Today, Ali is talking to the "Vanderpump Rules" and "The Valley" GOAT: Kristen Doute. Kristen shares her entire family building story, starting with back in the day, when she and co-star Scheana Shay talked about freezing their eggs (although Kristen didn't do it then) to today, when she is happily engaged and expecting her first baby, a daughter, in June. Kristen talks about the sex education (or lack thereof) she got growing up in Michigan; how, when she met Luke, she was about to be 40 "and not playing around," and how she really wanted a family and stability. She talks about how she and Luke started to "not, not try" for a baby; getting pregnant naturally; and then, a devastating pregnancy loss (in her case, a "blighted ovum"). Kristen also talks about the unsexiness of sex on demand; going to see a fertility specialist, and how she felt triggered by the word, "infertile." She also talks about IUI; becoming pregnant after their loss; a bleeding scare at 12 or 13 weeks gestation; and how she and Luke are thriving today, waiting for the arrival of their baby girl -- and the second season of their hit Bravo reality show, "The Valley."

Follow Kristen on IG: @kristendoute

TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:

Infertility; TTC; sex education; chemical pregnancy; egg freezing; blighted ovum; miscarriage; IUI; hormones; pregnancy after loss; pregnancy hematoma; threatened miscarriage; guilt

EPISODE SPONSORS:

WORK OF ART

Ali's Children's Book about IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology

https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

Do not miss Ali's children’s book about IVF! It's been getting rave reviews. “Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and ART). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini.

Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/books

For bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-request

FERTILITY RALLY

IG: @fertilityrally

www.fertilityrally.com

No one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.

Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membership

EXTEND FERTILITY

IG: @extendfertility

www.extendfertility.com

Fertility shouldn’t be dictated by a timeline. Extend Fertility offers cutting-edge egg and embryo freezing, infertility care, and IVF—all designed to put you in control. Their approach? Research driven, transparent, and personalized. With a world-class lab, exceptional verified success rates backed by nearly a decade of egg freezing results, and pricing lower than the national average, Extend Fertility is making reproductive care more accessible and effective than ever. Whether you’re preserving fertility for the future or actively trying to conceive, they’re here with expert support every step of theway.

BELI

IG: @belibaby

www.belibaby.com

Are you thinking about growing your family? Whether you're just starting to plan or are actively trying to conceive, preconception health is key. Beli has vitamins to help both women and men optimize their health before pregnancy. With essential nutrients like Folate, Iodine, and Zinc, Beli ensures your body is ready for this exciting next step. Give yourself and your future baby the best foundation for a healthy start.

Visit Belibaby.com today and use code IAF15 for 15% off your first order.

EMBRYO SOLUTION

If you’re navigating infertility, have you ever thought about embryo donation as a family building solution? Embryo donation is when one family that has gone through IVF donates their embryos to support the family-building efforts of another family. Embryo Solution is an agency with an important mission: to fill the gap between infertility and excess embryos by connecting all parties involved. Whether you’re looking to build your family or you've gone through IVF and you have embryos in storage that you're not sure what to do with, Embryo Solution can help.

To find out more go to www.embryosolution.com

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