Intro (0:00–2:10)
Katy: Hey, welcome to I’m That Mom, the podcast about motherhood without the pressure of perfection. My name is Katy — I’m a self-taught entrepreneur who started my baby company while pregnant and grew it into an eight-figure business as a single mom of three.
Join us as we talk about the fun, funny, and messy parts of motherhood. We’re not experts — we’re just here to support all the moms, and hopefully, collectively, we don’t completely f**k it up.
Meet Caitlin & Her Story Begins (0:30–1:09)
Katy: Welcome back to I’m That Mom. Today’s episode is especially close to my heart. As many of you know, I’m passionate about the Conceive Fertility Foundation and the families we get to walk alongside in their journeys to parenthood.
One of those incredible families is Caitlin and her husband. Caitlin’s story is filled with resilience, perseverance, and so much hope. And thanks to the grant, she’s now expecting her miracle baby. I’m so honored to share her journey with you today.
Caitlin, thank you so much for joining us—and first of all, congratulations!
Caitlin: Thank you! I’m so excited.
Katy: Oh my gosh, yes—we’re so excited too. You’re our first pregnancy from the grant recipients! Everyone here was thrilled when we got the news.
Let’s start with your journey. Tell us how it all began. And I think you know this, but I can relate—I struggled with infertility too. My youngest, I like to call her my “frozen miracle,” because we had to defrost her little butt. I swear, IVF babies are always the most perfect babies. It’s like they took the most perfect egg and the most perfect sperm.
So, let’s start there—tell me about your story.
Fibroids and IUIs (1:09–4:38)
Caitlin: My story spans almost five years. My husband and I got married in February 2021, and right after we got married, we wanted to start a family. I’ve always felt like I was meant to be a wife and a mom—the wife part was checked off, so now it was time to work on the mom part.
That journey has been long. I suffered from uterine fibroids and have had two surgeries to remove them. When I first started trying, I went to an OB-GYN. You know, you go to your doctor and trust them to help you conceive. She was great at removing fibroids, but I felt like her pace was slower than what I wanted.
I had to really advocate for myself. I ended up referring myself to a reproductive endocrinologist and went to Positive Steps Fertility in Madison, Mississippi, just to see what was going on. I’d already had my fibroids removed, but I still couldn’t get pregnant.
Katy: And you were doing all the things, right? We get obsessed—tracking everything, overanalyzing every sign. I mean, who knew we’d ever know this much about our own bodies and, well, all the different levels of discharge?
Caitlin: Yes! I learned so much about women’s anatomy during IVF and fertility treatments. I was like, wow, pregnancy really is a miracle. And on top of all that, my husband is active duty, so we had to work around his schedule and deployments—because, you know, he kind of needs to be there.
Katy: You’re like, “Hurry, get home!” Nothing takes the magic out of sex faster than a fertility schedule.
Caitlin: It’s true. It became a chore. Like, “Come on, we have to do it right now.”
Katy: I’ve been there.
Caitlin: It was hard. But Positive Steps was amazing. It’s been a long journey with them, but they’ve been so patient. We actually went through three rounds of IUI—it didn’t work. After the third round, my husband was about to deploy, and we decided we were going to the next step, which was IVF.
Katy: And at that point, you were still kind of undiagnosed, right?
Caitlin: Yes, technically “unexplained infertility.” I had the fibroids removed, my labs and levels looked great, and I still couldn’t get pregnant. Honestly, that’s the hardest—when it’s unexplained.
Katy: Exactly. I’ve always said I can handle a problem if I know why it’s happening—because then you can fix it. The worst part of infertility is when you don’t know why. You’d done everything, followed every step, and it still wasn’t working. It’s so frustrating.
And let’s be honest, we don’t really feel sorry for our husbands during the IUI process—because their part in it is pretty simple.
Caitlin: Very simple. I’m over here doing all the hard work.
IVF Round 1 — Cost, One Embryo, Heartbreak (4:38–7:59)
Katy: Were you already on fertility meds when you started the IUIs?
Caitlin: Yes, I was on Letrozole during the IUIs.
Katy: Got it. When I went through IVF—it was about 14 years ago—there were fewer medication options. Now there’s a whole cocktail they can customize. So you did the meds, three IUIs, and lived in those two-week increments, right?
Caitlin: Yes. And our clinic was three hours away from home. So it was six hours round trip for a 15–20 minute ultrasound. One week, I had to go three times. I had to take off work, find coverage, and spend hours in the car—it was exhausting. It really took a toll on us.
Katy: For people listening who haven’t done an IUI before, you have to go in for ultrasounds so they can measure the follicles and track ovulation.
Caitlin: Exactly. I remember one week I drove to Madison three separate times. It was tough.
So after those three failed IUIs, we decided to move forward with IVF. And in my mind, IVF was foolproof. I thought, you take the meds, do the transfer, and you get pregnant. There was no “if” in my head—just “when.”
Katy: And it costs so much that you’re like, it better work.
Caitlin: Right! By the time it was all said and done, our first round cost about $25,000. We produced one normal embryo—and it didn’t work. That was devastating. After everything—emotionally, physically, and financially—we had nothing to show for it. We had to take a step back and grieve.
Katy: It’s so hard. I remember feeling like everyone around me was pregnant. You start noticing pregnant people everywhere—at the grocery store, at work, on TV. It consumes you.
So after that failed round, did you think about trying naturally again? Or were you ready to pause for a bit?
Caitlin: Honestly, I was just numb. We had tried everything—naturally, timed intercourse, IUIs, IVF. I felt like a lost cause. My husband said, “Let’s take a break and focus on something else for a while.” So we put our energy into renovating our house. It gave us something positive to do.
Then, out of nowhere, one of my friends sent me the grant application.
Finding the Conceive Fertility Foundation Grant & Applying Quietly (7:59–11:26)
Katy: So what was the timeline between your failed IVF and applying for the grant? About a year?
Caitlin: No, it was actually really quick. We found out our first transfer failed in early March, and I got the grant application in June—it was due at the end of that month. We weren’t even focused on fertility at that point. When my friend sent it to me, I kind of panicked. I didn’t know what to do.
Katy: And it’s hard because you almost don’t want to go through the disappointment again. It’s gut-wrenching, especially when you’ve been trying for years. You start bracing yourself for bad news—like, “I know it’s going to be negative.” It takes all the fun and hope out of it.
Caitlin: Exactly. It was hard. And honestly, I didn’t even tell my husband I was applying for it.
Katy: Because you knew he’d want to protect you from another emotional roller coaster. And those meds don’t help—they make you feel like a completely different person.
Caitlin: Oh, I was crazy. I was a shell of myself. Happy one day, mad the next, sad the next. My husband didn’t know what to do with me—and honestly, neither did I.
Katy: Did he give you the shots, or did you do them yourself?
Caitlin: Funny story—I was terrified of needles going into IVF. But I gave myself every single one of my shots. I told myself, “I’m doing this for baby Miles.” He gave me one, and I was like, “Nope. Never again.”
Katy: (laughs) I let my husband try, and I was so mad. He was like, “It’s not that bad,” and I’m over here crying. I was terrified of needles too. Now when I get my blood drawn, I’m like, “Just do it.” After progesterone shots, I’m not scared of anything.
Caitlin: Same. I feel like I can conquer the world now.
Katy: I used to pinch the fat on my stomach, close my eyes, count to three, and go for it. My belly looked like a battlefield—bruises everywhere.
Caitlin: Yep. I didn’t bother with icing or warming or any of that. I’d just do it. And every time, I’d play the song “Shots” to hype myself up.
Katy: (laughs) That’s amazing. I love that.
The Video Application & The Call (11:26–15:50)
Katy: So, let’s go back to the grant. You didn’t tell your husband, and you had to record a video, right? I remember yours! We watch every single video, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve cried hearing people’s stories. Yours was so raw and real.
Caitlin: I actually decided to submit a video just two days before it was due. I was driving to work, talking to myself, like, “Am I really going to do this?” I got to work, had my scrub cap on, a t-shirt, no makeup, not my best self, and thought, “You know what? Nobody knows my story better than me.” So before clocking in, I set up my camera and just talked. It wasn’t planned at all.
Katy: And that’s probably why it was perfect. You didn’t overthink it—you just let yourself be vulnerable and real. Sometimes that’s when the magic happens.
Caitlin: Exactly.
Katy: Okay, so what about when you got the email for the call?
Caitlin: Honestly, I thought it was bad news. I figured you just wanted to tell me I didn’t get it. I’m not one of those “lucky girlies,” you know? So I got on the call fully expecting you to say, “Thank you for your submission, we appreciate it, but we’re going another direction.”
Katy: (laughs) You thought we were going to break up with you!
Caitlin: I did! That’s exactly what I thought. And when you told me I’d actually won, I was speechless. I couldn’t believe it.
Katy: We were just as excited. You have no idea how special it is on our side, too. Infertility can feel so isolating—you don’t exactly post, “Another negative test!” on social media. So when someone wins, it feels like we’re all winning.
And I mean it when I say I feel like I’m going through it with you.
Caitlin: (smiling) That’s how it felt.
Katy: Okay, so then you went back to your fertility clinic and said, “I’m ready for round two!” Walk us through that moment.
IVF Round 2 — Letting Go & Doing Less (15:50–19:46)
Caitlin: I told my clinic I’d won a grant, and honestly, I didn’t even know grants like this existed. I thought you either took out a loan or paid out of pocket. When I told them, they were so happy for me. It felt like family. We signed the paperwork, and I said, “Let’s do it.”
Katy: I love that. So, did anything change this time around—your meds, your plan, anything?
Caitlin: Not really, but my mindset definitely did. The first round, I was deep into the book It Starts with the Egg. I tried to do everything perfectly. I followed every supplement, every piece of advice. And honestly, it just stressed me out more.
Katy: That’s so real. When you’re trying to get pregnant, everyone tells you what you “should” be doing—eat pineapple, try acupuncture, cut out caffeine. We do everything because we want to control it. But I swear, sometimes the stress hormones are what sabotage us.
Caitlin: Exactly. This time, I let go. I told myself, “Whatever happens, happens.” I stopped taking a million vitamins, stopped obsessing. I went out with my friends, had a drink every once in a while, lived life, stayed calm. And I really think that helped.
Katy: I love that so much. Every woman trying to conceive needs to hear that.
Caitlin: This time around, we had eight normal embryos—five boys and three girls.
Katy: Oh my gosh, that’s amazing. Not a plug for the book, but clearly, less was more for you. You relaxed, your meds stayed the same, and it worked.
And for anyone who hasn’t been through IVF—it’s not easy. We’re talking multiple shots a day, constant ultrasounds, constant hormone checks. It takes everything out of you.
So when they told you how many mature eggs they retrieved, did you freak out?
Caitlin: I did. They retrieved 35 eggs. I woke up, saw “35” written on my hand, and thought, “Let’s go!”
Katy: Oh my god. Were you so bloated?
Caitlin: I looked more pregnant then than I do now. I was in pain, but when the embryologist called later and said, “I wanted to be the one to give you the good news—you have eight normal embryos,” I was a mess. I cried right there at work.
Katy: I would’ve too.
Caitlin: After everything, to hear that news—it was everything. Eight chances to bring home baby Miles.
Transfer Attempts — A Setback, Then Hope (19:46–24:47)
Katy: It must’ve felt like a little insurance policy after only having one embryo the first time. Did they take them all to day five or six before testing?
Caitlin: Yes, they did. Ten made it to day six, and then we did PGT testing, which brought us down to eight healthy embryos.
Katy: And you knew the genders at that point. Which one did you transfer first?
Caitlin: We chose a boy. I’ve always wanted to be a boy mom, so my husband and I said, “Let’s go for it.” But that transfer ended in a chemical pregnancy. It took, and then it stopped growing.
Katy: Ugh, that’s so hard. It’s like you climb all the way up the roller coaster and then just crash. And your brain immediately goes, “What’s wrong with my body? I did everything right.” Were you taking the progesterone shots?
Caitlin: Yes, the PIO shots. Definitely better than the suppositories.
Katy: Oh my god, I did both, and it was awful. So, when you have frozen embryos, the next transfer is a little easier because you don’t have to do all the stim shots again, right?
Caitlin: Exactly. I transferred in February—actually on Valentine’s Day—and ten days later, we found out it didn’t work. I had a scope done, and they found polyps in my uterus. When I went in for surgery to remove them, it turned out they were actually fibroids again. My doctor cleaned everything out.
A month later, we decided to try again. This time, we transferred two embryos—a boy and a girl.
Katy: That’s so exciting and terrifying at the same time. Putting in two, you immediately start thinking, “Oh my god, could it be twins?”
Caitlin: Exactly!
Katy: I love that you did one the first time because it’s safer and easier for your body, but the second time, you were ready to increase your odds. You had a clean slate, a fresh uterus, and a good lining. I remember just praying, “Please let this one stick.”
So… did you take any at-home pregnancy tests?
Caitlin: I didn’t. I promised myself I wouldn’t this time. Our first transfer back in 2024, I did take one, and I remember how awful that felt—staring at those faint lines, texting friends like, “Do you see it?” It was so stressful.
So this time, I waited for the call. No tests at home.
The Beta Call and the “300” (24:47–30:06)
Katy: Did you have any symptoms while you were waiting?
Caitlin: This time, I actually had more cramping than I did with the other transfers. I kept thinking, “What does that mean?” and then, “Maybe it’s a good sign. Maybe it’s implantation.” That was really the only symptom I noticed before the beta test.
Katy: Then the clinic calls, you go in for your bloodwork, and they’re checking to see if your numbers are doubling. And at this point, you still don’t know if it’s one or two babies, right?
Caitlin: Right. When I went in for my first beta, I told my nurse practitioner, Amber—who’s become a really good friend—that I didn’t want her to tell me during the workday. I said, “I’ll text you when I get off work, and then you can tell me.”
But around noon, she texted me and said, “We have your results whenever you’re ready.” And I was like, “Why is she texting me right now?!” I started freaking out because I wasn’t ready yet.
So I called my best friend Piper, who lives near my work, and told her, “I’m coming to your house. We’re finding out together.” I even called my husband to say, “I know you’re coming home late today, but I’m going to Piper’s to get the news. I’ll tell you when you get home.”
Katy: You got to find out with your best friend? That’s so special.
Caitlin: I know, right? It was perfect. Piper’s my prayer girl—she prayed for me before the call. Then I texted Amber and said, “Okay, I’m ready.” She called me and asked, “Are you home?” and I said, “No, I’m with my friend Piper.”
She said, “Well, your levels are 300.” And I completely blacked out. Piper and I screamed, cried, hugged—I don’t even remember what happened next.
Katy: I know exactly what you did. You immediately Googled, “Is 300 twins or one baby?”
Caitlin: Yes! I totally did. I was like, “Wait, 300-something?” I was freaking out. We were crying, and it was just so emotional.
Then I called my husband and said, “My levels are 300-something!” And he goes, “What does that mean?” And I said, “We’re pregnant!”
Katy: “We’re pregnant, you fool.” (laughs)
Caitlin: Exactly! After five years of trying, he still didn’t quite get it.
Katy: Bless them. We love them, but they just don’t understand the emotional roller coaster we go through.
Caitlin: They really don’t. I love my husband—our wedding day was magical—but honestly, the day I found out I was pregnant was the best day of my life.
Katy: Oh, just wait. The day you meet this little boy… your heart’s going to explode. After everything you’ve been through, that moment will redefine love for you.
One Baby, and… It’s a Boy (30:06–37:14)
Katy: How far along are you now?
Caitlin: I was 18 weeks yesterday—so 18 weeks and one day today.
Katy: Are you feeling him move yet?
Caitlin: Not yet. I didn’t realize you only get two ultrasounds your entire pregnancy, so I’ve been going to an outside clinic and paying for extra ones just for peace of mind. I go every two to three weeks to see him.
Katy: Oh, I get that. When I went through IVF, I bought one of those home Doppler things so I could hear the heartbeat. Until you feel movement, you worry constantly. For a first pregnancy, 20 weeks is pretty normal to start feeling kicks. You might even be feeling him now and not realize it.
Caitlin: That’s what they told me too.
Katy: With my second, I knew what those flutters meant, but the first time, I thought it was just gas. (laughs)
But let’s go back a little. When you went in for your first ultrasound, you didn’t know if it was one baby or two, right?
Caitlin: Right. I found out I was pregnant at four weeks, and my first ultrasound was at seven. Those three weeks felt endless. I just kept praying, “Please let there be something there—please let it stick.” Every time I went to the bathroom, I checked for blood.
Katy: Oh my gosh, I remember that. Every little cramp or twinge, you panic. You’re like, “It’s over.” It steals some of the joy from those early weeks.
Caitlin: It does. But when we finally heard the heartbeat—it was the most beautiful sound. I still listen to that video all the time, like 20 times before bed.
We found out only one embryo had stuck. And it’s strange, because you’re so grateful and excited, but you also mourn the one that didn’t make it.
Katy: That’s such a real and complicated part of IVF that people don’t talk about—you’re grieving and celebrating at the same time.
Caitlin: Exactly.
Katy: And you didn’t know which one had taken, right?
Caitlin: No, we didn’t. It actually made the pregnancy feel a little more “normal,” like everyone else’s. We didn’t know the gender, we just knew there was one healthy baby.
Katy: I have chills.
Caitlin: I was super sick during the first trimester, and based on all the old wives’ tales, I was convinced it was a girl. We’d had two boy transfers before, so I thought, “This is the girl coming in like, ‘Hold my beer, I’ve got this.’”
Katy: (laughing) I love that.
Caitlin: I really thought it was a girl.
Katy: And you originally always wanted a boy, right?
Caitlin: Yes! I’ve always pictured myself as a boy mom—baseball games, muddy shoes, all that. So when I thought it was a girl, I started preparing for bows and dance classes. I told myself, “Okay, we’ve got this.”
Katy: I’m calling it now—you’re definitely going to have a girl one day too.
Caitlin: (smiling) I think so too.
Katy: You’re going to be the best mom.
Caitlin: Thank you.
Katy: Did you end up doing the genetic testing around 10 or 12 weeks?
Caitlin: Yes, I did the NIPT blood test to check genetics and gender. Everything came back normal.
Katy: And that’s when you found out what you were having?
Caitlin: Kind of! I was at my ultrasound appointment, and the tech looked at me and said, “I can tell what it is.” My husband was there too, and we were like, “Okay, let’s do it.” She said, “It’s a boy.”
My jaw dropped.
Katy: (laughing) And your husband probably said, “I knew it!”
Caitlin: He did! He said, “I knew it was a boy from the beginning.” The sonographer actually apologized and said, “I hope you’re not disappointed.” And I told her, “No, you don’t understand—this is the best news ever.”
It wasn’t disappointment—it was shock. I just couldn’t believe it.
Katy: And now you’re 18 weeks and thriving.
Caitlin: I am. I’m still tired and a little grossed out by meat, but overall I feel amazing.
Katy: You’re in the best part of pregnancy—the second trimester. You get your energy back, you feel like yourself again. Wait until you feel him kick. It’s magical… until he kicks your ribs.
Caitlin: (laughing) I can’t wait.
Baby Henry and More Grants! (37:14–End)
Katy: You’ve already passed such huge milestones. You’ve got a healthy pregnancy, you’re doing the ultrasounds… you should go do a 4D one next.
Caitlin: That’s actually on my list! The tech did one just for fun, and I sent the screenshot to my husband. He looked at it and said, “Oh my god, what is that?”
Katy: (laughing) They do look like little aliens at first! But once he starts fattening up, you’ll be obsessed. We’re going to have to do this call every month—I’m totally invested now.
Rachel’s messaging me on the side like, “This is the most incredible story ever. We love Caitlin. Can she move to Texas and work with us?”
Caitlin: (laughs) I love that.
Katy: Thank you for sharing your story. This—this—is exactly why we started the Conceive Fertility Foundation: to help families afford the journey. It’s so expensive, and insurance rarely covers it.
Infertility is more common than people think. So many women go through miscarriages before they even know they’re pregnant. We don’t grow up learning about infertility. That’s why it’s so important to talk about it—to let women know they’re not alone.
My favorite part of your story is that you obsessed the first time—did all the things, ate all the right foods, stood on your head, whatever it took—and the second time, you let it go. You relaxed. You had a drink. You lived. And look at you now—healthy pregnancy, healthy baby.
Caitlin: I know. People keep telling me I’ll probably get pregnant naturally after this baby, and maybe they’re right.
Katy: I’ve seen it happen so many times. I think sometimes our bodies just need that reset. But we’re not even thinking about that right now—you’ve got a baby boy on the way! Do you have a name picked out?
Caitlin: We do. His name is Henry.
Katy: Oh, I love that.
Caitlin: During my first trimester, I was so sick I didn’t feel connected to him yet. But once we found out it was a boy and named him, I became completely obsessed.
Katy: I love that so much. And for the record, I happen to know a company that puts baby names on everything.
Caitlin: (laughs) Perfect.
Katy: This makes me so happy. When we started this foundation, this—right here—is what I dreamed of. Hearing your story makes it all worth it.
You were in our first batch of grant recipients last year, and some of those families are still going through it. Infertility isn’t linear. It’s full of ups and downs, and sometimes you have to take a step back before moving forward.
But that’s why we do this. No one should be denied motherhood because of money. For those listening, our new round of grants is open right now through November 3rd. Maybe it’ll be an early Christmas gift for someone.
You can learn more about the foundation and apply at cadenlane.com. We’ve also partnered with the largest fertility clinic in the U.S.—their team is incredible. Honestly, in my next life, I want to come back as a fertility nurse. What a beautiful way to give back.
Thank you so much for joining us today, Caitlin.
Caitlin: Thank you for having me.
Katy: This has definitely been one of the most special episodes of I’m That Mom. Caitlin, your story is such a powerful reminder that the road to motherhood looks different for everyone—but hope, perseverance, and community make all the difference.
If this conversation touched your heart, please share it with someone who might need it. And if you know someone who could benefit from the Conceive Fertility Foundation, applications are open now until November 3rd.
Motherhood is a journey, no matter how it begins. We’re so honored to walk it with you—and we’ll absolutely have you back on after baby Henry arrives.
Caitlin: Deal.
Katy: I’m claiming fairy godmother status, by the way.
Caitlin: (laughing) You can totally be the fairy godmother.
Katy: Perfect. Caitlin, I love you. Big hugs from Texas.