Tara Lipinski: Unexpecting takes listeners through the Olympic figure skating champions’ tumultuous, on-going, five-year quest to become a mother. Her journey began in 2018, and since then, the normally open and public athlete-turned-broadcaster has kept this often-devastating roller-coaster ride a secret. Until now. Most people have heard of in vitro fertilization (IVF), but not the often-cruel existence it forces upon its patients when complications arise. Listeners will be shocked at the vulnerability and honesty of the conversations, and the hunt for some sort of acceptable reason for Tara’s excruciatingly painful struggle to build a family will continually drive the story forward. Unexpecting will tackle uncomfortable and taboo subjects and take on the complicated issues surrounding IVF and infertility with sincerity and humor. Tara certainly didn’t predict she would be thrust into this world. But as the cliché goes, expect the unexpected.
I usually listen on Spotify and forget to come over here to comment. Great job, as always. Congratulations on your fancy title, Tara. I hope y'all enjoy Paris - I'm already looking forward to the Closing Ceremony!!
Tara, I am also a LOUD talker mainly when I am on the phone or conference calls. I just feel subconsciously like I need to project my voice so that I can always be heard. I've come to terms with it and just accept it as part of me. Embrace it!
Tara thanks for sharing your story. It honestly is so comforting to hear someone who went through the same thing I went through 😢 Ive had 1 ectopic & 1 chemical and suspected endo
Happy Belated Anniversary! Many hugs to you both on this sibling journey! I am a surrogate but am on my 2nd Independent Journey, where we didn’t use an agency. This is my second journey but my IPs first journey. My IM recommended I listen to your podcast and I just want to say that I absolutely love everything you both have done with this podcast. Seeing and understanding the IP side really puts things into perspective. I totally get your feeling of over analyzing things, I worked mother/baby and as a doula so I too over analyze things. But I want to say keep what is important to you close, you should never forfeit what you want in a journey/surrogate, even if it takes longer to get matched. Same goes with surrogates! What is important to you is going to be important to someone else! Patience is the hardest when you have gone through so much for so long, but having a great journey is everything. Many many hugs!
this is so great. this is what it's about. have always been a huge fan of tara's. her olympic skate was one of the greatest of all times. and to hear and see her at this stage of her life...just wonderful
Happy Anniversary!!! Congratulations on your new roles, Tara! I am very sorry about the delay in your journey. I hope you have a wonderful time at the Olympics.
I think having lab made uteruses to carry babies is going to have an incredible impact on society in ways that people cannot even imagine. I think most of them not good. While it sounds like a great option for those that can’t carry a child, carrying a baby is a unique ability bestowed upon women. Taking that away would change gender dynamics to such a degree that it’s impossible to predict what kind of problems we would have. We see major changes come about just due to minor policy changes, can you imagine no longer needing women to carry babies? I think the ethics of it need to be considered along with things like cloning humans, etc. due to the incredible impact it could have.
19:20 - ❤ I’m a member of a new FB support group for women going through IVF (BLOOM: Fertility Journey in Korea) and just the other day (and many times before) multiple women have posted concerns about having low AMH & DOR, despite being only in their younger 30s, and they are always so worried about it. I didn’t realize that having low AMH in your early 30’s isn’t quite as bad of a case as having low AMH in your early 40’s. Good to know! I will refer them to this video / BIG THANKS 👏🏻 to Dr. Aimee and y’all!
I was enthralled by your conversation with Dr. Aimee; thank you for asking such thoughtful (and thought-provoking) questions. I am 41, so I always appreciate hearing that not being to able to conceive after a certain age is a misconception. I actually purchased NAD+ a few months ago but then was hesitant to add yet another supplement to my routine. But after learning even more about its benefits from your chat I will start taking it. Have a wonderful summer!
Another good episode. I love the talks about the Olympics and can’t wait to see you and Johnny together again. I also follow you on IG and Georgie with Sully this morning (Monday 6/3) was too cute. He was awesome with her.
The American Thyroid Association's panel on Pregnancy came out with new guidelines. Many doctors do not even know this and so many women don't realize their thyroid levels won't support a pregnancy! Recommended levels ideal for pregnancy were listed as between 2.5-1.0 generally in first trimester, any higher or lower not good. Might be a good panel to interview.
Check out the Mira Device. It was such a life saver for us because our insurance won't cover any fertility issues, including blood tests and when we got this device I was able to have certainty as to when I was ovulating and know when to start my progesterone shots or time BD. It works waay better than he pee stick tests-which don't work for me.
I met a woman who told me she was born with no uterus but has ovaries. She was really depressed and I was able to tell her all she needs is a surrogate and to check out CNY clinic. I told her that there are a lot of women who will help a friend in need and not to give up.
Tara I hope I can help others: I went 10 years being not properly diagnosed by 5 doctors. Finally I found out that I had a 1. prolactinoma that causes miscarriages-which is easily dignoased with a simple blood test and treatable 2. thyroid disease causing miscarriages 3. a post coital test showed that bad bacteria and poor thick mucous in my cervix was often killing off my spouses sperm-later treated with antibiotics, probiotics and mucinex or IUI/IVF 4. polyps blocking my cervix that were eventually removed. 5. Low progesterone causing pregnancies to fail. Years earlier a doctor told me, "Look at you! you are fertile", but failed to diagnose any of these and it caused me years of miscarriages. Another doctor blew me off when I asked to be tested for these things. I eventually found a very dedicated, caring thorough doctor. Women need to be strong advocates for ourselves. If doctors don't test you for everything, find a different doctor! Thank you for speaking up and advocating!
Thanks so much for sharing your story, I’m always looking forward to the latest episode drops. You have helped me immensely- your story led to me finding out I also have endometriosis. I was 3.5 years into my fertility journey with just unexplained infertility and no answers or progress. Then just in April I had my laparoscopy and got my answers :) hoping things go better for fertility now. Best of luck to you two on your 2nd journey!
Thanks for sharing your Olympic trip memories! I am so sorry for the false start to the next chapter of your surrogacy journey; I truly wish you all the best in the future. (Tara, I am totally a fertility geek, too!) ❣
I think this is a reminder of how carried away the public can get with rivalries and the fan wars. It's often the case that the people who fans are fighting over are often more fond of and connected to each other than the public realizes.
No, they were very fierce rivals at the time. They were not friends. You could feel the ice cold chill between them. It is only the passage of time that has changed that.
@@kristinstrickland1038 That's not true. I remember very vividly Frank Carroll commenting on the fact that Michelle always liked Tara and that they got along well even when touring together. They were competitive for sure but I wouldn't go as far as saying they were fierce rivals.
@SLMUSIQUE It is true. You could cut the tension between those two with a knife. They couldn't even look at each other. I was a die-hard skating fan in the 90s and 2000s, and the only rivalry more fierce was Tonya and Nancy. And yes, Michelle liked Tara, but Tara's envy of Michelle created feelings of animosity in Tara towards Michelle, which inevitably led to them being enemies.
@@kristinstrickland1038 That’s not true. The interview I was referring to was after Michelle won the silver medal and came 2nd to Tara at the Olympics lol
Please consider donating the weighted blanket to a local Occupational Therapist or hospital. They are so expensive and kids and adults with Sensory Dysfunction need the heavy weight. Which is calculated on the size on the person to determine weight of the blanket. A much lesser weight might be enjoyable for you. ❤
Hey Tara and Todd - been a fan of your podcast since the beginning. I just came across former Survivor players Jaclyn & Jonathan Misch's story and hope you guys will reach out and interview them! She was born without a uterus. Made 6PGT eggs. 4 failed transfer with GC including a loss at 20 weeks. Insane story. They finally have their boy after 7 years of trying. Please check out their story.
Tara, we watched you grow up on the "ice"...and cheered you on at the 1998 Olympics. We adored you so much. It took hard work.....spunk...determination , and you were driven ....not to win...but NOT to lose. And now with this different journey you are on......the same qualities have surfaced again. God has chosen you for a different purpose now....and you are helping SO MANY couples dealing with infertility......and doing all you can to support this issue facing so many couples out there. BRAVO ! We are all so proud of you for everything you are doing to shed light on this neglected subject. Never doubt yourself or who you are. To quote Dr. Seuss......"To the world, you may be one person...but to one person you may be the world." Thank you for these wonderful podcasts..and we are all looking forward to following you on this new journey. ( TO Todd : I scream into my phone all the time.....and keep it away from my ear too ! it's a New Jersey thing....!) keep up the good work...stay strong and be well. !!
I also look forward to listening to you, two! I was laughing with you throughout, especially at the panda joke....laughter is the best medicine. We are trying to get pregnant here at age 36 and definitely stressed. Won't give up!
I have friends who are currently going through infertility and IVF and the only way she can get pregnant is through donor embryos. She has the ability to get pregnant but for other reasons cannot naturally. So the donor embryos were an amazing gift. I don’t see how that is weird or even forced. Not saying people should be forced to donate but there are women out there where this is the only way to carry a pregnancy. And the donor was specifically matched to her much like a surrogate is matched. I had never heard of it and I think it’s a beautiful way for frozen embryos to be used. I’ve also had a miscarriage and will always consider my miscarriage a life lost whether the heart was beating or not. I know where that baby is now and that brings me comfort knowing it wasn’t just a clump of cells.
Laughter truly can be the best medicine. I can relate to wanting to be as safe as possible with products and lifestyle, especially while on a fertility journey. Wishing you all the best on your surrogacy journey. Tara, wishing you a wonderful Mother's Day celebration. ❤
I’m sad. I was so loyal and so invested as a childless woman (by choice). Which means I’m a dog person. No dog should be tossed aside as far as attention goes. I think I’m done with this podcast for the sake of the doggo.
I promise our Sully is beyond spoiled. We just are teasing. If you notice the 5 foot painting of our beloved Dublin in the background, you will know we are dedicated doggy parents. Sully gets whatever he wants whenever he wants. Not sure there is a more spoiled dog in the west side. He of course is probably adjusting to a new person in the house but he is by our feet for every feeding and cuddle and sleeps snuggled between us every night. Don’t worry about the Sull Man!
@@TaraLipinskiUnexpecting I even remember you talking about how much Dublin hit you guys ❤️❤️ so I was so sad for a minute. Really love you guys so I feel better ❤️
You have no idea how much I love these podcasts. Watching Tara grow up , get married and become a Mom...has been wonderful for all her fans. And now.....we have had the privilege of watching Todd as well. Love Todd's interjections and smart comments......( he is not toxic to me) Both of you have such dedication to IVF which is a Godsend to millions of couples everywhere who also struggle with infertility. You are such a blessing to those dealing with this topic...which very little has been spoken about. Tara asked for some names for her event in October.....how about Tara Lipinski's "Golden cuddle" ???? ( Gold winner mixed with babies ????) Just a thought.....trying to blend it all together...anyway....keep up the good work guys.......love Sullivan joining in and getting a pet or two....and looking forward to being part of this new journey now!!!!!
Obviously, all children are wonderful and amazing. But I am glad that I had both a girl and then a boy. At first I also wanted to have another girl because it was what I loved and was familiar with. We then had a boy and he gave me a broader perspective on the world. My boy had his older sister to look up to and to guide him but my boy also thought and acted very differently. You never know what is nature versus nuture but it's fascinating either way. We learn so much from our children. Good luck with the decision ❤
I love watching your dynamic. Growing up, I didn't really have an example of what a healthy romantic relationship looks like; you guys give me hope that it is possible. Chosen sounds like a wonderful organization and "Georgie's Way" is such a beautiful name. Wishing you all the best--talk about a cliffhanger!
