We are now a society that is permanently “plugged in.” We have the ability to share our lives through the World Wide Web and have access to many others including friends, family, and even strangers. Surrogacy begins as a personal decision. Once matched and pregnant, there are more parties and feelings involved, so there are more limits or boundaries about posting and sharing your journey on social media.

Intended Parents need to think about their comfort level when sharing and posting to various social media platforms. Intended parents also need to take into consideration what their surrogate feels is appropriate to share. If you are a surrogate, you’ll need to consider the level of comfort of the Intended Parents and their feelings. A post about a common pregnancy complaint such as, “Stick a fork in me. I’m done!” can be hurtful for your intended parents to read.

Making sure you are aware and sensitive of each other’s feelings is a good start. Have a conversation with your Intended Parents or surrogate and come to a unanimous decision about what you deem appropriate to share and what not to share. Also, double-check your contract for any privacy clauses.

Be aware that once your post, comment, tweet or instagram pic is on the Internet, it does not go away and is for all to see, including the other party involved in you journey. Even if you are not friends or connected with your surrogate/intended parent on social media, sometime posts or comments have a funny way of getting into the wrong hands. That is why it is most important to be on the same page as your surrogate or Intended Parents. Any level of comfort is acceptable, as long as it is clearly communicated between all that are involved.

Surrogacy in some form has been around for ages.

You can even see early forms of it in some religious texts.

In Jewish and Christian writings you have:

§ Sarah’s servant acting as a kind of surrogate; and

§ The growth of Jacob’s family through the use of surrogates.

In each of these instances, the sperm of the father and the egg of the surrogate produced the heir(s).

Thankfully, surrogacy in this century looks completely different due to the advances in the medical field.

Now, an embryo created from the intended parents can be transferred into a surrogate mother who will then carry the baby to term. The baby has no biological connection to the surrogate mother and is a genetically connected offspring of both the intended parents.

For women who are unable to produce eggs, donated eggs and the father’s sperm can create the embryo and that embryo transferred to the surrogate mother.

Today, parents who want to have children have a wide range of options to create the family they desire.

Surrogacy allows intended parents to create their families using their own egg and sperm or donated matter. It’s all possible thanks to surrogates who are willing to give the gift of life to loving and caring intended parents. As you can tell, we are passionate about creating YOUR family for you. Give our surrogacy agency, Shared Conception, a call and start your unforgettable journey towards your enhanced family unit.

One of the hardest things to do in surrogacy is wait.  This goes for all parties:  the IPs, the surrogate, the egg donor, the agency coordinator, etc.  It's so hard to wait when something so amazing is almost in your grasp; you just have to put the final pieces of the puzzle into place.  Waiting is also one of the most important things in surrogacy.  Imagine rushing into any other type of commitment and the consequences it can have.  You might meet a lovely couple or a lovely woman wanting to be a surrogate and think, "this is it!  Let's get this show on the road!" but there are so many important factors to consider.

The big questions have to be discussed before you ever move forward.  How many embryos will we transfer?  Are we open to reduction/termination?  What will our fees be?  What type of birthing situation would we like?  A good agency, such as Shared Conception,  can and will help you to discuss these items and may even do some of this screening before you even meet in person.  It may seem a little odd to initially talk about so many intimate details, but it's important to be sure that everyone understands each other.

One of the things I've seen so many people do is compromise their true desires and end up disappointed or in a position they did not want to be in.  The effects of this decision can run the range from casting a shadow of awkwardness over the journey to ending up with procedures you agreed to, on paper, but never thought you'd have to actually experience.  True matching should go over the seemingly trivial details and the hard, heavy items ad naseum so that no one has regrets later on. People tend to get caught up in the emotion of the process and think, "This is almost what I want so those few things won't matter."  Trust me, they matter.  They matter a lot.  So, slow down, think it through, stick to what you originally want for your journey. You might have to wait a little longer, but the wait is worth it. Not much is finite and predictable in surrogacy but the more solid foundation you lay, the more refined the process. Trying to shove pieces together that don't fit never works out well.  Practicing patience to find that perfect match is one of the smartest decisions anyone involved in surrogacy can make. Another smart decision is to contact our surrogacy agency, Shared Conception. We can help you make the best decisions for you. 

Throughout the nation, there are an increasing number of gay couples who want a family to call their own.  Gay men, especially,  have risen to the top of the list of “eager parents.” Their need to become daddies and to love a baby is incredibly powerful.

Surrogates, a remarkable group of giving and compassionate women, believe everyone has the right to love a child. And many of these ladies are hearing the pleas of gay couples who are yearning to be fathers.

Same-sex couples have come to learn that leaning on the guidance of a reputable agency, such as Shared Conception, is an excellent pathway towards parenthood.  Likewise, women wanting to pursue surrogacy to help a loving couple achieve intended-parent dreams are realizing the multiple benefits of being partnered with a highly regarded surrogacy agency.

Many same-sex couples describe the surrogacy process as purely magical.  Because of these special women, gay men are able to become daddies and their biological yearnings can be fulfilled. Through surrogacy, a gay couple’s home can now be filled with the love, kisses and hugs of their own child.

For those interested in learning more about becoming a surrogate, contact our surrogacy agency, Shared Conception. We can help change lives. 

In life, some dreams are achieved without much effort, while others take sacrifice and tears to attain. The latter pertains to couples who are unable to have children due to infertility.

It is a topic matter which affects more couples than one might think.

In recent years, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 7 million Americans are suffering from infertility.  With a closer magnification on these numbers, 1 in 8 couples are sadly touched by this. Yes, it’s that significant.

And why do these numbers come from CDC?  It’s because infertility is considered a disease, if you will, of the reproductive system.

While so many couples have courageously traveled the infertility road with no success, their desires of having their own baby becomes emotionally deflating. And if miscarriages are involved, the heartache is indescribable.

But in life, one must never forget about hope.

Surrogates are bringing “new hope” to couples who suffer from infertility.  While a surrogate mother may have never been an option to begin with, for many couples, they begin to learn it is the perfect option.

A surrogate mother has the unique and incredible ability to make an impact to a couple yearning to build a family.  When these special ladies realize they have the capability to make a positive difference for intended parents the rewards are beyond measure.

When a surrogate mother looks into the eyes of a couple after their baby is born, it warms her heart and soul, knowing she has selflessly given a priceless gift.

Watching parents cradle the baby they never thought they would ever have forever changes how a surrogate sees life and all its beauty.

A surrogate is, and always will be, a miracle for many couples suffering from infertility.

For those interested in learning more about becoming a surrogate, call our compassionate yet expert  team at our surrogacy agency, Shared Conception.

Infertility rates are increasing with each passing year. Coupled with this medical hurdle, numerous same-sex couples are yearning to become mothers and fathers. Gay men in particular, look to surrogates so they can build the family they dreamed of always having.

High profile celebrities have emerged, sharing their surrogacy success stories, giving so many individuals the tangible hope of becoming parents one day.

One star to share her surrogacy news is Jordana Brewster of “Fast and Furious.” While beaming with motherhood pride, Brewster said that surrogacy was taking a step towards faith and confidence.

“I couldn’t carry a baby,” she said. “It (surrogacy) taught me a lot to have to rely on someone else to carry my baby for me, because I’m such a private and self-sufficient person. It’s the most intimate leap of faith and trust you can take.” 

Brewster’s surrogate gave birth to her son, Julian, last year.

Surrogacy is enabling couples struggling with infertility the ability to have their own children with a genetic link through in vitro fertilization. In the same breath, surrogates empower women who are unable to carry their own baby.

Yes, surrogate mothers who are fueled by compassion, empower future intended mothers. Women choosing the surrogate journey learn that motherhood may not be the way they intended, but through surrogacy, they can ultimately have their baby. Above all, they can be in control of their destiny. And this realization is utterly profound for a woman who has struggled for years with her own fertility challenges.

For those who have yearned to have a baby without being able to conceive, surrogacy is oftentimes described as a “miracle arrangement,” because surrogates give a special gift each and every day. These selfless women help create “parenthood dreams” for so many couples while their benevolence is highlighted by a lifetime of memories for future parents.

For compassionate women wanting to learn more about surrogacy, contact our team of experts at Shared Conception. We can help you.

Reporter, Paul Swiech, interviewed Allie Ruff, 29, who became a mother to a baby girl via surrogacy in late August 2016. Ruff was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma after discovering a lump. She and her husband, Dave, were married only a year at the time.

Faced with immediate healthcare decisions to make, Ruff realized that her treatments, which would include chemotherapy, could trigger infertility. The couple opted to undergo “fertility rescue” and Ruff underwent treatment so her eggs could be harvested. Sweich reported the couple decided to have their embryos frozen. 

Following Ruff’s surgeries, treatments and current medication protocol, the couple decided that surrogacy was the best option. What they hadn’t anticipated were the high costs.  

At work one day, Ruff’s co-worker, Josie Wiles, learned of her dilemma. Already a mother of three, Wiles offered to be her altruistic surrogate.   Medical appointments, counseling and then legal contracts ensued. 

When Wiles decided to help, her husband and family also supported her decision. After Wiles gave birth to her intended parents’ baby, Ava Jo, she said something that all surrogates agree is the most memorable part of the surrogacy journey.    

“Seeing Allie’s and Dave’s faces the first time they saw her (Ava Jo), that was priceless,” Wiles said. “To see that look on someone’s face when they meet their baby for the first time, that was awesome for me.”

Surrogates have the power to help individuals or couples experience the love of a child. Infertility can affect someone for a variety of reasons. In this heartfelt story, it was breast cancer that affected this cancer survivor’s fertility.  Our surrogacy agency, Shared Conception,  is ready to handle most situations.  We are experts in the field of surrogacy and know how to manage the most vulnerable of circumstances.  

By healing the emotional wounds of infertility, surrogates can afford so many individuals and couples with a sense of renewed hope and brighter outlook for happier days in having a family to call their own.  Our surrogacy agency, Shared Conception, is here to walk this unforgettable journey with you. Call us today.

While the holidays have officially come to a close (we included Valentine's Day!), there may be individuals or couples out there that are relieved to know it’s all over.  For those who have struggled from years of infertility, being childless during the holidays can serve as a constant reminder of their situation and heighten their sadness. 

Family gatherings can be stressful enough, and for those unable to have a child, dodging or answering “family-building questions” may have triggered tension and sorrow. A pang of emotional pain could have emerged at the sound of children laughing or at the sight of them scampering.

Those who encountered challenges reproducing do admit that when they were ready to start a family, they thought having and raising the baby would be the hard part, not conceiving. 

Individuals battling infertility are not alone.  According to recent statistics, 10 to 15 percent of couples living in the United States have been diagnosed with this disease. Compound this with couples and individuals around the globe suffering from infertility and those numbers sharply escalate. Yes, while fertility therapies may work for some, not everyone will respond to the treatments. 

Despite the obstacles, it’s important to never lose hope. 

Never forget, if one road doesn’t bring about the birth of a child, another will. And a very special way is through surrogacy.

In addition to those dealing with their fertility challenges, there are also gay men who rely on surrogacy and egg donation so that they can achieve their dreams of fatherhood. Individuals and couples deciding on surrogacy undeniably share a common thread of compassion. Intended parents empathize with others going through the very same thing.  

While it’s a different pace for all, intended parents arrive at a point in their lives when recognizing that their future family is within their reach through surrogacy. They have endured so much to have their baby. Coupled with their compassion, intended parents redefine the meaning of appreciation and patience. 

Over time, they have come to realize that anything worth the wait is worth waiting for. And that way is through surrogacy.   Give us a call at Shared Conception, we can help you.