Baby Steps

Welcome to season 2 of Baby Steps, a podcast about the intersection of work and fertility health. Where we work has the power to make the pursuit of parenthood smoother, more challenging, or in some cases, possible at all. This season, we talk to HR leaders, fertility advocates, and individuals who have pursued parenthood about the myriad ways the workplace shapes employees' family-forming experiences — and how to create a better environment for everyone.

Employee benefits communication tips for open enrollment and beyond 09/13/2022

Employee benefits communication tips for open enrollment and beyond A company might offer the most comprehensive benefits package around, but without the right communications plan, employees could have no idea. One challenge is that benefits announcements compete with other messages and priorities that are part of our daily lives at work, and it’s easy to get lost in the noise. On this episode, we talk with two experts in benefits communication who both capture attention and inspire employees to take action. Whether you’re prepping for open enrollment or launching a new benefit, listen for tips on promoting benefits in a distributed workforce, talking about sensitive topics like fertility benefits, and working benefits programs into other conversations online or in person. More resources: /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/24360228

The financial side of fertility benefits, with Accolade 08/30/2022

The financial side of fertility benefits, with Accolade Fertility care can be expensive, but fertility benefits can actually help employers lower healthcare costs. We discuss that seeming paradox with Mary Lasky, Director of Benefits at Accolade, which provides care delivery, navigation, and advocacy services. Later in the episode, we talk with a fertility doctor about the difference between common fertility treatments and how fertility care has evolved to improve outcomes and ultimately reduce costs, too. More resources: /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/24204267

When insurance doesn't cover egg freezing for cancer, with the Chick Mission 08/16/2022

When insurance doesn't cover egg freezing for cancer, with the Chick Mission Getting a cancer diagnosis is one of the scariest experiences someone can go through. When our guests Amanda and Tracy were diagnosed with cancer in their early 30s, they were told their recommended treatments would lead to infertility. Then they learned that neither of their insurance plans would cover fertility preservation. This week on Baby Steps, hear their stories and how their nonprofit The Chick Mission advocates for fertility coverage and provides grants to cover fertility preservation after a cancer diagnosis. Show notes: /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/24062937

Making the case for fertility benefits to leadership, with Elastic 08/02/2022

Making the case for fertility benefits to leadership, with Elastic If you’re an HR leader, maybe you’re already sold on the value of fertility benefits. But what about the rest of the stakeholders at your company? In this episode, we talk with Leah Sutton, SVP, Global HR at Elastic, about how she makes the case for fertility benefits to her leadership team, including the financial side. We also talk with a fertility physician about the impact culturally competent care can have on outcomes, especially for members of the BIPOC community. Show notes: /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/23906796

The legal side of adoption and donor-assisted reproduction 07/19/2022

The legal side of adoption and donor-assisted reproduction Lawyers who specialize in donor-assisted reproduction and adoption dread getting one call in particular from intended parents: Their baby is due in a few days and they’re ready to finish up their paperwork. The problem? They should have gotten in touch with a lawyer at the beginning of the process. In this episode, we talk with two experts on the legal side of donor-assisted reproduction and adoption. We discuss why a call to a lawyer should come much earlier in these family-forming journeys — and how HR leaders can ensure their employees have the resources they need. Show notes: /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/23780900

What balancing work and IVF really looks like, with Fertility Matters at Work 07/05/2022

What balancing work and IVF really looks like, with Fertility Matters at Work While infertility and fertility care are common, not everyone has direct experience with them. This can make it harder for decision makers to understand why something like fertility benefits can be so impactful. That’s one reason this week’s guests founded Fertility Matters at Work: to educate employers on the emotional, physical, and logistical realities of fertility journeys — and what support employees need. On Baby Steps, co-founders Becky and Natalie share their personal experiences balancing work and fertility treatments and discuss the work they do to raise awareness of these journeys in the workplace. Learn more: /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/23633927

"I left my job for fertility benefits" 06/21/2022

"I left my job for fertility benefits" There’s a story behind every resignation. In this episode of our podcast, we talk to someone who left her job, not because of her boss or her workload, but because her benefits didn’t support her goal of becoming a single-intending parent — even after she advocated for coverage. Show notes: /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/23496275

What you think about fertility benefits is probably wrong, with Snap 06/07/2022

What you think about fertility benefits is probably wrong, with Snap If you’ve had a conversation about fertility or fertility benefits in the past, chances are it was primarily focused on female infertility or IVF. And while that is a critical piece of the puzzle, it’s just one piece. In this episode, Rahab Hammad, Senior Benefits Manager at Snap, talks about how her understanding of fertility benefits changed during her research process — and how much more support her company could offer than she first realized. You’ll also hear from a couple who went on two gestational carrier (GC) journeys, which were so complicated that they ultimately created their own agency to support others pursuing it. Resources: /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/23351642

The fertility at work conversation: Advice for HR leaders 05/24/2022

The fertility at work conversation: Advice for HR leaders If an employee approached you about how their fertility journey might impact their work schedule, how would you respond? Even for those with years of experience in HR, it can be challenging to know exactly what to say about something so personal. In this episode of Baby Steps, we talk with a clinical psychologist and a fertility at work coach about how compassion, curiosity, and flexibility can make these conversations as supportive as possible. Show notes: If you're interested in developing a better understanding of what employees might be going through when pursuing parenthood, download . Learn more about the . /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/23211524

Solving the global fertility benefits puzzle, with Momentive 05/10/2022

Solving the global fertility benefits puzzle, with Momentive Every country handles rules and regulations around fertility care a little differently — or, in many cases, very differently. Cultural nuances play a powerful role, too. These differences create a challenge for companies looking to provide fertility benefits that meet the needs of all of their employees. We talked with Julie Fernandez of Momentive, the creators of SurveyMonkey, about how her company chose fertility benefits for their global employees. We also touched on benefits communications strategies for employees outside the U.S., a personal story from a Momentive employee, and how Momentive uses fertility benefits to win over job candidates globally. Show notes: Find more tips on from Carrot’s Global Solutions team. Read more about in our case study. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/23062970

Baby Steps Season 2: Trailer 04/26/2022

Baby Steps Season 2: Trailer Welcome to season 2 of Baby Steps. Where we work has the power to make the pursuit of parenthood smoother, more challenging, or in some cases, possible at all. This season, we talk to HR leaders, fertility advocates, and individuals who have pursued parenthood about the myriad ways the workplace shapes employees' family-forming experiences — and how to create a better environment for everyone. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/22914227

Fertility Language & Culture 04/09/2020

Fertility Language & Culture If you wondered why we said “gestational carrier” rather than “surrogate” on this podcast, this episode is for you. While this show typically features personal stories from people who have gone through their own fertility journeys, today we have an interview with Carrot’s Riley Steinmetz and Dr. Sheryl Vanderpoel. Carrot has a global perspective on the language of fertility, and why finding the right words to talk about fertility care is so important. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/13890665

Cancer & Fertility Preservation 04/02/2020

Cancer & Fertility Preservation Everyone’s fertility journey is different. Dionne’s began when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her doctor told her that cancer treatment would drastically impact her fertility, so if she thought she might want biological children in the future, she’d need to undergo oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing) immediately. In preparing for chemotherapy and the brutal battle with cancer, Dionne also now had to consider her fertility. In this episode, she shares how she managed it all. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/13766750

Twiblings via Gestational Carrier 03/26/2020

Twiblings via Gestational Carrier Having a child via gestational carrier, a process commonly referred to as surrogacy, can be complex for one pregnancy. But George and his husband were hoping to have two babies at the same time—“twiblings.” Between finding an egg donor, a reputable clinic, two gestational carriers, and managing everything there is to do when preparing for two new additions to a family, George and his husband had a lot on their hands. Here’s how they did it. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/13671638

Adoption 03/19/2020

Adoption Omair and his wife had known that they’d want to adopt a child from the time they were in high school. The adoption of their son, therefore, was essentially 17 years in the making. But how long did the adoption process actually take from start to finish? What was it like when a social worker visited their home to see if they’d be “fit to parent”? And how much did everything cost? Omair answers all of these questions and more as he talks through the story of how he and his wife adopted their son. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/13568444

Infertility 03/12/2020

Infertility This podcast is about the pursuit of parenthood, but pursuing something does not mean a promise of any particular result. When it comes to fertility, there are no guarantees. That’s something Lauren knows all too well. She has PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), one of the symptoms of which is that ovaries fail to regularly release eggs. Her struggle with infertility has changed her perspective on the world and the way she thinks about motherhood. Today, she’s sharing her story. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/13524494

Trans and Pregnant 03/05/2020

Trans and Pregnant For a long time, Trystan had been led to believe that he could never have biological children. He is transgender, and doctors had told him that when he transitioned, he would not be able to get pregnant. But fast forward a few years, and Trystan and his partner, Biff, have three children—two they adopted, and one biological son. Today, Trystan shares the story of how he built his family and talks about what his pregnancy was like. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/13428560

RIVF 02/27/2020

RIVF For two partners who both have ovaries, there are a number of different options for having a child. One is RIVF, or reciprocal IVF, a method that allows both partners to participate biologically in a pregnancy. It means that an egg from one partner is fertilized in a lab and then transferred to the other partner who carries the pregnancy to term. Madison and her wife Krystal went through RIVF to have their daughter, and on today’s episode, Madison walks through each step of the experience. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/13317128

Egg Freezing 02/20/2020

Egg Freezing Oocyte cryopreservation, or egg freezing, is a viable option for people with ovaries who want to extend their fertility or begin IVF. While it’s becoming more commonplace, the experience is not as simple as it’s sometimes made out to be: hormonal self-injections, frequent appointments, and going under anesthesia are all part of the process. So what’s really involved, and what can you do to make the procedure as smooth as possible? Sophie shares her tips on today’s episode. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/13232630

Trimester Zero 02/13/2020

Trimester Zero Why do you want to have kids? What kind of life do you want? What are your values? These questions may not have easy answers, but they’re an important part of trimester zero. This is the period before the start of any fertility journey (pregnancy, adoption, gestational carriers, IVF, or egg freezing). Trimester zero covers how to prepare for starting a family—financially, physically, and emotionally. Leslie Schrock, author of Bumpin, shares her experience. CW: miscarriage, pregnancy loss. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/13116959

Baby Steps Trailer 01/28/2020

Baby Steps Trailer Over the next nine episodes, join our host Marie McCoy-Thompson as she explores what it’s like to pursue parenthood, and what to do when things don’t go as planned. Season 1 of Baby Steps launches on February 13, with new episodes every Thursday after that. /episode/index/show/babysteps/id/12925397

Baby Steps

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