Questions to ask Care Surrogacy Mexico

Searching for the right surrogacy program and ultimately, the right surrogate takes time and research.  Trust me, I've been there.  As you consider your options, ask questions from the list I created below.  Keep records of the program’s answers to help you make your final decision.  

I put this list together based on my own research as well as the constant changes in the reproductive world.  

How long has Care Surrogacy Mexico been in operation?  *Keep in mind that CARE as a company has been offering surrogacy services in other countries for over 10 years now. 

How does Care recruit surrogates?

What medical screenings does Care perform? Does Care test the surrogate and her partner?  *My surrogate as well as her family went through a series of screenings that Ivan Davydov; Care Surrogacy Mexico's Reproductive Attorney, will discuss with you. 

What is the cost? What is the fee payment structure?

How are surrogates’ expenses handled? Is there a cap on these expenses?

www.surrogacymexico.com






Does the program offer psychological screening and counseling to all parties, including the carrier’s partner?  *My surrogate met weekly with a therapist. 

Where will the IVF and medical procedures take place?  *My egg retrieval was preformed in Mexico City.  My son was born in Tabasco, MX. 

How many babies have been born through the Care program? 

Will there be a detailed contact between the surrogate and myself?

Can I be present at the birth of my baby?

What type of legal counsel is offered to us and to the surrogate?  *Ivan Davydov will cover this for you. 

Does Care offer adoption finalization services, if needed?

If the carrier does not get pregnant over a certain number of cycles, what is your policy? *This is a very important question to ask, as Care has designed a unique policy for the Intended Parents. 

If the carrier has a pregnancy loss, what are our financial obligations?  *Please keep in mind that miscarriage can happen in all pregnancies.  Natural and surrogacy related.  

Is the cost more if the surrogate has a multiple pregnancy?

Does Care have a registry for the surrogate and the child to exchange information when the child reaches maturity? *I keep in contact with my surrogate.  This of course is up to both parties.  

May I speak with a few current or past Intended Parents?  *I am available to chat with all Intended Parents interested in building a family through Care Surrogacy Mexico.  You can reach me via email and Skype.  


www.surrogacymexico.com 

Your Job and Surrogacy

A very important factor you need to think about before jumping into surrogacy is your job.  Not everyone has unlimited vacation time or financial funds.  I suggest discussing your surrogacy plans with your human resources department and boss.  In the U.S. there are companies changing their policy on maternity leave monthly to better accommodate the ever changing "family".  

You can also chat with an attorney in your country to see what your rights are and if they can possibly draw up a contract for you to use for your position. 

Everyones situation is unique.  Being prepared for the unexpected is your best option when doing surrogacy abroad.  Ask if you are able to have a mobile office while in Mexico.  Let your employer know that you value your position and their understanding about your life goals to start a family.  

I…unfortunately did not have this luxury with my employer.  They held my position for as long as they could but my stay in Mexico was much longer than anyone anticipated.  

If you are not able to work from the hotel while in Mexico and your employer cannot hold your job you need to have a back up plan in place.  Whether it's money saved or a side job.  Preparing yourself and your future family for the what if's is being a responsible parent.  I have seen some couples post a kickstarter ad to help cover the costs of traveling expenses during surrogacy.  It's not a bad idea.  Your family and friends will be happy to assist you and even share the post.  For more information check out https://www.kickstarter.com/?ref=nav

I have also seen couples contact their religious groups for financial assistance.  My friends temple helped raise money for her IVF treatment and then surrogacy expenses.  You never know unless you try.  In this case, it's worth a shot.  

Advice I Gathered on Sperm Optimization for Surrogacy

Being from Pittsburgh and having many friends in the medical field has it's benefits.  Due to my APS and re-occurent miscarriages I sort of became a regular within the Maternal Fetal Medicine department at Magee Women Hospital.  Some of the most skilled doctors in world have taken the time to explain the in's and out's of pregnancy, infertility and blood diseases for me.  I was chatting with my doctor the other day regarding my surrogacy experience as well as male infertility and was surprised by some of the evidence and advice he shared with me.  

Men can improve the health of their sperm and future baby in just three months.  It takes 80-90 days for an immature sperm cell to grow into a mature sperm, men have the opportunity to positively impact the quality of their sperm by improving their health during the three months before fertility treatment.  (So…if you and your partner are considering surrogacy this is great prep work for you).  Men can optimize their health and the health of their sperm through improved nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress management.  You should have regular visits to your primary care physician as well in order to identify and treat other health issues including: hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

Synthetic testosterone actually decreases sperm count.  Synthetic testosterone, which can be found in supplements, tricks a man’s body into thinking that it has produced enough testosterone and therefore it slows down sperm production.  During fertility treatment men should avoid all supplements and never have a testosterone injection or use testosterone creams or gels before and IVF or IUI cycle.  (This actually comes from personal experience.  The doctor may need you to give 2-3 samples of sperm if it is not adequate). 

Sleep could be the secret to improving everything from eating habits to endocrine health.  While you are sleeping, your body is busy recovering from the day’s physical and emotional wear and tear.  Sleep is also imperative in regulating hormones, including testosterone and other factors for sperm production.  Sleep is vital to improving your health.  Sleep deprivation, which is typically less than six or seven hours of sleep, can lead to:

*       Increases Weight Gain

*       Increases Stress

*       Increases Hunger

*       Increases Cortisol

*       Increases Abdominal Fat

*       Decreases Muscle Mass

*       Decreases Testosterone

*       Decreases Fertility

Smoking today can affect your children tomorrow…I have written about this in previous articles.  Quitting smoking may be the single greatest change that a patient – male or female – can make for his/her own health and potentially for the health of his/her unborn child.  Most people are aware that smoking has far-reaching consequences.  Smoking tobacco or any other product has a dramatic negative effect on sperm count, quality, motility, and most importantly the genes incorporated in the sperm.  There is a great deal of literature available on the dangers of smoking when it comes to issues of reproduction.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53022/

It is important that both partners support each other in quitting smoking.  This single change will not only improve their fertility, but will also improve their overall health and the health of an unborn child.

Caffeine can rob you of energy.  In order to ensure that caffeine does not diminish sleep quality or quantity, avoid caffeine after lunch.

Male and female fertility patients should limit their caffeine intake throughout the day.  The doctor that Care Surrogacy Mexico works with actually advised me of this before I began the egg stimulation process.  Male patients should consume no more than 300 mg per day, and ideally that is more like 150 mg. 

Sources:

http://www.upmc.com/pages/default.aspx

Center for Fertility and Reproductive Endocrinology-Pittsburgh

The Role of the Surrogate Mother

Surrogacy is first and foremost about sacrifice, both for the surrogate and the intended parents. The involved individuals sacrifice physically and emotionally for a common goal; to bring surrogate babies into the world. 


Surrogacy is an emotional whirlwind, for everyone involved.  Arguments happen, feelings get hurt, and things do go wrong.  It is important that everyone looking into this process understands what can happen and how to overcome a bad situation. 


This process is not something that is right for everyone, be they potential surrogate mothers or intended parents.  For many, the emotions involved in this process are simply too overwhelming.  Simply recognizing this fact goes a long way.  Infertility and surrogacy are not easy journeys. 


They are rough and extremely time consuming roads to follow, but the rewards are wonderful.  At the end of the road is a beautiful child that many people have helped into the world. 



Many of you are curious about my relationship with my surrogate mother.  I met her before the egg transfer but had no contact with her during the pregnancy.  I received weekly/bi-weekly updates about the pregnancy and her health from Care Surrogacy Mexico and the doctor.  I was with her in the hospital for the birth of my son, Luca and visited her during her recovery.  We now stay in contact via email. 


She will always have a huge piece of my heart.  Without her I would not have the greatest blessing in my life.  One day when Luca is old enough and is curious about how he came into our hearts and the world I will bring him back to Villahermosa so that he can meet the woman who gave him life.  It's important to me that he knows about all of the people that helped make is journey a possibility.  After all…Villahermosa is where he spent the first 4 1/2 month of his life.  

Care Surrogacy Mexico Facts

There is no doubt that surrogacy can be expensive, but the success rates are high.  With sound legal advice from Ivan Davydov (Care Surrogacy Mexico Reproductive Attorney)http://www.surrogacymexico.com/about-us/meet-the-team and guidance from the supportive staff, you can manage the risks and bring home a beautiful baby.

Whether you've been trying to get pregnant without success or are in need of a donor egg/sperm…or if the thought of another failed fertility treatment seems unbearable, surrogacy could help you bring home a baby.  

There are two kinds of surrogacy: gestational and traditional. With a gestational carrier a carrier becomes pregnant through in vitro fertilization (IVF).  The intended parents may provide the egg and sperm for IVF, or donor eggs and sperm can be used.  In gestational arrangements, the surrogate is not genetically related to the child.

Traditional surrogates, on the other hand, are genetically linked to the child.  In this situation, a woman becomes pregnant after artificial insemination.  The surrogate’s egg is fertilized by sperm from the intended father, or by sperm from a donor.  

Care Surrogacy Mexico Facts…

You have a really good chance of success with a surrogate or carrier. 

Over half of all gestational carriers get pregnant after the first IVF attempt.  Those that need a second or third attempt are almost always successful as well.

If you choose a gestational carrier, don’t be surprised to bring home twin babies.  Almost half of all gestational carriers give birth to multiples.

Surrogacy may sound appealing, but it is not cheap…especially in the U.S.  Care Surrogacy Mexico has created a program that makes surrogacy affordable.  

Legal guidance is paramount to a successful surrogacy arrangement.  You should never embark in a surrogacy quest without an experienced attorney…hence, Ivan Davydov.  http://www.surrogacymexico.com/about-us/meet-the-team

If you choose surrogacy, you will want to make sure that you are taking care of yourself along the way.  You should make a habit of living a healthy lifestyle, have all the necessary tests with your obgyn/pcp, and have funds saved for your surrogacy journey. 

Source: american society of reproductive medicine

http://www.surrogacymexico.com

Hiring a Birthing Photographer in Villahermosa

Just because your little one will be born via surrogate doesn't mean you have to skip out on the trendy things couples who conceive naturally do.

I didn't have time to schedule a photographer for Luca's birth.  In fact, I didn't have time to do anything except get on a plan and fly to Mexico!  For those of you that do not know, my son Luca was born 6 weeks early.  My surrogate's water actually broke.  What can I say?  He was ready.  And that was a good first lesson because you can't always have a plan.  

When Luca was born I did get some great shots…with my iPhone! LOL!  Yes, the iPhone takes quality images and there are fantastic apps out there to enhance them but if I had more time I would have hired a photographer.  

**You must have permission of the doctor who will deliver your baby, the surrogate mother and approval of the hospital before you hire a photographer.  

The c-section was so fast!  Before I knew it the doctor was pulling my baby boy out of my surrogate's womb!  I immediately snapped several shots of Luca's entrance into the world.  I was only able to hold him for 5 minutes and then he had to go on oxygen and into a special incubator in the NICU.  I had to wait 10 days to hold him again!  It was agony for me but I visited him every day.  

I encourage you to think about hiring a photographer for this experience.  This is your baby's story…journey.  Mexico as well as the surrogate will always be a part of his or her life.  

Can I take my baby swimming while in Villahermosa?

While the weather in Villahermosa is ideal for swimming year round that doesn't mean that it is safe for your new baby.  

Recently an IP (Intended Parent) asked me how soon he should wait to take his baby swimming?

I did not take my son swimming while I was in Mexico.  Yes, he was with me outside at the pool.  I never took him into the water for good reason.  

Firstly, Luca was born 6 weeks premature.  Considering his fragile immune system I was not going to disrupt anything.  His pediatrician advised waiting at least a few months before taking a baby into a swimming pool.  A baby's body temperature can quickly change so the temperature of the water may be too much for them to handle properly.  It is best to wait until your child is at least 3 months old and of course has had his/her necessary shots.  There are also many harmful chemicals in swimming pools and bacteria that are not safe for your precious newborn.  So to be on the safe side, keep the swimming to bath time.