Parents and children share a deep, emotional bond. This bond is what makes a parent’s instincts kick in, to care for and protect their child. This is extremely important for the child’s sense of worth and self-esteem.

Building this bond is vital, and usually begins during the early stages of pregnancy. But what if you are not carrying your own child, how do you and your family begin the bond that will last a lifetime?

Surrogacy and Bonding

For babies who are born from surrogacy, the bonding doesn’t have to wait until the intended parents take baby home!

Even from the early stages of pregnancy, the baby has a strong sense of smell and hearing. Through touch, smell and hearing, the baby attaches themselves to the woman carrying them.

One thing intended parents can do from the beginning is talk to the baby. The more the baby hears the intended parent’s voices, the more familiar and comfortable baby will become. As intended parents, you can even send tapes of your voice and have your surrogate play them for the baby.

If, as intended parents, you are able to, be part of the pregnancy as much as possible. Attending doctor appointments, having a baby shower and even decorating the nursery are all ways to help intended parents feel involved throughout the whole journey.

Taking the time to organize and prepare your home before the birth of your baby is vital. Nesting your home, preparing the nursery and baby proofing the house, gives intended parents a feeling of connection to the baby, and provides the feeling of parental protection, which is a vital aspect of bonding.

Before the big day arrives, intended parents will want to make sure they have everything in order. Packing hospital bags, preparing meals ahead of time and putting the finishing touches on the nursery will make the transition easier for the parents.

Since the baby already has a connection to the surrogate mother, providing a transitional item is recommended. Having the surrogate mother sleep with a teddy bear, which she plans on giving the child, gives a newborn a sense of familiarity and comfort, just from the scent of the surrogate mother.

When a baby is born, they need to confirm all the things they have been hearing, smelling and feeling while in the womb. Allowing the surrogate mother to hold the child after birth allows the baby to confirm their senses on the outside world, which is vital for their growth and development.

Once intended parents take baby home, skin-to-skin contact between baby and parent is highly recommended. The close contact will help both parent and child to build a physical bond.

Intended parents must always remember that when their newborn is fussy or upset, it has nothing to do with surrogacy. Try not to beat yourself up about not being able to carry your own child. Grieve your losses throughout the pregnancy and once baby is born understand that babies are naturally fussy, and it has nothing to do with surrogacy.

Don’t forget about the surrogate mother! The whole goal of surrogacy is to create or complete a family. Nothing will bring joy to the surrogate mother like seeing her efforts complete. Try to stay in contact, as much as you’re comfortable with, to have your surrogate mother see the good she has done.

Bonds between child and parent are extremely important for both the child and the parent. Bonding with their parents is what allows a child to feel comfortable in almost all aspects of their life, and is what allows a parent’s instincts to kick in.

Bonding with your child during the surrogate’s pregnancy will help make for a smooth transition when bringing baby home.

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Surrogacy may not be right for everyone, but it can turn a couple into a family, an only child to a big brother or sister. If you are interested in learning more about surrogacy and how it can help grow your family, visit Simple Surrogacy.

For a woman who has dreamt of being a mother her entire life, infertility can hit as hard as the loss of a loved one. From the way you think about yourself, and even your partner to your mental health and stress levels, infertility can affect every aspect of your life. In an effort to look after yourself, your partner and your relationships, knowing what resources are available and what steps are there to take, can make the diagnosis of infertility much easier to handle.

Understanding your Emotions

Most times when you are dealing with a serious issue, the first thing a mentor, advisor or even therapist will tell you, is to acknowledge your feelings. It is likely that fertility may be one of the most difficult things you and your partner will ever have to deal with, and feeling an intensity of emotions you have never felt before is normal. Do not get down on yourself for being upset, or not feeling like getting out of bed some days. Accepting your feelings is an important part of the coping process.

Share as much or as little as you want

In an effort to not place a burden on others, we try and put on a brave face in difficult times. Insisting you are alright will not show others how you’re really feeling, and you can end up feeling even more alone than ever.

Take the time to figure out your own thoughts and feelings, writing in a journal can help get things off your chest and organize your thoughts before opening up to others. At this time in your life it is likely you will have many questions. When you’re ready, open yourself up to communities of couples dealing with the same issues. Getting to know someone who has experienced what you’re going through can create a deep, long lasting bond, and can even help encourage you.

Stay Informed and Educated

Medical advancements are constantly being made, especially within the fertility sector. Ask your doctor many questions about your fertility issue specifically, so you know what direction to head in when new advancements come to surface. Staying up-to-date in the field of fertility enables you to make informed decisions about what you should do.

Set a Limit and Stay in it

We know many people are willing to go to the end of the earth, to the end of their bank accounts and beyond to try and start a family. In a time of stress and uncertainty, the last thing you and your partner need is added stress over finances. Set a budget of how much you are comfortable spending on fertility treatments to keep stress levels low. Ongoing fertility treatments can take a toll on your body. Set a time frame that you and your partner are happy with, and tell yourself that if it doesn’t happen by then, it’s time to look into other options. If going to family events when everyone has had a baby recently but you, or going to baby showers makes you sad and uncomfortable, set a limit on how long you will stay. Or don’t even show up at all. Sending a gift ahead of time is a great way to show support to your loved ones without putting your emotional health on the line. If you do decide to go, you can even set a limit on how long you’re going to stay, before getting overwhelmed with baby talk.

Stay Busy, Stay Optimistic

Fertility treatments can start to feel like they’re taking over your life, especially if you have doctor appointments every other day. It’s easier said than done, but try pursuing other activities in your spare time, to take your mind off babies. Try something new with your partner like a cooking class to strengthen your relationship and get you both thinking of something else. Try not going into a procedure with a closed off, unhopeful mind. Remain positive and hopeful, and trust that if it’s meant to be, it will be.

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Infertility is a major cause of grief and requires time to understand and deal with. Do not rush through the process and work with your partner to get through this tough time. If infertility treatments are proving to be ineffective, know that Simple Surrogacy is here to help your dreams of parenthood come to reality.  

Is your little one just a bit too little to go door to door collecting mounds of candy this Halloween? Don’t miss out on all the spooky fun, there is still plenty of ways to celebrate Halloween with a newborn.

What to do with a newborn for Halloween?

Before the most haunted ‘eve of the year rolls around, start getting into the Halloween spirit by making some spooky decorations. This collection of hand and footprint crafts  is the perfect skill level for your little one, and they serve as a great keepsake!

As Halloween gets closer, look out for age appropriate activities that may be happening in your community. Many zoos host some sort of Halloween bash, where the older kids can walk around collecting treats and the younger kids can enjoy the animals, and the fun costumes the workers dress up in.

Some communities may even host a local children’s festival or some sort of trick-or-treat event in a retirement home to brighten the residents’ day. Find out what may be going on in your community, and pick the activity that works best for you and your baby.

Just because they won’t be trick-or-treating doesn’t mean your little one shouldn’t dress up! One of the best parts of Halloween is seeing all of the adorable baby costumes. If you’re part of a mommy and me group, think about inviting some of the moms and babies over for a Halloween party. It might be just a glorified playdate, but everyone will look so cute in their costumes and Halloween themed treats can be served to add to the festivities.

If your little one looks too cute to keep at home, stop by friends and family’s houses to pick up a little treat and show off your baby’s costume. Your newborn may be too young to enjoy candy, but not too young to enjoy a stroller ride around the neighborhood while big brother or sister is collecting candy. This is a great way for the whole family to enjoy some Halloween fun together.

Even just staying in and having your little one as a companion while handing out candy is the perfect excuse for you both to dress up, and have the trick-or-treaters ogle at the cuteness of your costumes.

If you decide that Halloween may be a bit overwhelming this year for baby, then take a night off from the ghoulish celebrations and have a cozy night at home. Your family can enjoy Halloween movies stories, or even a spooky dinner without overwhelming the little one. If you think the doorbell or the constant knocking of trick-or-treaters may bother baby, then make sure to leave a bowl of candy and a note encouraging trick-or-treaters to take one on the front porch.

Halloween can be a busy and overwhelming holiday, but your little one shouldn’t have to miss out on the fun because of their age. Try out some of these newborn friendly Halloween ideas, and let the fun begin!

Egg donation is an incredible gift, one that many women have the power of giving.

Do you have that power?

Between doctor’s appointments, strict schedules and eventually matching with intended parents, egg donation requires much consideration.

Most women who decide donate their eggs spend many hours researching the process, procedures and various clinics in their area. Even if you are just curious about egg donation, this is a great place to start.

The decision to become an egg donor should not be taken lightly, and when you do arrive at that conclusion, you should consider the following:

• Are you between the ages of 18 and 30?
• Are you a non-smoker?
• Do you have any genetically carried medical conditions?
• Do you have a high school education or equivalent?

Consider these factors, and factors like these, as a pre-screening process. Find a full list of qualifications for egg donors here.

Age is of particular importance. Many women who rely on egg donation to start their own families are looking for younger, stronger women to donate their eggs. Using the egg of a younger woman allows an older woman to carry out a pregnancy at the success rate of that of a younger woman.

If you meet the qualifications, have signed up with a clinic and you’re still excited as ever, then it’s time to think about the arrangements.

With Simple Donations you can opt for an anonymous, open or semi-open arrangement. With an anonymous arrangement, you and the intended parents will not have any contact, you will not know who they are and you may not even know if a pregnancy occurs. In a semi-open arrangement,  very basic information of the intended parents will be exchanged, and an open arrangement allows for open communication throughout the child’s life, the opportunity to know the intended parents and includes the sharing of all information between parties.

Deciding which arrangement is right for you is a vital part of your egg donor profile, and will allow you to match with the right intended parents.

Upon clearance of all screening processes, it’s time to consider the legalities. A lawyer will be provided to guide you through the legal contracts with the IPs.

After all the paperwork is done, it is time to begin the medical portion of the egg donation process. As the egg donor, you will begin taking medication to sync your cycle to the intended mother’s, to increase the success rate of the transfer. Simple Donations will explain in detail every aspect of this medication and its instructions, as it must be taken precisely.  

To prepare your body for the Advanced Reproductive Technologies, hormonal medications will be used to enhance the growth and maturity of follicles to improve the chance of fertilization and control the timing of the release of the eggs.

While the hormones are being administered you will be closely monitored, and once approval from a physician has been given, a shot of HCG will be administered to kick start ovulation and egg retrieval will be scheduled within 36 hours.

Preceding the retrieval, a fertility specialist will identify the eggs to be retrieved and a needle will be inserted into the ovary to remove an egg. This process will be repeated for each egg harvested, lasting a maximum of 60 minutes for the entire procedure. After a short recovery, as the egg donor you are able to go home and will need to return for an after retrieval exam. The egg will then be prepared for fertilization and in a few days if fertilization takes, transferred to the intended mother.

The process of egg donation can require a bit of travel and expenses, all which are covered with Simple Donations. On top of the satisfaction and joy you feel knowing you helped a woman carry out her dreams of pregnancy and motherhood, egg donors can be compensated up to $10,000.

Donating your eggs is not a decision that should be made lightly, but it can turn a couple into a family, a woman into a mother. Egg donation is your gift to give, if you decide it is right for you, Simple Donations will keep the whole process simple. Find out more about the egg donation process here.