Category: Intended Parenthood

Personal Development Guide for Surrogate Mothers

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Working on your personal development 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.

For starters, adopt a positive mindset. This will keep you focused on the more important things in life and erase any negative feeling or experience 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 provide happiness to your life. They’ll help you stay on track by being good role models and will help you balance out any negative emotion that you may get from people who aren’t as supportive of your self-improvement objectives.

When busy at work, learn to take breaks. Taking breaks may seem counterproductive, but will actually help you recharge your mind, so when you resume work, you’ll be able to get more done.

Keeping a journal is another great tip to help with your personal development goals. As a surrogate mother going through many life changes, maintaining a journal is ideal to keep track of developments and experiences. Always have a notebook with you so that wherever you are, you will be able to write down ideas in detail and then go back to it at a later time when you feel like it.

Learning how to be a leader is another great personal development tool. Leadership may have varied meanings, but all stem from one common theme- influence. Look over your own past as a surrogate, or the things that have impacted your leadership potential. Which events had the most impact on the way you live your life? What transformations have occurred thanks to these events? How did your leadership skills come into action during these experiences? Thinking deeply about these experiences will help you become a better surrogate mother.

Showing a little humility helps you to focus not just on yourself, but other people as well. When you realize the value of others, you are sure to strengthen your relationship with yourself and your loved ones.

Exercising is suggested not to just to lose weight, but also to improve on how you feel about yourself. There are known physiological benefits associated with exercise, particularly for surrogate mothers. Not only does it keep your body in good shape, but it also causes your body to produce chemicals that will enhance how happy and satisfied you feel.

Last but not the least, learn how to sit back and relax. Don’t sweat the small stuff and over complicate things that can no longer be changed. If you overreact you might be stressed for no reason and that is a big no-no for surrogate mothers. Looking at the bright side of life will most certainly help you on a personal level.

Tips for Gestational Carriers

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While being a gestational carrier, it is ideal to eat easy to absorb, vitamin-rich foods. A good example is Spinach and Avocado. Avocado is actually very easy on a delicate belly, and has oils good for the body. Green Spinach, packs a punch and delivers your body system with vitamins along with B supplements, each advantageous for you as a gestational carrier and also the infant that you are supporting.

Altering your eating plan could be difficult in the beginning, but will have long term benefits if followed strictly. Opting for healthier food items will give you and the baby all the nutrition needed to develop and function accordingly.

Integrating a healthy mix of fruits and vegetables are critical to ensuring a well balanced diet. Including fruit slices for dessert or partnering a small vegetable dish with your main course will keep your taste buds happy and will help you feel less bloated.

Nuts are a good addition to any diet. Consuming small portions as part of a well balanced, healthy diet is ideal as it contains good proteins. These make great snacks and will help avoid overeating in between meals.

Overall, good eating habits and the right mix of food are vital to ensuring you and the baby’s general health. Let go of unhealthy snacking and overeating and keep yourself motivated with these easy to follow tips. Always keep these recommendations in mind as you change to be a healthier gestational carrier.

Guidelines for A Surrogate Mother

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Every component of your lifestyle has an effect not just for you as a surrogate mother, but also for the parent to be. Below are some suggestions to assist in achieving a healthier version of you in your journey.

If you are a surrogate mother, you must make sure to observe and follow the desires and instructions of the intended mother. Complying with her sensible advice will be both favorable for you as a surrogate mother, as well as the baby.

Exercising when pregnant seems like a wild idea; however, it is very beneficial to surrogate mothers. A short or long walk every day, whichever you prefer, will relieve any tension in the body and also help you keep active in a non-strenuous way. Remaining energetic is vital in the course of the entire surrogacy quest; however, it is likewise important that you work out with caution and safety in mind.

As a surrogate mother, take time to rest. Sleeping for at least 8 hours a day can minimize stress and help lessen the feeling of over fatigue. It is best to remove all possible distractions that may cause anxiety and sleeplessness. You are sure to wake up with a renewed sense of energy after you get a good night’s sleep.

Another tip for a surrogate mom is when riding in an automobile that possesses airbags; ensure that the chair is actually pushed as far from the dashboard (control panel) as allowed. The airbags may be harmful to you and to the little one, so as much as possible, check this before boarding any vehicle.

Educating yourself on the basics of surrogacy and maintaining a positive outlook will definitely relieve you of any stress you may be feeling over the course of the pregnancy. Remember what you’ve learned from this article and before you know it, you are on your way to delivering and helping a couple have their baby in their arms.

Surrogate Compensation

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Surrogate Compensation

When one decides to become a surrogate, the payment or settlement is often never the leading concern. This goes without mentioning that being an actual surrogate mother is very challenging, physically as well as psychologically.

Many individuals understand that surrogacy has been around for quite some time now. However, it is also hard to find a surrogate that may be worthy and who has effectively made up their mind for the sacrifices involved in the process.

Surrogate Compensation: Charges for Service

Surrogacy expenses deviate from company to company. Costs for application for desired moms and dads normally operate upwards of around $500, while legal costs commonly arrive at $15,000. These fees do not go straight to the surrogate mom. These funds are secured to make sure that she, together with the intended moms and dads, are guarded financially.

Surrogate Compensation: Surrogate Expenses

Turning into a surrogate can be likened to someone with a full time job. In this light, intended moms and dads commonly compensate the surrogate along with a cash fee, which is predisposed in an agreement prior to pregnancy, as well as paying off for additional cost such as health care expenditures and other miscellaneous fees. The average amount that an inexperienced or first time surrogate can be around $25,000 to $35,000, on the other hand, surrogate pros earn much higher compared to surrogate newbies.

Surrogate Compensation: Additional Costs

As explained over, surrogate mom’s clinical expenditures are already settled by the intended moms and dads, including ob-gyn check-ups and also any type of extra medical treatment essential for surrogate’s overall health. Included in this clause is a coverage for special or unusual cases like if a surrogate mom is forced out from her house. The money will be readily available to sustain her residing safety and security. The remaining amount will be returned to the intended parents after the delivery of the baby.

Understanding Surrogacy in Texas

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Ensure that the legal representative assigned to your case will be aware of all the important information provided by you and the surrogate. Working with an experienced lawyer is critical in better understanding the details surrounding surrogacy. The contract to be agreed upon between you and the surrogate must be comprehensive as it will serve as the binding arrangement that will make for a successful surrogacy experience. It is also necessary to have independent lawyers for the intended parents and the surrogate.

The items listed below are good to know information that will safeguard the best interest of both parties.
1. Names of people involved, namely, the couple and the surrogate.
2. Must be of Legal Age.
3. Number of attempts.
4. The method of attaining surrogate’s pregnancy, like “no sexual intercourse.”
5. Agreement to sustain and continue the pregnancy.
6. A statement that the mother cannot conceive a child and sustain a pregnancy.
7. Statement of in depth medical and mental condition of the woman who carries the intended parents baby as agreed.
8. Medical insurance for all parties involved in the placement of the embryo.
9. Modern treatments involving the placement of the embryo.
10. Stringent checking of surrogate’s activities as well as medication ingested.
11. Agreement on regular prenatal medical health care
12. Restriction on surrogate’s activities that may be considered threatening to pregnancy and the birthing process.
13. Parental rights of the surrogate.
14. The presence of the couple during birth.
15. Legal or physical custody of the surrogate and the couple once the child is delivered.
16. Financial considerations before, during, and after pregnancy.
17. Confidentiality terms.

The list above addresses what is essentially required, but it is still better to check what could be other factors that will help you anticipate for future complications that may arise in the process. Preparation in advance is critical at this phase and will benefit your future family and the surrogate.

Comprehending Surrogacy Companies

The legality involving surrogacy in the USA is still a recurring debate. Aside from having surrogacy legal in some states, it’s the regulations regarding the procedure that somewhat causes confusion and raises many questions from different sectors in the community.

Once you and your partner have decided to sign up for surrogacy services, you will need to arm yourself with information regarding surrogacy laws and legal concerns per state. This will make your experience a little less overwhelming, giving you time to focus on other concerns that may come your way.

Surrogate’s Pay

Knowing how much to pay your surrogate is one of the several concerns to take note of when choosing surrogacy to build your family. Whatever payment a gestational or traditional surrogate receives, it is critical to know for certain that they are not an employee. Even when the woman acting as a surrogate does this free of charge, she is still not qualified due to the employee – employer relationship.

Traditional or Gestational Surrogacy

Traditional Surrogacy is the process 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 possesses a hereditary link to the baby, which can be high-risk due to the said genetic connection.

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 web link in between the surrogate as well as the child.

Lawful Concerns Post-Birth Adoption

Another concern to take note of post birth is the details on the child’s birth certificate.
Most states will allow the parents’ name to be written in the child’s birthing documents. Other states allow the surrogate’s name to be on the birth documents which can be later amended when necessary.

Another consideration would be pre birth order. It is permissible for some states to have pre-birth order, but only under certain conditions. Ultimately, what is it essential to do is to have a complete understanding of the laws of surrogacy for each state.

How To Select A Gestational Surrogate in Texas

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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. So 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 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? 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. 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 post-natal and pre-natal stages, and between the ages of 21 to 40 years old. 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. Arm yourself with a lot of information, a full heart, and the possibility that your baby will soon be in your arms. 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. In the end, what everyone wants is someone to hold close, carry, and another human being to call their own.

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.

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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The relationship between surrogates and their intended parents.

Surrogates in Texas and Their Relationship with the Intended Parents

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Surrogates in Texas 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 Texas.

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 Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas 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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