A cool medical podcast focusing on women’s health! Grab a seat and catapult yourself into the heart of the most exciting, intriguing, and downright cool world of medicine. Dr. Soma and her guests will share their unique stories and insights and peel back the layers of issues that women commonly face. Just remember, knowledge is power, and it’s ALWAYS ladies first on Soma Says!
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A cool medical podcast focusing on women’s health! Grab a seat and catapult yourself into the heart of the most exciting, intriguing, and downright cool world of medicine. Dr. Soma and her guests will share their unique stories and insights and peel back the layers of issues that women commonly face. Just remember, knowledge is power, and it’s ALWAYS ladies first on Soma Says!
Breaking Barriers and Sowing Seeds of Change: A Conversation About Surrogacy
Soma Says
49 minutes 38 seconds
4 months ago
Breaking Barriers and Sowing Seeds of Change: A Conversation About Surrogacy
In this episode of Soma Says, Dr. Soma welcomes Eloise Drane, the founder and CEO of Family Inceptions, the first Black woman-owned surrogacy and egg donation agency in the U.S. With extensive personal experience as both an egg donor and gestational surrogate, Eloise shares her inspiring journey and discusses the challenges and joys of helping families build their futures. The discussion highlights key topics, including the need for insurance coverage in fertility care, addressing the lack of accessibility and information in reproductive health—especially for women of color—and the importance of patient advocacy. Eloise also takes us through the rigorous screening process for surrogates and the importance of trust and relationships in the surrogacy process. This episode serves as a call for better education in reproductive health and patient advocacy across the healthcare system.
Timeline for Apple Podcasts:
00:00 - Introduction and DisclaimerDr. Soma sets the stage for the episode, introducing Eloise Drane and the impactful conversation about fertility and surrogacy.
00:52 - Meet Eloise Drane: A Trailblazer in FertilityLearn about Eloise’s background as the founder of Family Inceptions and her groundbreaking work in the surrogacy and egg donation space.
01:49 - Challenges in Fertility Care AccessEloise discusses the ongoing challenges in accessing fertility care, especially for underrepresented communities.
03:04 - Eloise's Journey: From Kidney Donor to Surrogacy AdvocateA deep dive into Eloise’s personal experiences as both a kidney and egg donor, and how these shaped her advocacy work in surrogacy.
04:24 - Starting Family InceptionsEloise shares her motivation behind starting Family Inceptions and the importance of creating an inclusive, supportive environment for families and surrogates.
05:23 - The Evolution of Surrogacy and Egg DonationExplore how the surrogacy and egg donation industries have changed over the years and the role Family Inceptions plays in that transformation.
07:54 - Educating Women on Reproductive HealthThe conversation highlights the need for greater education on reproductive health and fertility options, especially for women of color.
10:54 - The Importance of Self-Advocacy in HealthcareEloise emphasizes how critical it is for individuals to advocate for themselves within the healthcare system, particularly in fertility and surrogacy.
12:49 - Addressing Systemic Issues in Fertility CareEloise addresses the systemic barriers in fertility care, including disparities in care and access to necessary resources for marginalized groups.
20:32 - Eloise's Personal Inspiration and MissionEloise shares the personal experiences and motivations that drive her passion for changing the fertility landscape.
22:55 - Navigating the Industry as a Person of ColorEloise opens up about her unique experiences navigating the surrogacy industry as a Black woman, highlighting the need for representation.
26:41 - Outdated Medical TrainingAn insightful conversation about how outdated medical training can impact fertility care and how new approaches are needed.
29:19 - Advocating for YourselfEloise stresses the importance of patient advocacy in every aspect of healthcare, especially in reproductive health.
31:48 - Understanding SurrogacyA detailed explanation of the surrogacy process and what prospective parents and surrogates should know.
37:08 - Surrogacy Screening ProcessEloise walks us through the rigorous and essential process of screening surrogates to ensure the safety and well-being of all parties involved.
44:08 - Educational Events and ResourcesLearn about the educational events and resources available through Family Inceptions to empower and educate prospective parents and surrogates.
46:38 - Final Thoughts and Contact InformationEloise offers her final thoughts on the future of surrogacy and fertility care, sharing how listeners can connect with Family Inceptions and get involved.
Connect with Eloise Dran
Soma Says
A cool medical podcast focusing on women’s health! Grab a seat and catapult yourself into the heart of the most exciting, intriguing, and downright cool world of medicine. Dr. Soma and her guests will share their unique stories and insights and peel back the layers of issues that women commonly face. Just remember, knowledge is power, and it’s ALWAYS ladies first on Soma Says!
