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Explaining surrogacy through literacy

7/29/2019

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To our hopeful intended Parents and selfless surrogate carriers….

How can we explain surrogacy to our children as they grow up? It is one of the most common questions we hear from the families we work with, meet at our children’s schools and sporting events, and see all over social media. At Golden State Surrogacy we embrace any reason to explain life through books. Surrogacy, adoption, egg donation and other various family structures are finally becoming more mainstream in the children’s literary world. Using these books can help with conversations about a child’s own family. I have personally reviewed some of the top recommended books and we hope you’ll find them helpful for your family as well.

Do you have any other favorite books missing from this great list? We would love to hear from you and your input! Reading to your child is SO important, especially when your story is so special.

Our Top 10 Favorite Surrogacy Stories

The Different Dragon – Jennifer Bryan - A story about a little boy (and maybe baby sister too? and his moms’ bedtime routine/story time. Having two moms was not the focus, it was their normal.
Milo’s Adventure: A Story About Love – Frankie Nelson, BJ Barone & Debbie Dons – Keep a box of tissues on hand as you read this! Told from Milo’s perspective, this is a story of surrogacy, the love of his two dads and becoming a family.
While You Were Sleeping – Stephanie Burks - Seems like a really sweet story about two moms and the feelings they have when they learn a birthmother has chosen them! There is nothing sweeter then seeing your newborn sleep.
Felicia’s Favorite Story – Leslea Newman - Much like While You Were Sleeping above. A sweet adoption story told to their daughter by her two moms at bedtime. This book is so sweet!
ABC: A Family Alphabet Book – Bobbie Combs - Depicts gay and lesbian parents throughout a typical alphabet book. Another good one where different families are shown but not the central focus.
Heather Has Two Mommies – Leslea Newman - Seems like a classic and very well loved. A must add to your bookshelf.
Sophia’s Broken Crayons: A Story of Surrogacy from a Young Child’s Perspective – Crystal A Falk - A lot of good feedback on this beautiful book. It seems to be written from the perspective of a straight family. A great read for Intended Parents or Surrogates carries who want to explain surrogacy to a young child.
A Surrogacy Book for Young Children: Grown in Another Garden - The perspective of a little boy who was born through surrogacy. This book appears to be from the perspective of a straight family.
The Kangaroo Pouch – Sarah A. Phillips – What better way to explain carrying a child in your pouch? This is a favorite and easy way to understand why women are willing to help a hopeful mother to be.
The Very Kind Koala- Kimberly Kluger-Bell - The simple illustrations and language of this picture book help very young children to understand a little bit of what surrogacy is all about.

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Gestational Surrogacy allows women to help others bring new life into the world and grow a family, but the medical process itself is different for surrogates than with a personal pregnancy of their own. With surrogacy, the uterus requires preparation to support the upcoming pregnancy or implantation.

There are three common hormones assist in this process. The first medication is Estrogen, second we have progesterone. These two medications prepare the uterus by mocking the surrogate’s natural cycle. The third medication is lupron. This medication makes sure the timing remains synchronized.

Estrogen
it may sound counter-intuitive, but as a surrogate, it is typically required to take birth control pills to prepare for surrogacy journey and coordinate the ovarian cycle. Estrogen helps thicken and build the uterine lining, maintaining early pregnancy.

Estrogen replacements are also given until the twelfth week of pregnancy. Why that particular week, you ask? That’s when the placenta takes over the job of hormone production! Estrogen can be administered through oral pills, suppositories, patches, or injection. Whichever IVF clinic the surrogate is attending, there her Reproductive endocrinologist (RE) will help her deiced which method is best moving forward.

Progesterone
The body makes progesterone after ovulation. Once uterine walls are thick enough, surrogate will start taking progesterone replacements to ensure successful implantation a few days before the embryo is transferred into the uterus. Progesterone signals the body to start making the correct nutrients to nourish the embryo.

As with estrogen, you stop progesterone replacements around the end of the twelfth week. It can be taken in the form of pills, suppositories, or gels, but the typical administration form is by intramuscular injection. Again, the surrogate will discuss this with the doctor.

Lupron
With that influx of hormones, your body will naturally react and try to reassert its natural cycle. Lupron keeps the timing on track by safely blocking the hormones that control your cycle. It’s like putting up a “Do Not Disturb” sign. It helps to synchronize your cycle with the egg donor’s or intended mother’s cycle before the transfer.

You start taking Lupron about two weeks after you begin birth control and stop it days before the intended mother’s or egg donor’s egg retrieval.

Embryo Transfer
The time has come! The surrogate will undergo an embryo transfer. Most experienced surrogates who have had this procedure done before say that it is a bit uncomfortable but it’s only for a minute. The procedure is quick, without having to take any pain medications before hand. It is common for the RE to recommend two full days of bed rest after the procedure. I would have to say myself this is one of the best first steps of becoming a surrogate carrier! I am being told I must relax for two entire days?

Pregnant
Your doctor will likely schedule a blood test 10-14 after you have had your transfer. After the blood work has been tested by the lab, your doctor will phone you to share the news with you!

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Why do people turn to IVF?

7/2/2019

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There are a variety of fertility issues that IVF can help someone overcome

Endometriosis
Genetic Diseases
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Antibodies that Harm Sperm or Eggs
Ovulation issues
Low Sperm Count
Issues with the Uterus or Fallopian Tubes
Unexplained Infertility

What is IVF? In- Vitro Fertilization is a medical procedure completed by an Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE). This is where an egg is combined with sperm outside of the body, in vitro. The process involves monitoring and stimulating a women's ovulatory process, removing an ovum or ova from the women's ovaries and letting the sperm fertilise them in a liquid in a laboratory. This completed at a fertility clinic of the clients choice.

These are just a few of the reasons that people turn to IVF. After several attempts many then turn to surrogacy if their IVF journey has come to an end. For many, Surrogacy is the last resort in making parenthood a possibility.

One in eight people struggle with infertility. Our advice to those who thrive to complete their families through IVF and Surrogacy, please know that you’re not alone, never lose hope, stay positive, and trust your journey

“They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.”

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Shannon's Surrogacy Story

6/19/2019

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Shannon Landis, Golden State Surrogacy CEO, pregnant by a lake

Shannon Landis, Golden State Surrogacy CEO, pregnant and holding a funnel cake

Shannon Landis, Golden State Surrogacy CEO, pregnant at a grassy hillside

You’re not giving up a baby, you’re giving the baby back
You have to have a certain mindset, because you’re not giving a baby up, you’re giving the baby back. By all means, I did not want to keep their child - I wanted a child for them. It was a healthy disconnect. I feel so honored to have helped their dreams to parenthood come true.

When you know, you know.
I knew I wanted to become a mother from a young age. I remember my girlfriends and I playing with our baby dolls and setting up pretend nurseries when we would have sleep overs. As I became an adult I learned more and more about surrogacy. Surrogacy at the time was not talked about much; people didn’t take the time to understand it. To this day, I believe many are judgmental about surrogacy and don’t know how common it really is. One in eight couples has trouble conceiving their own biological child. I just knew deep down inside that I wanted to help an infertile couple.

Starting my family first
I gave birth to my first child in 2007. I knew shortly after I had him that I was really interested in becoming a surrogate. I even applied for a surrogacy program with an agency. I decided before finalizing all the paperwork that the time just wasn’t right for me. After I had my second child I knew the time was finally right to become a surrogate carrier.

Sharing the news
I was very open about wanting to become a surrogate. I would have to say that the majority of my family was not supportive of me becoming a surrogate. During the process I was able to talk about, explain, and most importantly,help others to understand what surrogacy really is and why millions of men and women around the world turn to surrogacy. Let’s move forward to when I completed my first surrogacy journey. My family asks often how my surro baby is doing. They want to see pictures of the baby and his parents. After many of my family members met baby and parents, they now gush over how amazing my surro family is anytime we get together.

Creating their family
My husband was very supportive when I decided to become a surrogate. The surrogacy process was actually really exciting. I was matched quickly, but the Intended Parents decided to wait. So I was matched with a second couple and I am so glad I was! Everything worked out just how I imagined. My pregnancy was wonderful, and the Intended Parents were caring and supportive. I delivered a healthy baby boy. Today we remain friends and have a wonderful relationship.

A completed chapter
After completing my first surrogacy journey I was overwhelmed with love and viewed life with a little more appreciation. I went on to carry a second child for another family. And again, I had another amazing experience. Today I have helped create and complete two different families.

Sharing the love
I knew someday I wanted to help more families. Opening Golden State Surrogacy has been a pure joy. It’s true honor to witness Intended Parents being matched with their gestational surrogate carriers. Helping couples make their dreams come true and seeing a surrogate’s excitement as she creates miracles is really the best job anyone could ask for.

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