Q and A: Answers Pt. 2

Here is Part Two if the Surrogacy Q & A Answers!!

What advice would you give someone just starting out?

Definitely educate yourself on surrogacy and the process. Apply to a few agencies and definitely go with your gut feeling. If you are not getting good vibes from one agency, but great vibes from another, definitely go with the good feeling agency. Know that this is a "hurry up and wait" process. They will want you to hurry with forms and then you will have to wait until each party reviews it before proceeding to the next step. Just try to be patient and it will a work out! 

What kind of Meds did you have to take and what did they do?

I took a total of 6 different medications from the very beginning of my journey up to 11 weeks pregnant. 

Birth Control Pills – Sync cycles with the Intended Parent or Egg Donor. Only Active Pills.
Lupron - Lupron temporarily suppresses pituitary and ovarian hormone production and prevents ovulation from occurring prior to oocyte retrieval. This medication is generally started one week before the next expected period and continued until two days prior to the egg retrieval.
Delestrogen - Estradiol is a form of estrogen. Estrogen is a female sex hormone necessary for many processes in the body.
Endometrin – Vaginal Progesterone. Once placed inside the vagina, progesterone is absorbed quickly by the local vessels and brought to the uterus where it prepares the endometrium for the implantation process. The level of progesterone within the endometrium is highest with vaginal progesterone.
PIO - Progesterone is a naturally occurring hormone in the body. In women, the hormone is produced in the ovaries, the adrenal glands and in the placenta during pregnancy, and it is stored in the fat tissue. Progesterone is involved in a woman's menstrual cycle and supports pregnancy. It will help keep the pregnancy viable until the body can start producing it on its own around 10 weeks. 
Doxycycline - Doxycycline is an antibiotic to prevent infection from the retrieval and to ensure that the uterus is free of bacteria before embryo transfer.
Medrol - Medrol is a light steroid that is used to prevent ‘inflammation’ of the uterine lining that can cause it to reject the embryo.
Valium - Muscle Relaxer taken before transfer. It helps relax the body and uterus.

Were you nervous about how many embryos were transferred?

We had planned to transfer 3 embryos since the quality wasn’t that great. After the transfer, I found out that my RE placed all 4 embryos. 1 was good, 2 were okay and 1 was poor. I was really nervous after that. After everything was said and done, I had confidence in my RE and figured that he knew what he was doing.

How did you tell people about you wanting to be a surrogate?

With close family, I called/emailed and told them what we were planning on doing. With friends, I decided to start this blog and also a Facebook page. A lot of people were surprised and a few were definitely not on board, but we ultimately did what we thought would be better for us and our family.

Would you ever consider donating your eggs?

No. It would just feel weird knowing that I have potential kids out there. This is just my opinion on egg donation. I have had friends who have donated eggs, but could never be a surrogate. It’s just someone’s preference. I just could never do it.

How much does Surrogacy cost?

There are a lot of factors with the price of IVF/Surrogacy. Intended Parents can pay anywhere from $75,000 up to $250,000. Meds, Dr Visits, Lawyer Fees, Flights, etc.

Was it weird having everyone in the room when you delivered?

Absolutely not! With all of my deliveries, I have had friends and family in the room. With this delivery, I had my husband, the parents, my case manager and photographer. Once it was time to push, I honestly didn’t even realize they were in the room. I was in my own world and concentrated on getting this little girl earth side. A lot of people are different and feel like this is a very personal experience and only want their spouse/partner or mother in there with them and that’s perfectly fine also!

Do the parents still keep in contact with you? Do you get to see pictures of “Surro Babe?”

Yes! I get to see pictures of C almost daily, which I absolutely love! My family and I get to watch her grow and its great! We try to email each other monthly, but sometimes life gets in the way.

How did you pick the Agency you went with?

When my husband and I finally decided to start this, I googled “California Surrogacy Agencies” and got a lot of websites. I applied to 4-5 different agencies and West Coast Surrogacy was the first agency that actually called me. It was about 2 hours after I had submitted my application. From the very beginning of that phone call, I felt in my gut that this was the agency for me. I loved the family feel of the agency and it didn’t feel like I was going in for a job interview. I would definitely recommend them if you are in search for an agency, whether it be Surrogacy or Egg Donation!

Would you ever do an “Indy” Surrogacy Journey?

I honestly don’t think I would. I like that the agency does the work for us and makes sure everything gets done correctly! Again, some people have better experiences going Indy, I just feel more comfortable with an agency!

Thanks Again!!!! If you have any other questions that were not answered, please don't hesitate to email me!

Q and A: Answers Pt. 1

Thank you so much for the questions! I can't believe how many questions I received! Since I received over 20 questions, I have decided to split them into two posts! Here is Part One!

Would you consider doing it again?

Absolutely!!! My IP’s have asked if I would be willing to carry for them again. We have a great relationship, so that will be a plus if I help them with a Sibling Project! If we decide to wait a while, I will be updating my profile and hopefully get matched with another couple soon!

What if I don't have Medical Insurance or My Insurance doesn't cover Surrogacy?

I didn't have medical insurance when I applied. Once you are matched, they will have you apply to an insurance company that covers Surrogacy. I do know that Anthem Blue Cross and Kaiser cover Surrogacy!

Did your Tincture work/help? What about the capsules?

I haven’t used the Tincture yet. The longer it ferments, the better! I took my placenta capsules for about 4 weeks and now I take them during my monthly cycle. They have helped tremendously! In the beginning, they helped a lot with my bleeding and my hormone levels.

Did you notice anything different compared to your other postpartum experiences?

This postpartum was a lot easier on me! I contribute a lot of that to the fact that I didn’t have a newborn to take care of and I had a lot of help with my kids.

Has your family been supportive (during and after)?

In the beginning, a few family members weren’t on board and that was okay. During the pregnancy, a few of them started to come around and by the end of the pregnancy, they were very proud of what I was doing. I know that Surrogacy is not for everyone and that is absolutely fine with me, I just won’t talk about it while you are around. The one person that I was terrified to tell was my Gramma. She is very old school and I wasn't sure how she would react. When I was 12-14 weeks pregnant, she called me and asked me about it! She was fully supportive of what I was doing! She said that if she was guaranteed a girl, she would have paid someone a long time ago! Hahaha!

Did you experience any PPD after carrying Surro Babe for 9 months and then having to hand her over to her parents?

No. I knew going into this knowing that this child was not mine. I had the perfect mindset and am very grateful. Once I delivered, I was a little hesitant about holding her, but after I had her in my arms, I knew I would be fine! It felt like I was holding a friend’s baby and I didn’t feel any sort of emptiness. She wasn’t mine to keep, I was just giving her back to her parents!

What was the process like?

Surrogacy is a “Hurry Up and Wait” process. Once we were matched, I flew back down to L.A. and had another medical appt. After I got the go ahead, we started contracts. Those took about a month and then I was able to start my meds. First Birth Control Pills, then Lupron, Delestrogen, Progesterone in Oil and Endometrin. 3 weeks in a row, I had to have my blood drawn to check my numbers. I then flew down to L.A. for my transfer!

How did you do with the shots? I am terrified of needles, but I don’t want that holding me back from being a surrogate.

I was very nervous about the intramuscular shots. The Lupron shots were easy since they were tiny insulin needles and those went in my belly. The Intramuscular shots were a little harder. My husband is not a fan of needles, but I made him watch some you tube videos and have him watch a friend give me my first shot. He got better at it after about 3 days. The needles are very intimidating, but once you do the shots a few times, it will get better. Make sure you heat your injection site and the medicine and then rub the area after the shot. You will get knots, but rubbing the area will help disperse the medicine.

How are your kids doing?

My kids are doing great! They understood from the very beginning that the baby was not ours. I told my children that my IM’s tummy was sick and couldn’t carry a baby like mommy can. I am grateful that my IP’s loved our children and were so excited to see them and include them in everything. They love seeing pictures of Surro Babe almost daily!

What was the Psychological Process like?
My husband and I had to drive to San Francisco and do our Psych Eval there. I had to complete a 200+ multiple choice questionnaire. Some of the questions were really strange and I actually laughed at a few! After that, my husband and I were called into a room and we talked to a Psychologist about our lives and what surrogacy meant to us. At the end of the appointment, she told me that we seem like a sane family and was going to approve us!


Why did you become a surrogate?
I have always wanted to be a surrogate. I love being pregnant and pregnancy is very easy on me. I told my husband that after we were done having our own kids, I wanted to apply to be a surrogate. After weighing our pro's and con's for about a year, I applied. I feel that if my body does well during pregnancies and that I love being pregnant, why not help a family who can't have children. It is a true gift of love in my opinion!

Well, there ya have it!! Come back tomorrow for Part Two!!

Psych Evals!

Dave and I get to drive to San Francisco for our Psych Evals on Thursday!!

Since Dave won't be able to go to LA with me next month, We are able to get our Psychs done by us! This is another big task we can check off our list! We will be taking the Personality Assessment Inventory {PAI} Test and talk with the Psychiatrist.

The PAI Test is a 300+ True/False Test that gets a comprehensive assessment of adult psychotathology. They want to make sure Dave and I are sane and can handle this big journey!

The test should only take about an hour and about 20 minutes to score! A June Transfer is looking sweeter and sweeter! Eeek!

So now we just have to wait for my cycle to start, which should be in about a week, then I head to LA a week after that for my Re-Evaluation with Dr. R!!! Then its Contract time!

Hope you all have a blessed day!

Just a little setback...

So we have ran into a tiny set back.. 

I was supposed to fly to LA one day this week to do my Re-Evaluation with Dr., but it looks like he is completely booked for the week. So what does that mean?! I have to wait for my next cycle, which should be around May 8th.

I had only done half of what was needed because of the whole weight thing. But I get to do all of this all over again with my new Dr.

My Medical Evaluation will include: 

Medical History
Pregnancy History
Blood work
Sonohysterogram - Ultrasound of the uterus.
Explain all of the meds and process
Give me a lab slip for D to do his blood work..


Psych Evaluation will include:

MMPI-2 (or PAI) Test - roughly 340 T/F questions. None of them are right or wrong because it is a personality test.
Talk about why I chose Surrogacy.
Misc Questions.
3-4 hours for everything


So here is hoping these next few weeks fly by! I don't think I have ever wanted my period to start so fast.. Like.EVER! #SurroProbs! 

The only thing that sucks is that my Anniversary is right in the middle of this crazy cycle.. May 12th is our 6 year wedding anniversary :)

Hope everyone has a great day!!!

One step closer...

So it looks like I will have to go back down to L.A. for a Re-Evaluation & Blood Work at the IVF Clinic and then do my Psychological Evaluation. I wish I didn't have to fly down there, but the new dr wants to see me.

I should be flying down some time next week... Eeek! I should be getting a call from the clinic on monday to schedule the appt.. This is just one step closer to getting a set date on our transfer!

So as of right now, I am just trying to tie up loose ends and figure out a plan for the kids next week. I am hoping that I can fly down on Thursday since its Dave's day off and I wont need to have anyone watch the kids or pick them up from school.

The IP's and I have started emailing back and forth! It was a sweet surprise when I checked my email yesterday and saw the first email from them... I was finally able to email back this afternoon. It has been a busy few days..

XOXO,

Me, Nervous?

Why yes, yes I am...

Things have been racing through my head since Friday when we got the new IP Profile. Will they back out? - Will they not like us after the conference call? - Will we not like them? I know that this is all normal, but I can’t help but think about these things.

Wanna know what else I am nervous about?!? Those damn Progesterone & Lupron Shots. It’s not that I am scared of needles, because I’m not. I just don’t think I could build up the courage to stick myself with a massive needle, at least two times a day.

{Video via YouTube}

This is where my nurse friends come in handy! I have already told them that I plan on having them give me my shots. At least the one that goes in my behind ;) To be completely honest, I think it’s all of the YouTube videos that I have been watching that are freaking me out. I just need to stop watching them!!

Once I get that bfp, I will have to keep taking one of the shots until I hit 12 weeks. The bruises and knots will be worth the look on my IP’s faces when they are holding their baby in their arms for the first time! 

Our New Journey!!

Sorry for the vague post on friday. There is only so much I can talk about before Conference Calls/Contracts. I am currently waiting for my caseworker to email me the day and time for the call.

So the first time we were matched, it was 11 days from the time our paperwork got to our agency to the Conference Call. This time, it was ten days! Since my bmi is under 35 but over 30, my caseworker is limited to whom she can send our profile to. It all depends on the IVF Clinic the IP’s go through. I have been busting my ass with the weight loss and can’t wait to get started!

When I first saw the email, I got super excited when I read the names. I thought to myself “OMG, I am going to be a Surrogate for Two Daddies!!” Well, when I opened the profile, I realized that the names fooled me. Haha! Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore these IP’s already! I feel a sense of calmness with them, something that I didn’t really feel with the last IP’s. They are more laid back and seem like a lot of fun! It helps that one of them speak English! Dave and I had thought a lot about if we were going to be open for International Couples or just United States. We both felt that everyone deserved to have a family and a lot of other countries don’t approve of Surrogacy and some are even illegal.

I feel more excited this time around too. I think that because I have been through the beginning stages recently, I know what to expect and can put myself out there a little more. This couple is ready to move forward, like now! So what does that mean, you ask? Well, let me tell ya! If you are new, here is how it will all work…

Conference Call – We will ask each other question’s, get a feel for each other and decide whether or not we want to go forward. We will also find out when they plan on coming out for the Egg Retrieval and Embryo Transfer! After we find out that date, we will find out when I should be starting my meds!

Psych Evaluation & Medical – I will have to fly back out to L.A. and do my Psych Evaluation. I am not sure if I will have to do another Medical Evaluation, since I did one on November 30^th. The only reason I might have to do another one is if it’s because I had lost all of the weight. They will also tell me what meds I will be taking and how to administer them. But I will find out more on that soon.

Contracts – Our Lawyers will write up the contract and both parties will sign. This is when it really gets official!!

Start Meds – I will be starting Birth Control Pills, Progesterone & Lupron. They will either be Injections or Suppositories.  I will have to be on these meds for about a month before the transfer and up to 12 weeks pregnant.

Embryo Transfer – I will fly down to L.A. for the transfer and stay there for a few days. I will more than likely be by myself since Dave is starting a new job and won’t be able to take the time off. So we will more than likely have to hire a babysitter. 

So now we wait....

Amazing News!!

Got an email from one of my caseworkers about a potential couple wanting to work with us!!

I looked it over and sent it to Dave..

We have agreed to work with them!!

We are matched again!!!!

More info to come...

New Profile Pics!!

Since I have lost over 20lbs, I decided that it was time to put new family pictures in our profile :) So we went over to my dads yesterday before my luncheon with my surrogacy group.

Here is the first picture we sent in:

And here are the ones that we took yesterday!!

Hopefully we hear something soon!

I didn't want to watermark the pics a bunch of times, so I just used the ones from my family blog.. lol

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Back to square one...

Well, we are now back to the beginning of our Surrogacy Journey.

I just got off the phone with my caseworker. The IP's {former ips} want to try and have a child on their own. Do I feel mad? Absolutely Not! I am actually happy for them. I wish them nothing but loving prayers and positive vibes during their journey to have a baby.

My profile is active again and will be shown to couples. We are praying that a couple falls in love with our family and chooses us soon! There are a lot of couples looking at Surro Profiles, so fingers are crossed! My Caseworker said that it could be tomorrow, a few days or a few weeks for us to be matched again. We were matched with our first IP's within 11 days of our agency getting our paperwork.

This is definitely not the end of my Surrogacy Journey. It's just a little bump in the road and everything happens for a reason. So for now, I will focus on losing more weight and just pray that a new couple chooses us!

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers during all of this!

You've got Questions, I've got Answers!

I got some great questions from people! Here they are! If you would like to ask any questions, please just shoot me an email!

Why did you want to become a Surrogate?

Since before having children of my own, I knew that I wanted to become a surrogate. Just being able to give a couple such a selfless gift is a beautiful thing. Everyone deserves to have a family.

What does your family think about this?

This is a tough one. Everyone is accepting except my Inlaws. My uncle doesn't really approve of it, but supports me. My father is okay as long as my health and mindset is okay. My friends are ecstatic and love watching this journey play out.

What has been the most stressful part?

Waiting.. I have had to lose weight and be told that my IP's were going to start looking for a new Surro. Everything happens for a reason and since I have lost majority of that weight, I am hoping that we are matched back up with our original IP's.

What has been the most rewarding part?

Being chosen. Having someone pick YOU out of a bunch of profiles just takes your breath away. They are trusting you with such a big responsibility!

Where are you at in your journey?

I recently had my weight check and I am now waiting to hear back from the IVF Dr and my Agency.

What have you learned so far?

Being Patient. Like I said earlier, Everything happens for a reason.

How did you pick your agency?

I went onto google and typed in Surrogacy Agencies in California. I clicked on 3-4 of them and applied. The 3rd agency I applied to, called me within 2-3 hours. The lady I talked to is now my caseworker and I completely love my agency!

How long did it take to become matched?

I applied Sept 24th, Agency received my paper work on Oct 23rd and was matched on Nov 11th. So a little less than 2 months from applying to matching. It went really fast!

Were you nervous about the matching process?

Not really. I was more anxious about the couples looking at our profile :)

Did you want a M/F couple, M/M couple or F/F couple?

It really didn't matter for us!

Have you talked to your kids about this?

Yes! My oldest two {5 & 4} know what is going on. My youngest, not so much since he is only two.

Do you know anyone personally who has had issues with infertility?

Yes.

Would you rather have a couple from the U.S or International?

Again, It didn't matter to us! We were open to anything!

How many times would you be a Surrogate?

Depending on how my first journey goes, I would like to be a surrogate twice.

Do you think you are mentally prepared?

I am more than prepared!! D and I have been talking about this for over a year and weighed out our pro's and con's. We are ready!

What would you tell someone who is looking at becoming a Surrogate?

Do your research. Talk with your spouse and weigh out all of the Pros/Cons. Always remind yourself to be patient..



If you would like your questions answered, just shoot me an email!

And now we wait...

Yesterday was my weight check appt.. Overall it went pretty well.. For some reason, my dr's scale is always 2-3lbs more than my scale at home..

After the appt, I copied my paper and emailed it to my case worker. My caseworker then emailed it to my IVF dr.. So I am now waiting on a response of either a Yes, we can move forward or a No, I need to lose more. I have been checking my email religiously all day.. I know that it could take a few days, but I need to know now!!

I have also decided that I will be doing vlogs about my journey and where I am at..

If you have any questions for me, I would love to add them into one of my vlogs!!

Have a great week and I will be back with some good news {hopefully!!}

With bad, there is always good...

Ever feel defeated, let down, disappointed?

Last night I felt that.

I got a call from my caseworker and I was told that the IP's don't want to wait for me to lose the weight, the last 15lbs {I have lost 15lbs so far and have done that in a month}. They want to move things along since they are an older couple and want to get things moving. They have been looking for a long time and really would love a family. I wish them nothing but the best in their journey. They loved our family and we loved theirs and I hold no judgement towards them at all. I just feel disappointed in myself. I know that I am doing the best I can, I just wish I could have done more.

So for now, I am just going to work on my weight loss and hopefully be matched soon! My Caseworker said that my profile is excellent and I should have no problems matching quickly. This has been a whirlwind so far and I have only been with my agency for three months. My agency is amazing and I am so elated that I am working with them.

My new goal is to be at that goal weight by the middle to end of february. I am starting a new weight loss/clean eating program and am excited about the results.

Good luck to everyone that is on their journey <3

{updates wont stop ;) }

Good News/Bad News....

Well, yesterday was a very, very long day.. Flying to LA and back was tiring enough.

The plane ride there was very uneventful. A quick one hour flight. When I got to LA I was driven to CFP for my Medical Evaluation. When I got there, I had to fill out paperwork and then get my blood drawn and give a urine sample. One of the girls from my agency met me there and stayed with me for the whole appt. We then went in and talked to the dr and went over all of the medical questions..

When we got into the exam room, I had to have a pap and then she did the Sono/Ultrasound. The whole procedure was pretty fast but I did cramp up during and a little after. My Uterus looks great and my ovaries look good too! After all of that, I get dressed and go do my height and weight... This is where it gets a little depressing.

I need to lose some poundage..

29 pounds to be at the max BMI for this IVF clinic..

So where do we go from here?! I was told that things will be on hold until I get the weight off. The Owner of my Agency will talk to the IP's and see if they want to wait for me to lose the weight or move on. I am praying that they wait. The transfer will possibly be in February  so I have about 1 1/2 months to lose the weight and be ready for meds. I am confident that I can lose this weight. I am just hoping that my IP's see that I am working on my weight and want to work with them. I will know their decision next week. {praying for good news}

So after that, we went to lunch and I soon found out that my Psych was cancelled and put on hold too. So I got dropped of at the airport 3 1/2 hours before my flight and just prayed that time would pass by quickly so that I could be home with my family. I'm not gonna lie, there were quite a few tears shed last night. I waited until I got home to break down. I just felt so defeated and mad at myself.

So starting today, I have better meal plans and exercise routines ready. I am going to prove to myself and everyone else that I can do this! I had no idea that I had gained that much in such a short time. Time to rev up my metabolism, lose the weight and try to grow a few inches too!


Love & Prayers...
Breanna

Conference Call!

So first off, we had our Conference Call yesterday and it went great! The IP's and I got a lot of questions answered and we are really excited about this journey!

Since the couple would like their privacy, I will refer to them as either IM, IF & IP  and will not be posting any photos of them <3 I can't express how excited and anxious for my IP's! We can't wait to meet them in person! They seem so caring and loving!

During the call, we discussed what they expected out of me and what they would like me to do during the pregnancy. These are just things they would Like me to take into Consideration:

No Alcohol & Coffee - Easy Peasy!
Add Seafood to my Diet - Again, I love love love seafood! {As long as Dr. Approves}
Read More during my downtime - They would like me to be calm and happy for the baby. Not a problem! I love to read!
Their voices on a disc for the baby - They are going to record their voices and I will play it against my tummy every night for the baby <3
Stay away from anything Toxic/Dangerous - Not good for the baby. Obvi!
Try not to come in contact with animals - They would like it if I didn't come in contact with animals, mainly Cats. {Dogs are okay as long as I wash my hands}
Stay away from Cold Creams - They would like it if I steered clear of Cold Milk/Ice Creams. It can cause the baby to have Colic/Tummy Issues.
No Nail Polish/Minimal Makeup/No Hair Dye - No problem! I hardly ever paint my nails & wear makeup once or twice a week.. {Its okay if I wear Organic Nail Polish and my Caseworker said that its okay to wear makeup.}

So all of these are completely doable!

I have been reading on Chinese Traditions/Superstitions for Pregnancy and want to avoid as much as I can for them. I really love learning about them and their country!

I will be flying out to la at the end of this month for my Psych Eval. They are planning on flying out during Chinese New Year for the IVF. Which means I could be pregnant as early as February!!!

The Chosen Ones!!

What a whirlwind day we had yesterday!

I got an email from the Founder/Director of my Agency yesterday saying that she was in town and wanted me to join her and a few other Surro's that are in the area for lunch! Of course I said yes! It was really nice to meet other Surro's that are in different stages of their journey's! I had learned so much and cant wait for these next few months to pass!

Also in the email, There is an International Couple that wants to work with us! They liked our profile and feel that we are a great match! I was completely shocked!! I couldn't believe that this was all happening so fast! We weren't supposed to get their profile until this morning, but my amazing caseworker sent it last night along with some beautiful pictures!!

After D and I looked at the pictures and their profile, we knew in our hearts that we wanted to work with them no questions asked! My heart felt a sense of calmness and love. They seem like an amazing couple and I can't wait to help them with their dream of having a baby/babies!

Today we have a Conference Call with them, along with caseworkers and others, I think a total of 6 people on one phone call :) 

If everything goes correctly, I will be flying to southern california at the end of the month for my Psych Eval and other testing! 

Loves & Prayers!

Approved!!

I got a pretty fantastic email yesterday from my agency!

The IVF Dr Pre-Approved my medical records and me! So now we just wait for someone to choose our profile :)

There is a couple in our area but their IVF Dr only works with women with a bmi of 30 or below. Mine is at a 32 and the IVF Dr that Pre-Approved me, works with women up to a 35 bmi :) I am working on my weight and have been going to the gym, eating healthy and I started going to bikram yoga {hot yoga} :)

Praying we get a phone call soon!!!

Just a Quickie...

My Medical Records were finally faxed over to the Agency and then faxed over to the IVF Dr.. So now we are just waiting on an approval to move forward :) My profile is being shown to PIP's and I can't wait until the day we get that phone call!!

It seems like it is all moving so fast, but then again, it seems like its taking forever. I am so anxious to start this new journey!

:)

Updates...

Well for starters, 

I mailed off all of the paperwork!! I got an email yesterday from the agency saying they got it! Now we are just waiting on my medical records. Those should be faxed over either today or tomorrow! Once they receive my records, they will look over everything and if they don't see anything alarming, they will start showing our profile to IP's!!

I asked them how long it usually takes for everything to start rolling and she said that the process usually takes a few months all the way from now through the embryo transfer. That includes the match process, conference call, meeting IP's, medical screening, contract signing, IVF cycle and transfer... Their match process has been really quick recently, so that's a plus!!

So, Hopefully within the next few months, I will have a lot of that crossed off!! 

Sorry the update is so small.. Have a great rest of your week!!

xoxo

Breanna

How the process will go...

A lot of friends have been asking how the process works. So, I thought I would give a break down of how everything goes!

Apply - Apply to different agencies because you never know how you are going to feel about the people there and you will have a better chance at getting accepted. I absolutely love my agency! They are so kind and very professional. They called me about 4 hours after I had finished my application. 

What is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman agrees to become pregnant for the purpose of giving birth to a child for others (intended parents) to raise.  This special woman is called the surrogate. XXXXXXXX Surrogacy conducts gestational surrogacies, whereby embryos produced by the intended parents, with eggs from the intended mother or with the assistance of an egg donor, are implanted in the surrogate.  The embryo is produced by a process called in vitro fertilization (IVF).  This process ensures the baby has no genetic relationship to the surrogate. 

Qualifications of a Surrogate
XXXXXXXX Surrogacy conducts an intensive and thorough screening process before a woman is permitted to join our surrogacy program.  To qualify as a surrogate candidate, you must:

• Be 22-40 years old
• Be a U.S. citizen
• Be a non-smoker in excellent health
• Be within a healthy height and weight ratio
• Have a healthy reproductive history, having given birth to at least one child that you are raising
• Have had all births occurring at 36 weeks gestation or later (unless a multiple pregnancy) without complications
• Not be receiving state or federal financial aid
• Be willing to undergo subcutaneous and intramuscular injections

We are looking for women who truly want to help others fulfill their wish of becoming parents.  Therefore, surrogate hopefuls are required to attend multiple staff interviews, receive psychological clearance, provide all official medical records from previous pregnancies along with a current pap smear, and submit to a full background investigation, including a search of both federal and state criminal records. It is our role at XXXXXXXX Surrogacy to screen potential candidates to ensure that you begin your journey with an intended parent or couple with ease and certainty knowing that you are a highly qualified and motivated surrogate ready to share in the commitment and joy in giving birth to their baby.

The Matching Process
The compatibility of our surrogates and intended parents is an important part of ***’s program.  Our objective is to match surrogates and intended parents in an effort to create a comfortable environment for both parties and to foster an atmosphere of unity and teamwork.  It is of the utmost importance to us to identify your beliefs and desires and create a situation that would be ideal for you during your surrogacy. Once we have an intended parent or couple that we believe is an ideal match, we will review their profile information with you in depth. If you are interested in pursuing the relationship further, we will ask that you and the couple communicate several times prior to meeting in-person. This in-person meeting will include your spouse or partner, the intended parent or couple and the director of XXXXXXX Surrogacy. If all parties agree to work together, the process continues and psychological and medical evaluations are scheduled.

Psychological Evaluation and SupportOnce you have been matched with intended parents, you and your husband/partner will meet with one of our licensed mental health professionals for a comprehensive interview. You will also undergo psychological testing as advised by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.  You will see our counselor for monthly support group meetings throughout your pregnancy, as well as receive phone and email support as needed continuing until 2 months post partum. You will have unlimited access to our on-line support group of surrogate mothers from the time you join our program.  All fees associated with the psychological screening and support are paid by the intended parents.

Medical EvaluationYour medical records will be reviewed by an IVF physician. Once your records are reviewed and approved, you will meet with the IVF physician of the intended parents for a consultation and medical evaluation. You will undergo infectious disease screening, in addition to an ultrasound and vaginal cultures. Your spouse/partner MUST be screened for infectious diseases as well. All expenses related to the medical evaluation are paid for by the intended parents. A representative from XXXXXXXX Surrogacy will attend your medical screening appointments with you.

There are potential risks with all aspects of surrogacy; the medical process and procedures, infertility medications and, ultimately, pregnancy. We encourage all surrogate candidates to discuss these risks with their physician prior to enrolling in any surrogate program. 

The Legal ProcessYou will have access to attorneys specializing in reproductive and surrogacy law. You may select one of these attorneys to review your legal contract. The contract is drafted by the intended parent’s attorney. Your attorney will advise you on any items that may need clarification or revisions and will be able to answer any questions you may have regarding the content of the contract. Once all parties have signed the contract, you are clear to start medications for the embryo transfer cycle as determined by the IVF physician. All fees associated with the legal process are paid by the intended parents.

The Embryo Transfer CycleOnce you have completed all aspects of the screening phase, the embryo transfer cycle will begin. You will be required to undergo multiple blood tests, injections (both subcutaneous and intramuscular), and vaginal ultrasounds throughout the embryo transfer cycle as well as the first 8-12 weeks of pregnancy. Some of the medications you may be prescribed are; Birth Control Pills, Lupron, Estradiol/Delestrogen, and Progesterone. These medications will be reviewed with you in detail during your initial interview with XXXXXXXX Surrogacy as well as during the medical evaluation with the IVF physician.

You will be required to rest in bed for 2-3 days immediately following the embryo transfer. Surrogates in our program stay in a hotel for the rest period to ensure you are removed from your daily responsibilities. All medical expenses, and any travel or hotel related expenses, are paid by the intended parents.

For information on the IVF embryo transfer process, follow this link to the Pacific Fertility Center website:
http://www.infertilitydoctor.com/ivf/ivf_trans.htm

For information on ultrasound guided embryo transfer, follow this link to the Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine website: http://www.socalfertility.com/ultrasound-embryo-transfer.html

PregnancyOnce you are pregnant you will continue to see the IVF physician until being released to your obstetrician, generally around 10 weeks of pregnancy. You will be able to see your own OB, provided that he/she accepts your health insurance.

Your case manager at *** will attend appointments with you when your intended parents are unable to do so. We will also be with you for any important milestones in the pregnancy, as well as any time you request our presence. Our role is to act as a liaison between you and the couple you are working with, allowing you to focus on your health and well being and that of the baby’s. We will do all that we can to remove any aspect from your relationship that may be sensitive or difficult to discuss. Our commitment to you is to have this experience be one that is completely fulfilling, leaving you with an experience of having contributed to the world in a unique and precious way.

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So there you have it!! I am so excited about this Journey!!