How Open is Open Embryo Adoption?

Just what does it mean to choose open embryo adoption through the National Embryo Donation Center (NEDC)? It’s a common question, and the answer looks different in every situation. NEDC moms Marti Bailey, Bethany Piechowski, and Nina Brenneman are sharing helpful insights in this episode of The Embryo Adoption Podcast. (time stamps below)

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:50 Why Marti and her husband chose open adoption, and what their “higher level of contact” relationship with her donor family looks like

3:54 How Bethany and her husband came to choose open adoption, and what their “lower level of contact” relationship with their donor family looks like

7:43 Why Nina and her husband chose closed adoption

11:46 How Marti’s open relationship became “more open” than first intended, and how her donor family’s relationships with other recipient families differ from this level of contact

17:00 How Bethany and her family are navigating the reality of a “less open” relationship than originally intended

20:00 What Nina wishes she and her husband would have understood about open adoption when they started the process

28:30 The importance of asking questions when you’re trying to choose between open & closed embryo adoption

29:55 Marti on the best part & hardest part of open adoption

30:55 Bethany on the best part & hardest part of open adoption

32:40 Nina on the best part & hardest part of closed adoption