Embryologist On Fire

  So, you have decided to build your family using donated embryos, you have joined social media groups and have found a potential embryo donor... but NOW WHAT? There are many steps in the process that need to happen before the embryo(s) are transferred to your name, which I will discuss in another post.  The first and most important thing to do is to learn about the embryo(s) that are available to you. All donated embryos are not created equally, and it's important to understand what your estimated chances of success will be. If you had a 4% chance of success, would you still want those embryos? What about 20%? 80%? If you answered yes to all of these, it is still important to understand the potential success rate so you can manage your expectations. Failed attempts are not easy to experience emotionally, physically, or financially so a healthy expectation of your outcome is definitely recommended. Important questions to ask your potential embryo donor: 1. Why did you need IVF to b

  Genetic Bewilderment … Is my child at risk?   Genetic Bewilderment (also called Genealogical Bewilderment) is a term used to describe problems with an individual’s own identity formation which can be caused by not knowing their biological parents or extended biologically related family. Adoptees, and DCP (Donor Conceived People conceived through Embryo adoption, Donor eggs, or donor sperm) are at the greatest risk of experiencing Genetic Bewilderment. Support groups have formed with individuals growing up in in a family that is not genetically related to them. They have expressed discomfort and pain surrounding the lack of genetic mirrors during childhood and into adulthood. For those who look different from their raising family this can be concerning for them. The ever-familiar comments like, “you have your mothers smile” or “you get your exceptional musical talent from your dad’s side of the family” help individuals growing up in their DNA related family feel a sense of belo

Natalie is an Embryologist. She regularly wears a scrub hat with fire flames print, and because of it gained the nickname Embryologist On Fire. Natalie’s first experience with reproductive health was as a patient when her own fertility treatment required pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT). She became so inspired with the advancing technology and procedures in the field on infertility that she changed her career path from emergency medicine to become an embryologist in 2009. During her career as an embryologist, Natalie was the lead embryologist at a clinic in Davis, California. She regularly discussed egg quality, embryo development, embryo biopsy results, and embryo transfers with patients of the clinic and she has shared both moments of joy and those of devastation with patients going through their own fertility journeys. She moved her family and career to the East Coast in 2017 to become a senior embryologist at Duke Medicine in North Carolina, then in 2019 Natalie launched her