• balancing work/home/social life, led by Clair Sassin, Choice Mom of a 7-year-old, and Jessica Lenz, whose newborn slept on her most of the afternoon;
• building support networks for pregnant moms, new moms, and those on the adoption path, led by Claudia Booker, Birthing Hands doula and adoptive mom of a 27-year-old;
• donor selection, led by Carla Pedrussian, of long-time Choice Mom sponsor California Cryobank, herself a pregnant Choice Mom;
• fertility: basic and advanced, led by Dr. Rani Abbasi of Choice Mom sponsor Columbia Fertility Associates;
• financial and estate planning, with a team led by Tracey Kalista, of Rebecca Hall & Associates.

My favorite part of Choice Mom networking events this year is our opening large group discussion, when we talk together from all stages about the issues and concerns we have faced. In this session, we had several Thinkers who wanted to know how women moved comfortably into the Trying stage. The question being, "How did you get to yes?" Click this link to read some of the responses from Tryers and Moms.

Birthing Hands doula Claudia Booker had many great tips for women about how to build a support network. She reiterated the importance of preparing for this well before the baby arrives. Click this link for some of her suggestions.

In the detailed discussion about donor conception, one woman pointed out that the more she learns the more rattled she gets about making this choice. (A similar sentiment expressed well in the documentary by Thinker Anne Catherine Hundhausen. who is now offering a discount to Choice Moms who purchase her DVD.) Carla, of long-time sponsor California Cryobank, herself several months pregnant by donor conception as a Choice Mom, talked women through the process.

You can read the insights of Dr. Rani Abbasi of Columbia Fertility Associates here.