I think the following article offers information for parents looking at surrogacy regarding the legal aspect of parental rights. I do work with attorney Tom Pinkerton and the National Fertility Law Center, who were a resource for this article.
http://www.slate.com/id/2221399/
Friday, June 26, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
ASCO: Fertility Preservation Not A Top Priority for Oncologists
I found the statistics in this article alarming. A national survey of Oncologists reports that less than 25% refer patients recently diagnosed with cancer to a fertility specialist. These patients will most likely be left sterile after treatment and are not properly educated by their physicians as to options for preserving their fertility.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASCO/14486
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASCO/14486
Friday, May 29, 2009
Carla's Story: It's almost time!
Wow, I cannot believe that I am only two weeks away of going to America and Mike is following shortly after that. The 9 months have flown by for me and I wish Jackie feels the same. Jackie is doing fantastic; however she is doing all the hard work and not me. I have kept myself occupied with organizing our wedding and after that the baby room and taking control of all the preparation you need to think of when you are expecting twins.
For wedding presents we asked for baby furniture, baby clothing, baby socks, baby toys, baby sheets, baby chairs etc. etc. and guess what, we got it all (Thank you to all of our generous friend and family). However, I am trying not to get carried away with the high street baby stuff and still have some great old fashion attributes. We are going to try cloth diapers. It was a great pleasure to receive all our gifts and unwrap them. I also managed to set the cots together, all by myself, but I will ask Michael to check all the screws, just in case.
Last week Jackie and Amy emailed us a photo of Jackie and she looks fantastic, she has this beautiful big perfectly round belly and our boys are already 4 pounds each.!! Seeing this photo had a great impact on Mike and me, it got so real and so close by! We were singing and smiling for hours.....not just a smile, I am talking from ear to ear!
I cannot help myself to wonder how big the shock will be to become a mother! I guess it will be pretty big and pretty new. Some days I think about what I miss in the mother initiative because my babies are not growing in my belly....and I cannot name one thing...I think I will be a good mum but it did help when my Auntie Jeanne (who I'd been a nanny for when she had twins so many years ago) confirmed this.
Today I went to the supermarket and there was a grandmother waiting in the front of the shop blocking (without realizing) the pass through for the customers. When she finally noticed (as a queue of 3 people was forming) she apologized saying 'I am sorry I am not used to this stroller' It was one of the new fancy strollers with outstanding front wheels. I smiled to the lovely lady thinking: should I tell her that I already have been pushing my twin fancy stroller through the house? I just smiled because Michael did it too so it can't be that strange.
Carla
For wedding presents we asked for baby furniture, baby clothing, baby socks, baby toys, baby sheets, baby chairs etc. etc. and guess what, we got it all (Thank you to all of our generous friend and family). However, I am trying not to get carried away with the high street baby stuff and still have some great old fashion attributes. We are going to try cloth diapers. It was a great pleasure to receive all our gifts and unwrap them. I also managed to set the cots together, all by myself, but I will ask Michael to check all the screws, just in case.
Last week Jackie and Amy emailed us a photo of Jackie and she looks fantastic, she has this beautiful big perfectly round belly and our boys are already 4 pounds each.!! Seeing this photo had a great impact on Mike and me, it got so real and so close by! We were singing and smiling for hours.....not just a smile, I am talking from ear to ear!
I cannot help myself to wonder how big the shock will be to become a mother! I guess it will be pretty big and pretty new. Some days I think about what I miss in the mother initiative because my babies are not growing in my belly....and I cannot name one thing...I think I will be a good mum but it did help when my Auntie Jeanne (who I'd been a nanny for when she had twins so many years ago) confirmed this.
Today I went to the supermarket and there was a grandmother waiting in the front of the shop blocking (without realizing) the pass through for the customers. When she finally noticed (as a queue of 3 people was forming) she apologized saying 'I am sorry I am not used to this stroller' It was one of the new fancy strollers with outstanding front wheels. I smiled to the lovely lady thinking: should I tell her that I already have been pushing my twin fancy stroller through the house? I just smiled because Michael did it too so it can't be that strange.
Carla
Monday, May 18, 2009
C-Sections: Are we doing too many?
Here's an interesting article in the LA Times regarding the number of C-Sections in the United States. Sometimes surrogate mothers (gestational carriers) have had a C-Section previously and prefer to have a vaginal birth during a surrogate pregnancy. What are the risks? Dr. David Lagrew from Saddleback Memorial Hospital addresses this concern.
Dr. Lagrew was my OB during my pregnancy as a surrogate carrying twins. He could have easily taken Baby B via C-Section after Baby A was born vaginally. Instead he waited close to two hours for Baby B to move into place and arrive as his brother did!
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cover-birth17-2009may17,0,7665456.story?page=1
Dr. Lagrew was my OB during my pregnancy as a surrogate carrying twins. He could have easily taken Baby B via C-Section after Baby A was born vaginally. Instead he waited close to two hours for Baby B to move into place and arrive as his brother did!
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cover-birth17-2009may17,0,7665456.story?page=1
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Cancer victim takes steps to realize dream of being a mom
Photo of Alice Crisci, by Sean Hiller
Here's a story from the dailybreeze.com about a cancer survivor that is starting her own non-profit, http://www.myvision.org/, geared toward the preservation of fertility. Definitely worth looking at!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Surrogate and Parent Relationships
"What kind of relationship will we have with our surrogate after the birth?"
This is a common question that I'm asked while sitting down with a new intended parent or couple.
The majority of the surrogates that I know and work with, ideally, would like to develop a friendship with the parents of the baby she carries; a friendship that lasts a lifetime. This friendship evolves throughout the pregnancy and is not one that can be forced. It can be somewhat awkward initially after you meet her while waiting for the legal contract to be finalized, waiting for your protocol to start your IVF cycle, until the moment you are sitting with her in the embryo transfer room and surprisingly there is an instant bond between you. What do you say to this woman who has so generously given of herself to you?
Relationships grow and evolve throughout the pregnancy. After the birth, many parents send photos to their surrogate on a regular basis. Some surrogates get together with the parents and the baby/babies and stay in close contact. While others may choose to stay in touch via email and phone calls.
Not all relationships continue after the pregnancy. There are cases in which either the surrogate or the parents choose to no longer communicate (after the birth). In these situations, it is important for all parties involved to have closure and complete their relationship in a respectful manner. Our counselor, Ellen Winters Miller, is a wonderful resource for our surrogates and parents. Not only does Ellen provide support for the surrogates and parents during the pregnancy, she is also involved after the birth, offering a platform of communication and support to all parties.
What kind of relationship will you have with your surrogate after the birth? Our hope is that you and your surrogate create an experience together in a way that has you feeling related and fulfilled.
This is a common question that I'm asked while sitting down with a new intended parent or couple.
The majority of the surrogates that I know and work with, ideally, would like to develop a friendship with the parents of the baby she carries; a friendship that lasts a lifetime. This friendship evolves throughout the pregnancy and is not one that can be forced. It can be somewhat awkward initially after you meet her while waiting for the legal contract to be finalized, waiting for your protocol to start your IVF cycle, until the moment you are sitting with her in the embryo transfer room and surprisingly there is an instant bond between you. What do you say to this woman who has so generously given of herself to you?
Relationships grow and evolve throughout the pregnancy. After the birth, many parents send photos to their surrogate on a regular basis. Some surrogates get together with the parents and the baby/babies and stay in close contact. While others may choose to stay in touch via email and phone calls.
Not all relationships continue after the pregnancy. There are cases in which either the surrogate or the parents choose to no longer communicate (after the birth). In these situations, it is important for all parties involved to have closure and complete their relationship in a respectful manner. Our counselor, Ellen Winters Miller, is a wonderful resource for our surrogates and parents. Not only does Ellen provide support for the surrogates and parents during the pregnancy, she is also involved after the birth, offering a platform of communication and support to all parties.
What kind of relationship will you have with your surrogate after the birth? Our hope is that you and your surrogate create an experience together in a way that has you feeling related and fulfilled.
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