Q: What first intrigued you about surrogacy?

A: I had a hard time conceiving my first son and I had always wanted to be a mother so it was devastating to think I wouldn’t be able to do that.  So, to be able to help another couple to become parents and love that precious gift was amazing!

– H.M. Littleton, CO. Surrogate

A: I have 3 amazing children and I thought to myself “WOW.  This is something I could do to make a huge difference in a couple’s life and it enables me to make an income from home so I can spend these important years at home with my kids.  I am able to help in my kindergartener’s class room and have time for play dates and just enjoy my kids.

- S.G. San Jose Surrogate

A: I was first drawn to the idea of Surrogacy after having my son. I can’t imagine my life without him, he is my everything. I thought about the many people out in the world that couldn’t have children, and how I would feel if I was unable to have my son. Being a surrogate is a small way that I can help someone, a way that I can give the gift of life and love. I am honored to be able to do this for someone; I would hope that if I were unable to have a baby that this would be a possibility for me.

– S.M.  San Jose Surrogate

Q:  What were your initial concerns about becoming a surrogate?

A: I was concerned about who I would be working with.  I wanted to make sure that I felt like this baby would be loved and taken care of throughout his/her life.  I was also concerned about the possibility of having to have a c-section, which really scares me.

-H.M. Littleton, CO. Surrogate

A: Becoming attached to the baby before it was born.  Really for me though, throughout the entire process I just have this mind set I’m helping someone else, so I never got attached to the baby in that way.

– D.F. San Diego Surrogate

A: I was initially concerned with what my family and friends would think/say. Although that was not the deciding factor for me, it was important nonetheless.

-R.I.  San Diego Surrogate

A: My initial concern about surrogacy was, “Will I be able to get pregnant on my own again after?” I wasn’t really sure of the medical process and wasn’t sure if I could get pregnant again. Both Family Creations and the Stanford Medical team assured me that this is a very safe procedure and I could have another child of my own after.

– S.M.  San Jose Surrogate

Q: What was your family’s reaction when you told them about your decision to become a surrogate and how do they feel about it now that you’ve completed the process?

A: My dad wondered why I would put my body through that and the rest of my family was concerned about my emotional attachment to the baby once he/she was delivered.  How I would handle handing over the baby.

-H.M. Littleton, CO. Surrogate

A: Almost everyone was surprised that I had actually taken steps to do it, although no one was surprised that I had the willingness. Overall, they are supportive of my decision and trust that anything I do will be for the good in the end.

-R.I.  San Diego Surrogate

A: My family was surprised. It’s kind of a big announcement. People may need a few minutes to process the information. My mother was very supportive, and like everyone in my family had one very important question, ‘Is the baby going to be related to you?’ Of course my answer was no, no relation to me. That put their minds at rest and gave them the comfort to support me.

– S.M.  San Jose Surrogate

A: My family was very surprised and they definitely questioned how I would feel after.  But they have always been very supportive and that’s all I can ask for.

– D.F. San Diego Surrogate

Q: How did you explain surrogacy to your children?

A: I only have 1 child old enough to understand it at all. She is 5.  And we talked about how some mommies have “broken tummies” and can’t have babies inside them and that My tummy works really well and if we help people in life it’s a very good thing.  And I also told her that after we give the babies to their mommy we are going to Disneyland for a week to celebrate our good deed.  And for a 5 yr old it worked perfectly.  She is very that were helping someone.

- S.G. San Jose Surrogate

A: My son is only 14 months old. By the time I am pregnant and have the baby I still don’t think he will understand that anything is different. He may notice mommy getting,” big”. When he is older and we look back on photo memories I want to tell him all about my exciting journey.

– S.M.  San Jose Surrogate

A: My 3 year old didn’t understand much, told him a baby was sleeping in my belly and his mommy and daddy would take him home with them when he woke up.  My 5 yr old understood completely.  Told him the mtb.’s belly was broken so mommy was taking care of the baby until he was big enough to go home with his mommy and daddy.  It helped that they met the ip’s and got to know them.

- H.M. Littleton, CO. Surrogate

Q: What and/or who helped you understand and become comfortable the process?

A: My initial interaction with the Coordinator (Family Creations) that was assigned to me was amazing. She made me feel confident and secure with the process. She was always available to answer questions for me.

- G.A. Anaheim Surrogate

A: I did a lot of research on my own. I also joined a discussion group and asked a lot of questions to surrogates. The agency (Family Creations) did an amazing job with helping me understand the process and what to expect.

-R.I.  San Diego Surrogate

A: Talking about any concerns with Julia Alkire (Family Creations) was very helpful.  She is very knowledgeable, helpful and sincerely cares.

- H.M. Littleton, CO. Surrogate

Q: How is your relationship with your IP’s?

A: Amazing!  We love them so much, they are an amazing couple and are considered extended family now!  They send us pictures of the baby and we talk regularly and they plan on coming to visit us soon.

-H.M. Littleton, CO. Surrogate

A: My IP’s are great.  They would do anything to make me comfortable and at the same time they completely respect the fact that I have 3 young kids, a husband, and busy life to lead.

- S.G. San Jose Surrogate

A: I think that we are a good match. I truly believe that they are good people who deserve this, and I believe that they think the same about me. Our exchanges have been nothing but pleasant so far.

-R.I. San Diego Surrogate

Q: What was/is your favorite part about becoming a surrogate?

A: Just like with any “good deed” you do, it makes you feel good. I very proud know that I’m helping my IP’s become a family.

- S.G. San Jose Surrogate

A: Seeing and feeling the complete joy from the IP’s at every single Doctor’s appointment and after he was delivered!  Their joy was a constant reminder of why I wanted to be a surrogate!

-H.M. Littleton, CO. Surrogate

A: The look on the (IP’s) face when she held her new baby for the first time.

– D.F. San Diego Surrogate

Q: Do you have words of advice for women that may be considering becoming a surrogate?

A: Just for them to imagine their life without their babies, and think what that must be like for someone else.

– D.F. San Diego Surrogate

A: I would say: DO IT! Make sure that you have FULL support of those closest to you because you will need them along the way.

-R.I.  San Diego Surrogate

A: If you are considering this process and have any hesitations or questions, I would recommend either talking it over with someone you are close to, or calling Family Creations and asking them lots of questions. I feel in my heart that this is the right journey for me to take, and I have the support and love of many people behind me.

- S.M.  San Jose Surrogate

Q: Have you built any relationships with other surrogates?

A: Yes, a few. Nothing too personal, but I am working on that.

-R.I.  San Diego Surrogate

Q: Are you a member of any surrogate networking groups? (i.e. meetup, surro moms online, facebook groups)

A: Yes. Facebook, Cafemom.com (Surrogate Mom group)

-R.I.  San Diego Surrogate

Q: What will you tell strangers who inquire about your surrogate pregnancy?

A: Most people approach me by saying “wow your brave going for #4…” And I tell them I am brave but not dumb! I tell people very openly that I’m carrying for someone else and what a rewarding experience it is.

- S.G. San Jose Surrogate

A: I’ll just let them know that I am a surrogate and happy to be one!

-R.I.  San Diego Surrogate
A: If a stranger inquires about it I will be happy to tell them about it. I think surrogacy is such a great thing and I hope that more people start learning about it. Many people have heard about it, but few actually consider it.

– S.M.  San Jose Surrogate

Q: Do you have any fun stories you would like to share about surrogacy?

A: It was always fun to see peoples’ reaction when we told them that I was a surrogate!

-H.M. Littleton, CO. Surrogate

Q: Did you have a preference regarding working with a Gay, Lesbian, Single Person or traditional couple?

A: I had no preference. I was open to anyone who wanted the joy of a baby in their lives.

– S.M.  San Jose Surrogate

A: I preferred to work with a traditional couple for religious reasons and I think it takes two to raise a healthy child.

-H.M. Littleton, CO. Surrogate

A: Nope.  I think everyone should be entitled to the happiness that I have with my kids.
.- S.G. San Jose Surrogate

Q: What do you plan on doing with your compensation (i.e. paying bills, down payment on a home, paying debt, college fund for your kids).

A: We’re going to use the money for our kids’ college funds and to pay down some bills.

- G.A. Anaheim Surrogate

A: Mostly just paying down bills and having fun with my kids and going to Disneyland of course! .

- S.G. San Jose Surrogate

A: I have a few plans for it. I will pay off debts first, save for my son’s college and use it for a down payment on a home.

– S.M.  San Jose Surrogate

Aside from qualifying to become a surrogate mother, these women all have at least one thing in common, compassion. No matter the reason, making the choice to nurture and carry a person or couple’s unborn child is a gift that reaps immeasurable gratitude.

We’re located off of the Far West exit headed North on Mo Pac at 7000 North Mo Pac Expressway, 78731. Our office is nestled on the second floor of the building. Right off the expressway, minutes away from Texas Fertility Center and a view of downtown Austin within eyeshot, we’re easily accessible no matter where you’re coming from. We offer complimentary parking for our visitors, the garage is located just past the Koi pond and entrance to our building.

Upon arriving on the second floor you’ll be greeted in the reception area where you can enjoy complimentary coffee, tea or hot cocoa while waiting for your meeting or interview to begin. We are able to facilitate one on one interviews with potential surrogates and donors as well as match meetings and even videoconferencing!   After your meeting, you can grab a bite to eat at the Central Market Café located on the first floor of the building off of the court yard.

Most donors and surrogates come into this process knowing only a small part of the large picture, it’s reassuring to them that we’re physically within reach when they’re in need. Our new location allows us the opportunity to conduct in person donor and surrogate interviews as well as surrogate home visits, bringing a sense of ease to donors and surrogates.  There are times when a donor or surrogate might need professional support and being able to come in and talk to a Family Creations coordinator can make all the difference.

We know it’s meaningful for recipients when we’ve had the opportunity to meet their potential donor or surrogate.  Meeting with all of these wonderful women is also meaningful for us because we want to ensure, as much as possible, that we have amazing, reliable, trustworthy donors and surrogates available for our recipients. While going through this process recipients, and donors, often feel a sort of disconnect and being able to make a connection with their agency is very meaningful.  Recipients put so much trust in us to ensure a smooth cycle that having the opportunity to come in and meet with us is often very reassuring. We are truly within reach.

Our reach extends much past Austin as we’ll frequent Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio visiting fertility clinics and performing surrogate home visits.  We are dedicated to our clients and this process, and we want to personally meet not only your contact person at the clinic but also the doctors.

Family Creations has a large database of available donors and we are receiving applications from fantastic women daily from Texas and throughout the US. With the surrogacy laws in Texas being favorable, we want to make that option more accessible for recipients  by offering local surrogates to our Texas clients. Our rapport with fertility clinics in Texas is just a shining example of why so many recipients are referred to Family Creations.  With such a large demand in a booming town like Austin, we know that this will be a great venture for us!

Family Creations, as an agency, is open to working with clients of any sexual orientation and marital status and will help you navigate through your states regulations to bring you closer to your dream of a family. Our goal is to help you create your perfect family and want to make this as easy for you as possible.  Let us know if there is anything we can do to help you ease into this hopeful time in your life.

Working at an egg donation agency, I sometimes hear stories from recipients about their reproductive past.  The information that I typically receive, if any, is the number of years that the couple has been married, the number of years trying to conceive, the number of IVF cycles they have completed and possibly the number of miscarriages that they’ve had before they made the decision to look for an egg donor.  And while the numbers are always shocking, it’s the personal stories and emotional experiences that strike me the most.  It’s when a recipient tells me that they’ve depleted their funds trying to have a child and this is their last chance.  When a recipient gets on the phone with you and just needs someone to talk to because they haven’t shared this process with anyone else in their life.  Hearing the sadness and despair breaks my heart every day but it’s when a recipient is speechless, it moves me the most.  When they want to thank their donor but there just isn’t a way to express their gratitude of FINALLY being pregnant, this job is more rewarding than ever.  It’s when I hear a sad story that I wished that I could do more to help.  This is why I decided to donate again last year. Since then, I’ve completed four more donor cycles and I’m so grateful for being given this opportunity to make a difference in my recipients lives.

Sure, the financial incentive for donating your eggs is great, but donors have other incentives as well.  And the emotional incentive, knowing that you’re helping someone in such a big way, is more rewarding than any money that you’ll ever receive.

One of our donors recently received an anonymous letter from her recipients, just prior to her retrieval.  She was so touched by the letter that she was compelled to respond.  This is that donor’s response:

Dear Recipients,

Sitting in an airport one year ago I listened to the long story of a woman who had went through everything possible to have a child. The more I listened the more the tears ran down my face. Her story was incredible, challenging and unsuccessful. Then while listening to this I asked her, “have you ever thought about getting eggs from someone else or surrogacy?” Immediately her eyes dried up, she went straight to her laptop and I helped her look for places such as Family Creations. As she sat there reading, article after article and review after review my heart just ached. I was blessed 5 years ago today with the news of becoming a mother and I couldn’t bear the thought of someone never getting to share that moment.

That day I went home and began praying and asking for guidance. Do I go through with this? Is this even an option for me?  Clearly my answer was given when I put in for the donor evaluation and began the process of helping someone.  The time is almost here for you to begin your future as a family. I cannot begin to tell you how honored I am to work with such awesome people and to know that you will get to experience what I get to daily.  Everything happens for a reason and it is certainly expensive to go through this process, me moving to Wisconsin just gave me more clear of an answer that what I am doing is right. I pray every night that this process is successful and that you both get to hold a precious baby in your arms that looks up with you and gives you a feeling of completeness.

Thank you for the compliments about my daughter and for giving me the opportunity of feeling like I have really helped a family. I will always pray that no one has to give up ever with their dreams and yours is no different. You both will be great parents. I can just tell by your letter. Love them and they will love you no matter what-that’s my parental advice. No parent can do it right every time but any parent can love and learn to do better J

Sincerely,

Donor

While each donor donates for different reasons, they certainly do have incentives that constantly remind them of why they’re here.  Here are a few more examples from our donor’s profiles…

My best friend was informed at the age of twenty that she would be unable to have children in the future. When she told me about this it made me think about how many unfortunate women there are in this world with similar circumstances and made me want to help some of the great people in the world who really want children. After doing some research I found out about egg donating and have been committed to help out a family that wants and needs it. –Tiffany 7, Los Angeles

My mother-in-law used a donor to have 6 of her 9 children. I see the happiness it has created in her life and what a joy my brothers and sisters are for our family. I love seeing the happy, healthy kids she was able to carry and give birth to, even though she could not use her own eggs. I feel a special connection to the amazing miracle of sharing eggs.

-Bridget 4, Phoenix

Working as an IVF nurse, I see a lot of happiness that patients get from the help of donors and I would love to be a part of that experience. –Jennie 6, Los Angeles

My entire life I have taken pride in myself on making sure that family comes first. It’s unfortunate that some people are not given the ability to build that type of foundation on their own. I recently was involved in a custody battle for my son and have accumulated over $18K in attorney’s fees. I feel that by becoming a donor I can not only help to move my own family forward financially but also help a needy couple start new family.

–Tara 6, Los Angeles

Honestly, I am excited at the opportunity to help people out. I have so much and it is easy to take for granted. The only reason I am doing this for compensation is so that I can pay off my student loans. –Noel 3, Dallas

This is an easy question however difficult for me to answer without tearing up. I want to give you what was given to me, I want you to be as happy as my baby has made me. The thought of her makes me swell with pride and I would be honored to have a hand in making someone this complete. After I have a few more of my own I hope to be a surrogate mother for someone special. –Mary 2, Jacksonville

Whether its family, the drive to fund their dreams of an education or just a heart filled with so much love to give, each donor has their reasons for committing to this process.  While the financial reward of being a donor is great, the donor’s motivation to make this commitment helps them through all of the appointments, injections, ultrasounds and the retrieval.  It’s the constant reminder that this process is so much larger than themselves.

Yes, donors are motivated by money, love, family, compassion, education and much more.  Yes I paid off some bills, started a retirement fund and saved a great portion for either a down payment on a house or to repay my student loans.  But when my student loans are paid off and the money is gone, I’m still left with the memory of doing something great in my lifetime; I helped complete strangers with a dream of their own and I couldn’t be more proud.

Texas is “due” to open in March 2012!  Being very liberal with surrogacy laws, we hope to build family ties between surrogates and recipients in the state of Texas, with an office located in Austin near Texas Fertility Center.  We will be spending a lot of time visiting clinics in the state, spreading the word that Family Creations has arrived!  We’ll also be able to facilitate surrogate home visits and match meetings more quickly to help get the process started as soon as possible for Intended Parents.  We know that any delay in a donor or surrogate cycle seems like a lifetime to Intended Parents who have often been waiting years to expand their family.  When dealing with such a sensitive matter, we know how comforting it is to be able to talk to someone in person and we hope to afford that luxury to clients.  It’s a wonderful feeling to tell an Intended Parent, “Yes, we have met your donor in person and yes, she is wonderful.”  Our Austin location will allow us the opportunity to bring donors into the office for an in person interview.  All in all, we hope to reach the community in Texas, working with donors, surrogates, Intended Parents and clinics, making ourselves more accessible.  And in doing so, we hope to frequent Dallas, San Antonio and Houston as well.  Texas, here we come!

San Francisco is “due” to open July 1, 2012!  Continuing the love of our home state, and being one of the best states for surrogacy, we’re expanding our reach to San Francisco to be more available to our Northern California clinics, intended parents, egg donors and surrogates.   We’d love to invite clients into our office, located near UCSF, to be able to help answer questions about the donor and surrogate process.  Though we’ll be located in the heart of San Francisco, we’ll be visiting clinics and conducting surrogate home visits and surrogate match meetings in most of Northern California, reaching from The Bay to Sacramento to San Jose to Santa Cruz and everywhere in between!

We currently have surrogates located in California, Colorado and Texas but hope to expand to other states very soon.  And though we only have surrogates in three states, we do cater to recipients interested in egg donation and surrogacy from all over the country and even the world!  We are able to help clients from out of the state, or country, select a clinic near their donor or surrogate to help keep costs down as well.

Stay tuned for more information about our San Francisco and Texas office locations!

For more information about our egg donor and surrogacy programs, please contact Family Creations at 818-225-1700.

These regulations can essentially be broken into 5 groups: banned, voids and penalizes, prohibits some and allows others, allows but regulates, and no clear provisions.  In states in which surrogacy is banned, all forms of surrogacy are prohibited.  There are a few states in which traditional and/or gestational surrogacy is void and penalized; laws stating all forms of surrogacy agreements are prohibited, and civil and criminal penalties are imposed on people who enter into any type of surrogacy agreement as well as the people who facilitate them. Before becoming discouraged, please remember that where there’s a will, there’s a way! There are more states in the US that allow some sort of surrogacy agreement than those that do not. Several states prohibit some forms of surrogate agreements but permit others. For example, traditional surrogacy is prohibited in the majority of US states, however gestational surrogacy may still be an option. Also, there are states in which compensated surrogacy is prohibited but uncompensated surrogate agreements are permitted. In some states, the Intended Parents entering into a surrogate agreement must be heterosexual and married; alternatively there are states that recognize the LBGT (lesbian, bi-sexual, gay, transgender) community and singles as having equal rights as heterosexuals in creating a family.

A quick look into surrogacy around the world… In Armenia, gestational surrogacy procedure requires that surrogate mothers undergo months of psychiatric and medical testing. The Armenian Reproductive Rights Law protects both the surrogate and the Intended Parent(s), in ensuring no post delivery complications or legal hassles. Unlike many European and Western countries, Armenian laws do not restrict surrogacy for gay, lesbian or single people, thus finding a gestational surrogate in Armenia is not only convenient but has become quite popular. India is another country that has become a hotspot for surrogacy despite allegations of poor housing conditions for surrogate mothers. The cost of the surrogate procedure can be up to 40% less than it would cost in the United States.  Ukraine and Russia have laws favorable to surrogacy, however, in the case of gestational surrogacy, a single person or unmarried couple would have to go through court for their child to be legally recognized as theirs. Canada allows both traditional and gestational surrogacy but compensated surrogacy is illegal. Under no circumstance can the surrogate profit financially. It is however legal for the Intended Parents to reimburse their surrogate mother for expenses such as prenatal vitamins and the cost of trips to the doctors. Intended Parents that do not follow these restrictions risk being penalized a fine of up to $50,000 or 10 years in prison.  Gestational surrogacy is prohibited in China, as it is believed by the Chinese government to involve many complicated legal, ethical and moral problems.

Whether you’re a potential intended parent or deciding if becoming a surrogate mother is right for you, it’s important to research the laws and regulations surrounding surrogate agreements in the state or country in which you reside. While surrogacy laws vary, and some provisions are not clear at all, options in finding the perfect surrogate arrangement are available for you. Generally stating, unless there is a clear civil or criminal prohibition against surrogate arrangements, an Assisted Reproductive Law Attorney can provide you with a solution to fulfill your desire to act as a surrogate, or to insure your name be listed on a birth certificate as the Legal and Intended Parent(s).

Disclaimer- Surrogacy seekers must check the status of surrogacy in their country and or state and consult the relatable authorities before taking any step.

Day-Long Event Features Stephanie Goldman-Levich from Family Creations, LLC (http://www.familycreations.net) at Roundtable Discussion and Panels Hosted by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Capitol Hill and The White House to Promote Young Entrepreneurship.

Family Creations, LLC based in Woodland Hills, CA an International Egg Donor and Surrogate Program (http://www.familycreations.net), joins OUR TIME, a national, non-profit membership organization founded to stand up for Americans under 30, to announce the launch of their new initiative, Buy Young. The goal of OUR TIME’s Buy Young initiative (http://www.ourtime.org/buy-young/) is to encourage Americans to support companies and organizations founded by entrepreneurs under the age of 30 and offer exclusive discounts on products and services to OUR TIME’s fast-growing subscriber base of more than 300,000.

Family Creations, LLC joins over 100 other young entrepreneurs in the Buy Young initiative to reinforce the fact that young Americans are major contributors to the success of the U.S. economy and key drivers of job creation. The entrepreneurs attending the conference alone have created over 7,000 jobs altogether.

Stephanie Goldman-Levich, Co-Founder of Family Creations, LLC states “It is an honor to have the opportunity to meet with other young entrepreneurs in our great nation’s capital.”

More details are available on OUR TIME’s website at http://www.ourtime.org.

BUY YOUNG LAUNCH & PRESS CONFERENCE

WHAT: Press conference hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, launching OUR TIME’s Buy Young initiative and CEO roundtable discussion

WHO: OUR TIME

Over 100 top young CEOs, including Stephanie Goldman-Levich Co-Founder of Family Creations, LLC.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

8:30 am (ET) – Press Check-in Opens (must RSVP for credentials)

9:30 – 10:30 am (ET) – Press Conference

10:45 – 11:45 am (ET) – Roundtable Discussion

WHERE: U.S. Chamber of Commerce – Hall of Flags Room

(1615 H Street, NW, Washington, D.C.)

SPEAKERS:    Welcome Remarks by Margaret Spellings, Director of National Chamber Foundation and former Secretary of Education; Matthew Segal, co-founder & President of OUR TIME; Ed Rensi, OUR TIME Board of Directors & former CEO of McDonalds

BIPARTISAN LUNCHEON ON CAPITOL HILL

WHAT: Bipartisan Lunch Honoring OUR TIME’s Buy Young Entrepreneurs

WHO: Hosted by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Matthew Segal, co-founder and President, OUR TIME

Barry Diller, Chairman, IAC

Senator John McCain, (R-AZ)

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, (D-NY)

Over 100 Buy Young Entrepreneurs and CEOs

Top Business Leaders – names to be announced shortly

WHEN: Wednesday, July 13th, 2011, 1:00 pm

WHERE: Russell Senate Office Building – Caucus Room

(Constitution Ave and 1st Street NE, Washington, DC)

** RSVP, press requests and other media-related inquiries should be directed to Annie Burton, OUR TIME, at ab@ourtime.org or 818-633-3263. (Media interested in attending must be credentialed press corp. RSVP to be considered; RSVP does not guarantee admittance to event).

OUR TIME is a national organization founded and run by young Americans, leveraging pop culture, business partnerships, and online organizing to drive civic engagement through economic empowerment.

To follow OUR TIME on Facebook go to: http://www.facebook.com/OurTimeOrg.

Or to follow OurTime on Twitter, go to: http://www.Twitter.com/OurTimeOrg.

CONTACTS:

Annie Burton, OUR TIME

ab@ourtime.org or 818-633-3263 (cell)

Amy Steele, Luna Media Group

amy@lunamediagroup.com or 208-301-0846 (cell)

Stephanie Goldman-Levich, Family Creations, LLC

sgoldman@familycreations.net

Read Article Here: http://news.yahoo.com/family-creations-llc-international-egg-donor-surrogate-program-080208132.html

OK – Donors…this is a VERY good question and one that we are asked often.

So, you make the decision to become a donor, great!  You apply with Family Creations, submit all your paperwork, and have your interview with our office.  Then you receive word that you are officially approved as a donor!  Yahooo!!!!

Well…then what?

Family Creations has thousands of registered clients that are actively searching for an egg donor every day.  Once you become an approved donor with us, your profile is added to our password protected database where future parents can log in and review you profile and photos.

Future parents look for a variety of different things in their search for a donor.  Similar ethnic background, similar appearance to the intended mother (height, hair color, eye color, etc.) similar academic achievements, athletic achievements, interests, etc.  Some clients look for a donor with “proven fertility” meaning the donor has had a child of her own or has been a previous egg donor.  For each client it is different and for many, they are really just looking for a donor that they feel some kind of connection with.

With that said, the amount of time it takes to get matched can vary.  Some of our donors are matched within a few days of becoming an approved donor with us.  For others, it can take a bit longer.  We have had several donors wait a year to get matched for their first donation, and then go on to get matched for 5 other donation cycles immediately after!  It really depends…

But as a donor, there are certainly things YOU can do to help the process along!

1. When completing your profile, you want to be as detailed as possible.  You really want to give intended parents a good idea of who you are!  Also, let us know when you have updates!  Did you earn that Bachelor’s Degree, get accepted into Graduate School?  Did your GPA increase?  These are all relevant pieces of information that should be updated on your profile.
2. Submit as many photos as possible.  The more pictures, the better!   Think clear photos, and photos that showcase you and your personality best.  If you go on a trip and take new pictures that you would like to add to your profile, send them our way!
3. Stay in contact with us!  If we leave you a message or send you an email with questions, it means that we likely have a possible match for you!  Many clients will have additional questions for a potential donor or want to see additional photos.  The sooner you can get back to us with any information, the better!
4. Just be patient, and know that Family Creations is always working hard to find a match for you.  Even if you haven’t heard from us for a few weeks, we are still doing what we can to make sure intended parents can have access to your profile for consideration.
5. If for whatever reason you are no longer available to donate at any time, please make sure to notify us immediately.  It is incredibly difficult for recipient parents who sometimes look for months and months to find their “perfect donor” to finally find her and then learn that the donor in no longer available.  This heartache can easily be avoided by staying in constant communication with our office.

So again, it is hard to say exactly how long it will take for each donor to get matched.  But by staying in communication with Family Creations, completing you profile thoroughly, and sending lots of great photos, it can certainly help speed things along.

We look forward to hopefully calling you with some great news very soon! 

~~~~~

“My experience with egg donation couldn’t have been better.  If anything the process seemed too easy!  Family Creations and their extremely competent staff seamlessly took care of all my travel needs and expenses, answered my 101 questions, and were readily available whenever I needed ANYTHING.  I’ve learned not only about how my body works but also of the results of my genetic tests, which I can keep in mind later on when I want to have a family of my own.  Retrieval was lightning fast and the week leading up to it was essentially a free vacation for my boyfriend and I in a new city!  Best of all, this all went to helping a someone make their dream of parenthood come true.  I had such a wonderful experience that I even suggested it to all my other college friends and will definitely be back for another cycle!
-Donor “L”

“L”, thank YOU for being such a pleasure to work with.  It takes a truly special young woman to be an egg donor and your recipients are forever grateful for the incredible gift you have given to them.  It is an honor to have a donor like you are our program and we can’t wait to work with you again through your next donation!

Lisa Friedman, author of “Pregnant Pause: My Journey Through Obnoxious Questions, Baby Lust, Meddling Relatives, and Pre-Partum Depression” shares her words of wisdom for those who want to help a friend or relative struggling with infertility.

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According to Resolve, the National Infertility Assn., one in eight U.S. couples of child-bearing age is diagnosed with infertility. Two long years ago, my husband and I unfortunately found ourselves in this category. It’s been a heartbreaking journey ever since.

We still don’t have any children to show for our efforts, but we remain hopeful that we’ll eventually have the family we’ve always wanted. I don’t talk about it much, because to retell it is to relive it, and this is hard enough to go through once. Also, over the years, I’ve heard my share of well-meaning but cringe-worthy statements that just made me feel worse.

I feel for my friends and family, because they have the best of intentions and want to say something comforting and helpful. But there’s almost nothing they can say.

Most people probably know at least one couple enduring infertility. If those couples are anything like me, here are five things they don’t want to hear:

• Unless you are a board certified fertility doctor, please refrain from diagnoses. Anyone going through this has gotten second, third and fourth opinions: we don’t need any more.

• Please don’t tell us to “just” do anything. Examples: “I don’t understand why you don’t just get a surrogate” or “You should just adopt!” Often these are said with the nonchalance of suggesting we order a pizza. Both paths are unbelievably complicated and expensive (in every sense of the word), and we’ve probably already considered or are still considering them.

• Please don’t tell us to relax or stop trying or “go on vacation and just have sex — surely it’ll happen then.” This dawned on us. It didn’t work. And yet we still try every month, hoping for one of these incredibly wonderful (but unlikely) miracles that people love to mention.

• Don’t tell us about your friends for whom it all worked out. We realize you’re just trying to give us hope, and that’s very nice of you, but unfortunately, it reinforces the feeling that it’s happening for everyone but us.

• And finally, while we sincerely appreciate your interest and concern, please don’t ask us if we’re pregnant. As someone who’s had miscarriages during the precarious first trimester, I’m very superstitious. You’ll know when we’re ready to share.

So, what can you say or do?

First, listen. Or, if you know it will make you uncomfortable to hear about it, let us know that. We’ll be A-OK talking about something — anything — else.

Second, say you’re sorry for our struggle. Several months ago, a friend of mine wrote me the loveliest, simplest paragraph I didn’t even know I so badly needed to hear:

“I am so very sorry. I’m most sorry that there’s nothing I can say that will make this better for you. But please know you’re in my thoughts and prayers and I am wishing you peace and good news. I’m always here to talk if you want to.”

Friedman, who lives in Los Angeles, is the author of the book “Pregnant Pause: My Journey Through Obnoxious Questions, Baby Lust, Meddling Relatives, and Pre-Partum Depression.” She has been published in several anthologies and publications, including Newsweek and the Sun. Her website is http://www.carriefriedmania.com.

MEETING MY INTENDED PARENTS

Being a case manager with Family Creations, I sometimes facilitate donor and recipient meetings.  Whether it is a meeting to determine if the donor is the right “fit” for the recipients or whether the cycle is coming to a close and the recipient wants to meet their donor to thank her in person, the meetings are always really nice.  I’ve never had a recipient say that they wished they hadn’t met their donor.  Likewise, donors are always pleased with the meeting and enjoy having the chance to actually see and meet with the family that they are helping.

Being a case manager and also a donor myself, I’ve always been fascinated with the donation process and seeing both sides of the cycle.  I speak with recipients and donors all day and see similarities in personalities and mannerisms.  It’s really amazing.  I’ve always been an advocate for both parties meeting, speaking on the phone, and really just open donations in general.  There always seems to be a sense of closure for everyone once these meetings take place.

I have personally been a donor twice before. During my first donation, I was read a letter that was written to me by my recipients.  The letter told the story of how they both met and how a tragic accident brought them both together again after being separated for several years.  I look just like my recipient’s sister and my recipient’s favorite song is titled “Emily.”  It seemed like a perfect match.  The letter brought tears to my eyes and I kept my recipients in mind throughout the cycle.  They even sent me a thank you card while I was on the medication.  I was really touched.  They remained in my thoughts throughout the cycle and I still think about them to this day.

My second donation was anonymous.  However, seeing my recipients first names drafted into the contract really meant a lot to me.  They weren’t just “my recipients,” they were Jack and Jill.  (Names changed to maintain anonymity.) Even this little bit of information I held onto dearly, and when I heard that they were pregnant with twins, I was ecstatic.  This process is so miraculous and I’m thrilled that I was able to be a part of it.

Since this past donation cycle, the clinic called me to see if I would be interested in meeting potential parents-to-be for another cycle.  They were working with a gay male couple who was looking for the perfect donor and the couple was extremely interested in meeting me after reviewing my profile. So we met! As soon as they walked into the room, I could see a spark in their eyes and I knew it was a perfect match.  They were both dressed very smart and had the sweetest disposition.  They told me the story of how they met, fell in love and moved to California.  The only thing missing in their life was a family, something they have wanted for a long time. That’s where I come in! They kept saying over and over that my profile was so different than all the rest and I finally asked what set me apart.  They said that they sensed a certain humanity about me.  They listed other things such as my athletic ability, beauty, etc (all very flattering) but they said over and over how the humanity I had working in this field and having the desire to help so many people really touched them.  I too was touched by their kind words.  During the meeting they explained that they had also thought about using a family member as their egg donor.  While I really fell in love with these men, I wanted what’s best for them and I knew that if they decided not to work with me it would be okay.  They are an amazing couple and I wanted them to be happy, whatever path they decided to go down.

I couldn’t get them out of my mind for the rest of the day and was anxiously waiting for a phone call from the clinic the next morning.  As luck would have it, they thought just as highly of me as I did them and we’re matched for an upcoming cycle!   Whoohoo! Now, they are pursuing their search for a surrogate! Hopefully they will find a candidate very soon and we will be ready to get started! I still think of them every day.

Having the opportunity to meet my intended parents was really a chance of a lifetime.  Throughout my first donation cycle I always wondered what my recipients looked like, where they lived, what kind of lifestyle they led but having the information provided in the letter at least gave me a sense of who they were and that really motivated me throughout all of the appointments, injections and going through the retrieval.

The letter and the recent meeting are nice reminders that there are real people on the other side of this process whose lives I’m touching forever.

While personally and professionally I have had great experiences with these types of meetings, they are not for everyone. I am happy to work for an agency that gives our recipient clients and our egg donors choices. We offer specialized packages, tailored to fit the needs and desires of everyone. We offer completely anonymous egg donor cycles, semi-open donation cycles, and completely open egg donation cycles. Through our online database of egg donors, recipient parents can easily identify which donors are open to what, ensuring that they are only focusing on the appropriate egg donor candidates. We will tailor any package to better fit client’s needs.

You can learn more about our specialized packages here: https://www.familycreations.net/packages.php

I am excited for my next donation and will keep my intended parents in my thoughts throughout the coming months. Happy Friday everyone!

~Emily Penn

Egg Donor, and Family Creations Case Manager