Category: Intended Parenthood

Personal Development Guide for Surrogate Mothers

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Enhancing your personal well being may be a lot to handle at the onset for a surrogate mother. This is considering the fact that the human psyche has lots of aspects; which is why you need to decide where you are going to start. This particular post was designed to give you tips that are easy to do to improve your personal development goals as a surrogate.

A great starting point is to surround yourself with friends who will bring you happiness and positive energy. As a surrogate mother, be with people who will help you stay on track by being role models for good behaviors. You will better neutralize any undesirable energy you get from people who aren’t as encouraging of your self-improvement goals if your life is filled with people who care about you.

Take advantage of breaks. Learn to slow down if needed. Although this seems counterproductive, taking consistent breaks is good because it gives you the chance to boost your mind, so when you resume work, you’ll be able to get more done.

Maintaining a journal is beneficial for surrogate mothers. This allows them to take note of changes and feelings that are often overlooked and neglected. Pack some paper with you when you go out. Write down your idea in detail, and then focus on it at a later time when you can expand on the issue.

Another great tip for surrogate mother’s personal development is to discover how you can be a good role model yourself. Leading by example is all about influencing others positively. Examine your past behaviors and experiences- Which events had the most impact on the way you live your life? What differences have occurred thanks to these events? Thinking deeply about these concerns as a surrogate mother will help you help yourself grow into a better person.

Showing a little humbleness goes a long way in your quest for personal development. This gives you the opportunity to think less of yourself and shift your attention to others who may need it the most. As a surrogate mom, a humbling attitude puts you in the right mindset to learn new things and create as a human being.

Last but not the least, don’t overexert yourself. Master the art of keeping a simple life. If you over think or over do things, then you might get stressed for no reason, and as a surrogate mother, that is a big no-no. Do not focus on things that you can no longer change, but look at what is to come in life.

Tips for Gestational Carriers

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As a gestational carrier, one has to take care of their body and the baby they are carrying properly. This can be achieved with good eating habits.

Modifying the way you eat may seem like an impossible thing to ask for someone who is eating for two, however with a positive mindset, it can be done.

A critical component as a gestational carrier is to commit all your efforts into creating delicious and healthy meals for yourself and the child that you are carrying. You can start small by making simple food substitutes as part of your eating plan. Switching sugary cereals for whole grain oats is a perfect example. Making sound snack choices is another great tip. Consume nuts in small amounts as part of a well balanced diet.The majority of nuts deliver healthy protein, one of the hardest nutrients to obtain while consuming healthy and balanced diet.

Eating your greens will also do you good as it is easy to digest. Easy to absorb, vitamin-rich foods are another great addition to your diet. Avocado is a great example, which is full of vitamins and healthy oils which goes down easily on a delicate tummy. Other good examples are green vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and kale.

We all know that maintaining a supply of fresh vegetables is difficult as it spoils easily. In this regard, be sure to keep a supply of frozen veggies in your fridge. With frozen veggies, you are sure to keep vegetables a staple in your diet no matter the season.

Keeping these pointers close to mind and heart will certainly help you become the healthiest gestational carrier you can be.

Top Questions on Surrogacy

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In some parts of the United States, surrogacy is actually legal. For example, The Golden State of California has established legislations on surrogacy, which has made it accessible for couples to have the procedure carried out. Even with its growing popularity, there are actually a lot of people that are still baffled by this process.

 

How is Surrogacy defined?

In truth, all of us recognize that the inability to conceive prevents a married couple to begin a family. This is more evident for homosexual couples that cannot become pregnant since both are of the exact same sex. With the spreading concern over infertility, scientific research has formulated procreative modern technologies to manage this issue.

Artificial insemination is the method of fertilizing an egg outside the body. The is the remedy for women who are not competent of supporting pregnancy. In this regard, Surrogacy can be described as the method through which the intended parents go into an agreement with a woman, known as the surrogate, to carry their egg.

 

Is there a relationship in between the surrogate as well as the baby?

There can be a biological link between the surrogate and the baby. This happens when the surrogate’s egg is used and the sperm is obtained from the intended parents. Gestational Surrogacy, on the other hand, only employs the surrogate to the carrier thus does not become directly related to the child.

 

Are there cases that a surrogate claims the baby?

Surrogates are carefully selected by means of examinations in addition to a series of demanding screening processes to assess the appropriate physical and mental state to have another person’s baby. Legal documents are created and signed to ensure that the best interests of the surrogate, the intended parents and the baby are secured.

 

How much does Surrogacy cost?

The procedure is costly. The cost stems from the comprehensive procedure that both parties have to undergo. The medical procedures, including in vitro fertilization together with the surrogate’s fees will break the bank. Scouting different Surrogacy agencies are ideal to have a good idea of the prices and compare the costs. It is through these agencies where you will get the help you need to assess which one has the best program to suit your needs.

 

Is Surrogacy Legal?

It is highly dependent on the state you’re in. Surrogacy is legal in California, Illinois and Oregon but there are also some states that have different views on the matter such as New York and New Jersey.

Surrogate Compensation

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Surrogate Compensation 

The compensation is just one of the many concerns that a surrogate considers but does not heavily prioritize. Surrogates give up their time and compromise their health to help someone who wishes to have a child. These women are somewhat unsung heroes and deserve to be compensated what is due to them.

Surrogate Compensation: Expenses for Service

Surrogacy fees are different since the pricing varies from agency to agency. The overall costs for the intended couple normally operate upwards of around $500, while legal expenses cost at around $15,000. These charges do not go straight to the surrogate mother, they go towards the financial protection of both the surrogate and intended couple.

Surrogate Compensation: Surrogate Charge

A surrogate’s work is tasking and can be synonymous with the work of an employee with a full time job. In this regard, the intended parents typically pay the surrogate with a cash fee that is settled before pregnancy and ensures coverage for all appropriate costs relating to the surrogate’s well being. A newbie surrogate can get up to $50,000 in a compensation package.

Surrogate Compensation: Additional Expenditures

As mentioned before, a surrogate mom’s medical expenditures are already paid off by the intended moms and dads. This not only covers the usual medical expenses, but also ensures that the surrogate’s lifestyle is protected.

An instance that best exemplifies what I mean, would be if a surrogate mother is forced out from her residence. A funding will be made available to her to ensure that lifestyle  is safe and secured.

 

Understanding Surrogacy in Minnesota

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The legal representative is going to require all the inputs coming from the surrogate and also the parents-to-be. Working with a skilled as well as a fluent lawful expert backed up with surrogacy law experience is actually necessary. The woman acting as the surrogate and the intended parents must have separate lawyers.

Being meticulous and comprehensive in the agreement will help lay down the proper foundation on what is expected and to be done in the course of this process. The checklist below should assist in understanding what should be present in the agreement.

Having these in place will save a lot of time and minimize any confusion on both parties.

1. Name of parties involved: husband, wife as well as the woman acting as the surrogate.
2. Should be of legal age
3. Number of attempts
4. The process of getting pregnant, like “no sexual intercourse.
5. Agreement to never attempt to discontinue the pregnancy.
6. A declaration that the mother is unable to conceive or sustain a pregnancy.
7. Statements of extensive clinical and mental state of the surrogate as agreed.
8. Health plan for all concerned, including the fertilized egg (s).
9. Procedures including the positioning of the fertilized egg (s).
10. Close monitoring of surrogate’s activities as well as medication taken.
11. Discussion and agreement on regular prenatal health care.
12. Regulation on the surrogate’s activities that may be seen as dangerous to the pregnancy as well as the birth procedure.
13. Surrogate’s parental rights.
14. The presence of the couple throughout childbirth.
15. Legal or Physical custody of the couple and surrogate once the child is born.
16. Financial terms and obligations in the course of pregnancy and post pregnancy.
17. Confidentiality terms and clauses.

This checklist mainly covers what is good to know at the start of this process. It is, however, best to watch out for other conditions that will better prepare you for potential issues in the future.

Learning About Surrogacy Legalities

Legality of surrogacy in the USA can be considered an ongoing argument. What makes it more complex and challenging for many is the fact that the laws vary per state which results in more questions than answers.

Given this complication, you must fully understand the laws regulating surrogacy in all states to avoid running into any problems as you go along this process.

Surrogate’s Compensation

Knowing how much to pay your surrogate is one of the many matters to think about when choosing surrogacy for your family. Whatever payment a gestational or traditional surrogate gets, it is critical to know for certain that they are not an employee. Even when the surrogate does this free of charge, she is still not qualified due to the employee – employer relationship.

Traditional or Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational Surrogacy varies greatly from Traditional surrogacy since the surrogate carries the pregnancy and gives birth from an already fertilized egg. In this instance, there is actually no hereditary link in between the surrogate as well as the child.

Traditional Surrogacy is the procedure wherein the woman carrying a surrogate pregnancy goes through artificial insemination or even IVF by merging the surrogate’s eggs together with the semen of the donor. In this instance, the surrogate has a hereditary link to the baby, which can be high-risk due to the said genetic connection.

Lawful Issues Post-Birth Adoption

A number of states make it possible for the identification of the mother and father to appear on the child’s birth certificate. In other states, the surrogate’s name is the one put on the document, which may be changed later when the order for the intended parent comes and gets listed.

Some states permit pre-birth sequence under specific conditions. Ultimately, what is still very important is to understand as well as know the rules of each state with regard to surrogacy.

How To Select A Gestational Surrogate in Minnesota

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For most couples, starting a family is as easy as 1-2-3; but, for some, they may opt to choose a surrogate carrier or a gestational surrogate. How does a couple select a gestational surrogate?

A gestational surrogate is defined as a woman bearing the child for another couple or single parent who wishes to have a child; but can not bear to go through the process of a normal pregnancy. Choosing a gestational surrogate has a course that usually has to be followed. Still, it is always a good idea to consult with your own preferred doctor.

Choosing the Right Agency for You

A couple or single parent usually has an ideal surrogate carrier in mind. There are many agencies that offer this service so always choose the one that you feel most comfortable with. Read feedbacks from single parents or other couples who have already used the service and the reason why these couples or single parents chose them in the first place?

Selecting A Gestational Surrogate

After choosing the agency to work with, finding the right candidate for the gestational surrogate is the next step. The ideal candidate should have had at least one successful pregnancy, with no background on miscarriages, abortions, bleeding or any other medical issues that may be a risk factor. It is always best to consult with your OB/Gyne or reproductive endocrinologist regarding the medical history of the GS that you plan to work with. A thorough medical examination must be performed on the GS so that any complications may be prevented. This will include, but not limited to: a physical examination, laboratory examinations, ultrasounds, a comprehensive medical history check, psychological examinations, and screening for any threatening diseases.

The Ideal Gestational Surrogate

The gestational surrogate should ideally be drug and disease-free during the pre-natal and post-natal stages, and between the ages of 21 to 40 years old. Prior pregnancy that involves the delivery of twins should also be taken into consideration. A deeper understanding for the ideal GS would best be discussed with your physician. Keep in mind that some couples or single parents may opt to choose a relative for the purpose of keeping things within the family genes. If you or your partner chooses to go through in vitro fertilization, make sure to choose your preferred Reproductive Endocrinologist.
In Conclusion

The process of finding the right gestational surrogate may take some time. Remember that using the service of a GS is not for everyone; there will be a lot of emotions that will run through your mind.

A gestational surrogate is defined as a woman bearing the child for another couple or single parent who wishes to have a child; but can not bear to go through the process of a normal pregnancy. Choosing a gestational surrogate has a course that usually has to be followed. After choosing the agency to work with, finding the right candidate for the gestational surrogate is the next step. The gestational surrogate should ideally be drug and disease-free during the post-natal and pre-natal stages, and between the ages of 21 to 40 years old. The process of finding the right gestational surrogate may take some time.

Communicating with your gestational surrogate.

Intended Parents 101: Communicating with Your Gestational Surrogate

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Communicating with your gestational surrogate during the surrogacy journey is very important to its success. The surrogate agency you work with will make sure that all of your preferences are met in finding an ideal gestational surrogate to assist you. The degree of communication and relationship you want with a gestational surrogate will really depend on you and your partner’s preferences. So it is very important to be truthful with your agency when disclosing this information.

After you have disclosed your personal preferences on the type of relationship and communication you want with a gestational surrogate, your surrogate agency will match you with a gestational surrogate who shares the same preferences with you and your partner. If you would like to keep your relationship with your gestational surrogate on a more personal level – meaning you want to have a close working relationship with open communication – your surrogate agency will find you a gestational surrogate who wants the same type of relationship.

If you prefer a more “business like” relationship with your gestational surrogate, your agency will pair you up with a suitable gestational surrogate who shares the same preferences. In this scenario, your agency will be doing most of the communicating with your gestational surrogate and will be informing you of any doctor’s appointments or checkups that you may want to attend with your gestational surrogate.

Communicating with your gestational surrogate is now easier than ever thanks to the services of a reliable surrogate agency. Remember, a good surrogate agency should be able to provide excellent services and support all throughout your surrogacy journey. They should be able to assist you in any way possible to make the journey a lot easier and more stress free for you and your partner.

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Communicating with your gestational surrogate.

Surrogates in Minnesota and Their Relationship with the Intended Parents

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Surrogates in Minnesota and their rapport with the intended parents is exclusively unique in its own way. Mounting a rich understanding of your expectations of the relationship and allocating those specifics with your surrogacy agency and each other is important.

The prime areas to focus discussions about your surrogate relationship concerns are regularity of communication, types of communication, and the overall tone of your personal relationship. This relationship can be reflected many different ways or you may indicate that you do not wish to have a relationship. Every intended parent’s approach will be different, as will that of the surrogates in Minnesota.

Relationships evolve and change over time. Being aware of this creates a balance with your surrogate mother, enabling a healthy relationship to develop and grow.

Surrogates in Minnesota must have a balance of communication between themselves and intended parents. It can be a delicate process involving each of you. Determining the amount of communication and gaining an insight into the surrogate’s expectations should be carefully considered. Some intended parents like high levels of interaction, regular updates via e-mail or phone, and the expectancy of attending the doctor appointments.

It is extremely essential to some intended parents to be included in the pregnancy. Similarly, some surrogates in Minnesota also desire this close bond with their intended parents and may be disappointed if the intended parents choose not to engage in regular contact throughout the journey and beyond. Many choose to have a life-long friendship even after the birth.

A small percentage of intended parents and surrogates in Minnesota feel compelled to have a small dose of contact such as quick updates and texts or phone conversation. Before entering into a surrogacy agreement together, it is important that several discussions take place as to the desirable amount of communication that will take place throughout the pregnancy and beyond.

It is important to talk with your partner about what type of relationship you would like to have with your surrogate before, during and after pregnancy. There are so many advantages and disadvantages to both options. The final decision ultimately rests on your shoulders and your personal preferences.

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Gay Intended Parents 101: Simple Ways to Bond with Your Newborn

Intended Parents 101: Simple Ways to Bond with Your Newborn

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One of the major fears gay parents face is whether they will bond or connect with their newborn, but most intended parents don’t realize that this is a very common worry amongst all types of parents. Here are some helpful tips and ideas to help gay parents bond with their newborn baby:

  • Before your newborn arrives, it is best to join a support group or a network with other gay parents that have tried surrogacy. The more you are able to talk through your fears, learn suggestions and hear stories from other parents, the more you will be prepared and have reasonable expectations of the initial months with your newborn. Reading books on parenting and watching DVDs or TV programs will help you feel ready when your newborn is placed in your arms.
  • Once your newborn arrives, it is best to focus on nurturing and meeting the baby’s needs. This is one of the main ways that parents and children bond to each other. You and your partner need to pay close attention to the nurturing tasks you are doing for your newborn, like feeding, changing, dressing and holding. By coming to your child when called and when you are needed, you will build trust and a feeling of safety which is at the basis of bonding. Responding to your baby’s cries or perceived “neediness” with consistency, love, and gentleness will let them slowly know that you are the parent and you can be depended on. For babies, dependency is a good thing.
  • Talk to your newborn. Language is a key element of connection and will help your baby in his development. Even with a newborn, it is important to talk and sing and coo and use your voice to share information and emotion. You can talk while you are doing care-taking tasks, talk about what you’re doing, and talk while you’re taking a walk. Even though you may think your child doesn’t understand you, you are conveying attachment and sharing information when you talk to him or her.
  • Play. Play is one of the joys of both parenthood and childhood. Before you know it, your newborn will be in the terrible teens and you will miss the days when you were his or her favorite playmate. For infants and babies, traditional games like peek-a-boo and singing games are wonderful ways to interact and bond, as well as teach your baby.
  • Touch. This may seem like a no-brainer, but touch is a key element in attachment and bonding. With an infant or baby, you will be holding your child to feed, rock, and comfort. A thousand words of comfort and security can easily be conveyed to your newborn through touch.

These are just some of the simple ways gay parents can bond with their newborn. By learning all the important skills new parents need to care and nurture for their child, you can easily build a lasting bond with your newborn baby.

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7 Critical Personality Traits A Surrogate Should Possess

7 Critical Personality Traits A Surrogate Should Possess

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As intended parents, you want to find the best surrogate mother for your surrogacy needs. Due to the growing number of people experiencing infertility in the United States, surrogacy has become more widely recognized, and more women today understand the concept of surrogacy and want to help others by choosing to be a surrogate. But with the increasing number of surrogates, it gets difficult to choose the right one for you. To help you get started on this wonderful surrogacy journey, here are a few characteristics you need to look for in a surrogate mother:

  • Honesty. Intended parents need to be able to trust their surrogate completely. A surrogate mother should be honest with the intended parents that chose her to work with them. All questions intended parents might have should be answered truthfully. Honesty is the most important part in any surrogacy relationship and greatly helps with its success.
  • Reliable. A good surrogate should be reliable with the intended parents. The surrogate mother should always make herself available for her intended parents or surrogate agency. Since the surrogate plays an important role, intended parents need to know that they can depend on their surrogate. To be a surrogate means being both reliable as well as professional.
  • Healthy. A good surrogate mother should not just be healthy enough to carry a child to term. She should have a good medical history meaning she has no chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. In order to be a surrogate, she should have a good mental history meaning she has no history of mental illnesses such as depression, chronic anxiety and bipolar disorder. She should also maintain a healthy lifestyle by not smoking, drinking or using drugs.
  • Good Communicator. Surrogate mothers should be very vocal when communicating with all involved parties including intended parents, the surrogate agency and the medical personnel. She should provide regular medical updates to the surrogate agency and to the intended parents. She should also alert them if she has concerns about her health or the status of her pregnancy. The surrogate should be able to respond honestly and promptly to both the surrogate agency and the intended parents during the process of surrogacy.
  • Intelligent. A surrogate should be smart enough to understand all the processes involved with surrogacy. She should be able to comprehend all the important legal aspects like the surrogacy contract and relinquishing of all her legal rights to the child. She should also be smart enough to understand all the medical procedures that she will undergo and follow the medical instructions precisely rather than making her own decisions. An intelligent surrogate knows all her responsibilities and understands the gravity of what she will be doing for the intended parents.
  • Nurturing. A good surrogate mother should be nurturing, which means choosing what is best for the baby over what she may want to do. Since the surrogate mother will be carrying the intended parent’s child she should give it the same care as they would during the pregnancy. She should know how to take care of herself and the child she is carrying for the intended parents. A nurturing surrogate mother should be eating healthy, getting enough sleep and making choices that are best for the baby.
  • Responsible. A good surrogate mother should be responsible in her actions. She should follow through with instructions that she is given and be able to complete any tasks that are assigned to her by the intended parents, the surrogate agency or the doctor’s office. A responsible surrogate does what she is told without needing to be reminded. She should act responsibly in informing everyone involved if she has medical concerns.

Knowing for yourself these 7 important characteristics to look for in a surrogate will greatly increase your chance for a successful surrogacy journey. To be a surrogate mother, they should be professional and have the integrity that is embodied by these 7 characteristics. It is vital to identify them in a potential candidate prior to selecting her as your surrogate. A surrogate who possesses these qualities will not only give the intended parents a healthy baby but also a wonderful surrogacy journey.

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