What if your anger toward your body isn’t something to hide — but a sign that it’s finally time to start healing?

If you’ve ever felt angry at your body — for not doing what you hoped it would, for betraying your trust, or for making something as natural as motherhood feel impossibly hard — this episode is for you.

In this solo episode, Jacqueline opens up about the unspoken emotion so many women carry after infertility, loss, or complicated pregnancies: anger. She shares why that anger is valid, what it’s really trying to tell you, and how to start rebuilding trust with your body again. You’ll walk away feeling seen, understood, and reminded that healing doesn’t mean ignoring your pain — it means allowing yourself to feel it with compassion.

Key Takeaways:

💔 You’re not wrong for feeling angry. Anger toward your body isn’t shameful — it’s a natural response to loss, grief, and unmet expectations.

🌿 Anger can be a messenger. Beneath it often lies pain, fear, or sadness that needs acknowledgment and care.

🕊️ Healing starts with honesty. Rebuilding trust with your body begins when you allow yourself to feel everything — not just gratitude or positivity.

💪 You can hold both. It’s possible to love your body and be angry with it. You can be grateful and still wish things were easier.

🌻 You’re not alone. Inside Your Fertility Village, women are having these real, healing conversations every day — because no one should walk this journey alone.

Resources & Links:

💛 Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive space for women navigating infertility, loss, and motherhood after trauma. Become a founding member: your-fertility-village.mn.co

👉 Follow @motherhood_intended on Instagram for daily encouragement, connection, and all podcast and village updates.

Support the show

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💛 You don’t have to do this alone. Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive community for women on their fertility journey. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________

Insurance and infertility are two words that rarely bring comfort, but understanding how to navigate your coverage can change everything about your experience.

In this episode of Motherhood Intended, Jacqueline shares her best guidance for reading your policy, asking smart questions, and knowing your rights when it comes to fertility care. She explains what “infertility coverage” really means, how to check if your clinic is in-network, and why employer fertility benefit programs could be a game changer. You’ll also learn how to have honest money talks with your partner so financial stress doesn’t take over your journey.

This episode is equal parts practical and heartfelt. Jacqueline reminds listeners that while fertility insurance can feel overwhelming, you are more capable than you think. With preparation, persistence, and a little advocacy, you can find clarity, save money, and feel more in control of your path to motherhood.

What you will learn:

• How to review your insurance plan for fertility coverage and common exclusions
• How to advocate for coverage and explore employer fertility benefit programs
• Ways to approach financial planning and set realistic expectations with your partner
• How to save money on medications and self-pay packages while reducing stress

Links mentioned:

• National Infertility Association: Resolve.org
• Women’s health & family building benefits: Progyny & Maven
• Support for Metabolic-Fertility care: Carrot Fertility

✨ Free Resource for You ✨
Want to feel more confident and prepared at your next doctor’s appointment? I created a simple, one-page tool just for you 👉 Grab your free copy here!

Connect beyond the podcast:

• Your Village
• Instagram
• Facebook group

Help give the absolute greatest gift to deserving intended parents and learn more about becoming a surrogate (plus earn up to $650 for taking the first few simple steps)!

Support the show

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💛 You don’t have to do this alone. Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive community for women on their fertility journey. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________

October can be a heavy month for many mothers. It’s a time to honor the babies who never made it earthside and the women who continue to carry their memories with love and courage.

In this episode of Motherhood Intended, Jacqueline opens her heart for Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. She shares her story of losing her daughters Charlotte, Cecilia, and Maren, and how those experiences continue to shape her as a mother today. This conversation is a safe space for every woman who has known loss, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, a failed transfer, or the loss of a child after birth.

Jacqueline also offers comfort through science and faith, revealing the remarkable fact that fetal cells remain in a mother’s body forever, proving that we truly carry our babies in our hearts and in our biology. She speaks about healing through connection, the creation of Your Fertility Village, and ways to honor the memory of every baby gone too soon. This is a gentle, compassionate episode that reminds listeners they are never alone.

Questions answered in this episode:

• How do we honor Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in a way that brings comfort and connection?
• What does science reveal about how mothers continue to carry their babies after loss?
• How can sharing your story help you heal and remind others they are not alone?
• What does invisible grief look like when it comes to failed transfers and embryo loss?
• How can communities like Your Fertility Village provide support through infertility and loss?

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Local listeners: Join Jacqueline at the annual SHARE Walk to Remember to honor, connect, and support those impacted by pregnancy and infant loss.
• Not local or can't make the event, but want to support? Donate to help provide comfort and resources to grieving families.

✨ Free Resource for You ✨
Want to feel more confident and prepared at your next doctor’s appointment? I created a simple, one-page tool just for you — the Doctor’s Appointment Prep Sheet.

With space to track your symptoms, jot down questions, and take notes, this free worksheet will help you walk into your appointment feeling empowered and walk out with clarity.

👉 Grab your free copy here: https://motherhoodintended.kit.com/prepsheet

Connect beyond the podcast:

• Your Village
• Instagram
• Facebook group
• Text
• Email: hello@motherhoodintended.com
• Support the show!

CURIOUS ABOUT SURROGACY? Help give the absolute greatest gift to deserving intended parents and learn more about becoming a surrogate (plus you can earn up to $650 just for taking the first few simple steps!)

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________________

💛 You don’t have to do this alone. Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive community for women on their fertility journey. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________

Pregnancy comes with a lot of choices. A clear plan for information and advocacy can turn overwhelm into confidence at every step.

In this episode of Motherhood Intended, Jacqueline welcomes Dr. Dallas Reed to unpack the essentials of prenatal genetics and decision making. You will learn when to consider carrier screening before pregnancy, how NIPT fits into first trimester care, and a simple set of questions that helps you respond calmly to new information in the clinic or on the birthing unit. Dr. Reed also explains SneakPeek early gender testing in plain language, including timing and reliability.

This is a practical and encouraging guide for anyone expecting or planning to be. You will walk away with a calmer mindset, a smarter approach to appointments, and a better understanding of which tests are worth your attention.

What you will learn in this episode:

• How carrier screening works, why prior to pregnancy is ideal, and what results can mean
• Where NIPT fits in early pregnancy care, including what it screens and when it is offered
• A simple plan of questions to ask your team now, next, alternatives, and what if we wait
• How SneakPeek early gender testing works, when you can use it, and how to interpret results
• Ways to advocate for yourself while staying flexible for a safer, more positive birth experience

Links mentioned in the episode:

• SneakPeak Early Gender Test - learn more here! For $20 off your purchase, use Promo Code: Motherhood20
• More info on prenatal screening

✨ Free Resource for You ✨
Want to feel more confident and prepared at your next doctor’s appointment? I created a simple, one-page tool just for you — the Doctor’s Appointment Prep Sheet.

With space to track your symptoms, jot down questions, and take notes, this free worksheet will help you walk into your appointment feeling empowered and walk out with clarity.

👉 Grab your free copy here: https://motherhoodintended.kit.com/prepsheet

Connect beyond the podcast:

• Your Village
• Instagram
• Facebook group
• Text
• Email: hello@motherhoodintended.com
• Support the show!

CURIOUS ABOUT SURROGACY? Help give the absolute greatest gift to deserving intended parents and learn more about becoming a surrogate (plus you can earn up to $650 just for taking the first few simple steps!):

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________________

💛 You don’t have to do this alone. Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive community for women on their fertility journey. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________

Have you ever left a doctor's appointment feeling unheard, overwhelmed, or with more questions than answers? You're not alone.

Self-advocacy is a skill many of us weren't taught but desperately need, especially when navigating fertility challenges and motherhood. Jacqueline shares her personal experiences with infertility, pregnancy loss, and raising children with special needs, and how she discovered that being your own advocate isn't optional—it's essential.

In this episode you'll learn:

• Practical strategies for making your voice heard in medical settings.
• How to prepare for appointments.
• The importance of second opinions and switching providers when it's just not a good fit.
• Your body, your voice, and your story matter.
• You deserve care that sees you, hears you, and respects you. Whether you're sitting in a fertility clinic, an OB/GYN office, or a pediatrician's waiting room, this episode will empower you to advocate with confidence.

✨ Free Resource for You ✨
Want to feel more confident and prepared at your next doctor’s appointment? I created a simple, one-page tool just for you — the Doctor’s Appointment Prep Sheet.

With space to track your symptoms, jot down questions, and take notes, this free worksheet will help you walk into your appointment feeling empowered and walk out with clarity.

👉 Grab your free copy here: https://motherhoodintended.kit.com/prepsheet

Connect beyond the podcast:

• Your Village
• Instagram
• Facebook group
• Text
• Email: hello@motherhoodintended.com
• Support the show!

CURIOUS ABOUT SURROGACY? Help give the absolute greatest gift to deserving intended parents and learn more about becoming a surrogate (plus you can earn up to $650 just for taking the first few simple steps!): share.conceiveabilities.com/hello12

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________________

💛 You don’t have to do this alone. Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive community for women on their fertility journey. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________

You fought so hard to become a mom, but why doesn’t every moment feel magical? Parenting after infertility comes with hidden challenges that most people never talk about.

In this episode of Motherhood Intended, Jacqueline opens up about the invisible baggage many moms carry after infertility treatments, loss, NICU stays, or surrogacy. She shares her own story of bringing home her children after years of heartbreak, and why the pressure to feel grateful every second can actually make motherhood harder. With honesty and encouragement, she reveals how infertility trauma doesn’t just vanish once you become a parent, it simply changes shape.

You’ll hear why it’s normal to feel anxious, tired, and imperfect even after your miracle arrives, and how you can give yourself permission to show up as a real mom instead of a “perfect” one. This conversation will reassure you that gratitude and grief can coexist, and that being human doesn’t make you ungrateful...it makes you a mom.

Questions answered in this episode:

• What does parenting after infertility really feel like, and why do joy and grief often coexist?
• How can NICU trauma, recurrent loss, or IVF shape postpartum anxiety and hyper-vigilance?
• What is gratitude guilt and how do you break the cycle when hard days hit?
• Which simple grounding tool helps calm the “what ifs” in real time?
• How can you build your village and give yourself permission to be an imperfect, amazing mom?

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________________

💛 You don’t have to do this alone. Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive community for women on their fertility journey. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________

When your path to motherhood doesn’t go as planned, how do you rewrite the story? For Dr. Andrea Ali-Panzarella, that answer came through surrogacy, and a book that changed everything.

In this episode of Motherhood Intended, host Jacqueline Baird sits down with Andrea, a pediatrician, mother, and author, to talk about her deeply personal experience with infertility, pregnancy loss, and ultimately, becoming a mom through surrogacy.

Andrea opens up about the emotional toll of trying to conceive, how her medical background shaped her perspective, and the unexpected journey that inspired her to write a book for families walking a similar path. This conversation is full of honesty, hope, and healing—whether you’re considering surrogacy, navigating infertility, or just want to hear a story of strength and resilience.

Questions answered in this episode:

• What is it really like to go through surrogacy after infertility and loss?
• How did Andrea’s medical background as a pediatrician influence her fertility journey?
• What emotional challenges come with choosing surrogacy as a path to motherhood?
• Why did Andrea decide to write a book based on her surrogacy experience?
• How can families feel more supported when facing fertility struggles?

Learn more about Dr. Andrea Ali-Panzarella and her book Every Family is a Tree: https://www.andreaali-panzarella.com/

Join the waitlist for Your Fertility Village + get your free quiz!

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________________

💛 You don’t have to do this alone. Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive community for women on their fertility journey. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________

In this vulnerable bonus episode, Jacqueline opens up about the emotional toll of navigating infertility during a season filled with pregnancy announcements, baby showers, and growing bumps everywhere you turn. If you’ve ever felt left out, behind, or broken as the only one not pregnant in your circle, this episode is for you. With compassion and real-life insight, Jacqueline offers powerful tools for protecting your peace and reminding you that your path to motherhood is still unfolding—beautifully and on your own terms.

Inside This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• How to navigate baby showers, gender reveals, and social media triggers
• Why it’s okay to set boundaries—even with people you love
• What to do when you feel like the “odd one out”
• Practical ways to protect your nervous system and emotional health
• Encouragement for staying grounded while waiting for your turn

You Are Not Alone If You’ve Ever Felt:

• Like everyone else is pregnant except you
• Triggered by constant announcements or baby talk
• Torn between celebrating others and grieving your own journey
• Pressured by family or confused by your own emotions

This episode is for you!

Join the waitlist for Your Fertility Village + get your free quiz!

Support the show

__________________________________________________________________________________

💛 You don’t have to do this alone. Join Your Fertility Village — a safe, supportive community for women on their fertility journey. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________