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Archive for August, 2010
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
Based on her experience, Fernandez said she would counsel women in professional sports to start planning for motherhood in their late 20s, rather than a decade later as she did.
“I was so selfish in those years,” she said. “I felt like I had to be. I felt like tennis was so all-encompassing.”
It was not until the summer of 2008, using donated eggs and sperm, that Fernandez became pregnant. When she gave birth to twins, Karson and Madison Fernandez-Geddes, in April 2009, two months after her 45th birthday, the vanity plate on her sport-utility vehicle assumed a new meaning: DBLE GLD no longer referred only to her 1992 and 1996 Olympic doubles titles.
Read the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/sports/tennis/30motherhood.html?_r=1
Posted in General | No Comments »
Friday, August 27th, 2010
After her hopes of getting pregnant were crushed, Caroline Van Den Heever turned to surrogacy to keep alive her dream of starting a family. Read how they went from “zero to three” in a little over a year!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1303868/Caroline-Van-Den-Heever-reveals-surrogacy-parenting-dreams-come-true.html
Tags: surrogacy, surrogacy agency, surrogate, The Surrogacy SOURCE, third party reproduction, trying to conceive
Posted in Surrogate Mother, The Surrogacy SOURCE, surrogacy | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
Aug. 25, 2010
by Arika Avedano, Senior Case Manager for Northern California and Nevada, The Donor SOURCE, August 25, 2010
IVF, especially donor IVF, can be a long and difficult road. However, there is no denying that it boasts the most amazing payoff. There is nothing you will love more than the child (or children!) born into your home through the amazing dedication of your physician, clinic coordinators, case managers, egg donor and other cycle staff.
When IVF Plans Take a Detour
As an Intended Parent, it’s important to remain positive. You certainly know by now, life throws you curve balls, and IVF is certainly no exception to this rule. ANYTHING can happen, and it’s our job as your case manager to help you through it, good and bad.
While The Donor SOURCE does everything we can to prepare your donor for the cycle ahead, sometimes life happens, and she is unable to proceed forward with the cycle. Whether it is due to a change in her schedule or to failing a portion of the testing implemented by your physician, The Donor SOURCE is committed to finding you a new donor and continuing on the Pathway to Parenthood with you.
Note: Each physician has his or her own set of criteria that go beyond the industry standards. It’s important that you speak with your physician to understand his or her requirements and what testing your donor will undergo.
The Donor SOURCE’s goal is to get you to retrieval, but we understand that sometimes these unfortunate events can be too much to bear, and there comes a time to sit back and reevaluate the situation.
Take Some Time
If plans should detour off course, allow yourself a grieving period. This can range from a couple weeks to a few months.
At this stage of IVF treatment, there seems to be a sense of urgency, but we caution you to take the time to absorb the sadness and disappointment.This time is vital, as it will help clear your head and heart, thus enabling you to jump back into the process with your “A” game.
Sometimes the “A” game is jumping back in with both feet with a new donor, or perhaps it could even be time to step away from IVF treatments altogether. Whatever the next step is, The Donor SOURCE has rematch and refund policies in place to make the transition easier for all parties involved. Be certain to read your contract thoroughly and ask your case manager any questions you may have.
Somewhere, there is someone (or something) with a plan for us all. Whether you believe in God, fate, or that everything happens for a reason, holding onto this will help keep you centered. Oftentimes, proceeding forward with your backup plan (or even your backup, backup plan) ends up being the best path.
Remember, the best things in life are often the most difficult to ascertain.
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 Arika Avedano, The Donor SOURCE’s Senior Case Manager for Northern California and Nevada, has worked extensively in both the medical and third-party reproductive fields. She has experience assisting ovum donors and intended parents in all capacities of the egg donation and surrogacy process. Arika’s exceptional communication skills and commitment to professionalism guide our clients through the remarkable experience of egg donation with compassion and efficiency. Arika feels privileged to unite donors with intended parents and assist in the beautiful process of building a family.
Tags: donor egg, Egg Donation, egg donation agency, fatherhood, fertility, infertility, IVF, motherhood, surrogacy, Surrogate Mother, The Donor SOURCE
Posted in Egg Donation | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010
The body that regulates fertility treatment in the UK is considering increasing compensation for egg and sperm donors.
Women who donate eggs are currently paid £250, but this could rise considerably under moves to address egg and sperm shortages at IVF clinics.
Many fertility clinics have long waiting lists, driving some childless couples abroad.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-11057943
Tags: Egg Donation, egg donation agency, egg donor, egg donor compensation, infertility, third party reproduction, trying to conceive
Posted in Egg Donation, The Donor SOURCE, egg donor, infertility, third party reproduction | No Comments »
Friday, August 20th, 2010
Jul. 30, 2010
by Theresa Ferrara, Case Manager for Southern California, The Surrogacy SOURCE, July 30, 2010
All they wanted was a sibling for their son. They wanted him to have a friend so that he wouldn’t be alone. Unfortunately, the intended mother could no longer produce viable eggs so they used a donor to supply the eggs for their future child and the husband’s sperm. They tried almost everything, and then they found surrogacy.
Initially, I was hesitant to the idea of having my wife carry another family’s child. However, as the months moved forward, I realized the importance of what we were doing for this family. The first few months were busy. There were meetings and appointments to go to. We were moving toward one goal: to provide a child for a family who could no longer make a child on their own. I had no idea there was so much involved with surrogacy. I just supported my wife as best as I could through this journey.
It was wonderful to watch her stomach grow as the miracle inside grew into a baby. As I watched, I saw my wife caring for this baby. She was babysitting the child inside her. We talked to the baby as though we were friends of the family. Telling her, “Your Mommy and Daddy and big Brother can’t wait to see you.” We were taking care of this baby for an important time in the baby’s life. The beginning.
As the months moved on and my wife’s tummy grew, everyone was getting prepared for the baby’s arrival. The parents had chosen a name, picked colors for the bedroom, and mentally prepared themselves and their son. We were preparing to have a baby. Calling doctors and visiting hospitals. It was all for another family. Our journey was much different from that of the intended parents. Our family was complete, in need of only sharing the joy of having a well-rounded home.
When the time came, my wife was admitted to the hospital and hooked up to monitors and IVs and asked questions. It was all very surreal because it was coming to an end. It seemed to only have been the day before that we had discussed doing this. Now it was almost over. They started my wife on pitocin to begin the process of labor. Time seemed to have stopped at this point. Then in the middle of the night, the baby was ready. She came out in her own time, bringing to life a larger family. The family she had been destined for happily greeted her and embraced her in the early morning hours.
I was there to see the husband and wife holding their newborn baby. Laughing and crying tears of joy and relief. I got to hold her and say hello face to face for the first time. I told her she did a wonderful job growing and that her Mommy, Daddy and big Brother were very excited to take her home. Our journey was through and a family was complete thanks to a wonderful journey through surrogacy.
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Theresa Ferrara, Case Manager for Southern California, brings a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience to her position for The Surrogacy SOURCE. Having been a two-time Gestational Surrogate Mother herself, she served as a support group leader and mentor for other Gestational Surrogates going through the process with The Surrogacy SOURCE. Theresa’s sincerity and empathy shines through in her desire to guide Intended Parents and Surrogates through this wonderful journey. Theresa is passionate about working diligently to ensure all parties enjoy a smooth surrogacy process and delivery.
Tags: Egg Donation, Surrogacy. surrogate mother, surrogate agency, surrogate fathers, surrogate mothers
Posted in General, The Surrogacy SOURCE, surrogacy | No Comments »
Friday, August 20th, 2010
The American Fertility Association wrote a great article about the difficult decision to use an egg donor when IVF seems to be unsuccessful. Many parents struggle with the intimate decision to use a donor egg, but sometimes it becomes the only option. It only seems appropriate to re-post the article here.
Infertility is an unexpected obstacle for many people, and the journey can be unpredictable. Patients may find themselves at a crossroads after multiple failed attempts with fertility treatments, and begin to look for other options. The American Fertility Association (The AFA), a national non-profit organization which provides educational resources and support to men and women, especially those trying to conceive, and Fertility SOURCE Companies, one of the largest and most comprehensive egg donor and surrogacy programs in the country, are partnering together to provide a one-stop-shop for patients looking for information on donor egg cycles.
With the help of a grant from Fertility Source Companies, The AFA created a comprehensive fact sheet, embedded with an informational video on transitioning from In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to a donor egg IVF cycle. This decision can be overwhelming, and this fact sheet aims to help lessen the burden on patients by providing information on the medical procedure, legal aspects that come with choosing an egg donor, and psychological support.
“The educational information included in this video and fact sheet is invaluable to our intended parents transitioning from a traditional IVF cycle to an egg donor,” says Susan Bloom, the Director of Recruitment for The Donor SOURCE. “The best ammunition we can give our intended parents is knowledge and education about the process they are about to undertake, along with the resources to have all their medical and legal questions answered.” Bloom continues, “at The Donor SOURCE, we pride ourselves in the guidance we give our intended parents every step of the way, from matching them with a donor to their IVF transfer.”
The AFA is committed to supporting men and women in creating their families by continually providing updated educational material and outreach events on infertility prevention, reproductive health and family building. The AFA’s website features an extensive online library, weekly newsletter, webinars and toll-free help line which are part of the many tools available to consumers free of charge.
“Because of the generous support of Fertility SOURCE Companies, The AFA is able to continue to provide first-rate education for infertility patients,” says Ken Mosesian, Executive Director for The AFA. “The family building journey has many inherent challenges, and our goal is to provide educational support to intended parents so they can make informed decisions with confidence.”
Making the decision to move from IVF to a donor egg cycle is a personal one. The AFA and Fertility SOURCE Companies are excited to work together on this project, in hopes of arming patients with as much information as possible, so the decision will be an informed one.
To see the video and download the entire fact sheet please paste this into your browser: http://www.thedonorsource.com/ivf_to_egg_donor.htm
Tags: Egg Donation, egg donor, fertility, infertility, IVF, surrogacy, Surrogate Mother
Posted in Egg Donation, Fertility SOURCE companies, The Donor SOURCE, egg donor, fertility, infertility, parenthood, third party reproduction | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Even as more and more fertility clinics adopt stress-management programs like yoga, cognitive therapy and biofeedback, the role of stress in infertility remains a matter of debate. Some experts still recite an old maxim: while infertility undoubtedly causes stress, stress does not cause infertility.
Now researchers suggest that the two conditions may indeed be linked.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/17/health/research/17stress.html
Tags: fertility, infertility, IVF, third party reproduction, trying to conceive
Posted in infertility, parenthood, third party reproduction | No Comments »
Thursday, August 12th, 2010
A fantastic article by Rachel Lehmann-Haupt, the author of In Her Own Sweet Time: Unexpected Adventures in Finding Love, Committment and Motherhood. It follows several women through the many dimensions of their realization that they, indeed, waited too long to get pregnant.
http://www.babble.com/pregnancy/conception/getting-pregnant/aniston-syndrome-waiting-too-long-to-have-a-baby/index2.aspx
Tags: Egg Donation, egg donation agency, egg donor, egg donor compensation, fertility, fertility law, Fertility SOURCE companies, infertility, IVF, surrogacy, surrogacy agency, Surrogate Mother, The Donor SOURCE, The Surrogacy SOURCE
Posted in Egg Donation, infertility, parenthood | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010
Couples from countries that ban sex-selective in-vitro fertilization (IVF) have found a haven in clinics in the United States, where the practice is far less regulated.
In an article for Scotland’s Daily Record newspaper, Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg of The Fertility Institute said that five couples have travelled from Scotland to undergo the sex-selection procedure at his clinics in New York and Los Angeles, which have been described as the worldwide leaders in gender selection. The article notes that couples who “suffer from gender disappointment ” often remortgage their homes or take out other loans to afford the opportunity to control whether they have a boy or a girl, in a procedure known as preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). The procedure costs over $20,000.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2010/aug/10080905.html
Tags: fertility, Fertility SOURCE companies, infertility, IVF, surrogacy agency, The Donor SOURCE, The Surrogacy SOURCE
Posted in fertility | No Comments »
Friday, August 6th, 2010
Elizabeth Comeau, born Elizabeth Carr, is 29 now, and she and her husband welcomed their first child, Trevor James Comeau, at 2:05 a.m. yesterday in Boston. He weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces, and, his mother writes on the Web siteBoston.com, he was conceived naturally.
http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/06/first-u-s-ivf-baby-has-a-baby-of-her-own/
Tags: Egg Donation, egg donation agency, egg donor, egg donor compensation, fertility, fertility law, Fertility SOURCE companies, infertility, IVF, surrogacy, surrogacy agency, Surrogate Mother, The Donor SOURCE, The Surrogacy SOURCE
Posted in parenthood | No Comments »
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