Surrogacy: Finding Support Along the Way

Aside from hearing a diagnosis that to have a child an egg donor and/or gestational surrogate will be needed, finding the support throughout the process is incredibly important.

Places to find support –

• Friends and family – This is the time to lean on your friends and family and let them know you need help – in whatever way that may be.

• Professional help – Some find that meeting with a mental health therapist to talk about infertility, grief, genetic link loss, feelings of failure and inadequacy as well as stress (which are all common throughout this process) are incredibly helpful. It can often help relieve stress or shame that often accompanies infertility.

• Spiritual help – Some find that meeting with their pastor, priest, rabbi, or a member of their church or religious community will give them some peace and comfort during a time that is incredibly stressful.

• Online groups or email lists – can help others converse, converge and connect. There is something to be said when there’s another person who can say “Yes, I know how you feel”

Here is a list of resources to help you find the support you might need.

RESOLVE: http://www.resolve.org/
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, established in 1974, is a non-profit organization with the only established, nationwide network mandated to promote reproductive health and to ensure equal access to all family building options for men and women experiencing infertility or other reproductive disorders.

Parents Via Egg Donation: http://www.pved.org
Parents Via Egg Donation, or PVED, was created to provide an informational and supportive environment where parents and parents-to-be can learn and share information about all facets of the egg donation process. PVED’s mission is to educate, support, and empower families and individuals at any stage of the process who choose to use egg donation to build a family. We share information about agencies, legal and medical professionals, treatment centers, mental health therapists, pharmaceutical companies, and other resources.

INCIID: http://www.inciid.org
INCIID (pronounced “inside”) is a nonprofit organization helping patients explore their family-building options. They offer several community boards where intended parents can visit and hang out.

Path2Parenthood: http://www.path2parenthood.org/
Path2Parenthood (P2P), a 501 (c) (3) national non-profit organization is a lifetime resource for infertility prevention, reproductive health and family building. P2P services and materials are provided free of charge to consumers and available to everyone without reservation. These services include leading-edge educational outreach events, an extensive online library with HD videos, a daily blog, a resource directory available for download on mobile devices, telephone and in-person coaching, and a toll-free support line. 888.917.3777.

The caring staff at Fertility Source Companies are always here to help. Call us toll free at 877.375.8888 or internationally at 949.872.2800, or click on this link to email us.