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Do you worry that the over the counter medications you take for a headache or allergies could impact your fertility? What about CBD or melatonin? We talk with Dr. Kathleen Tucker, a scientific director for various IVF labs; and with K.E. Tucker Consulting, and Dr. Angie Beltos, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Vios Fertility Institute.In this episode, we include:Research has found three reasons why the impact of OTC medication on fertility has become an increasing issue.We are taking more medications now that people in the past. People are waiting longer to start a family and age is associated with greater medication use.People are experiencing more chronic disease at earlier ages.Taken together, these factors have increased the number of prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs being taken by women and men attempting to get pregnant with or without fertility treatment.As always, talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding both prescription and non-prescription medications.Impact of OTC drugs on fertility - female and male fertility.Impact on natural conception.Impact when taken during fertility treatment.Impact on pregnancy.Impact of NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) on fertility.Aspirin (brand names include Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin, St. Joseph)Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)Excedrin (acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine)Naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox DS, Naprosyn)Celecoxib (Celebrex)-prescription onlyAcetaminophen (Tylenol)Antacids-histamine blockers and proton pump inhibitorsAntihistamines B-both types? 1st generation, 2nd generationSleep aidsCBDOther common over-the-counter (OTC) medicationsSkin and hair care productsHerbal supplements?As always, talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding both prescription and non-prescription.This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

How should you talk with young children, toddlers, and preschoolers about adoption. How do you talk about birth mothers and birth fathers? In this episode we talk with Jenna Howard, a LMSW who has worked in the adoption field since 1994 in both domestic and international adoption. In addition, she is an adoptee and an adoptive mom.In this episode, we cover:Why is it important to start talking about adoption and birth parents with kids when they are very young?When should you begin talking about adoption with children if they are adopted at birth or a very young age?How to talk with infants about adoption.What do young children understand about the concept of adoption?What name should be used when referring to birth parents?How to talk with toddlers and preschoolers about adoption. (They are accepting of what parents say and the attitude it was said.)Adoption is cool stage.Oversharing details. Distinction between secret and private.Oversharing as a parent.Helping child explain adoption.Talking about adoption vs. different ways families are made.Keep it short and simple. Laying the groundwork.Positive adoption language.Common questions children this age might ask and sample answers.How to talk about birth fathers and the role of birth fathers when the child doesn’t understand conception?How to talk about birth fathers when birth father is unknown or otherwise not in the picture?How to talk about birth siblings.Why do some adoptive parents hesitate to talk with young children about adoption?When should parents share some of the harder parts of their child’s adoption story  (domestic violence, substance abuse, incarceration, unknown birth father, rape)?Tips:Books – Creating a Family has a great list of the Best of the Best Adoption books for kids broken out by type of adoption and age of the child.Movies/TV shows (Sesame Street, Mister Rodgers, etc)Make a life bookParenting Your Adopted Preschooler and the link won’t change so that makes it easy. https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/preschoolThis podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

How do you discipline kids who have experienced trauma? We provide 5 tips and then discuss 5 challenging parenting situations. Our expert is Karen Doyle Buckwalter, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor, and co-author of "Raising the Challenging Child".In this episode, we cover:1.     The Relationship Bank Account Spend effort building your relationship with your child so that you have banked “good will” for when you need to say no or set a firm rule. Ideas for making quick and easy deposits:Praise efforts, successes, helpfulness, their unique essence—big and small.Let the child choose whenever possible. Look for compromises.Make more deposits than withdrawals.Magic “rule” 5 positive comments to every 1 negative.Difference between making a deposit and spoiling your child.Sideswipe instead of confront. 2.     Respond to What is Beneath the Behavior Behavior is a reflection of a need. It’s a symptom.Strategies for digging deeper into what is underneath the behavior.3.     Reexamine Your ExpectationsSee your child for who she is.4.     Balancing Structure and NurtureHow does structure lead to feelings of safety and why is this often misunderstood when parenting children with a history of trauma?Choose your battles: choose to ignore some behaviors.5.     Share Power to Gain PowerSpecific Behaviors:TantrumName calling and teasingHandle attention seeking behaviors.LyingSexualized Behavior and PlayThis podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

What's it like to have your world turned upside down when you become the parent to your grandchild, niece, or nephew? What are the hidden joys and challenges. In this podcast episode, we have a frank and open talk with a panel of kinship caregivers about their experience.In this episode, we cover: What has been one of the greatest joys you’ve experienced as a kinship caregiver?What has been one of the greatest challenges you’ve had in raising your grandchild or niece or nephew?How has your age played into your parenting experience with this child?How has caring for your grandchild affects your friendships and activities?How do you handle the dual roles of being a mom to your grandchild and a mom to your grandchild’s parent? How has kinship caregiving impacted your role as parent to your child? Have you had to set boundaries with your child to protect your grandchild?How have you handle if your grandchild’s parent has another child? Would you take that child in as well?How have you learned about technology, screens, video gaming, etc. in order to parent a child of this younger generation?This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

How old is too young for a phone? Is gaming harmful to our kids? How much technology is too much. We talk with Dr. Jay Berk, a licensed psychologist and an expert in working with children and families. He is the author of two books: “A Parent’s Quick Guide to Electronic Addiction” and “Codeswitching: Social Skills in the Screen-Age”.In this episode, we cover:Parents from time immemorial have worried about the impact of the “new technology” and this goes back to our great great great grandparents worrying about the influence of novels to parents of the 50’s worry about too much time on the phone, to parents of the 80s worrying about too much TV, and on to the present where we worry about screen time, texting, and gaming. ·      We parents are digital “immigrants” while our kids are digital natives. How does this dynamic present challenges?·      How to keep up with what our kids are doing?·      What are the general best practices for elementary aged kids using digital technology?What age should kids be given a phone?What are reasonable rules for phone use?·      How do things change as our kids each around age 11 or 12 and on into their teen years?·      How important is the use of digital media to socialize for this generation?·      When should parents worry? Is the child getting enough sleep?Are they eating well?Are they getting enough exercise?Are they doing well in school?Do they have real life friends?If so, they are probably just fine.·      What are the signs that our kids may be too involved with digital technology or gaming?·      How much screen time is too much for tweens? For teens?·      Do different types of technology have different risks and benefits? Internet? Gaming? Porn?·      What are some reasonable rules for families to set in regards to technology, screen time, and gaming?  ·      How to get buy-in from our tweens and teens?·      App-tell kid·      A challenge particular to families adopting or fostering older children or teens is that often our kids come to us with having had little supervision or rules about internet use? How can we establish healthy habits when the rules are new to them?Resources: ·      A Parent’s Quick Guide to Electronic Addiction by Dr. Jay Berk·      Center for Parent and Teen Communication: A Fact-Not-Fear Approach to Parenting In the Digital Age https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aNtRhYfA3k·      Creating a Family’s Navigating the Internet with Adopted or Foster Tweens and Teens https://creatingafamily.org/adoption-category/adoption-blog/navigating-the-internet-with-adopted-or-foster-tweens-and-teens/This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Have you ever wondered if your struggle to conceive could be caused by your genes? Today we're going to answer that question and more about genetics and fertility by talking with two certified genetic counselors with CooperGenomics: Sharyn Lincoln and Sheila Johal.In this episode, we cover:Infertility is a disease affecting nearly 7% of all couples. It is a highly heterogeneous pathology with a complex etiology that includes both environmental and genetic factors. In this episode we will be focusing on the genetics. What percentage of infertility can be attributed to our genes? Genetics and Female Infertility47,XXX (trisomy X; Triple X)⁃       What is trisomy X?⁃       How common is 47,XXX?⁃       What are the symptoms of Triple X syndrome?⁃       How common is infertility in women with Triple X?⁃       Will the children conceived also have this chromosomal abnormality?Turner syndrome (monosomy X)⁃       What is Turner Syndrome?⁃       How common is it?⁃       What are the symptoms?⁃       How common is mosaicism with this chromosomal defect?⁃       How common is infertility in women with monosomy X?⁃       Will the children conceived also have this chromosomal abnormality?Single Gene Disorders⁃       Fragile X (Primary Ovarian Failure)⁃       Premutation⁃       Galactosemia⁃       OthersPolygenic, complex female infertility (environment & genetics)⁃       Endometriosis⁃       Is there a genetic link?⁃       Fibroids⁃       Is there a genetic link?⁃       Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC)⁃       Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)⁃       Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH)⁃       Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)⁃       Is there a genetic link?⁃       XXX syndrome⁃       Fragile X syndrome Genetics and Male InfertilityKlinefelter syndrome⁃       What is Klinefelter syndrome, 47,XXY?⁃       How common is Klinefelter syndrome?⁃       What are the symptoms of Klinefelter syndrome other than infertility?⁃       Is it possible for a man with Klinefelter syndrome to reproduce?⁃       Will the children also have chromosomal abnormalities?47,XYY syndrome⁃       How common is XYY syndrome?⁃       What are the symptoms of XYY syndrome other than infertility?⁃       Will the children also have chromosomal abnormalities?Structural chromosomal abnormalities (SCAs) include deletions, duplications,translocations (balanced, imbalanced, and Robertsonian), and inversions.⁃       Y chromosome micro deletionsSingle Gene Disorders (Cystic Fibrosis)Why has it been so hard to pinpoint the exact genes associated with male and femalefertility?Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Bringing foster children into your family may impact the kids already in your home—both in positive and potentially negative ways. We will provide suggestions on how to integrate new foster children into your home as seamlessly as possible. Our guest expert is Dr. Eshele Williams, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, who brings her professional expertise with counseling foster families as well as her personal experience as being a biological child in a family that fostered many children in her childhood.In this episode, we cover:Positive benefits of fostering on children already in the family.Possible challenging issues children in the family might face when foster children join the family.Benefits of preparing children in the family for the realities of fostering.This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

What do we mean by attachment and what can parents do to help their child attach. What can parents do if they are struggling with attaching to their child. We talk with Dr. Casey Call, the Assistant Director of Education at the Institute of Child Development at TCU. She is a researcher and trainer for Trust-Based Relational Intervention.In this episode, we cover:What is attachment and why is it so important to a child’s development?How does attachment develop in children who are raised from infancy in a healthy functioning family? What does healthy attachment look like?What events can interrupt the normal development of healthy attachment? (e.g. multiple caregivers, abuse, neglect) What about a primary care giver with mental illness? What about long term hospitalization?When we have a child placed in our homes for either adoption or fostering, what are some signs that this child may have attachment issues?Attachment issues fall along a spectrum from mild to severe. Describe typical behaviors that might appear along this spectrum.Reactive Attachment DisorderWe have people contacting us with worries after only a few weeks in their home when the child and family are still adjusting to a total change in their lives. What is a reasonable time to give a child before parents begin to worry about major attachment issues?What are some things parents of newly adopted or fostered kids can do to help their child attach?What type of therapy is effective for children with attachment issues?How can you find a therapist who will be knowledgeable on how to help a child and family that is struggling to attach?How to discipline while still focusing on attachment.The importance of parental attachment.What interferes with a parents ability to attach to their child?What are some things that a parent can do if they are struggling to attach to their child?Post adoption depression.This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

What do adoptive and foster parents need to know about the impacts of prenatal exposure to opioids, Suboxone, and Methadone. What are the risks to a baby born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome or Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS)? We talk with Dr. Julian Davies, a pediatrician at the University of Washington’s Center for Adoption Medicine and their FASD and Prenatal Exposure Clinic.In this episode, we cover:What are opiates or opioids? What are the most common opiates that are being used during pregnancy? What are the most common non-opiate drugs that are being used by pregnant women? What are the common treatment medication/drugs given to those struggling with addiction who are trying to get off opioids? Methadone, Suboxone, and Subutex Are Methadone, Suboxone, and Subutex safe to use during pregnancy? What are the short- and long-term impacts on infants exposed to opiates? What are the short- and long-term impacts of infants exposed to Methadone in pregnancy? What are the short- and long-term impacts of infants exposed to Suboxone in pregnancy? Does the dosage of methadone or suboxone have an effect on the baby? What are the short- and long-term impacts of infants exposed to methamphetamines (meth) in pregnancy? What are the short- and long-term impacts of infants exposed to cocaine in pregnancy? What are the short- and long-term impacts of infants exposed to marijuana in pregnancy? Edible vs. smoking vs. vaping Does the timing of exposure in pregnancy affect the prognosis for the child? Is there a safer time for a fetus to be exposed to drugs in utero? Many parents believe that if the child is not born dependent or with drugs in their system that the prognosis is better. Or conversely, if the child is born dependent and has to go through withdrawals that they will suffer more impact from the in-utero drug exposure. Is this true? How serious is drug dependency and withdrawal for the infant? How is withdrawal treated in the infant? How is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) treated in babies born dependent? Families that adopt out of state are often concerned about how soon they can travel home with their baby if she has been born dependent and is going through withdrawal. How long does withdrawal in an infant born dependent last? If a baby tests positive for opiates is it possible to determine what drug the baby has been exposed to? Does the long-term prognosis matter depending on which drug? How do you foster attachment while baby is suffering through withdrawal? How common is it for women who use drugs during their pregnancy to also drink excessively during their pregnancy? One thing you hear a lot is that “early intervention is key” and that a baby’s brain can be rewired during the first couple of years with the right therapy. What exactly does that therapy entail? Where can you find it? What strategies should you be using at home with your child with a diagnosis of prenatal drug exposure? There are many similarities between drug exposure and trauma in how it affects children’s learning, behavior, etc. When a child has both of those challenges, is it possible to tell the difference on what is causing specific problems, and is the treatment different depending on the cause? Are children who are exposed prenatally at a greater risk for drug abuse as teens and adults if they were adopted and not raised in an environment that exposed them to drug use? What are the most common blood bornSupport the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Have you or someone you care about experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth? We talk about coping with pregnancy loss with Dr. Poonum Sharma, a Licensed Psychologist specializing in reproductive issues. She is a long term member of the Mental Health Provider Professional Group at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.In this episode, we cover:Miscarriage and Stillbirth StatisticsDistinction between a miscarriage and stillbirth. A stillbirth is the death of a baby before or during delivery. Both miscarriage and stillbirth describe pregnancy loss, but they differ according to when the loss occurs. In the United States, a miscarriage is usually defined as loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy, and a stillbirth is loss of a baby at 20 weeks of pregnancy and later.About 1 pregnancy in 100 (1%) end in stillbirth, and each year about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States.For women who know they’re pregnant, about 10 to 15 in 100 pregnancies (10 to 15 percent) end in miscarriage. As many as half of all pregnancies may end in miscarriage. We don’t know the exact number because a miscarriage may happen before a woman knows she’s pregnant.Most miscarriages happen in the first trimester before the 12th week of pregnancy. Miscarriage in the second trimester (between 13 and 19 weeks) happens in 1 to 5 in 100 (1 to 5 percent) pregnancies.The primary cause of first trimester miscarriage is chromosomal abnormalities. The Grief ProcessFactors that may impact grief:How long a woman or couple has been trying to get pregnant.Timing in the pregnancy of the loss.The number of miscarriages or pregnancy losses she has experienced.The cause of the miscarriage or lack of an explanation?Patient’s age.If she has existing children. Secondary infertility.The ability to talk about the loss to family and friends.Temperament of the patient and her partner.Pregnancy loss before others know about the pregnancy.Helping Patients CopeHow can those around the woman or couple support them during this time? How to share the news.How can nurses help patients cope?What are the symptoms of compassion fatigue that infertility nurses should be aware of.How can nurses prevent or cope with compassion fatigue.This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

What issues should you consider if you want to adopt as a single person? We talk with Susan Fremer, a licensed mental health intern and a single mom of five adopted girls; and Lee Varon, a LICSW specializing in adoptive parenting, a single mom to two sons through adoption, and author of two books on single parent adoption. In this episode, we cover:Single parenting is common. Are there distinctions between becoming a single parent through divorce, conception, and adoption? How easy is it to adopt as a single woman or single man? Are there any additional requirements for single parents to be able to adopt? Any additional questions in the home study?  Legal issues. Importance of a will and naming a guardian. What are some potential issues single parents should consider before they decide to adopt? Is there another single parent or family that you could partner with to provide mutual child care support either full time or babysitting type arrangement? Emotional support. Consider moving closer to family. Changes to your friend network after you become a parent. Finances. Costs for raising a child. Look at your debt. Will your housing have to change? Child care. May influence the age of child you decide to adopt. Finding the opposite gender role model for your child. Self-care.  Dating. Are you ready to be a single parent? Are you ready to give up the fun parts of being child-free, like the freedom to do what you want when you want? The freedom to tackle a new time consuming work project, educational degree, hobby, travel, etc. Are you ready to feel the inevitable time crunch of single parenting? Are you ready financially? Annoying comments you may hear. You haven’t given enough time to finding a partner. Consider joining a single parent by choice support group. Online or in-person (check Meetup) Resources: Single Adoptive Parents: Our Stories (Book by Lee Varon and Sherry Fine) Adopting On Your Own: The Complete Guide to Adoption for Single Parents (Book by Lee Varon) Single Mothers By Choice (organization and website) Motherhood Reimagined (organization and website) ChoiceMom.org E-guide: Finding Support (eGuide) This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Grandparents raising grandkids or aunts and uncles raising nephews and nieces is often complicated and comes with a mix of challenges and blessings. What are the unique issues that kinship caregivers face and what do they need to succeed. We talk about these issues with LaNette Jacobs, an aunt raising her two nephews; Marla Galvan, a licensed clinical social worker and Foster Care Strategic Consultant for Child Welfare Information Gateway; Dr. Ali Caliendo, the Executive Director of Foster Kinship, a nonprofit support of kinship families in Nevada; and Jaia Lent, the Deputy Executive Director at Generations United where she provides direction for the National Center on Grandfamilies.In this episode, we covered:Kinship care, also often called grandparent care or grandparent-led families, is used to care for children whose parents are unable. And while we will often use the term grandparent, we fully recognize that it is often aunts, uncles, cousins, and sometimes other siblings that are stepping up to care for these children. Kinship care can be permanent or temporary, financially subsidized or not, formal or informal. Kinship care at its best helps to maintain family connections and cultural traditions that can minimize the trauma of family separation. Grandparents raising grandkids or aunts and uncles raising nephews and nieces is often complicated and comes with a mix of challenges and blessings.There is often a blurred line between being a family member and assuming responsibility for a relative's children. Is your role the grandparent or the parent and if parent, to whom is your first allegiance—to your child or your grandchild.It’s also a blessing. It’s a do over, a chance to be fully involved in a child’s life again and make a difference in the next generation.Why is raising your grandkids different from raising your own kids the first time around?Understanding emotions. Guilt, shame, anger, distrust, loss, loneliness, grief. And these feelings are often felt by both the parent and the kinship caregiver.Managing boundaries.CommunicationBeing honest about your needs and the kids needsPutting the children’s needs first.How to help with reunification?Try to show empathy towards the challenges that the parents are struggling with. Don’t put down birth parents, especially in front of the kids.Assure children that their parents love them.Tell parents that you know that they love their child.Don’t put the children in the middle.Make visits a conflict free zone—if possible.Have adult conversations on working out disagreements away from the kids.Support change in the parents.Support groups.Not financially prepared for the addition of kids.Parenting kids who’ve experienced trauma.Legal resources to be in the best position to advocate for the child.This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Should you consider freezing your eggs? What is involved and how much does it cost. We talk with Dr. Taraneh Nazem, Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist with Reproductive Medicine Associates of NY.In this episode, we cover:Female Fertility Overview of female fertility.What impacts fecundity?How important is age in female fertility?Why does age negatively impact fertility in women?What other factors decrease a woman’s fertility?Fertility PreservationAt what age does fertility begin to decrease?What causes Diminished Ovarian Reserves?What are the symptoms of Diminished Ovarian Reserves?How to evaluate and diagnosis Diminished Ovarian Reserves?What can women do to support their fertility and maintain optimum fertility for as long as possible?Does birth control influence future fertility positively or negatively? Does exercise impact female fertility?Egg FreezingWho should consider egg freezing?At what age should women consider freezing their eggs?What is the egg freezing process?What are the short and long-term risks of the fertility medication needed for egg freezing?Do you need to have your IUD removed in order to go through an egg retrieval process?How many eggs do you need to freeze to provide a fair chance of having a baby? Are women with low AMH levels a good candidate for egg freezing? How many egg retrieval cycles should you expect in order to have enough eggs for a strong chance for a baby?How long can eggs be frozen?Does freezing damage the eggs?If you don’t use your frozen eggs can you donate them?What is the success rate for frozen eggs?Should you freeze eggs or freeze embryos?Cost of egg freezing:Initial egg retrieval. Cryopreservation storage fee. What is the process when you want to return to use your frozen eggs? This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen families. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family buildingCreating a Family also has an active presence on many social media platforms. Please like or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Have you ever wondered why a specific behavior by your child drives you crazy? What do we as parents bring to the relationship that could be part of the problem? We talk about how a parent's history with attachment and trauma impacts our parenting with Dr. Patrice Berry, a licensed clinical psychologist with specialized training in adoption and foster care and over 15 years of clinical experience. In this episode, we cover:·      Research has shown that our attachment style with our own parents is the biggest predictor of the attachment style we’ll have with our child.·      What do we mean by attachment style? Attachment style refers to the internal “working models” we develop of how relationships function. They influence the way we relate to important people in our lives. The attachments we form in our early relationships with parents or caretakers can have an impact on our feelings of insecurity, anxiety, fear, avoidance, and satisfaction in our closest relationships throughout our lives.·      A detailed tool has been developed to determine our attachment styles. Adult-Attachment Inventory (AAI). In the inventory, done by a professional with specific training, adults are asked to describe their childhoods, and it is in the telling of their stories that attachment styles are assessed.·      What are the types of attachment styles that have been identified in adults?·      Are our attachment styles fixed in childhood by how we were parented or can they change through growth and work on our part? ·      To further complicate the parenting picture, it’s important to remember that foster and adopted children come to us having experienced some degree of trauma and a set of experiences from their own family of origin or previous care settings that did not develop in the family system of their adoptive family and may contrast sharply.·      All parents are susceptible to being “triggered” by things in their past and, consciously or unconsciously, having this shape their behavior. A child’s behavior can certainly be such a trigger.·      Examples of situations where a parent’s past trauma and attachment style may interfere with their being the best parent to their child.·      How can we move toward a more secure attachment style?This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family buildingCreating a Family also has an active presence on many social media platforms. Please like or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

How can you talk full advantage of the Adoption Tax Credit? What changes are important when filing for this credit for your 2020 taxes. We talk with Becky Wilmoth, an Enrolled Agent and Adoption Tax Credit Specialist with Bill's Tax Service and Josh Kroll, the Adoption Subsidy Resource Center coordinator at the North American Council on Adoptable Children.In this episode, we cover: What is the Adoption Tax Credit for adoption being claimed on 2020 federal taxes $14,300It is a non-refundable tax credit. How to advocate for refundability.What is a “credit” and how does it differ from a deduction or some other form of tax savings? If you get a tax refund every year, how would you use the Adoption Tax Credit? If you don’t have any federal tax liability, should you still apply the credit to your federal income taxes? What type of adoptions are included or excluded? Stepparent adoption? Embryo adoption? Same-sex partner second parent adoption? Unmarried heterosexual second parent adoption? Surrogacy?Can you get credit for each adoption you complete even if completed in the same year? What about adopting siblings at the same time?What is a Qualified Adoption Expense for purposes of the Adoption Tax Credit?When can you claim the Adoption Tax Credit?Domestic Infant AdoptionInternational Adoption Re-adoption in the US for International AdoptionFoster Care AdoptionSpecial Needs Adoption: How does the Adoption Tax Credit differ for adoptions from foster care?Special needs child for international adoptionWhat income level is excluded from claiming the Adoption Tax Credit in 2020?How long can the credit be carried over?Will the Adoption Tax Credit offset self-employment tax or will it only offset income tax liability? How does the Adoption Tax Credit work in conjunction with employer benefits?What type of documentation should you submit with your taxes? What type of documentation should you keep in your records?What should you do if you do not have your child’s social security number when you get ready to file your taxes? When should you consider using an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number (ATIN #) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN #)?How does the Adoption Tax Credit work with kinship adoptions? What if the child never was involved with the foster care?What are the most common questions received about the Adoption Tax Credit?How to find a tax specialist knowledgeable on the Adoption Tax Credit?This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family buildingCreating a Family also has an active presence on many social media platforms. Please like or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and

We talk about evaluating the risk factors for foster care with Dr. Kimara Gustafson, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota with appointments at both their Adoption Medicine Clinic and Pediatric Emergency Department.In this episode, we cover:The common risk factor that foster parents and those wanting to adopt from foster care need to be aware of include physical, emotional, developmental, educational, and behavioral problems rooted in childhood adversity and trauma.What types of trauma are foster kids exposed to? Neglect, abuse, prenatal exposure, multiple caregivers, not having a reliable caregiver, constant stress What percentage of children in foster care have been exposed to drugs or alcohol prenatally? Impact of trauma on physical health.  Foster parents often have little information about prior health history. Overmedication of foster children and youth. Research has found that the average number of psychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic medications prescribed were significantly greater for youth and children in foster care. o Children in foster care are likely to be kept on them longer than other Medicaid-enrolled children who are not in foster care. What are psychotropic drugs and why are so many foster children on them? Who has authority to make health care decisions for foster children and youth? Impact of trauma on mental health. hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity.  What types of behaviors are common as a result of trauma? Sleep issues common to children in foster care. Food issues common to children in foster care. Creating a Family course: Practical Solutions to Typical Food Issues  Impact of trauma on a foster child’s education. Children in foster care need educational advocates. Risk factors to consider for children already in the home. Creating a Family course: The Impact of Fostering on Children Already in the Home  Children can heal and foster parents can and do make a difference! This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts·         Weekly articles/blog posts·        Resource pages on all aspects of family buildingCreating a Family also has an active presence on many social media platforms. Please like or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram. Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

We don’t just bring kids into our homes; we bring them into our marriage and relationships. And marriages or relationships are particularly challenged when we are parenting kids who have been exposed to trauma. We talk with Amy Garber, MSW and LICSW, the Manager of the Post Adoption Program with Wide Horizons for Children, a child welfare organization. We also talk with Anne Meijers, a licensed clinical social worker, specializing in adult and couples therapy.In this episode, we cover:Our goal should be for our marriage or relationships to be around long after the kids leave home. This takes being proactive because if we’re not careful our relationship becomes all about parenting or fostering.How can kids enhance a marriage or relationship? We know that kids who’ve experience trauma can be challenging to parent and can test a marriage or a relationship.Why are children adopted or fostered past infancy, children with prenatal exposure, and kids who have experienced trauma often harder to parent? CreatingaFamily.org has many courses on Trauma Informed Parenting.What are some of the stresses that relationships may face when fostering or adopting kids who’ve been exposed to trauma? Feeling isolatedOne parent wanting to adopt or foster more than the other Blame from the outside or between the parentsGrief- that parenting is harder or less fun than you anticipated, etc.What are some situations that children who’ve experienced trauma can bring to the family and be particularly difficult for the marriage?Disagreement on how to handle behaviorsTriangulationWhat are some signs that you are neglecting your marriage?How can trauma or neglect in the parent’s background impact the marriage once children arrive?How to handle extended family members (grandparents, etc.) that are negatively impacting your relationship?Tips for strengthening your relationship while parenting kids who’ve been exposed to trauma, including prenatal exposure.Special issues for single parents.We encourage single parents to establish a support network. How can challenging kids test this network? How can single parents find support?Tips for singles to strengthen their support network and relationships. This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:·         Weekly podcasts ·         Weekly articles/blog posts ·        Resource pages on all aspects of family building Creating a Family also has an active presence on many social media platforms. Please like or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram. Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

What should you expect as you return home with a newly adopted baby or child? What are the common emotions? We talk with Laura Jean Beauvais, a licensed professional counselor and mother of two adult daughters through adoption. She has conducted domestic, foster, and international adoptions for more than 25 years.In this episode, we cover:Adopting a NewbornWhat are some common emotions when adopting a newborn?What are some common stresses when adopting a newborn?How may the revocation period affect the transition to new adoptive parenting?Expectations of extended family during this transition period.How do the stresses of newly adopted families differ from a family that gives birth to their child?How does the pre-adoption process affect this transition to new parenthood?What are some feelings that come up about birth parents after the baby comes home? Realities of open adoptions Handling grief of birth family Feeling like the presence of a birth mom makes the adoptive mom less of a “real” mom The balance of power shifting from the expectant/birth mom to the adoptive mom How much of your child’s “story” should you share?How can infertility struggles impact the transition period?Adopting a Child Past InfancyWhat are some common emotions when adopting a child from foster care or through international adoption?What are some common stresses when adopting a child past infancy?The challenge of setting realistic expectations.How to help your child and you settle in to becoming a new family.Post Adoption DepressionWhat is post-adoption depression?What are the symptoms?How common is post-adoption depression?Can fathers also have post-adoption depression?Who is at risk for post-adoption depression? Are there ways to predict which people are more prone to post-adoption depression?How can post-adoption depression impact parenting?What are some steps to take to prevent post-adoption depression?What should you do if you think you are suffering from post-adoption depression?Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

What foods and supplements help improve fertility for those trying to conceive naturally and for those undergoing fertility treatment. We talked with Dr. Jorge E. Chavarro, Associate Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Chavarro’s research is focused on understanding how nutrition and lifestyle impact human reproduction. He is the Principal Investigator of the Nurses’ Health Study 3 – an ongoing prospective cohort of young professional women started in 2010 designed to investigate the role of lifestyle and biologic factors on women’s health – and leads the nutritional component of the EARTH Study, an ongoing prospective cohort of couples undergoing infertility treatment at the Massachusetts General Hospital.In this episode, we cover:How Does Nutrition Impact FertilityWe know that women are born with all the eggs they are ever going to have so how does nutrition impact female fertility and egg quality?How does nutrition impact male fertility?How does weight and BMI affect fertility?We know that the microbiome in our reproductive tract is important to fertility. Does what we eat impact this microbiome?What Foods and Diet are Best for Enhancing FertilityWhat foods improve natural fertility or the fertility of those in fertility treatment?What is the importance of protein? What type of protein is bestRole of carbohydrates in fertility. Low carb? Complex vs simple carbs?CaffeineSoy productsWhat Supplements are Effective at Improving FertilityWhat supplements should you take if you are trying to conceive with or without fertility treatment?Prenatal vitaminMicronutrient supplementationFolatesCoQ 10Vitamin B12DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone)Vitamin DFish OilSupport the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)

Children adopted from foster care or from abroad have often experienced abuse, neglect, or trauma. These children require a different form of parenting.  This is a re-air of an older interview we did with the late Dr. Karyn Purvis, author of The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family, and the founder and Director of the TCU Institute of Child Development, about how to help children from hard places heal.  In this episode, we cover:Why is parenting abused children different from traditional parenting?What are the 3 most important things you should do during the first 6 months home with a newly adopted child?How can we discipline our children while still remaining connected and create attachment?How can we help a child who has tantrums whenever he hears the word “no,” or is told he can’t do something?How long should parents stay home (if possible) after adoption?How can parents be proactive with children who have experienced abuse and neglect in order to help them and to improve behavior?Parenting kids adopted from foster care and internationally can be hard on the marriage and especially when one of the parents is the one getting educated on the type of parenting these kids need and the other one has not “bought into” it yet. How to help both parents get on the same page.How should parents handle criticism (implied or direct) about their parenting style when they are trying to follow the empower to connect style?What are some practical tools for encouraging attachment?Support the show (https://creatingafamily.org/donation/)