Care Surrogacy Mexico was the right choice for us

Every IP (Intended Parent) I speak with asks me the same question at some point during our conversation.  Why did you choose Care Surrogacy Mexico to have a baby?  


My ex-husband and I researched surrogacy agencies across the United States, India, and Mexico.  U.S. was out almost instantly because of the high cost factor, India was extremely too far and risky for us, but Mexico…we had many memories and ties to Mexico.  And for some reason this country doesn't want me to leave but I'll get into that in another post.  


My ex brought me to Playa Del Carmen 3 1/2 years ago and proposed.  A few months later we took a trip to Cancun, made incredible friends, bought a property and started going back every other month.  


We were on our friends boat having a discussion about our surrogacy quest and I said, "what about Mexico?"  We are here all the time, love the country, have friends all over, and it's a quick flight from the U.S.  My ex loved the idea and immediately started researching and found Care Surrogacy Mexico. The very next day he was in contact with Ivan Davydov; Surrogacy and Assisted Reproductive Lawyer.  Ivan was friendly and informative.  He explained the entire process,  CARE's relationship with the hospitals and clinics and insisted that we first meet with our doctor and the CARE team before making a decision.  Of course I did my P.I. work about the company, staff & the doctor's c.v.  I wanted to be sure everything was legit.  


We flew to Mexico City and Ivan picked us up at the airport.  We met the CARE team, toured the clinic where the egg retrieval takes place and met with the doctors.  I also had my exam with the doctor during that first trip.  


By the end of the 3 days we had made our decision.  Care Surrogacy Mexico was the right agency for us.  I liked the fact that they had an in-house attorney because I knew going into this, there may be complications with the governments.  The company has been performing surrogacy in other countries such as Georgia, for many years.  The team literally walked us through every step and we never felt a lone.  


On February 15, 2014, with the help of Care Surrogacy Mexico and the skilled doctors we welcomed our beautiful son Luca Leonidas Steliotes into the world.  We are so proud to be the first American couple to successfully achieve a beautiful surrogacy experience here in Mexico.  

Your Care Surrogacy Mexico Packing List

The magical time has finally arrived for you to welcome your baby into the world!  But first you need to pack.  I get asked many questions regarding what to bring to Villahermosa, MX and what exactly is available here.

First, let me just begin by telling you I did not have time to pack!  Luca was born 6 weeks early.  I received the phone call while having dinner with friends.  The next day I was on a flight to Mexico.  I didn't even have a baby shower!  All I had with me was a car seat and 3 onesies.  (of course they did not fit him because he was so tiny).  I was not able to bring my stroller because I was traveling a lone and couldn't carry everything.  It was one of the most stressful times of my life but I made the journey to welcome my son.

Luca stayed in the hospital for 3 weeks to get stronger and gain weight.  I had some time to prepare for what I needed.  The downside to this was I had to spend a lot of money.  Think of everything you may need for a newborn and then think of buying it all at once.  That's exactly what I had to do!

If you are like me you will be in a hotel.  I was in a hotel for a month and now I have a house. (Because I am working/living here).  One of the biggest downsides to the hotel was not being able to sterilize bottles in my room.  I would send the bottles with the maid twice a day to be sterilized.  Everyone was eager to help me because I had this tiny baby and I was doing it all a lone.

So here is my packing list for Villahermosa…I am sure I will need to add/edit this in the future.

1. Carseat…one that has been tried and tested.  The drivers here are crazy!
2. Stroller
3. Co-sleeper:  http://www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com/babydepot/BABY/Shop-Online-For/Activity/Infant-Sleep-Positioners/By-Your-Side-153-Co-sleeper-Tan-337142465.aspx
4. Receiving blankets (8) you can line the co-sleeper with them too.
5. Bodysuits/Onesies.  You can never have too many of these!
6. Socks
7. Caps/Hats
8. Seasonal Outerwear.  It's cold in the A/C but hot/humid outside every day.
9. Diaper Bag
10. Bibs
11. Burp Cloths
12. Bottles (6) You can always buy more once you get here.
13. Pacifiers (3)
14. Bottle Brush
15. First Aid Kit
16. Baby Nail Clippers
17. A small tupperware container for baby formula
18. Baby Carrie/Wrap

And anything you think you may need you can buy here.  Yes, they have shopping malls, supermarkets, Walmart.  The biggest pain will be sterilizing the bottles…but you have to do it! 

Throw out the plan now.  Trust me it doesn't work!  Your baby will arrive when he/she is ready.  Just have fun with it and take in the moment because trust me, it goes by so fast and they change so quickly from day to day.  

I made this list short because most of you are traveling by plane; some a lone.  With the weight restrictions it's not possible to bring everything.  Set some money a side for when you are here to buy the things you need.  

I did not list diapers or formula because I chose to use what the hospital provided for Luca.  When I learned of his release date I purchased the diapers, wipes, formula, shampoo and creams.  

Buy your formula, diapers, creams, medicines, shampoos at the Ahorro Pharmacy!  It's very inexpensive and they have them all over the city.  Shop at Walmart, Liverpool, and Sanborns to save money on the extras. 

I hope this list helps you and I cannot wait to meet your baby and you in Villahermosa!

My FIRST Mother's Day…Finally!

Someone asked me the other day what I wanted for Mother’s Day and I laughed.  What? LOL!  I bought myself a Mother’s Day present a while ago. And, if there were anything in the world that I wanted right now that I do not already have, it would be one day to sleep in.

This weekend marks my first Mother’s Day.  My first official Mother’s Day with an actual baby in my arms.  My baby Luca!

I have gone through many Mother’s Days as an unofficial mom. Four miscarriages due to a rare blood clotting disease.

But this time, after those four Mother’s Days, I get to be included and my best friends know how much this means to me.

My celebration was not a fancy affair, but it was incredibly special…thanks to my sweet boyfriend.  I didn't get to sleep in.  Or have a day without doing dishes or laundry. I did not get breakfast in bed or the day off.

After all, it’s just Luca and I.

But I get to wake up and pick my baby up out of his crib.

I get to kiss him right where his neck meets his cheeks, which he loves.

I get to cuddle him while he drinks his morning bottle and listens to chakra balancing music.

I get to lay him on the couch, and lean in while he rubs his hands on my face.

I get to pick out his clothes for the day and get him dressed.

I get to put him in his car seat and take him with me to my new favorite restaurant for my first Mother's Day celebration. 

I get to enjoy the compliments all day about how precious he is.

I get to lay on the bed with him while he figures out how to roll over.

I get to run his bath and watch him enjoy the warm water while he sucks on the wash cloth.

I get to rub him down with baby lotion.

I get to find him some soft, comfortable pajamas, and snuggle with him on my lap when he has them on.

I get to wash his bottles and fill them back up so they are ready for the next day.

I get to wash his clothes and make sure they are clean and comfortable for him to wear for the week.

I get to go to bed, knowing that my baby is in the next room sleeping peacefully, and I get to experience all of it again the next day. A day that’s not even Mother’s Day.

I get to do all of that. ME…Finally!

This is what I have been waiting for.  I feel complete.  I feel like I finally found my reason for being here  I am happy, and I am so completely in love that there are days I can’t even handle it.

On Mother’s Day, I will always look back to his birth and remember his first cry.  Touching his face as soon as he was born.  Holding him and looking at that sweet, scrunched up face.  Having our first moments together a lone.  Having our first night together alone. (I didn't sleep the entire night!)

I am so so unbelievably grateful.  So blessed.  So happy.  So complete.  So rich.  So loved.  I mean…how does it ever get any better than this?

Happy Mother’s Day to me!

And Happy Mother’s Day to all of the other moms out there.

The new moms.
The veteran moms.
The pregnant moms.
The adoptive moms.
The moms that experienced loss.
The aunts.
The grandmas.
The sisters.
The nieces.
The cousins.
The guardians.
The godmothers.
The fur moms.

Anyone that experiences that kind of love for someone else…And a special thank you to my Care Surrogacy Mexico Family for making my dreams come true!  I have a beautiful healthy baby boy and a job that I absolutely LOVE!! 

Happy Mother’s Day,

Carmela 

Sleep baby sleep. Mama is a zombie!

Having a new baby is an exciting beautiful experience but it can also be exhausting!

Recently my friend Caitlin gave me sleep schedule tips to use on Luca and let me just tell you…THEY WORK, if you stick to the routine!  I am happy to report that I am well rested and working! LOL!

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  First, you must keep the bedroom dark. Use a night light or a hall light with the door pulled shut if you have to feed the baby…and do not change the baby unless he/she is poopy. The baby will probably have a soaked diaper by morning but that's ok. Caitlin suggests using the purple desitin at night to protect their bums. You should also use bedtime diapers to help with that too.
  
  No talking to the baby when you have to go into the bedroom. You must try to establish a bedtime too. Luca is a little over a month old so his bedtime around 8 p.m. I bathe him and go straight to his bedroom, feed and read a short baby book while he is in his crib awake yet sleepy so he can soothe himself to sleep. Caitlin also suggests playing a baby lullaby on repeat very low at night. Babies as well as children need a routine especially for sleep. Once you bathe you baby take them into their dim bedroom and be calm and soothing.  
  
  As for daytime...You must try to keep your baby awake during the day. Luca's day schedule varies but mostly it's a nap from 10-12 a.m. and again from 1-3 p.m. Placing him on this daytime schedule helped him establish a bedtime routine. I let him sleep in the living room in a pack-n-play where the tv is so he can hear noise. I also keep the blinds open so that he knows the difference between nap time and bed time. This was a big issue for Luca because he is a premie and was in the hospital for a few weeks around bright lights and loud noises. You should NOT try to be quiet because you want the baby to understand nap vs bed. If you keep up with it, it should not take your baby long to pick up on the sleep schedule.
  
  Good luck and please let me know if the sleep schedule has helped your baby!
  

  
  

  
  

Happy April!

Welcome to my Carmela Cares blog!  I am very excited to share my Care Surrogacy Mexico experience with you as well as helpful baby advice and everything in between.  Please join me as I embark on motherhood while juggling a new career. 

This is an incredibly exciting time for IVF and Surrogacy.  There are many topics that I will be covering to further educate and grow the community.  If there are any questions or concerns you have regarding Care Surrogacy Mexico please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Happy April!!

with CARE, 

~Carmela