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 Sneak Peek 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 Sneak Peek 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:

• Sneak Peak Early Gender Test - learn more here!
• 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!): share.conceiveabilities.com/hello12

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. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________

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. 🌻__________________________________________________________________________________