Positive Pregnancy Test!

This update has been long time coming. I found new Intended Parents (IP's) in September 2012. It was kind of an unexpected thing.

We started an October cycle, but it got cancelled due to problems with the egg donor.

I was then on Lupron for 40+ days, and we then had an embryo transfer on December 13, 2012.

We transferred 3 blastocysts.

PGD was done. One was normal, the other two are uncertain, so Chorionic Villi will be done further on.

We then had a positive digital home pregnancy test at 5 days past transfer. Then we did an hCG beta on our own at 7 days past transfer, and got a 37.6.

The official RE ordered beta was yesterday, and on that one we got 433.7!

The IP's are excited to say the least :-)

Now the wait starts for that first ultrasound in two weeks.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!

October Transfer Cancelled

I had some prospective Intended Parents (PIP's), so I went to get an ultrasound and a Pap Smear with my RE on August 31, 2012, to see if all was ok to proceed. I also started birth control (BC) pills that day.

The interested IP's hadn't really made contact since first contacting me back in February 2012, and they still had some issues with my terms. I revised/reconsidered things in hopes of being able to proceed.

October would have been a great month to conceive because that would have meant a summer birth.

I got Aunt Flo (my period) on a Monday, so I called my RE to let them know.

The IP's then agreed to move forward one day, but the next day they sent me a text message that they wanted to halt things.

So, onward & upward. In search of IP's again.

I also had a few approaches before that, but all ended up backing out as well.

Oh the rollercoaster ride surrogacy is.

Fees, Compensation & Beginning a Journey

I posted this on my SurrogateMother profile, and wanted to share this here ...

This is a link that a surrogate friend shared with me when I started my journey back in 2009, and I was asking about what was reasonable in terms of fees:

http://www.surromomsonline.com/support/showthread.php?t=138032


I not only post this as a guide for surrogates who are starting their journey, but for any prospective Intended Parents (IP's) so they can get an idea of what is common.


Rebekah Rose posted a bunch of links in that thread, and the first link on there has all the things you should think about broken down, but believe me, there are things that are NOT on there that you will NEVER think will happen to you (Ex: Placenta Accreta. I know 2 surros who have had it, and one of them the doctor was recommending removal of her uterus), so think things through, and read other surrogates diaries/blogs so you can start having an undertanding of what to add in terms of fees.

Nothing worse than being at the beginning of a journey, and have something terrible happen like a miscarriage, or even a stillbirth further along in the pregnancy, and not have included something in your contract that would cover things like bedrest or childcare, etc.

Also, the beginning of a journey should require psychological screenings for everyone involved. At least my doctor asked for it, along with contracts. I had mine done when I did my journey. Took about 4 hours.

Contracts are next. Mind you, here in PR it is done indy. That first medical contract is mainly for the medical aspect of the journey. There will be more contracts after the birth when the legal part comes up.

And of course, the Intended Parent(s) and the surrogate should be checked for ALL types of sexually transmitted diseases!!! Whether you are doing In-Vitro, or home inseminations and Traditional Surrogacy!

And last but not least, surrogates should have NO out of pocket expenses!!! Intended Parents need to cover her mileage/gas, give her a food stipend for the day, something for child care, and cover all co-pays in advance.

This is again for people who do this indy (independent). This is especially important for surrogate mothers who are stay at home moms, because we have no outside job. Last thing an Intended Parent (IP) wants if for his/her surrogate to have family/marital/financial problems being caused by her doing a surrogacy. Her needs need to be covered while she is at doctor's appointments, getting bloodwork done, at a psych screening, and even while resting after a home insemination. If you want her to stay put, and be responsible, then help meet her needs because otherwise she will be forced to still tend to her family/household needs before her own.

I have had my share of learning experiences through the 2 In-Vitro (IVF's), 3 Intrauterine Inseminations (IUI's), and one miscarriage I went through, so I can vouch to how we are never prepared when going indy.


I wish everyone good luck, and if any surrogates can add anything I might have missed, or that you wish you would have thought of when starting out your independent journey, then please do so.

I would also like to add that I like to reach out to people because I either genuinely care, or because I might need some support and someone to lend an ear, and when they open their hearts to me, I give my all to try and stay in touch. But I have in vain tried in the past to reach out to members on here who are local to my island, and the majority have ignored the posts I have left on their walls. I say to you: Don't expect my help when you need it, when you have ignored me all along! Just needed to get that off my chest.

And to prospective Intended Parents, not all surrogates are liers, hackers, or trying to steal your money. Yes, there are a few quacks out there who give surrogacy a bad name, but I have my IP's, doctors, lawyers, other surrogates, neighbors, family and friends who saw me do this surrogacy, and follow through till the end. Who can vouch for me. Who know I am a woman of my word.

Having said that, I wish everyone the best of luck. Remember, sometimes surrogacy is a leap of faith!

My Surro Twins Turned One!!!

The twins I gave birth to in July 2011 turned one year old :-) This is what I shared on my Facebook about it ...

Went to my surro twins birthday party. Cried during the photo montage the family presented! Oh my, they recorded me crying and everything, lol. I came out in a bathing suit in all my glory, almost naked while getting my belly cast done, while lying down in the OBGYN's office looking huge, etc, etc :p

It was a very special occasion, and everyone made me feel even more proud of what I did :-) There were many tears of joy indeed. Wish I took more pictures though. Thankfully, a friend helped with that task.

I am very happy to have seen the family all together. The twins are surrounded by lots of love, and I will forever be extremely proud of what I did.

I sometimes forget what I did momentarily, but there are always things that remind me that they indeed came to the light from within my womb. Things like their belly cast, their pictures on my cell phone, the parents keeping in touch, seeing them again, or maybe still being involved in surrogacy. And even if one day I don't have any of these, there is always that annoying cesarean incision :p That always does the trick!

I read that babies stem cells pass to a woman's body when she carries them, so I guess it's safe to say, they will both always stay with me ;-)


No words can explain how proud I am of what I have done, regardless of what anyone might say or think.

I wish I could share pictures of them, but my Intended Parents cherish their privacy. Here is a little memento of their birthday party ...

Legal Matters Are Over

March was finally the month all legal proceedings were finalized. Everything is set in stone. I cannot disclose any more information apart from this, as this is considered a family case, and as a surrogate I must maintain privacy for my Intended Parents and all the other parts involved.

I am very happy with how everything turned out. Some people are indeed very knowledgeable regarding surrogacy, and made this a speedy process for us.

Officially An Experienced Gestational Surrogate

I am now known in the surrogacy community as a GSx1! That means I have done one gestational surrogacy. I gave birth to twins on July 2011! A lot has happened since my last post. I failed to update this blog!

I will update this blog as soon as I can. I will say I am looking for Intended Parents.

Thanks for reading,
Vicky

GS x 1 to twins (July 2011)