website: smartpathfertilityintl.com

Website: mariafeekes.com

Facebook: facebook.com/mariafeekes

Instagram: instagram.com/mariafeekes

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-feekes-738576127/