When it comes to IVF for surrogacy, not all fertility clinics are created equal. And the wrong choice can lead to delays, surprise restrictions, and missed chances at parenthood.

In this episode, Dr. Alyssa Small Layne shares four often-overlooked—but crucial—factors to consider when selecting a fertility clinic. From restrictive agency requirements to embryo thawing policies, this honest conversation is a must-listen before you commit to any clinic.

🎧 Whether you’ve already created embryos or are still exploring, this guide will help you avoid common mistakes and choose a clinic that truly supports your journey.

What You’ll Learn:

• 02:28 — The surprising shift in support when you switch from IVF to surrogacy

• 04:06 — Why exclusivity deals with lawyers or therapists can be a red flag

• 08:17 — How independent surrogacy is treated differently by some clinics

• 10:54 — The surrogate vetting mistake that changed everything for Alyssa

• 13:18 — How to work around clinic pushback when going independent

• 14:30 — Real stories of communication delays that stalled surrogacy journeys

• 16:18 — What to ask about portal access, turnaround times, and surrogate updates

• 18:09 — The embryo transfer dealbreaker no one tells you about

• 20:21 — Why freeze/thaw protocols matter when changing clinics

• 22:11 — A 4-part checklist for choosing the right clinic
  

Resources Mentioned:

• SMS #39: 4 Crucial Tips for Choosing a Great Surrogacy Clinic

• ASRM guidelines: Recommendations for practices using gestational carriers: A committee opinion

• Surrogate vetting essentials

• SMS #11 Should you risk shipping embryos for surrogacy to a new clinic?

• BloomBridge Surrogacy App
  

“You’ve already waited long enough—don’t let the wrong clinic make you wait even longer.”

Should you work with two surrogates at once? What does it take—mentally, emotionally, and logistically—to grow your family through a dual surrogacy path?

In this vulnerable and empowering episode, Dr. Alyssa Small Layne speaks with Carly Joseph, a mom of two babies born via two separate surrogates just months apart. Carly shares what led her to pursue surrogacy after eight IVF cycles and six pregnancy losses, what it was like to walk two paths simultaneously, and how she now supports others as a surrogacy concierge.

🎧 Whether you're an intended parent exploring your options or just want to hear what resilience really looks like—this one will move you.

What You’ll Learn:

• 03:12 — Why Carly turned to surrogacy after years of IVF and loss

• 06:28 — What fertility clinics don’t tell you about the process

• 09:28 — What happened after her first surrogate’s pregnancy ended in loss

• 14:43 — Matching with a second surrogate while grieving and hoping

• 16:51 — The emotional weight of transferring embryos to two surrogates

• 18:55 — One surrogate pregnant, another on deck—when the timeline overlaps

• 23:30 — NICU stays, caregiving logistics, and becoming a parent to two babies

• 27:50 — The practical and emotional challenges of dual surrogacy

• 35:51 — What Carly wishes she had known before starting
  

Resources Mentioned:

• Surrogacy Step-By-Step Guide

• ASRM Guidelines on 2 surrogates

• Surrogacy Made Simple #9

• Carly Joseph

What if your insurance actually helped you build your family?

In this conversation, surrogacy attorney and longtime advocate Ryan Ferrante joins Dr. Alyssa Small Layne to break down how Illinois is setting a national standard for inclusive, patient-centered fertility coverage.

They discuss how advocacy, state legislation, and redefined infertility standards are expanding access for LGBTQ+ families, single parents, and anyone needing third-party reproduction—including surrogacy. Whether you're facing frustrating denials, unclear mandates, or sky-high costs, this episode will leave you feeling empowered to ask better questions, get involved, and know your rights.

🎧 Press play to learn why what’s happening in Illinois could be a blueprint for the rest of the country.

What You’ll Learn:

• 02:33 — How Ryan’s surrogacy journey led him to legal advocacy

• 07:47 — Why Illinois is considered the gold standard in fertility access

• 10:46 — The major shift in how infertility is now defined—and why it matters

• 16:34 — What “surrogacy-friendly insurance” really means

• 22:48 — Could embryo transfer and screening be covered in Illinois? It’s possible.

• 24:52 — The non-binding referendum that 72% of Illinois voters supported

• 30:45 — What’s now covered under Illinois fertility mandates (hint: PGT, IVF, and more)

• 34:23 — IVF and abortion rights: why they’re more connected than people think

• 38:30 — How to advocate for change in just two questions: why am I here, and how can you help?
  

Resources Mentioned:

• 🧭 Resolve: The National Infertility Association

• 📝 Federal Advocacy Day

• 📘 American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

• 🧡 BloomBridge App — includes the Surrogacy Step-by-Step Guide & Cost Calculator
  

“Advocacy isn’t just for lawmakers—it starts with a story. And that story might be yours.”