Category: Surrogate Motherhood

Personal Development Guide for Surrogate Mothers

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Developing your personal well being may be a daunting task to begin with as a surrogate mother. The reason behind this is because the psyche has a number of elements which makes it even harder to pinpoint where exactly to start. This guide was developed to direct you in the path that will enrich your personal development goals as a surrogate mother.

For starters, adopt a positive mindset. This will keep you focused on the more important things in life and let go of negative feelings or experiences that you can no longer change. Thinking positive helps you move forward, to not focus on what you may have lost, but look at what is to come in life. It also helps to be surrounded by positive, happy people in your life.

As a surrogate mother, make friends with those who are positive-minded and give happiness in your life. They’ll help you stay on track by being good role models and will help you balance out any negativity that you may get from people who aren’t as supportive of your self-improvement objectives.

Another great tip is to stay calm and collected. Don’t over think and complicate things. Approach problems as an opportunity to grow and reward yourself in your personal achievements. Do not focus on what you may have lost, but look at what is to come in life.

Being humble is a great trait that will boost your personal growth. Considering the worth and feelings of others shows great maturity and helps you to become a better and happier individual.

Stay busy and active, but know when to take breaks. Taking regular breaks is beneficial as it gives you the chance to recharge your brain, thus getting you more work done in the long run. Exercising also helps as it releases good chemicals into the system that will keep your spirits up.

Last but not the least, keep a journal with you. As a surrogate mother, keeping a journal is therapeutic and is the perfect medium to take note of changes and feelings. Pack some paper with you when you go out. Write down your ideas in detail, and then review it at a later time when you can add more on the topic.

Tips for Gestational Carriers

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From boosting your mood to minimizing your risk for various health issues, choosing the right kind of food has plenty of benefits. This article shares some pointers on how you can improve your health as a result of the food that you eat while being a gestational carrier.

Building healthy eating habits are vital to a sustainable plan for healthy nutrition not just for you as a gestational carrier, but also for the child that you are carrying. The general advantages of a healthy and balanced diet, depends entirely on whether or not you can stick to it. Diet modifications that are simple to accept are more suitable over unreasonable alterations that you, as a gestational carrier, will struggle with.

When looking into your nutrition as a gestational carrier, be wary of foods that may seem healthy but end up being quite the opposite. There can be a great deal of fats and sodium in supposedly healthy looking snacks. Smoothies for instance, may end up having a lot of calories from fats and sugar depending on the ingredients they used. You are, after all, eating for two so it is critical for you to be mindful with what you put in your body.

As a gestational carrier, you must pay attention to the labels at the back of the food that you obtain in the grocery store. Take the time to review the nutritional values on the packages before you make your purchase. Doing so will enable you to make informed decisions on your food choices.

One of the top things you can do to provide effective nutrition as a gestational carrier is to include a good multi-vitamin in your routine regimen. This will be more or less, provided for you by the soon to be parents and recommended by your health provider. A good multi-vitamin for a gestational carrier should be balanced and suggested by your physician’s recommendations for you, not the RDA. These multivitamins provide your body with the vital levels of diverse minerals and vitamins that you might not be getting in your diet. This will act as a dietary supplement and will also aid in the development of the baby that you are carrying.

When taking into consideration your nutrition as a gestational carrier, it is necessary to keep the soon to be parents involved throughout the whole process. This will make them feel enthusiastic and bring about a sense of belongingness and importance. Bring them to the market with you and have them help you pick out foods that they like and that are healthy for you and the baby.

As a gestational carrier, make sure to mix protein and carbohydrates when you sit down to eat. You’ll still get energy from the carbohydrates, but the protein will keep you full. Eating a mix of the two will keep your blood sugar sound and keep your cravings in check.

These are just a few of the many things you can do to keep your health in check. This will yield a lot of benefits that both you and the baby you are carrying will enjoy.

Major Concerns about Surrogacy

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In some states, this procedure is actually legal. Like for example in California, there is already an established legislation that makes it possible for heterosexual and homosexual couples to have their own child. Despite the increasing popularity this procedure has gained, there are still a lot of individuals who are not well versed with this process.

Exactly what is this process?

Surrogacy is the answer for couples who cannot conceive their own child. It involves an agreement with another woman (surrogate) to carry the pregnancy for intended parents.

Is there an association between the surrogate and the infant?

There are basically two kinds: Gestational and Traditional. Gestational Surrogacy results from IVF or In Vitro Fertilization. In this process, the egg is fertilized by the sperm outside the body and the resulting baby becomes genetically unrelated to the surrogate mother. Meanwhile, Traditional Surrogacy involves the surrogate as a carrier may it be impregnated naturally or artificially wherein the resulting baby has a genetic link to the surrogate.

Are there cases that a surrogate claims the child?

Prior to the surrogate’s selection, a set of examinations is conducted to determine if the surrogate is physically and emotionally worthy of supporting the whole process. For the safety of all parties, legal papers are authorized and signed.

Exactly what is actually the expense for surrogacy?

Surrogacy is costly. The expense accounts for the Surrogate’s compensation, medical costs and medications, just to name a few. This is where research and comparison of varying fees from different agencies come in handy. There is also financing made available to intended parents to alleviate the financial pain involved in this process.

Is this procedure legal?

The answer to this question is both yes and no, depending on which state you are in. As mentioned above, surrogacy is legal in California. Other similar states would be Illinois and Oregon. New Jersey and New York, on the other hand, have different views on the process.

Surrogate Compensation

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Surrogate Compensation

When one decides to become a surrogate, the payment is hardly the main priority. Surrogates selflessly give up their time and go through a lot of changes for them to help someone start a family. This goes without saying that being a surrogate mother can be very difficult, physically and emotionally.

A number of individuals know that surrogacy is more than just about getting paid at the end of the process. Surrogates in this regard, should still be compensated fairly for their sacrifice.

Becoming a surrogate is like taking on a full time employment, therefore, intended moms and dads commonly recompense the surrogate with a cash fee, which is actually determined in a contract prior to pregnancy. There is also coverage for paying off miscellaneous or other costs on top of expenses relating to the surrogate’s health care costs.

The average cost that a surrogate with no experience may get ranges from $25,000 to $35,000. On the other hand, a surrogate veteran will receive a much higher compensation. In addition, a surrogate mommy’s health care expenditures are already taken care of by the intended parents. This includes visits to the ob gyn, as well as any other added medical appointments or procedures related to the surrogate’s standard health and wellness.

Surrogate Compensation: Charges for Surrogacy Service

Surrogacy expenses vary from agency to agency. The application fees for the intended parents often work upwards of around $500; legal expenditures, on the other hand, usually arrive at $15,000. These expenses do not go straight to the surrogate mom, these funds are meant to cover both the surrogate and intended couple’s financial security.

Surrogate Compensation: Various other Expenditures

As gone over, a surrogate mom’s clinical expenditures are already paid by the parents who enlisted the help of the surrogate. This covers mostly appointments with the doctor and other related medical fees to ensure the surrogate and the baby’s well being. There is also a provision for the surrogate’s interest that also directly affects her interest. An example of this would be if a surrogate mom is forced out or evicted from her property. Whatever money left unused will go back to the intended parents after the baby is born.

Understanding Surrogacy in Ohio

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Thinking of how much it costs to build a family via surrogate is not a bad start in your dream of becoming a parent. What is important to consider is your financial obligation to your surrogate and schedule of payment throughout the course of pregnancy and, at times, post pregnancy.

The legality of surrogacy in this country is still an on-going discussion. What adds spark in the debate is the fact that the laws vary per state. Given this complication, it is imperative for anyone interested in going through this process, may it be the intended parent or surrogate mother, to study the laws regulating surrogacy in all states.

The Key Factors of Surrogacy Agreements

You will need to employ the services of an experienced legal representative to protect your interests. They will need all the inputs coming from you and the surrogate to better understand the circumstances surrounding the process. Partner with this kind of expert to know the nitty gritty details of the contract or agreement that you will have with your surrogate. It is also important to hire independent lawyers for you and the surrogate.

The list seen below will be of great help to cover the basics of the said agreement.

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 or tries.
4. The process of getting pregnant, like “no sexual intercourse.
5. Agreement to never attempt to discontinue pregnancy.
6. A declaration that the mother is unable to conceive or sustain pregnancy.
7. Statements of extensive clinical and mental state of the surrogate as agreed.
8. Health plan for all concerned, including the embryo.
9. Procedures including the positioning of embryo.
10. 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 in the course of pregnancy and post pregnancy.
17. Confidentiality terms.

This checklist will ensure that you have the basics covered. It is, however, ideal to look out for other conditions that will better prepare you for potential issues in the future.

Surrogate’s Compensation

Understanding what your financial obligations are to your surrogate is essential in this whole process. This is actually the first of many to tackle when opting for the said service. Whatever compensation is due for a gestational or even traditional surrogate, it is important to establish the fact that they are not an employee. The employee- employer connection still stands even if the surrogate offers the service for free.

Traditional or Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational Surrogacy is different from Traditional surrogacy since the surrogate carries the pregnancy and gives birth from an already fertilized egg or embryo. In this scenario, there will be no hereditary link in between the surrogate as well as the child. Traditional Surrogacy entails artificial insemination or even IVF by merging the surrogate’s eggs with the semen of the benefactor. In this instance, the woman acting as the surrogate possesses a hereditary link to the child, which can be high-risk.

Lawful Issues Post-Birth Adoption

Several states make it possible for the name of the mother and father to appear on the child’s legal birthing documents. In other states, the surrogate’s name is the one put on the birth certificate, 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. At the end of the day what is very important is to understand as well as know the rules of each state.

How To Select A Gestational Surrogate in Ohio

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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 gestational surrogate or a surrogate carrier. 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. However, 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. Before this, the first step would have to be choosing the right agency for you. There are many agencies that offer this service so always choose the one that you feel most comfortable with. Always remember that this will be the agency that you will have to work alongside with for the next 12 to 24 months. Do your research; make sure that the agency is well established. Read feedbacks from other couples or single parents who have already used the reason and the service why these couples or single parents chose them in the first place? It is always best to trust your gut instincts.

Selecting A Gestational Surrogate

After choosing the agency to work with, finding the right candidate for the gestational surrogate is the next step. 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.

The Ideal Gestational Surrogate

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. 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. 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 pre-natal and post-natal stages, and between the ages of 21 to 40 years old. The process of finding the right gestational surrogate may take some time.

Ideal Organic Food Diet for Surrogate Mothers in Ohio

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During pregnancy, surrogate mothers in Ohio are eating for two. Eating a well-balanced diet not only provides your body with the vitamins and nutrients it needs to stay healthy, but provides the unborn baby with the nutrients he or she needs to grow and develop. Surrogate mothers need increased amounts of vitamins and minerals to support the health and growth of the unborn baby. Vitamin supplements are also recommended.

There are foods you should limit or avoid during pregnancy, especially foods that have been treated with pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals, but organic foods are foods that are produced without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Meat and dairy products must not be produced using antibiotics, growth hormones, or feed composed of animal products in order to be considered organic.

Organic food is very expensive — often twice the price of the same, non-organic product. If you have a limited budget, eat only organic fruits and vegetables. The health benefits of organic meat, poultry, eggs, and milk are not clear. You can even cut corners by purchasing only certain organic fruits and vegetables that have not been exposed to large amounts of pesticide or herbicide. Traditionally, grapes, peaches, strawberries, winter squash, green beans, apples, spinach and tomatoes have high levels of pesticide. You can consume non-organic foods that have inedible peels, such as oranges, or have outer layers that can be removed, such as lettuce.

Supplement your diet with vitamins. Vitamins and minerals help you maintain good health. As a surrogate mother in *state*, your food is not only providing your body with nutrients, but also that of the unborn child. Usually a well-balanced diet provides all the vitamins and minerals you need, but surrogate mothers in Ohio often take a prenatal vitamin that contains folic acid and other vital nutrients needed during pregnancy. When choosing a vitamin or vitamins, make sure it contains folic acid, iron, and Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. Folic acid helps prevent nervous system disorders in the unborn child and protects mothers from cancer and stroke. Surrogate mothers in Ohio should ingest 600 mg of folic acid every day.

Eating a diet that consists of organic fruits, vegetables, whole grain, and dairy products and lean protein sources such as beans, legumes, poultry, low-fat red meat, and fish low in mercury will give your body the widest array of vitamins and minerals. A well-balanced diet also provides your body with fiber, which is necessary for intestinal health, and calcium and vitamin D, which promote bone strength for you and your baby. If you can afford it, you can switch your diet to organic foods to ensure better health and development for you and your baby.

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Surrogate Cost Insurance Questions & Answers

Surrogate Cost: The 3 Biggest Surrogacy Insurance Questions Answered

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Surrogacy is a wonderful journey that leads to the creation of families, but there are a lot of details to be worked out, and the process can be confusing. One of the biggest sources of confusion is the overall surrogate cost. The biggest factor that affects the financial aspect is the surrogacy insurance coverage. Because the surrogate insurance has such a big impact on the financial cost, it is important to understand as much as possible about how the coverage works. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about surrogacy insurance:

Question 1: What is the advantage of being covered for surrogacy over someone who has no surrogacy insurance coverage?

The intended parents face a great deal of expenses regarding the surrogacy process. They have to pay for fertility medications, the surrogate’s stipend, agency fees and legal expenses. If a surrogate already has insurance coverage for surrogacy, the intended parents would not have to purchase a separate policy for her. Because they do not have to buy an insurance policy for that surrogate, using that surrogate is more affordable for the intended parents than using a surrogate without the surrogacy insurance coverage. Because of this, the intended parents may be more inclined to choose a surrogate who already has surrogacy insurance coverage over one with no insurance coverage so that they can save money on the surrogate cost.

Question 2: Another surrogate uses the same insurance company that I do and she got paid on her claims. Since I am using the same insurance company, will my surrogacy claims get paid, too?

No, not necessarily. Insurance policies and rules change and vary from state to state, time to time, and employer to employer. It is not a good idea to assume that because you are using the same company that you have the same policy. Surrogate agencies are experienced in researching insurance benefits for surrogacy. Ask your surrogate agency for assistance with investigating your insurance benefits.

Question 4: I qualify for Medicaid. Will Medicaid cover my surrogacy?

No, not necessarily. Another common mistake surrogates make is that they make the assumption that Medicaid always covers pregnancy. Pregnancy care and surrogacy are not considered as the same thing by the insurance company. Your surrogate agency will be able to contact medicaid for you and verify your coverage for surrogacy. In all likelihood you will not be covered for surrogacy under medicaid.

These are some of the most common insurance questions frequently asked by surrogate mothers. By understanding these questions, you will get a better idea of how your insurance works and how much they will cover, if any, of the surrogate cost. As a general rule to remember, it is not wise to assume that your insurance will just cover your claims. It is better to have your surrogate agency handle surrogacy insurance concerns, because they are experts in this field. Having a surrogate agency assist you and the intended parents will help the surrogacy journey be less complicated and more stress free.

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How to Tell Your Family You Are a Surrogate

How to Tell Your Family You Are a Surrogate

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When you want to become a surrogate mother, it is not an easy task. Along with the numerous responsibilities before, during, and after the surrogacy journey, you will be left with the dilemma of letting your family, children and friends know of your decision to become a surrogate mother for others. Getting all the moral support you can from your family, children, and friends is very important for your surrogacy journey. The moral support your family can give you will help you cope with all the emotions you might feel during pregnancy.

It is important to remember that any pregnancy usually affects those people who are near and dear to you. Your immediate family should be the first ones to find out about your decision to become a surrogate mother. Your husband, parents, and children should be well educated on the surrogacy process. The best time to tell your immediate family about your decision to become a surrogate mother is when you have firmly decided on being a surrogate. Letting your immediate family know the reasons why you decided on being a surrogate will greatly help them understand your purpose and goals. Being truthful with them will help them understand and accept your decision.

Letting your children understand your situation as a surrogate will take a bit of time and patience. Remember that the reaction of your children will depend mainly on what you have told them. Explaining this sort of thing to your children will always call for sensitivity, and most importantly, the truth. You should also consider introducing the concepts and ideas of surrogacy to your children over a period of time, rather than all at once. For example, as you arrange a meeting with the intended parents, you can take the opportunity to bring up these ideas with your children. You can begin talking about families and what makes a family between television shows or after social gatherings with other children so that they can get the importance of family.

For your friends and other relatives, it is highly advisable to not let them know about your situation as a surrogate immediately. The best approach would be to let the pregnancy come up naturally in conversation. The more natural, confident, and happy you are about it, the more accepting they will be to you being a surrogate. If you are nervous and scared of their reaction, they may question your decision. Just remember that they won’t all accept or agree with your decision to become a surrogate mother and this should not affect you.

You should not fool yourself into believing that your pregnancy will not affect the people who are closest to you. It is vital for your family to be well prepared and supportive, and this is a very important aspect for your pregnancy to be a success. They need to fully understand that the baby is not going to be a member of your family. If you have children, you need to make them realize that they are not getting another brother or sister. They need to understand that you are merely providing a service for some couple who were not able to have a baby on their own. Surrogacy can be a very educational and socially expanding experience, not only for yourself and your family, but also your community.

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Should Pregnant Surrogates Eat Organic Foods?

Should Pregnant Surrogates Eat Organic Foods?

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The goal shared by all intended parents and surrogate mothers is to produce a healthy baby. To ensure that the baby develops properly, it’s very important for the surrogate to eat healthily while she is pregnant. More and more, intended parents are going a step further by asking their surrogates to eat only organic foods. While some surrogates are reluctant to do this, others are entirely willing – after all, it may improve their own health.

As with any significant decision, though, there are pros and cons to be considered.

The downsides include that organic foods can be much more expensive than the same type of non-organically-produced foods. This is due to their higher cost of production. A surrogate may be more willing to eat organic foods if the intended parents offered to pay for the organic foods she eats.

A related issue to that is the fact that organic foods can also be harder to obtain; not every grocery store or supermarket has such a wide selection of organics. They’re a specialty item, after all, and surrogates with fewer options for food-shopping (in rural areas or small towns, for instance) may have trouble shopping for organic foods.

And of course, not every food is available organically. There’s a real possibility that a surrogate eating only organically may have to miss out on some of her favorite foods for the duration of her pregnancy.

There are convenience issues, too. Organics, due to their lack of preservatives, can spoil more easily – shorter shelf-lives, which require more regular shopping.

But there are a lot of good reasons that intended parents ask their surrogates to eat organic foods. Insecticides and additives are potentially harmful if they are passed though to the baby during pregnancy. Organic foods lack insecticides and additives – those things won’t be carried through into the baby.

Health concerns have, from time to time, been raised over genetically modified crops, or meat from animals that have been fed those crops. Organic food, by definition, is not genetically modified, which removes those concerns.

Research has shown, additionally, that organic foods contain more healthy vitamins and minerals, possibly due to the lack of preservatives involved.

And as a side-benefit, if you’re concerned about how animals are treated, organic food is a much better idea. Organic farming requires that animals be fed a natural diet, and are kept (unlike mass-produced ‘factory farm’ meat) in much more humane free-range conditions.

So while organic food can be inconvenient at times and more expensive, it also does provide a much healthier choice for the surrogate and the baby. It’s a big decision that should be weighed seriously from both sides, but there are solid reasons behind why a lot of intended parents do want their surrogate mothers to eat organically during their pregnancy.

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