Brave & Curious with Dr Lora Shahine

On July 25, 1978, family building changed forever when the world's first IVF baby was born. Over 12 million babies have been born through in vitro fertilization worldwide, and Louise Joy Brown was the first.  In this very special 100th episode of Baby or Bust , Dr. Lora Shahine sits down with now-adult Louise Brown. They discuss her experience as a living symbol of the powers of fertility medicine...

Do you have a friend or family member struggling to build their family? How about someone in your life who recently experienced a miscarriage or loss? What can we give people that helps them feel better, know that we're thinking of them, and provides the right kind of support?  In this special episode of Baby or Bust , Dr. Lora Shahine is providing five thoughtful gift ideas for loved ones facing...

Are you curious about the latest weight loss drugs? Considering Ozempic or other semaglutides but also planning to try to conceive? With all the buzz around these medications, it can feel like everyone is trying them—but what do we really know about their impact on fertility? In this episode of Baby or Bust , host Dr. Lora Shahine is joined by Dr. Spencer Nadolsky , a board-certified family physic...

How does your daily skincare routine impact fertility, pregnancy, or your overall health? Which products and sunscreen are ok while trying to conceive and pregnant and which are NOT? Can you do botox, filler, red light therapy while trying to conceive? Dr. Heather Rogers joins Baby or Bust to answer these questions and give valuable advice on finding a safer skincare routine without compromising y...

Have you seen the stories about surrogacy scams out this year? Are you considering using a gestational carrier or financing a fertility or IVF treatment and worried about making the right (or wrong) choice for next steps? Reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Brian Levine is Dr. Lora Shahine's guest for this episode of Baby or Bust . The founder of CCRM Fertility of New York and Nodal Surrogacy, Dr. Le...

Many of us live for that first cup of coffee in the morning. But. How much caffeine is okay when you're trying to get pregnant? Can cutting out caffeine completely positively impact fertility? What about when you're pregnant — is caffeine ok then? Where do you find the best information for your situation?  Dr. Lora Shahine explores caffeine consumption and its effects on fertility from both Wester...

Should we try for another child? Can we handle all the treatments, ups and downs, and possible heartbreak that comes with trying again? Will my child be okay without a sibling? Will our family feel complete with "just" one child? Lauren Sandler, award-winning journalist and author, is joining Baby or Bust to share her thoughts and insights on parenthood and chat about her bestselling book One and...

How do you heal and move forward from miscarriage and stillbirth? Will you ever feel whole again after such heartbreak? Where do you even go from there after such a profound experience? Dr. Kiley Hanish is joining Dr. Lora Shahine on Baby or Bust for this episode to share her story and the support community for loss she created. Kiley and her husband, Sean, shared their story of stillbirth in the...

Can you relate to not feeling completely happy when you get a positive pregnancy result? Do you get really anxious while waiting for your routine checkups or ultrasounds? Are you having many mixed emotions, including negative ones, about your positive pregnancy test? Guess what––you're not alone. Many women who have experienced loss go through the ups and downs, the rollercoaster of emotions, wait...

Have you or someone you loved experienced the heartbreak of miscarraige and feel desperate to know why it happened? Have you questioned food you ate, exercise you did, stress levels, and searched for answers from doctors, friends, and the internet? We still have so much to learn about pregnancy loss and recurrent miscarriage but there are people asking the questions and finding the answers! Megan...

Are you curious about reproductive rights in the US? Are you worried about access to IVF and medical treatment for your reproductive health? On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, not only eliminating the federal right to abortion care but threatening access to contraception, IVF, and many aspects of reproductive health. It's been two years, so where are we now?  In this episo...

Should you freeze your eggs? What age? What's the success rate? How much does it cost? Natalie Lampert has insight into women's top questions about egg freezing, and she is here to share it with you. An award-winning journalist and author of The Big Freeze , her work focuses on women's health and the fertility industry. Her story will answer your questions and provide insight into the world of egg...

How early have you done a pregnancy test?  Are you stuck questioning the result? In this episode of Baby or Bust , Dr. Lora Shahine reviews pregnancy tests: when to test, how accurate tests can be, why testing too early can make things even more confusing, and what can cause both false negatives and false positives. This episode is packed full of helpful information - save for reference and share!...

AshLeigh Meyer Dunham is one of five reproductive law lawyers in Alabama and the only one who has done IVF. She was front and center when IVF stopped for 3 weeks in early 2024 due to a lawsuit brought by IVF patients in front of the State Supreme Court. On this episode of Baby or Bust, Dr. Shahine asks AshLeigh to explain what happened in Alabama, how treatments restarted, and what the process mea...

*Trigger Warning: Late Pregnancy Loss The loss of a wanted pregnancy, at any stage, is utterly heartbreaking. How in the world do you pick yourself up again after such a devastating loss? There is not a right or wrong way to grieve; there's only your way. On this episode of Baby or Bust , therapist, author, and speaker Lindsey Henke joins Dr. Lora Shahine to discuss the impacts of miscarriage, sti...

Women are often conditioned to sacrifice our own goals, health, and happiness in favor of everyone else's. But does it have to be that way? In this unique and personal episode, Dr. Lora Shahine is a guest on the podcast Spilling the Tea with Dr. Joyce .  With host Dr. Joyce Park, Dr. Shahine shares her story of finding her direction in life at the intersection of her infertility journey and her pa...

The biological clock, geriatric pregnancy, poor egg quality, diminished ovarian reserve  - if you're trying to conceive in your 40s you've likely heard or been reminded of the link between age and fertility - but there is hope!  In this episode of Baby or Bust, Dr. Lora Shahine provides insights on optimizing reproductive health and making informed decisions about family planning into your 40s.  S...

Ectopic pregnancies are scary, dangerous, and heart-breaking if you're trying to build your family. If you've been diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy and confused - you're not alone! In this episode, Dr. Lora Shahine explains ectopic pregnancies — what they are, why they happen, and who may be most at risk.  She discusses everything from how they are diagnosed to treatment options to what comes n...

Do you find yourself Googling everything you feel or don't feel to find out if it's 'normal' in the first trimester of pregnancy? You're not alone. That's why there's so much information out there! The problem is: what sources can you trust? In this episode, you'll get first-trimester information and questions answered by Dr. Lora Shahine – a source you already know and trust. In this episode devo...

Do an internet search for "fertility supplements"... yeah, maybe don't. You can easily get overwhelmed by an avalanche of supplement information and advice when you're trying to conceive. But … what supplements can truly help you get pregnant faster? And whose advice can you trust? Supplements and "super foods" go in and out of fashion faster than bangs-or-no-bangs, and the latest "hot" supplement...

There is an overwhelmingly long list of what not to eat, use, or be around while trying to conceive and in early pregnancy. Knowing which products are safer — and which you should limit or avoid when pregnant — is challenging. We know that toxins can be harmful, but what exactly is in the products you're using? The ingredients are confusing. The marketing is confusing. What if someone were already...

"Morning sickness" is a misnomer - nausea and vomiting in pregnancy can occur any time of day and night and leave you feeling miserable. In this episode, Dr. Lora Shahine covers the causes of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. She's also sharing her expert tips for prevention and relief. It's everything you've wondered, and need to know, right in one place! In this episode you'll hear: [01:48]...

Infertility is a deeply personal, often heart-wrenching experience. Suddenly, pregnancy and family building are completely out of your control. Fertility challenges can wreak havoc on your body, your mind, and your relationships.  In this episode of Baby or Bust, Dr. Lora Shahine talks openly with Carrie Hauskens, founder of Blooming with Care . Carrie is sharing her eight-year struggle with ferti...

June 2024 is the 50th anniversary of Pride in Seattle. In honor and celebration of LGBTQ+ family building, Dr. Shahine welcomes colleagues Dr. Stephanie Rothenberg and Dr. Darcy Broughton to talk about the Center for LGBTQ+ Family Building at Pacific NW Fertility.  Although the fertility community hasn't always been inclusive and open to all family building options, Pacific NW Fertility (PNWF) has...

If you've struggled to get pregnant, grappled through multiple IVF cycles, experienced a loss, or delivered early, you know first hand that pregnancy is NOT always blissful. Unfortunately for some, the process of building a family can border on traumatic.  If this is the case for you or someone you know, the information and insights from Parijat Deshpande could shed some light on how to work throu...