Start of Meds and Embryo Transfer Schedules and then Canceled (Oh no!)
Right after we received the legal clearance the medication process began. I thought this would take longer than it did, but then again everything revolves around my menstrual cycle. I received an encouraging box from the agency that was well thought out with gifts that included things I definitely knew I needed. The agency has been amazing throughout the whole process, and little things like the surrogacy box made me feel special. On Friday after being cleared I called to schedule a time for my meds to be delivered. They told me that they could send it out on Monday
Transfer Day
Pre-Transfer Day: A huge lifelong fear of needles made me nervous of the prep for embryo transfer. Every clinic has a different protocol, but most involve injections, patches, and suppositories. I learned a lot of mental toughness and was able to give myself the injections. As an Ohioan, I traveled to NYC for the embryo transfer. NYSC was great at communicating with myself and the clinic, and scheduling flights and transportation. They were thoughtful in scheduling the least amount of time away from my kids, while still keeping the embryos health at the forefront. NYSC booked my flights, hotel, and
Medical and Psych Clearance
Medical clearance was a whirlwind of a day. We flew from Ohio to NYC. I had breakfast with the intended mom and spent 3 hours at the fertility clinic. They explained the risks, interviewed sexual history, took a lot of blood, and did a saline ultrasound and physical. My bloodwork came back low for Vitamin D and I had a high white blood cell count. I performed repeat labs, and my white blood cell count was still slightly higher than normal. I had to have another follow up appointment with my PCP for medical clearance. Another hurdle…They wanted my
Matching!
Now the exciting part, matching!!! My first matching experience, I was given a few couples profiles to review. I felt connected with one couple’s profile but decided to do some research on their clinic. The clinic wanted 3 to 4 trips to NYC… I was disheartened. I felt like the additional trips were not ideal for my situation. Joe was such a great sounding board and helped me talk things out along the way. Ultimately, I decided that I needed to see more IP profiles working with clinics that align with my needs as well. Drum roll…… I was matched
Oh S N A P 😲 Submitting Surrogate App
Have you ever wondered how many miles your thumb has scrolled in its lifetime on social media? Enough to go the Olympics that’s for sure 😉. Well, in Spring 2022 I decided to scroll deep into my feelings, femininity, and 416 week experience of women’s health to research in being a gestational carrier. I’ve worked in OB, GYN, and REI and I’ve always wanted to give my contribution to women’s health in some way. Being raised by a L&D Nurse, that also adopted my mother, I was well versed on the various ways anyone can “grow” a family. After looking into
The Start and Finish of Legal Clearance
After being medically and psychologically cleared we finally moved on to the legal process. The intended parents are responsible for the cost of the lawyer. I was given a list of surrogacy lawyers to choose from and the legal process was underway. Just like anything when it comes to legal and lawyers this already seems like it is going to be the longest part of the process. From what I read in surrogacy blogs and facebook groups it seemed that legal usually takes 2-3 months to complete, even if you and the intended parents are on the same page with
