Stuff Moms Say

It is amazing that we live in a world with so much innovation. It seems amazing that just a few hundred years ago, someone getting a cut was enough to render them left for dead. A lot has changed the health world, including indoor plumbing and science. There are many, many modern medical advancements that stand out as “game-changers” but some stand to make the biggest impact on the largest amount of people.

Here are our choices:

Surrogacy

One of the most amazing scientific and innovative phenomena that ever happened in the last few decades is surrogacy medical procedures.  The idea that the egg and sperm of other people can be joined together and implanted into a surrogate is mind-boggling for so many people – to the point where surrogacy is misunderstood by a large number of people. The newest surrogacy methods have proven to be even more successful than doctors had ever dreamed about, ensuring that everyone who wants to be a parent can become one. 

Of course, surrogacy is still a costly medical procedure that requires a willing surrogate. Time will only tell just how much further this medical marvel will go – will there be a time when we don’t even need a surrogate?

Vaccines

Communicable diseases can be traced back to every major event in human history. We have been able to eradicate so many deadly diseases because of the use of vaccines. It started with a vaccine for smallpox and has only gotten better from there. Now we have vaccines against chickenpox, malaria, rubella, measles, tetanus, diphtheria, and typhus, amongst others.

The polio vaccine, in particular, changed the world in the best of ways. While some people have negative feelings toward vaccines, there is no denying just how impactful they have been.

Antibiotics

Our ability to “kill” things that enter our bodies have changed the population and the world forever. Antibiotics work hand-in-hand with vaccines to kill communicable diseases. Another cure that was accidentally discovered, it has become one of the best tools in a doctor’s arsenal. Antibiotics came after a doctor discovered a mold can actually help treat bacterial illnesses. Today, we use it to fight everything from infections after a dental procedure to AIDs. 

Can you imagine a world where infections automatically killed you? Now, we have to be careful about using antibiotics too much because people are actually developing a resistance to them.

Birth Control Pill

There have been few medical advancements that have had such a widespread, life-changing impact as the birth control pill. While it is a slightly controversial medical advancement, it has allowed women to choose when, how, and why they become parents. 

Women are now able to go to school, join the workforce, and choose the partner with whom they start a family – it is hard to imagine a world without it. While there have been other advancements and choices for women who chose to control their own fertility, the birth control pill remains the standard for most people.

Glasses

Glasses are one of the biggest medical breakthroughs in the last few hundred years. Can you imagine that people just didn’t see well before that? Centuries ago, there were prototypes that were eventually used to create glasses as we know now. However, the look and feel of glasses weren’t developed until the late 1800s. Before, people had to hold a glass to their eyes to see, which wasn’t handy and meant they couldn’t be doing anything that required two hands.

These are just a few of the modern medical advancements that stand out amongst the rest of them, but it is by far not an exhaustive list. There are so many more medical instruments that could be here (x-rays, Sedasys, thermometers, stethoscopes, pacemakers, MRIs, prosthetics, and defibrillators), treatments that could be here (chemotherapy, transfusions, trials, organ transplants, Anaesthesia, and laser surgeries), and there are so many promising techniques, tools, and tricks that are on the cutting edge of medicine. 

Gestational surrogacy whereby the surrogate is not in any way related to the unborn child she is carrying is one of the most common today, especially in Las Vegas. This option of enjoying parenthood has assisted a lot of couples, surrogate Las Vegas and as well as individuals to bring up their own families and this explains its growing popularity. If you are considering this path to parenthood there are a few important things that you should know about how it works and the costs involved. Here are some of the requirements for gestational surrogacy that you ought to know.

What is Gestational Surrogacy, Who might be Considering it and What are the Requirements for Gestational Surrogacy?

In this type of surrogacy, the child so born is not related to its mother, referred to as a gestational carrier, biologically. The embryo is usually created using the in vitro fertilization (IVF) method using the sperm and eggs of the intended donors or parents. The embryo is then transferred to the surrogate.

This type of surrogacy is referred to as full or host surrogacy. This type of surrogacy is less legally complicated compared to the other types as one of the intended parents or donors is related to the child genetically. This eradicates the need for second-parent or stepparent adoption. The following group of people might consider going for gestational surrogacy;

•  Optimistic single parents
•  People struggling with infertility
•  A person who is unable to carry a pregnancy for the whole term
•  Same-sex couples
•  People who prefer to have a child through a surrogate but don’t want the child to have a genetic link with its mother.

Requirements for Gestational Surrogacy

The first thing among the various requirements for gestational surrogacy is finding a suitable surrogate. There are agencies that you can use to assist you in landing the best surrogate to help carry your child to term.

These agencies usually prefer to have the surrogates aged between 21 to 39 years old, have a BMI of 18 – 32, they must have given birth and at least raising one child and hold OB/GYN records. They should also be non-smokers living in a non-smoker room and their records should not have uncomplicated deliveries or pregnancies documented.

You must also consider the gestational surrogacy laws that exist in your state, as they are normally determined by each state on its own. There are some states that do not allow any form of surrogacy at all. You can get an attorney or other professional to help you understand the various gestational surrogacy laws that apply in your state before making the decision.

The next and very important requirement is the cost involved in gestational surrogacy. The cost is often determined by a number of things such as the surrogate, medical technology used as well as the monthly allowance and compensation for the surrogate mother. On average, gestational surrogacy might cost in the range of $75,000 – $150,000. This figure consists of legal fees agency fees, counseling costs and the living expenses as well as the compensation of the surrogate mother.

Although this process seems long and somewhat a challenge, it is a rewarding experience for optimistic parents who want to expand their families. Or experience the joys and challenges of raising their own child. Following all the above requirements for gestational surrogacy will ensure that you go through the process successfully.

Today, it is normal to see same-sex marriages everywhere in the world. However, since it is impossible for these gay and lesbian couples to have babies on their own, surrogacy is the only other option to have babies besides adoption.

Surrogacy for gay couples involves taking semen from one of the partners and combines with an egg from a donor. When the embryos are produced, they are artificially planted onto the womb of the gestational carrier, according to surrogateparenting.com. This is a woman who agrees to carry the pregnancy for the couple and deliver the baby for them.

Surrogacy tips for gay couples

Most of the gay couples looking to have a baby through In Vitro Fertilization do not have a wide group of surrogates to choose from. It is for this reason that many gay couples choose a relative or a friend to act as the surrogate. However, there are agencies that are coming up for this sole reason. These agencies provide gay couples with surrogates for a fee that is agreed upon between the couple and the gestation carrier.

Below are some of the tips to consider in case of surrogacy for gay couples:

• The woman should have had previous childbirths without  complications. The period of pregnancy should also have been uneventful.
•  The woman should be stable emotionally and physically and healthy too.
• In order to be certain, it is crucial that a full evaluation be done on the woman. You should have a lawyer. This is because there has to be signed agreements and consents between the gay couple and the surrogate. These documents should include the amount payable to the surrogate, the payment terms and conditions and the responsibilities of the surrogate. These documents are important because they can be reviewed in case of disagreements later due to a breach of trust.
• A lawyer is also necessary to help you through all the legal requirements when you are going for surrogacy for gay couples. This is because there are many regulations and laws surrounding this subject. It is therefore imperative to ensure that you fully understand and comply with these laws.
• Do a proper research on the surrogacy agency you choose. In case you choose to get your surrogate from an agency, it is important that you carefully go through their terms and conditions before you pick your surrogate. This is because different agencies have different policies concerning their interactions with gay couples looking for surrogates. With proper background checks and research, you are in a better position to choose the best agency to get your surrogate.

Surrogacy for Gay Couples

Above all the listed tips, it is essential to get the In Vitro Fertilization from an experienced and qualified medical practitioner. This is because it increases the chances of getting a healthy pregnancy and delivery. It also ensures that the process is safe for both the surrogate and the baby.

The practitioner should have the legal documents to show they are legit and registered by the necessary authority. Their price ranges should also be affordable to you. Very cheap prices are however a red flag because they may mean that they are not very efficient in their job.

Surrogacy is one of the most significant undertakings a person can take in her life. When you agree to be a surrogate mother, you are not only giving up your body and your energy, it will feel like you are giving a small piece of yourself. The decision to become a surrogate mother isn’t one that can be taken lightly, according to eggdonorandsurrogacy.com.

Instead, it is a decision that will need to come after willful thinking and even some discussion with your family and friends. Still, those that decide to help another family become complete are giving the most precious of gifts.

As you journey down the path, you will find that being a surrogate mother or a gestational carrier has many positives and you will learn quite a bit about yourself as you help others. Many start being a surrogate mother to receive the financial compensation, but find that they get much more out of it than money.

Requirements to be an Egg Donor and a Surrogate Mother

Some of the most important qualities to be a surrogate mother aren’t things that we can measure or test in a traditional sense – you need to be compassionate, committed, safe, healthy, and mentally stable. You need to be safe while you are pregnant and giving birth so that the baby can be safe – you are an important part of this mixture. Being a surrogate mother or an egg donor means that a lot is expected of you.

Every surrogacy institute and egg donor resource has slightly different requirements for someone to be an egg donor or a surrogate mother. Some of the most basic requirements are the same, however

•         Between 21-39 years of age
•         BMI between 18-34
•         Being a non-smoker living in a non-smoking home
•         No history of clinical mental illness or current treatments
•         Have had a successful pregnancy yourself
•         Certain medications can make you ineligible
•         Free of certain medical conditions

These are just a few of the most basic requirements. There are a few others that can increase your chances of being chosen as a surrogate. Most of the ones above focused on creating a healthy physical environment for the baby you will carry. Two of the most important ones that often make women ineligible include:

•         Not currently on governmental financial support or Welfare
•         Financially sound without help from intended parents

Many women can be wonderful mothers and take care of their families while getting help from the government – and many families have gotten through on government aid. However, this is a risk factor that many intended parents take into account when they are selecting a surrogate.

Women who receive government aid tend to have more stress in their lives and tend to work more jobs, which can make the pregnancy harder.

Being pregnant is a stressful enough situation, so adding to that is worse when the surrogate mother still has to work jobs or faces other stress.

•         No history of criminal activity/unlawful behaviors
•         A stable, responsible lifestyle without stress or other risk factors

A surrogate mother needs to be an upstanding citizen. A prospective surrogate will have to give information about her past when she fills out forms, and it is unlikely that an intended couple will pick someone who has a criminal history, even if that person has completely changed over the years.

It should seem obvious why people want to know so much about surrogate mothers and their history – you are giving them one of the most precious things they will ever have: a child. It might seem intrusive at times, but if you work with a qualified surrogacy or egg donor agency, you are going to have treatment that will be respectful and tactful – you do not have to worry about feeling like you are put on show.

Take some time to think about whether or not you really want to be a surrogate, and if you meet the requirements above, then you can move on to thinking about helping a family grow.