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By applying to become a Gestational Carrier, you are making the commitment to be “all in” – to help a family grow and achieve their dreams of being parents. You are changing the lives of those intended parents, but also yours too – and of course, the new life you helped create. It takes a very special woman to be a Gestational Carrier – here are some reasons why YOU might be ready for a surrogacy journey:

Give one of the greatest gifts anyone could ever give to another person or family.

Form a lifelong bond with the intended parents, as well as with your support team

at The Surrogacy Center.

Gain a sense of pride and accomplishment you won’t experience any other way.

Create an incredible sense of joy for the intended parents and their families.

Help create families of all backgrounds.

Be your own “Make a Wish Foundation” by granting wishes for families in need.

In deciding to become a Gestational Carrier, you’re not only helping another family grow, you’re extending and growing your own family as well by building lasting, lifelong relationships while giving the greatest gift ever to be received. For more information on how you can qualify as a Gestational Carrier, visit our website: https://surrogacycenter.com or email us at info@surrogacycenter.com. Stay safe and stay healthy, everyone!

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine continues to keep health professionals and patients up to date on all things related to the Coronavirus and how best to manage patients, as well as recommendations for clinics across the country. As promised, we at The Surrogacy Center aim to keep you well informed as we learn ways to keep our clients and ourselves safe and healthy. As of June 8, 2020, the ASRM COVID-19 Task Force has provided the following information:

• To date, there are almost 6.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with over 1.9 million confirmed cases in the United States alone.

• Prospective research is critically needed as fertility clinics reinitiate care regarding the impact of COVID-19 on both patient response to fertility treatments and on early pregnancy.

• All infertility patients need to be counseled extensively on both the risks and benefits of initiating fertility treatment during the pandemic, which should include the increased risk of complications to patients with certain medical conditions if they become infected with COVID-19.

• Practices are strongly advised to provide every patient with an up to date list of resources for support and counseling with someone who specializes in fertility/infertility counseling in reproductive medicine.

• There are psychological and emotional benefits to having partners present during fertility procedures, and ASRM supports the involvement and inclusion of all partners during fertility treatment and family building planning whenever possible, however, safety considerations necessitate limiting the number of people allowed in clinical suites during said procedures. Hospital or practice guidelines must always be respected. Patients should also be encouraged to use alternative methods of participation when not able to be physically present.

“The role of ASRM during this pandemic is to proactively blunt the impact of this pandemic, while recognizing the need to safeguard limited health infrastructure resources. However, we (ASRM) understand our patients’ time-sensitive aspirations to achieve pregnancy, and as such, will regularly reassess these recommendations with a hope to resume initiation of comprehensive fertility care as soon as possible.”

The COVID-19 limitations we all face, as individuals and as a community, are among the biggest obstacles we face in current times on a daily basis. Being pregnant with your own child during such times would be a stretch (no pun intended), but imagine if the child you were carrying was for intended parents who weren’t able to join you as much as they had originally hoped when they started this journey? We asked a number of our gestational carriers who are currently (or very recently) pregnant to share their own experiences. This is what they had to say.

“The COVID-19 Pandemic has had a significant impact on me both physically and mentally.  I feel the burden of protecting this child more than I ever thought I’d feel.  So I don’t go anywhere out of fear of contracting the virus.  My prenatal visits are now conducted over the phone, which means the baby hasn’t been checked for weeks, but I’m thankful for the clinics flexibility because I’m scared to go into the clinic.  It’s also challenging to adjust to my new normal.  My hormones are already all over the place but now I struggle to deal with the stress of homeschooling my children, working at home, isolation, and the potential health threat to my family and myself.  I take things one day at a time but I’m definitely more emotional. “

“My entire daily routine has changed as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The schools closing mostly impacted my routine.  I found I was not able to work from home full time and homeschool my kids, so I had to adjust my hours.  I also cannot exercise at the gym like I used to, so at this point I have not worked out in weeks.”

“As far as support that’s been offered, my doctor has been great. My prenatal visits were changed to phone calls, as long as everything is going well, of course.  They want to avoid bringing anyone in unless they really have to.  And even though I’m only 15 weeks, I have already started the conversation on what delivery would look like if the restrictions don’t change.  I want to do what I can to make sure both parents are able to be there when their child is born and I will advocate for that as much as I can.”

We hope you can take from this whatever is most beneficial to you – whether it be relating to one struggle or another, or simply empathizing with someone else’s surrogacy journey during the pandemic. We hope everyone stays safe and healthy!

We are living in challenging times due to the rise of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This can be quite distressing for everyone under the circumstances, but likely more so for anyone experiencing a surrogacy journey – whether you are a gestational carrier concerned about the health of the fetus you are carrying for a loving family, or if you are intended parents waiting to hear that a travel ban has finally been lifted so that you may, at long last, make your way to meet your child. More than ever, it is important for all of us to take the time to be mindful of symptoms related to elevated levels of stress and any additional unnecessary stressors that may add to our already full plates. Below are some suggestions to decrease stress levels. Be sure to stay safe and stay healthy!

Recognizing signs of stress within ourselves or of those around us is key to decreasing our overall levels of stress. These signs might include:

• Sleep problems
• Decreased appetite
• Negative perspective of things or daily events
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability and aggression
• Virus-related worries and insecurities
• Feelings of discouragement

So what can we do when we’re experiencing any of the above symptoms? A few suggestions:

• Make use of physical activity to eliminate tension – yoga, running, basketball, etc.
• Practice healthy living habits such as proper nutrition and getting sufficient sleep
• Put extra effort into remaining in close contact with people who have a positive impact on your life; don’t be afraid to reach out
• Be aware of your feelings, emotions and reactions and allow yourself to express them through writing or talking to someone you trust
• Remind yourself of successful coping strategies you’ve used in past difficult times
• Set limits for yourself and learn to delegate

Most importantly, stay informed! Use reliable resources to find the latest information on COVID-19, be wary of sensationalist news reports from little known sources, take the time to confirm the learned information with officially recognized sources. While it is crucial to stay adequately informed, it is equally important to limit the time taken to seek information. Information overload can aggravate your reactions to stress, anxiety and depression.

Take care of each other – in your households, with your coworkers, and in your community – the most important thing is to stay safe and healthy!

With COVID-19 still on the rise in many parts of the world, there are a shocking number of babies who have yet to meet their forever families as a result. The heartbreaking reality for one such family has opened many eyes to the importance of being there for one another in times of need, near and far. In late February, a gestational carrier in the US extended her loving arms even more than she and her family had planned to for the baby boy she had carried for 9 long months for a same-sex couple in China. Another family has their elderly parents in the states caring for their newborn son until they are able to travel to the US to finally meet the child.

A week before her due date, Gestational Carrier Sierra Martin received some heartbreaking news: The Intended Parents, a same-sex couple from China, would be unable to welcome their newborn baby boy, Steven, themselves due to the current international travel ban. They would have to wait, and Sierra’s family – her husband and two children – would be tasked with welcoming baby Steven into the world and into their home until the travel ban has been lifted. Sadly, this is the reality for countless other families who are expecting through surrogacy.

Following the birth, one of the biggest concerns with a gestational carrier looking after a baby for longer than she originally was intending is that there can be an attachment that forms with the baby in the very early stages of their life. With the intent of softening the transition to the intended parents when the time is right (and, of course, once travel bans have been lifted), some surrogacy organizations are delegating caretakers among their staff, rather than asking or expecting their gestational carriers to continue the necessary care of a newborn baby (or sometimes, babies), which can add a level of stress to her own family. 

There is also growing concern from the intended parents’ perspective that bonding with a baby born through the use of a surrogate (after months of time lost as a result of the baby being temporarily raised by the gestational carrier or other surrogacy caretakers) will be an even greater challenge than it already is. Many worry that, because a baby isn’t in the same physical space as their intended parents, they will be much less likely to form that unbreakable bond once they are finally home with their forever families. The first 3 months of a baby’s life are instrumental in establishing the bonding process for the baby, as well as for the intended parents. The logistical challenges of the government shutdown due to COVID-19 means that many families are missing out on those precious early months of bonding.

Welcoming a baby into a family – whether biologically, through adoption, assisted reproduction, or surrogacy – is meant to be a joyous experience all around. Unfortunately, the current COVID-19 nightmare has cast a very dark cloud over this process for many intended parents, especially those who live abroad. We at The Surrogacy Center want to applaud and give high praise to those who have stepped up to care for newborn babies on a temporary basis until they are able to be introduced to their families.  It is a very important job, and it will all be worth it when these children and their parents are finally brought together.

The Surrogacy Center staff wants to reassure everyone that we are still here, as always, for support and guidance during this difficult time. We encourage our clients, and anyone interested in working with us to help build their forever family, to reach out via phone or email for any and all questions you may have. We’re happy to do video chats as well for anyone interested. While the world has drastically changed over the past few months, we at The Surrogacy Center are doing our very best to keep in contact with our clients in a constant effort to maintain supportive services. We are all working from home in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, and we encourage you all to do the same.

For specific symptoms of COVID-19, please visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website. Please note, generally symptoms for children will present milder than symptoms for adults, so please contact your Primary Care Physician or Pediatrician BY PHONE for any and all concerns you may have.

FOR GESTATIONAL CARRIERS IN THE SCREENING STAGE:

As mandated by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), initiation of new treatment cycles are suspended, including ovulation induction, intrauterine inseminations, and in vitro fertilization (this includes retrievals and frozen embryo transfers, and non-urgent gamete cryopreservation). Additionally, they strongly recommend cancelling ALL embryo transfers, both fresh and frozen, until further notice.

FOR GESTATIONAL CARRIERS WHO ARE CURRENTLY PREGNANT:

We strongly urge you to be in contact with your particular doctor with regards to how their procedures may be altered during this time. They will provide you the with most accurate up-to-date care information.

FOR GESTATIONAL CARRIERS WHO ARE CLOSE TO DELIVERING:

Each hospital will have their own rules and procedures about who will be allowed in the delivery room. We STRONGLY recommend that you re-check any information provided by the hospital at which you’ll be delivering, as things are likely changing on a daily basis in order to best care for you and others in the hospitals. We are all in this pandemic together as a community, and we at The Surrogacy Center are incredibly grateful for the continued efforts of our health care workers, near and far, who are striving more than ever to keep our patients healthy and safe.

#Stopthespread #Stayathome

In the wake of this dreadful COVID-19 pandemic affecting us all near and far, The Surrogacy Center wants to remind our clients that we are taking every precaution to maintain our own health while continuing to work with Intended Parents (IPs) all over the world to match them with a healthy Gestational Carrier (GC) from the Midwest. As always, we support our IPs and GCs throughout the surrogacy journey, from the very beginning to the birth of a healthy baby. We remain operational during the pandemic, and are working with our current clients to advance their cases as much as can be done, as well as accepting incoming applications.

We’ve done our research, and offer some insight into how best to cope with COVID-19, for your mental and physical health.

For specific symptoms of COVID-19, please visit the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website. Please note, generally symptoms for children will present milder than symptoms for adults, so please contact your Primary Care Physician or Pediatrician BY PHONE for any and all concerns you may have.

LIMIT SOCIAL INTERACTION

Children and adults should maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet from anyone who is not in their home when playing outside. Children should not have in-person play dates with other children, however, we suggest setting up play dates through a video app, such as Zoom or FaceTime.

WASHING HANDS

Be sure everyone is washing their hands with soap and water for a minimum of 30 seconds (20 seconds of soaping, 10 seconds of rinsing) frequently. This is most important after being in a public place outside your home.

CLEANING HOUSEHOLD DAILY

Be sure to clean and disinfect high-touch surface areas in your home DAILY. This would include tables, doorknobs, light switches, remotes, toilets, hard-backed chairs, sinks and faucets, and handles.

LAUNDRY

Remember to wash items, including washable toys (follow the manufacturer’s instructions), in the warmest possible temperature and dry completely.

This is a very stressful time for everyone. It is crucial that we are all taking the best care of ourselves, both mentally and physically, to be able to maintain our lives and move forward through this difficult time. Be sure to watch for signs of stress in your children. This may include any of the following symptoms:

• Excessive worry or sadness
• Unhealthy sleeping or eating habits
• Excessive difficulty with attention and concentration
• Irritability or acting out
• Toileting accidents or bedwetting (if they’ve outgrown these behaviors)
• Unexplained body aches

To reduce the amount of stress felt by members of your household, we suggest you limit exposure to news and social media, try to maintain a daily routine and schedule that includes being productive, eat healthy, exercise, answer questions your children may have to avoid them filling in the blanks with their own imagination, and talk about what is happening and why you’ve made the necessary adjustments to your family’s routine.

The staff at The Surrogacy Center is taking all necessary precautions at this time by working remotely from home to ensure we are staying healthy ourselves, while maintaining our commitment to each other and to our clients. We hope all of you are staying healthy in every way possible, and we look forward to staying in touch with our clients through this difficult time. Good health and good fortune to everyone!

With the arrival of 2020, it’s hard to believe there are still three states where compensated gestational surrogacy is illegal.  Louisiana, Michigan, and….New York?  What?  It’s true, and it seems like a surprise to many people who were not aware this was the case until they were faced with fertility issues themselves, or started pursuing alternative family-building measures.

Sadly, it has been this way for quite awhile, and advocacy groups such as RESOLVE have been fighting for legalized surrogacy in New York, along with comprehensive and fair surrogacy legislation that will ”establish criteria for surrogacy contracts that would provide the nation’s strongest protections for surrogates and parents and streamline the “second parent adoption” process, removing outdated barriers and extending common-sense protections for New Yorkers looking to start their families”.

The antiquated laws in these states where gestational surrogacy arrangements are still illegal serve to remind us of the fear, uncertainty and ignorance under which these anti laws were established.  As the technology keeps evolving – along with attitudes about what “makes” a family – many of the states where surrogacy was recently prohibited (New Jersey, Washington, etc) have turned a corner after public sentiment has warmed to the idea of surrogacy as a healthy, legitimate way to build a family.  Governor Cuomo is determined to lift the New York surrogacy ban once and for all, recognizing that people who are unable to conceive or carry their own children should have the right to build their families through assisted reproduction.  This includes families faced with infertility issues, LGBT families, and all folks who dream of having and are capable of raising their children.  These deserving families should never be judged by those whose opinions are based in fear and misinformation, and it’s encouraging to know that this point of view is more fringe than mainstream.

It is our hope that Governor Cuomo is able to pass the surrogacy bill through the New York legislature this year, and that countless families will be unburdened by the overturning of these draconian laws.  It’s not over yet – but we can hopefully all breathe a sigh of relief that soon New York will take a step in the right direction, allowing access to countless families to proceed with gestational surrogacy.

And, with any luck, soon we may see all 50 states protecting the rights of folks to build their families.  Fingers crossed!

You can read the press release here.

You have been preparing for the arrival of the newest member of your family and bonding with your Gestational Carrier for months. She is helping complete your family by giving you the most incredible gift of all – a baby! How can you ever thank her enough for this amazing gesture?

 While gift giving is certainly not why the majority of Gestational Carriers decide to embark on a surrogacy journey, nor is it expected, required, or necessary, many Intended Parents choose to give a small token of gratitude to say thank you to their Gestational Carrier. But what should you get, and what considerations should be taken into account when looking for the perfect gift? We are pleased to offer suggestions from other parents who have been through their own surrogacy journeys in order to help you with options.

 CONSIDER YOUR GESTATIONAL CARRIER’S FAMILY

While your Gestational Carrier has done the majority of the heavy lifting throughout this journey, it’s important to remember the other family members who have been affected and have made adjustments to their lives to accommodate the changes along the way. Gift ideas that could be appreciated by her entire family include:

• Gift certificates for family-friendly outings (concerts, sporting events, etc.)
• A gourmet food basket
• Gift certificates to the family’s favorite restaurant
• Thank You cards for each member of the Gestational Carrier’s family

A small token of recognition for your Gestational Carrier’s family to enjoy is an unexpected way for Intended Parents to show their appreciation for all that the family has endured over the course of the surrogacy journey.

OPT FOR SENTIMENTAL, KEEPSAKE GIFTS

Every surrogacy journey, for both Gestational Carriers and Intended Parents, is a unique and one-of-a-kind experience that will never be forgotten. Why not compliment it with a one-of-a-kind gift for your Gestational Carrier in order to commemorate her experience? Suggestions for such a gift include:

• A charm bracelet
• A personalized necklace
• Jewelry featuring birthstones associated with the month of your child’s birth
• An angel themed gift, as angels are often associated with surrogacy

Something meaningful to your Gestational Carrier that she can cherish and be reminded of the magical role she played in your family’s completion often means more than a simple thank you or a gift certificate.

SOME MUCH DESERVED PAMPERING

After giving birth to a child, many women find some much-needed relaxation and pampering to be beneficial. After all, for at least the past 9 months, your Gestational Carrier has tirelessly worked to provide the best environment for your child to grow and develop. As she has supported you and your family during this surrogacy journey, following the birth of your child is the ideal time for you – as the Intended Parents – to support her in the process of feeling more like her old self prior to carrying your child. Some gift ideas to promote these ideas include:

• Spa treatments
• Manicures & pedicures
• Hair salon services (cut, color, blowout, etc.)
• Food delivery services

Carrying a child for 9 long months is a miraculous, exhausting adventure. Your Gestational Carrier has trekked through the thick of it with the best interests of your child in mind in order to help you build your family. Giving a gift of gratitude following the birth of your child will never accurately express just how incredibly thankful you are. However, it will be an unexpected surprise to your Gestational Carrier and her family, and one that will be greatly appreciated.