Over 40 Fabulous and Pregnant

106. Jamie welcomes Jessianna, a military veteran who shares her incredible 20-year path to becoming a mother at age 48. After nearly two decades of marriage, multiple deployments, and a history of heart-wrenching losses—including several miscarriages and a life-threatening double ectopic pregnancy—Jessianna opens up about the resilience required to keep going. She discusses the medical hurdles she faced, from a pituitary gland microadenoma to the physical toll of multiple failed IVF and IUI rounds, and how she navigated the complex decision to eventually move forward with donor eggs.
The conversation dives into the realities of a "geriatric" pregnancy, including managing gestational diabetes with insulin and the unexpected challenges of an emergency C-section. Jessianna offers a raw look at the postpartum period, discussing baby blues, the importance of mental health support, and the logistics of breastfeeding with a lip tie. With three master's degrees and a career of service behind her, she reflects on why 48 was the perfect age for her to finally welcome her daughter. This episode is a powerful testament to the idea that hope prevails and that there are many different, equally beautiful paths to parenthood.
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105. After anchoring the news for nearly 30 years, Emmy-award winner Marla Tellez found herself reporting on her own miracle: a successful pregnancy at 48 using her own frozen eggs. In this episode, Marla shares the incredible 12-year timeline from freezing her eggs at age 37 to welcoming her daughter, Sloan, just days before her 49th birthday. She pulls back the curtain on the technical and emotional hurdles of later-in-life parenting, including navigating a partner’s prior vasectomy through sperm extraction and the decision to pause treatments during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marla’s story is a testament to the power of proactive fertility preservation and the resilience required to chase a dream across decades. From running three miles on the day of her induction to the raw “identity crisis” of the postpartum period, she offers a candid look at what it really takes to conceive and carry a baby in your late 40s. Whether you are currently “TTC” or considering freezing your eggs, Marla’s journey provides a roadmap of hope, scientific possibility, and the reminder that the best headlines are often the ones we write for ourselves.
Get the resources, transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode105/
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104. Rosey is on to share her IVF pregnancy with donor eggs. Rosey shares the intimate details of her decade-long path to motherhood. After a relatively straightforward journey with her first daughter at age 36, Rosey was met with years of "unexplained" infertility while trying for a second child. She takes us through the clinical maze of IUIs and mini-IVF, the heartbreak of a mid-trimester loss, and her eventual decision to pursue donor eggs. Rosey speaks candidly about the importance of being your own advocate—specifically how she pushed for endometriosis testing when she was told "it’s just your age"—and how she navigated the transition to donor conception with a focus on bonding and peace.
We also feature a special "update" where Rosey and I reconnect months after our initial recording. In this powerful segment, she reflects on how her story took one final, unexpected turn.
Get the resources, transcript and more information about this episode: https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode104/
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103. For years, Karen was dedicated to her career and travel, waiting for the right moment and the right person. When she finally met Jason in her early 40s, they assumed their path to parenthood would require clinical intervention or adoption. But just as they were planning their future, a "Crohn’s flare-up" turned out to be a life-changing surprise: a spontaneous pregnancy at age 46.
In this episode, Karen shares the shock of her "die stealer" pregnancy test and why she was firm about not being a pregnant bride, choosing to separate her wedding from her journey to motherhood. We dive into her experience navigating a teaching hospital, the "peanut gallery" of residents, and how she learned to advocate for her own rest during a grueling three-day induction. Karen also discusses her "mindful minutes" in the classroom and the bittersweet transition of surrendering the life she knew for the "miracle" daughter she waited so long to meet.
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102. For years, Jude grappled with a single, heavy question: Do I actually want to be a mother? Feeling stuck in ambivalence, her quest for an answer took her from the high-stakes environment of the ER to the depths of the Amazon jungle. After a profound experience with a Shaman in Peru, the "indecision" finally cleared.
In this episode, Jude shares her journey of meeting her partner at 39 and navigating the delicate balance of relationship-building with a "ticking clock." We dive into her spontaneous pregnancy at 41, the heartbreak of "twin demise," and her incredibly easeful pregnancy. Jude also tells the hilarious and harrowing story of her 10-centimeter-diluted dash to the hospital in a tiny Toyota Yaris. Tune in to hear how this medical professional learned to surrender her clinical mind to the mystery of motherhood.
Get the resources, transcript and more information about this episode:
https://over40fabulousandpregnant.com/episode102/
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