Emily Patel, founder of Hopeful Mama Foundation and a mother through donor eggs, joins me to share a not-so-typical path to parenthood, one that reveals the stress, doubt, and decision-making traps families face during donor conception. Emily discusses why family is more than genetics, what she’s learned from the many women who seek support through her foundation, and how to find clarity when the stakes feel sky-high. You’ll learn     How stress can derail good decisions—and practical ways to slow down and choose well     What “family beyond genetics” looks like in real life     Themes Emily hears from women at Hopeful Mama  Resources & Links     Hopeful Mama Foundation: https://hopefulmamafoundation.org/     Follow Emily Patel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilympatel/     Building Your Family Community (courses, workshops, community):https://familybuilding.net/building-your-family-community/     10 Things Donor Conceived Children Want Their Parents To Understand (free):https://familybuilding.net/new-newsletter-page/     Contact Lisa: www.familybuilding.net About the showThe Building Your Family podcast is a free service of the Building Your Family Community. Building Your Family Community is the only expert-created educational & support community for people using donor conception, surrogacy, or fertility treatment to build their families. Educational content only; not medical or therapy advice.