Part 1.

Since we are a surrogacy agency and all of our surrogate moms are gestational carriers, we thought it would be good to discuss each trimester in more detail in a 3 part blog series. If you are considering surrogacy and are curious about what happens after that positive pregnancy test – here it is.

The Pressure

If an IVF transfer fails, surrogates tend to feel that they failed the intended parents. It’s a very emotional period for all. Many times, the intended parents are concerned about their surrogate’s emotions and the surrogate is concerned about the intended parents. It’s a lot of pressure for both parties! It is not uncommon for the first or second embryo transfer to fail – patience is a virtue in these emotionally challenging processes but all of this can pay off.

The Test

A pregnancy test is conducted through a blood test. This blood test measures the hormone hCG, the pregnancy hormone. It is not recommended to take an at home pregnancy test after your IVF treatment, so try your best to resist. Some of the medications taken before the IVF and during the first trimester of pregnancy contain hCG and can create false positives and false negatives.

Continued Medications

Unfortunately, you must continue those progesterone shots throughout the majority of the first trimester. By this time, you are used to that little pinch – how long you continue the progesterone is dependent on your situation and will be instructed by your doctor.

Your hormone levels are continuously checked until you graduate from the clinic and start going to your OBGYN doctor. These blood tests ensure a healthy pregnancy, monitor estrogen and progesterone levels, and can help discover any signs of concern in the first trimester.

Transferring to your OB

Unless there are risks or complications between 10 and 12 weeks, a surrogate is usually released to her OBGYN that cares for her throughout delivery.

Other than the additional medications and close monitoring, an IVF pregnancy is very similar to any other pregnancy. It can come with morning sickness, fatigue and all the other wonderful symptoms of pregnancy. Many surrogates choose to embark on this life-changing journey because they just love to be pregnant.

Stay tuned for our next blog in this 3-part series, which will be about Surrogacy in the Second Trimester.

Help create a family with Shared Conception. Interested in surrogacy of have any questions? Call us today! You can also visit us online at www.sharedconception.com

 

Being a surrogate is a loving and selfless thing to do. Surrogates know that giving this wonderful gift will come with some personal inconvenience for them and their family. One of the major factors of difficulty that you may face as a surrogate, is traveling while pregnant. Your contract will outline specifics, and you will legally agree to your limitations; which can be outside of your doctors’ restrictions. If you are planning on traveling during your journey, it is important to talk to your doctor ahead of time as well as checking your contract for travel stipulations.

The biggest tips we can offer to you when traveling is this:

1. Stretch!Long trips can be wearing on your pregnant body. Get up, move around and stretch every 2 hours. This will help avoid developing blood clots and improve circulation. Ask your doctor about decompression stockings for long plane and car trips. They are not pretty, but may help blood flow. If you are driving, plan for plenty of rest stops for bathroom breaks and stretches.
2. Purchase Trip Insurance. Avoid any monetary backlash by purchasing trip insurance when available. This will reduce your stress. If there are any unforeseen complications before your trip, you will be able to get a refund and take your trip at a more convenient time.
3. Choose an aisle seat. Whether on a bus, train or plane, choose an aisle seat. You have better accessibility to the restroom and it will be easier for you to get up and down.
4. Dress comfortably! Wear loose, breathable clothing and comfy shoes. Don’t be afraid to bring your slippers for plane rides and hotel rooms.
5. Records. Bring a copy of your prenatal records – just in case!
6. Enjoy!Worrying will get you nowhere!

Interested in surrogacy? We would love to chat with you. Give us a call today.

 

 

 

 

 

Not only is IVF stressful, but so is the post-IVF two week wait!! You can’t wrap yourself in a cocoon of safety and stay stress free for this entire period of time, because life gets in the way. Even so, it is exhausting! You become hyper aware of your body and can’t help but be in tune (and worrisome) of every twinge, ache, pain and cramp.  Some cramping is common. Although it can strike fear in the hearts of many as a sign of a failed cycle, it also may be a sign of implantation. If the cramping is severe or accompanied by bleeding or fever, contact your doctor right away. Otherwise, try to take it easy, especially the first few days. Your doctor will give you instruction about what you can and can’t do in this two-week time period. Light spotting is also common. It occurs in a large percentage of IVF cycles. During the two-week wait, it is normal to spot and is sometimes related with implantation. It is caused by an embryo implanting itself into the uterine wall. But still, you should always let your doctor know about any unusual bleeding. Stress is naturally paired with an IVF cycle. This isn’t surprising. Getting support during the 2-week wait is important for your well-being. Surrounding yourself with loved ones will help reduce any stress and anxiety. Treat yourself to a (doctor approved) long walk, box of chocolate goodies, or a good book. Do something that may take your mind off of your current situation and help pass the time.  Don’t overthink it. You could be pregnant and have no symptoms or be pregnant accompanied by every symptom. You may not be able to help how sensitive you are to your body at this time. Just try your best not to obsess over it. Always remember, your doctor is the best source for medical questions and concerns and will instruct you regarding the limits of what you can and can’t do for the next two weeks.  Take a slow deep breath; you will survive the two-week wait! If you have any questions, Shared Conception will be here for you! We can even put you in contact with others that have been through this situation. Call us today!

We make it easy to take the first step in starting your family. When an intended parent begins exploring the option of surrogacy, it begins with a conversation. Shared Conception welcomes all who wish to have a conversation regarding this very sensitive subject. 

Shared Conception is a full-service surrogacy agency offering intended parents top notch assistance throughout every special moment of your journey. After all, we realize you have been on quite a rough and bumpy road before you had to consider surrogacy. 

We are committed to finding a surrogate perfect for you. Our extensive matching process allows an amazing journey with an amazing surrogate. We also will guide you towards a happy and healthy parent and surrogate relationship. 

It is important to build and maintain a solid relationship with your surrogate. Throughout the pregnancy, you and your surrogate will have to have a lot of open communication. Decisions need to be made together that will impact her body and your baby. An open dialogue will help your surrogate feel respected, involved and embraced. Remember, many of our surrogates choose surrogacy to experience one of the most selfless acts of kindness. And surrogates with positive experiences, may want to do a sibling journey for the same intended parents, or go and help create another family. 

A good relationship with your surrogate will bring you closer to the experience and to your baby. As an intended parent, you do not want to feel removed from the pregnancy, so a good relationship with your surrogate can make you feel closer to the pregnancy. 

Don’t forget… it takes time to build a relationship. Take time to learn about her, take advantage of the information Shared Conception provides you about your surrogate. And, it’s okay to begin a conversation with “I’m nervous”. 

No two journeys are the same and there is no right or wrong way to open a dialogue with your surrogate. But our goal is that you enjoy your journey and receive the best gift of all. 

Surrogacy Get Together

Shared Conception wants to give you an idea of our fabulous sisterhood of surrogates. Not many people, other than our surrogates can get this point of view. We felt it is important to give anyone considering surrogacy, an idea of this support system that is available for you to receive when you’re a surrogate with Shared Conception.  A few times a year, our group of women warriors, surrogates of the past, present and future, get together and bond over yummy food, fun games and a ton of supportive conversations. Most recently, we even had a surrogate with an upcoming transfer get her first progesterone shot at the gathering! There wasn’t a better group of women to do this with! She had a huge amount of support making her feel better about administering the injection. Some ladies even demonstrated a “how to” tutorial for the matched surrogates who will be beginning their medication in the near future. The end result was… “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be!” At this White Elephant party which was held at the founder of Shared Conception’s house, Shiva Landry, surrogates shared stories about each of their journeys’. Some were in the beginning, middle or end of a journey. Others were recently matched, while a few had transfer dates approaching, and there were many 2^ndand even 3^rdtime surrogates there! No matter what stage of the journey they were in, all were able to learn and laugh together.  One of the most important factors in your journey as a surrogate is a support system. The more, the merrier! Choosing Shared Conception as your agency, guarantees unlimited support throughout, and even after your journey. Call for a no pressure conversation to see if surrogacy is something you would like to pursue. 

With the start of 2019, Shared Conception would like to wish you a Happy New Year! Here’s to all things good as we see another year come and go. We found the most common New Year’s Resolutions – do any of yours match up with the following?

1.     Lose Weight

2.     Get Organized

3.     Spend Less Money, Save More $$

4.     Enjoy Life to the Fullest

5.     Get Healthy & More Active

6.     Learn Something New

7.     Quit Smoking

8.     Help Others

9.     Find Love

10.  Spend More Time with Family

At our surrogacy agency, our chief goal is #8, “help others… in their dreams.”  As an Intended Parent or someone thinking of becoming an Intended Parent, now is a great time to finally make your dream of becoming a parent come true. This yearis the time to research what it means to use our top-of-the-line surrogacy agency and how to successfully navigate the role of being an Intended Parent. Making the first step can hopefully lead to you, the beginning of your family!

As a surrogate mother, you also have the opportunity to literally “help others in their dreams.”  Imagine being able to give the gift of a baby, the gift of life, to a family who so yearns to parent and lovingly raise a child. This is also the perfect time for you to start researching what it means to have a baby for another family. It’s never too early tostart prepping your body (through a healthy diet and exercise) to carry a baby.  It’s a great time to call our agency and start the screening process. 

It’s such a treat to start the new year with a clean slate. Let’s intentionally write the words to our own life story. Peruse the above-mentioned resolutions (pay close attention to #8), and determine how this new year will unfold for you and your family. Happy New Year!

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Telling co-workers about your surrogacy can be stressful. After all, it is a very personal choice. But a blossoming belly cannot be unseen. Although this conversation may seem overwhelming, you have time to decide when to share and how to explain your situation. 

If you have an open relationship with your boss, team or coworkers and feel as though the news would be celebrated, then sharing the news of your surrogacy will seem easy. Take advantage of this by educating others on the benefits and process of the amazing journey you are about to embark on. Even let others take the ride with you! Any additional positive support is never a bad thing. You will not have to worry about making excuses for your absence from the office for the transfer, weekly doctor’s appointments and the days you are not feeling your best in your first trimester. 

If you do not feel comfortable sharing with others until much later in the process, you have plenty of time. Deciding to wait until a positive pregnancy test or even until the end of the first trimester allows you to keep your secret a bit longer in the upsetting event of an early miscarriage. Always know that you are not required to tell your boss the reason you are missing work for medically related absences. 

There is no right or wrong time to bring up this delicate conversation. The ball is in your court and time is on your side. Open communication may not be the most comfortable option but is the easiest way to ensure a stress-free work environment which allows your coworkers the opportunity to ask questions and grasp an understanding of your very important and special journey. Call us at Shared Conception, we are effective, efficient and promise to share lots of successful tips and advice!

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