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Celebrities and Surrogacy

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Get The Inside Scoop On Celebrities and Surrogacy

Surrogacy might not be the quickest and easiest answer to infertility, but those who are determined to have their own child still opt for the procedure. Let’s take a look at several celebrities who have gone through surrogacy services and who were and are satisfied with the results.

In 2009, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick decided to work with a surrogate. After Parker’s first pregnancy, she found that getting pregnant again had become a challenge. In an interview with Billy Bush, she said that she wouldn’t have opted for surrogacy if she could have gotten pregnant herself. Now they have twins, Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge.

In 2002, Michael Jackson had Prince Michael “Blanket” Jackson II by personally choosing a nurse to carry his son. Jackson had donated his sperm and carefully selected a donor egg to match the qualities he had chosen.

In 2010, Chris Daughtry and wife Deanna had twins, Adalynn and Noah, through a surrogate. They opted for gestational surrogacy because Daughtry’s wife had a partial hysterectomy in 2006 and was unable to bear a child.

In 2011, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban went through a series of misfortunes while trying to have a second child. Kidman had an ectopic pregnancy, experienced miscarriages, and went through fertility treatments. Both Kidman and Urban wanted to have a second baby, so when everything else failed they saw hope in surrogacy. Now they have Faith Margaret and are happy with their decision.

These are just a few accounts of famous people who decided on surrogacy to have children of their own. Regardless of the continuing debate about surrogacy on moral and legal grounds, there is no denying that the practice has helped many parents experience the satisfaction that money alone can’t provide.

These days, many partners are choosing surrogacy as the method they use to have families. Gestational surrogacy has become the answer for a number of parents going through the pains of infertility. While surrogacy is a source of political and social debate, there’s no preventing these parents from going through with the procedure.

Surrogacy opens a fresh window of chance, letting partners with fertility problems have a child of their own.

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Nutrition 101 For Gestational Surrogate Mothers

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The Best of Nutrition 101 For Gestational Surrogate Mothers

As a gestational surrogate, it is important that you watch what you eat now that you are eating for two. To achieve proper nutrition, follow the practical tips in this article and get started on a happier, healthier you.

For starters, eat small meals as opposed to big, heavy meals. Five or six smaller portioned meals spread throughout the course of a day will be better digested and keep weight down. Frequent eating also cuts your appetite, thus lessening your desire to overeat.

When preparing meals and snacks, it’s essential to observe a certain ratio regarding the nutrients you consume. What you take in should be about half carbs, then one quarter protein and one quarter fat. As a gestational surrogate, learn how to balance your diet so that you take in the appropriate amount of nutrients.

Including food rich in fiber is another great tip. As a gestational surrogate mom, you’ll find that fiber is essential in maintaining your body weight, as it helps keep you full. It also helps with various health problems such as diabetes, cardiac issues, and a few types of cancer. In addition, fiver helps with digestion and minimizes the risk of irregular bowel movements.

Pay attention to your consumption of unhealthy foods so that you can make healthy substitutes. For instance, eat baked foods instead of fried ones. As a surrogate mother, limit your intake of unhealthy oils. Baked or steamed foods contain fewer oils and fats as compared to fried foods. You can also make a healthy switch from sugary treats to baked goods or cereals.

Vitamin B6 is a 100-percent natural combatant against depression. Research has shown that Vitamin B6 keeps serotonin levels consistent, and scarcity of serotonin is what, in most cases, causes depression. To enhance your mood during your gestational surrogate experience, eat foods like broccoli, wheat germ, and chicken breast, all of which have substantial amounts of Vitamin B6. It’s generally a good idea to get your advised daily allowance of B6, especially during the winter months.

Last but not the least, make sure to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. This will keep you feeling cool, hydrated, and less hungry than usual.

As a gestational surrogate, realize that appropriate nutrition is the key to how good or bad you feel, as what you put into your body influences your wellness. Be guided by the useful information in this article to integrate nutrition into your daily life.

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How To Be The Best Surrogate Mother in Iowa

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How to Be the Best Surrogate Mother

Making the choice to become a surrogate mother in Iowa can be exhilarating, but scary as well. The following tips will help you feel less worried about what you can do right now to be the best surrogate mother possible.

As a surrogate mother, avoid exposure to any chemicals that could endanger you and the baby you are carrying. Many cleaning solutions have a powerful odor that, when inhaled, is potentially hazardous. These solutions are often found in your home, your work, and anywhere else you go. Steer clear and use solutions made from all-natural ingredients.

Prior to becoming a surrogate mother, get all the medical procedures you need done. A good example is seeing your dentist. Even a simple oral prophylaxis may be worrisome for pregnant women with sore gums. Another example is getting x-rays, which is a big no-no for a woman with child.

As a surrogate, you ought to exercise every day. Exercising regularly is good for blood circulation, and also reduces common pregnancy woes like leg cramps and lower back pain. Try to refrain from exercising in the evening, as it will give you difficulties falling asleep. Keep exercising even after giving birth. There are many benefits associated with post-pregnancy exercising: weight loss, improved self-image, and reduced risk of postpartum depression. Remaining fit after your surrogacy venture will help you recuperate quicker.

When you are a surrogate, don’t take any over-the-counter (OTC) medications without seeking advice from your physician. Many OTC medications can be dangerous to the baby you are carrying if they are passed on through the womb. The reality is that quite a few OTC medications can and will take this route.

It is also important that a surrogate mother be one hundred percent at ease with her attending physician or health professional. If this is not the case, the intended parents should secure a different one.

A surrogate mother’s journey will be more enjoyable if she follows these helpful tips, which will ensure that her experience as a surrogate mother is peaceful and less stressful.

Personal Development Guide for Surrogate Mothers

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Personal development can be challenging to initiate as a surrogate mother. This is considering the fact that your psyche has a lot of components which makes it difficult to determine where to begin. This post is made to guide you in the development of your personal goals as a surrogate. Here, you’ll find a number of ideas that you can easily implement.

As a surrogate mother, make friends with those who are positive-minded and provide joy to your life. They will serve as motivators and role models for good behavior. Keeping a positive outlook yourself will do wonders for your mental health, so why not give positive thinking a try.

Another great tip is to stay calm and cool as a cucumber. Don’t over think and complicate things. Approach problems as an opportunity to grow and reward yourself in your personal achievements. Do not focus on what you may have lost, but look at what is to come in life.

Being humble is a great trait that will boost your personal growth. Considering the worth and feelings of others show great maturity and helps you to become a better and happier individual.

Stay busy and active, but know when to take breaks. Taking regular breaks is good because it gives you the chance to recharge your mind, and gets you more work done in the long run.

Last but not the least, keep a journal with you. This is known to be good for the heart and soul. As a surrogate mother, keeping a journal is therapeutic and is the perfect medium to take note of changes and feelings. Pack some paper with you when you go out. Write down your idea in detail, and then enforce it at a later time when you can broaden on the issue.

Tips for Gestational Carriers

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As a gestational carrier, a well balanced diet is critical in maintaining good overall health. This can be done by making wiser food choices and altering your eating habits for the better.

Modifying a diet plan seems like a daunting experience for anyone whose eating for two, however, this is actually worth the effort in the long run as a gestational carrier. There are many delicious and nutritious foods that are easy to prepare. Some examples are spinach, and kale, both leafy veggies which can be easily digested by the body. They happen to be a great tasting treat, minus the unhealthy fats, which will surely fight off unwanted cravings in between meals.

Eating foods that are packed with nutrition and are easy to absorb is a must as a gestational carrier. Not only will these kinds of food help you feel full without the bloated feeling, but it helps you to get all the nutrition you and the little one needs. Avocado is a good example, as it is easy on a delicate stomach and has loads of nutrients and well-balanced fats. Additional examples are spinach, kale and broccoli.

Eating nuts are ideal and make for great snacks. Consume nuts in small amounts and you are bound to get a good supply of healthy protein.

The importance of vegetables in one’s diet can’t be beat,  however, having fresh veggies is tough as it spoils quickly. This is where frozen veggies come in handy. You can get creative with this frozen treat and have them as a snack, side dish or even the main course.

Healthy eating must not be a chore. Following these tips will ensure that you and the baby you are carrying get all the nutrition that is needed.

Helpful Tips for A Surrogate Mom

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Being a surrogate mom can be both exciting and terrifying. Nothing matches the wonder of knowing that you are bringing a new life into the world, for the purpose of surrogacy. Having a good grasp of knowledge about being a surrogate can help relieve many of these fears. So here are some valuable insights for any surrogate mother.

If you’re a surrogate mom or choose to be one, staying away from stress would be the most ideal thing to do. Keeping a positive disposition helps, as well as focusing on how to feel better every day until the baby comes. Another simple, but often overlooked stress buster, is to always stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids will make you feel consistently refreshed, thus minimizing stress.

Keeping a healthy body during pregnancy may seem like a chore, especially with the unending appetite for almost all kinds of food. This is why exercising is needed the most. Not only will it ensure your body’s fitness, but also prepare you for when the baby comes.

Try to avoid some of the chemicals that would be harmful to your body, such as paint and toxic supplies around the house. These will end up getting into your bloodstream and could affect your overall health as a gestational carrier. Be extra cautious with common household items that may carry toxic chemicals such as detergents and other household cleaners.

Be sure to find a good prenatal vitamin. In many cases, your physician will prescribe the best one for you, but you can also find them over the counter. Be sure that it has at least 0.4 mg of Folic acid in it. You may also want to look for an additional source of iron to take as a gestational carrier.

Last but not the least, as a surrogate mom; be sure to follow the advice of the mother to be. The intended parent will know what’s best, but when in doubt, you can always check with your ob-gyn.

The tips discussed above will certainly make your surrogacy journey more memorable and before you know it you are on your way to delivering the best gift ever, the gift of life.

Surrogate Compensation

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Surrogate Compensation 

Compensation is never the main priority when becoming a surrogate. Being a surrogate involves a lot of selflessness and challenges that are mentally and emotionally exhausting.

That being said, surrogate mothers deserve to be compensated fully.

Surrogate Compensation: Costs for Service

Surrogacy charges differ from agency to agency. The intended parents’ application fees generally work upwards of around $500, while legal expenditures frequently arrive at $15,000. These charges do not go straight to the surrogate mother. Funding is maintained and serves as a guarantee not just for the surrogate, but also for the intended mom and dad.

Surrogate Payment

Turning into a surrogate is no easy task. It can be likened to a full time employment so it is essential that the intended parents recompense the surrogate with a cash fee. This is actually determined in agreement prior to pregnancy and must cover all various fees as well as health care expenditures. In terms of the pricing, a first time surrogate may receive around $25,000 to $35,000. An experienced surrogate, on the other hand,  is expected to earn much higher.

Surrogate Compensation: Various Other Costs

As mentioned previously, a surrogate mother’s medical costs are already paid for by the intended parents. This covers ob-gyn  clinical visits as well as any type of additional treatment helpful to the surrogate’s overall health and wellness. Apart from this coverage, a surrogate is somewhat insured from unlikely circumstances that is detrimental to her overall well being. An instance is when a surrogate mother is evicted from her property. Financing would be actually created and offered by the intended moms and dads to preserve her residing security.

Understanding Surrogacy in Iowa

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The legality of surrogacy in the USA can be considered an ongoing argument. What makes it more complicated is the fact that the laws vary per state which results in more questions than answers. Given this complication, you must fully understand the laws regulating surrogacy in all states to avoid running into any problems as you go along this process.

The Essential Components

The lawyer you’ll be hiring to protect your interest will need all the inputs coming from you and the surrogate. Partner with this kind of expert to work hands on with the intricacies of the contract or agreement that you will have with the woman carrying your child. It is also important to hire independent lawyers for you and the surrogate.

The list seen below will be of great help to cover the basics of the said agreement.

1. Name of parties involved: husband, wife as well as the woman acting as the surrogate.
2. Should be of legal age
3. Number of attempts
4. The process of getting pregnant, like “no sexual intercourse.
5. Agreement to never attempt to discontinue pregnancy.
6. A declaration that the mother is unable to conceive or sustain pregnancy.
7. Statements of extensive clinical and mental state of the surrogate as agreed.
8. Health plan for all concerned, including the embryo.
9. Procedures including the positioning of the fertilized egg (s).
10. Close monitoring of surrogate’s activities as well as medication taken.
11. Discussion and agreement on regular prenatal health care.
12. Regulation on the surrogate’s activities that may be seen as dangerous to the pregnancy as well as the birth procedure.
13. Surrogate’s parental rights.
14. The presence of the couple throughout childbirth.
15. Legal or Physical custody of the couple and surrogate once the child is born.
16. Financial terms and obligations in the course of pregnancy and post pregnancy.
17. Confidentiality terms and clauses.

This checklist covers a great deal of what is good to know at the start of this process. It is, however, ideal to watch out for other conditions that will better prepare you for potential issues in the future.

Surrogate’s Compensation

Knowing the ins and outs relating to the surrogate’s compensation is of utmost importance. This should the first of the many to consider when opting for this service. Understanding just how much your financial obligation will be can help you plan for other concerns related to this process. Whatever pay a gestational or even traditional surrogate gets, it is important to identify that they are not an employee. The employee- employer connection still stands even if the surrogate offers the service for free.

Traditional or Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational Surrogacy is different from Traditional surrogacy since the surrogate carries the pregnancy and gives birth from an already fertilized egg. In this case, there will be no hereditary link in between the surrogate as well as the child. Traditional Surrogacy, on the other hand, entails artificial insemination or even IVF by merging the surrogate’s eggs with the semen of the benefactor. In this instance, the woman acting as the surrogate possesses a hereditary link to the kid, which can be high-risk.

Lawful Issues Post-Birth Adoption

A number of states make it possible for the name of the mother and father to appear on the child’s birth certificate. In other states, the surrogate’s name is the one put on the document, which may be changed later when the order for the intended parent comes and gets listed.
Some states permit pre-birth sequence under specific conditions. At the end of the day what is still very important is to understand as well as know the rules of each state with regards to surrogacy.

How To Select A Gestational Surrogate in Iowa

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For most couples, starting a family is as easy as 1-2-3; but, for some, they may opt to choose a surrogate carrier or a gestational surrogate. So how does a couple select a gestational surrogate?

A gestational surrogate is defined as a woman bearing the child for another couple or single parent who wishes to have a child; but can not bear to go through the process of a normal pregnancy. However, choosing a gestational surrogate has a course that usually has to be followed. Still, it is always a good idea to consult with your own preferred doctor.

Choosing the Right Agency for You

A couple or single parent usually has an ideal surrogate carrier in mind. Before this, the first step would have to be choosing the right agency for you. There are many agencies that offer this service so always choose the one that you feel most comfortable with. Always remember that this will be the agency that you will have to work alongside with for the next 12 to 24 months. Do your research; make sure that the agency is well established. Read feedbacks from single parents or other couples who have already used the reason and the service why these couples or single parents chose them in the first place? It is always best to trust your gut instincts.

Selecting A Gestational Surrogate

After choosing the agency to work with, finding the right candidate for the gestational surrogate is the next step. The ideal candidate should have had at least one successful pregnancy, with no background on miscarriages, abortions, bleeding or any other medical issues that may be a risk factor. It is always best to consult with your OB/Gyne or reproductive endocrinologist regarding the medical history of the GS that you plan to work with. A thorough medical examination must be performed on the GS so that any complications may be prevented. This will include, but not limited to: a physical examination, laboratory examinations, ultrasounds, a comprehensive medical history check, psychological examinations, and screening for any threatening diseases.

The Ideal Gestational Surrogate

The gestational surrogate should ideally be drug and disease-free during the pre-natal and post-natal stages, and between the ages of 21 to 40 years old. Prior pregnancy that involves the delivery of twins should also be taken into consideration. A deeper understanding for the ideal GS would best be discussed with your physician. Some couples or single parents may opt to choose a relative for the purpose of keeping things within the family genes. If you or your partner chooses to go through in vitro fertilization, make sure to choose your preferred Reproductive Endocrinologist.
In Conclusion

The process of finding the right gestational surrogate may take some time. Remember that using the service of a GS is not for everyone; there will be a lot of emotions that will run through your mind.

A gestational surrogate is defined as a woman bearing the child for another couple or single parent who wishes to have a child; but can not bear to go through the process of a normal pregnancy. Choosing a gestational surrogate has a course that usually has to be followed. After choosing the agency to work with, finding the right candidate for the gestational surrogate is the next step. The gestational surrogate should ideally be drug and disease-free during the post-natal and pre-natal stages, and between the ages of 21 to 40 years old. The process of finding the right gestational surrogate may take some time.

Communicating with your gestational surrogate.

Intended Parents 101: Communicating with Your Gestational Surrogate

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Communicating with your gestational surrogate during the surrogacy journey is very important to its success. The surrogate agency you work with will make sure that all of your preferences are met in finding an ideal gestational surrogate to assist you. The degree of communication and relationship you want with a gestational surrogate will really depend on you and your partner’s preferences. So it is very important to be truthful with your agency when disclosing this information.

After you have disclosed your personal preferences on the type of relationship and communication you want with a gestational surrogate, your surrogate agency will match you with a gestational surrogate who shares the same preferences with you and your partner. If you would like to keep your relationship with your gestational surrogate on a more personal level – meaning you want to have a close working relationship with open communication – your surrogate agency will find you a gestational surrogate who wants the same type of relationship.

If you prefer a more “business like” relationship with your gestational surrogate, your agency will pair you up with a suitable gestational surrogate who shares the same preferences. In this scenario, your agency will be doing most of the communicating with your gestational surrogate and will be informing you of any doctor’s appointments or checkups that you may want to attend with your gestational surrogate.

Communicating with your gestational surrogate is now easier than ever thanks to the services of a reliable surrogate agency. Remember, a good surrogate agency should be able to provide excellent services and support all throughout your surrogacy journey. They should be able to assist you in any way possible to make the journey a lot easier and more stress free for you and your partner.

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