Pre and post-birth orders are items of extreme interest in gestational surrogacy. Both assign parentage to the intended parents and remove any rights or obligations from the surrogate. These birth orders can also cause a great deal of stress for both intended parents and surrogates when they’re not properly understood.

In the simplest of terms, a birth order is a legal document assigning parentage to a child. Depending on the state in which your surrogate lives, these documents can be started in the fourth month of pregnancy and are often signed by the seventh month in pre-birth order states. In post-birth order states, intended parents are usually seen in court within three to five days following birth.

The most important thing to understand about the pre-birth order is that while it may be issued by the court prior to the birth, it is not effective until the birth occurs. So, while having this court order signed two to three months prior to the birth may offer you some peace of mind, it is not an absolute necessity and should not cause you distress if early labor occurs before your pre-birth order is finalized. Parentage will be protected by other guardianship documents even if the pre-birth order is not in place at the time of the birth.

Some states do not offer the option of a pre-birth order. These states, post-birth states, do not allow the filing of parentage documents until after the birth of the baby to file parentage documents. In these post-birth order states, there will typically be a court hearing held after the birth, and the intended parents may be required to attend. Even if a hearing is required, know that these hearings are typically a formality and agreed upon easily by the courts as all parties are in agreement over the desired parentage of the child in question.

Court hearings can just as easily be required in states offering pre-birth orders. This reality, paired with the fact that pre-birth orders aren’t considered active until the birth of your child, makes the real-life difference between pre-birth and post-birth order states insignificant. In general, don’t let fear of working with a post-birth state scare you away from someone who could be your ideal surrogate. If you do choose a pre-birth state, everything will work out with or without your pre-birth order in hand at the time of the delivery. Additional questions about birth orders should be directed to the attorney's office helping you establish your parental rights.

For the safety and health of all involved in egg donation and surrogacy, egg donors are carefully screened—and that includes screening for sexually transmitted diseases and infections. If you're wondering if you can donate eggs if you have (or had) an STD or HIV, this post will explain what you need to know.

FDA-REQUIRED SCREENING

The FDA has created a list of communicable diseases that they require all IVF centers to test for in order to deem a candidate qualified to donate human reproductive tissue—in this case, your eggs. Diseases on this list include: 

• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

• Hepatitis B& C

• Syphilis

• Chlamydia

• Gonorrhea

The FDA gives IVF clinics the ability to screen for additional diseases at will, so from time to time, additional tests may be ordered. 

You can learn more about medical screenings and other concerns on our Egg Donor Requirements page.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR AN STD?

If your STD screening comes back positive for one or more of these diseases, it can mean a potential end to your journey to egg donation. 

In other cases, this diagnosis will only cause a pause in your donation. Many sexually transmitted diseases are able to be treated and cured with medications from a doctor. STDs in this category include bacterial infections like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and some early stages of syphilis.

In these cases, once the transmission has been treated and cleared, there is no viable reason to deny a donation from this donor. If you find yourself in this situation, we will ask that you have the STD or STI treated and reapply when you have been clear of positive screening for a minimum of one year. 

Any additional questions about STDs and egg donation can be discussed on an individual basis with your admissions specialist during the screening process. Learn more about what to do (and not to do) in the days leading up to your egg donation in our related blog post.

Get Started

If you're ready to become an egg donor, please contact us online or apply today.

Becoming an egg donor means donating your DNA in order to help create a family for someone else. This huge responsibility motivates us to ensure that our egg donors are genetically sound as well as physically healthy. This means our potential egg donors need to be tobacco free. Research has shown time and time again that using tobacco products can have an adverse effect on fertility. Specifically, studies have shown that female smokers will produce fewer follicles, fewer usable eggs, and fewer eggs capable of fertilization when stimulated for IVF treatments. There is also a link between miscarriage and tobacco users that could be the result of poor egg quality. That research, compounded with the negative effects of tobacco on the overall health of the user, serve as the basis for our tobacco free requirement. 

As part of our responsibility to our intended parents, we require our egg donors to pass a tobacco screening during their application process. Apart from helping to make you healthier, the absence of tobacco and other additives found in cigarettes will make your eggs a better quality as well. Within six months of stopping smoking your lungs will begin to repair themselves and your body will be free of nicotine and other harmful additives found in cigarettes. If you are a current smoker and wish to donate your eggs with us, we encourage you to look into stopping smoking. Once you have been tobacco free for a minimum of six months, we invite you to apply with us and move through the screening process. Do note that a failed tobacco screening will disqualify you from moving forward. 

If you are interested in becoming a donor with Growing Generations apply today.

From time to time, a transferred embryo will implant but fail to lead to a viable pregnancy. Generally, only 10-20% of pregnancies confirmed by either blood test or ultrasound are statistically likely to end in miscarriage. This is likely a very emotional time for both you and your intended parents, but you will need to make the decision on how you will clear your uterus of the placenta and tissue formed during early pregnancy.

In most cases of an early miscarriage or blighted ovum, you will be presented with a few options. The most common options include either a natural miscarriage or a medical dilation and curettage (D&C) procedure. Weighing the benefits of a D&C vs a natural miscarriage is important. Here’s a look at how they differ.

NATURAL MISCARRIAGE

Choosing a natural miscarriage will allow your body to dispel the tissue on its own and without medical intervention. This process will begin naturally, usually within a week of stopping your medications. A natural miscarriage is completed at home and generally includes period-like cramping, some of which may be severe, and bleeding. 

Once you pass the tissue, you will see a doctor to monitor your hormone levels as they naturally lower to a non-pregnancy level. The doctor will also monitor your bleeding levels to ensure that your body dispelled all of the internal tissue appropriately. In the instance that this does not happen or you experience excessive bleeding, you may need to undergo a D&C procedure to complete the clearing of the uterus. Many women choose this natural method as a way to have closure of the end of an intended pregnancy.

D&C PROCEDURE FOR MISCARRIAGE

Occasionally, depending on how many weeks into the pregnancy you were when the fetus stopped growing, you will not have the option of a natural miscarriage. If you choose to have a D&C procedure or it is medically recommended, you will generally be scheduled very quickly after stopping your medications. The procedure is done by a medical professional either in their office, or in some cases, in the outpatient surgery center of your local hospital. While the procedure is medically coded as minor surgery, it is very common and routine for most OB-GYNs. Patients are usually put under general anesthesia so that they will comfortably sleep through the procedure.

PROCEDURE DETAILS

The procedure consists of your doctor using a device to dilate your cervical opening, and then using a sharp instrument, such as a scalpel, or suction to clean out the tissue inside your uterus. The entire process takes under a half-hour, and you will be discharged roughly 2 hours following the procedure. 

RECOVERY

Typical recovery can include light cramping and bleeding, and you’ll generally follow up with your doctor 2 weeks after the procedure. Learn what to expect with your first menstrual cycle after a D&C procedure in our related blog post.

RISKS

You should note that this procedure does carry potential risks, including scarring of the uterus that may make future pregnancies more difficult. Even so, many women elect to complete a D&C to provide quicker closure and swifter recovery. You will be compensated if you choose to have this invasive procedure.

Choosing the best method for you involves many variables. While this is a personal choice, your case specialist, medical nurse, and physician are always ready and willing to help you sort through the decision-making process. Feel free to contact Growing Generations.

Nearly all surrogates will be placed on “pelvic rest” for at least part of their surrogacy journey. Although it is a common requirement, this instruction can be a source of confusion and uncertainty for many surrogates. To clarify expectations, let's explore what pelvic rest means, when it is necessary, how long it generally lasts, and what it means for you and your surrogacy journey. 

WHAT IS PELVIC REST?

In simplest terms, pelvic rest means that you are to abstain from sexual intercourse, orgasms (even those achieved by external methods), and insertion of anything into the vagina with the exception of medications. Do note that pelvic rest in pregnancy is not the same as bed rest.

PELVIC REST VS. BED REST FOR PREGNANCY

Bed rest typically means staying in bed except to bathe and use the bathroom. Being on pelvic rest means you can do all of your normal day-to-day activities; you just want to be careful to avoid straining the pelvic area or having penetrative sex. You can talk to your doctor about what type of sexual relations you may still be able to engage in if you wish.

You may be placed on rest following the embryo transfer, usually for a 24-hour period. You could also be placed on bed rest or pelvic rest later in the pregnancy, to ensure that you reach the 35-week gestation mark before delivery. This type of rest means to simply relax and rest. While using the restroom and sitting upright to eat are OK, lifting more than 10 pounds or exercising are generally to be avoided. Your physician will discuss any restrictions with you.

WHEN IS PELVIC REST NECESSARY?

Pelvic rest will usually begin the day of your embryo transfer and will not end until your doctor clears you for normal sexual activity. This means that, just as every pregnancy is different, there will be a great varying of release times from pelvic rest. All surrogates are asked to maintain pelvic rest for at least four weeks. While some surrogates may be released as soon as heartbeat confirmation, others may be asked to continue pelvic rest longer, sometimes through the course of the entire first trimester. This variation can be caused by several reasons, including the following:

• Light bleeding

• Concerns over implantation

• Varying medical protocols

• Conduct preferences of the intended parents

Because of these varying reasons, it is important that you do not follow guidelines given to any other surrogate or even given to you in another pregnancy or surrogacy. This pregnancy is unique to you, and the medical protocol will be adjusted uniquely to your current situation. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT PELVIC REST RESTRICTIONS

If you have any questions about being released from pelvic rest or what allowances you may have, be sure to ask your individual nurse or care provider. They will have the best, most up-to-date information from your medical notes and will be able to provide you with the most personalized answer that ensures the best probability of success for your journey.

As a premier surrogacy agency, Growing Generations is honored to support surrogates throughout their journey to make the experience as enriching as possible. For more information about surrogacy, please reach out to us.

Daily injections are a part of life for most surrogates. In the majority of surrogate medical cycles, the IVF doctor will ask our surrogates to administer one intramuscular shot per day over the course of the first ten to twelve weeks of the pregnancy. This necessitates the need for you to keep a large inventory of syringes and IVF needles on hand during the medical cycle. 

HOW TO DISPOSE OF IVF NEEDLES

Once you are done with these injections and weaned from medications, it is typical for there to be several additional needles and syringes on hand. This excess supply often provides a conundrum for our surrogates: What to do with all of those unused needles? The simple answer is this: You need to talk with your intended parents and/or case specialist first. 

These needles and syringes are the property of your intended parents, as they purchased them for your use during the medical cycle of their surrogacy. No matter what you choose to do with the unused medical supplies and medications, this decision should be cleared with your intended parents first. 

CAN YOU RETURN UNUSED IVF NEEDLES?

Some surrogates and their intended parents will opt to send the unused medical supplies back to the pharmacy from which they were purchased. If this is the wish of your intended parents, you’ll want to call the pharmacy in advance to see if any restocking fees exist, if they’ll accept the return of sharps, and how to ship the items safely. 

Mailing the unused needles involves getting the appropriate packing materials, including disposal containers, bag liners, and return boxes approved by the U.S. Postal Service. Follow the directions to properly seal and package your sharps containers.

HOW TO DISPOSE OF LEFTOVER IVF NEEDLES

Perhaps the most common choice is simply disposal, as you’ll need to dispose of your used sharps anyway. In this case, it is important to open the sharps and deposit them into the sharps container as opposed to simply placing them into the trash. You’ll also want to find a location that offers sharps disposal. In many cases, local pharmacies, fire stations, or public health centers will offer disposal services. From time to time, there may be a fee associated with disposal of sharps. 

Sharps disposal guidelines and programs vary depending on where you live. Check with your local trash removal services or health department.

CAN YOU DONATE UNUSED IVF NEEDLES?

An unconventional option for needle disposal is to consider donating them to non-profit causes in your neighborhood. In many big cities, you may be able to find needle exchange programs that will accept donations of unused needles and syringes. 

Often these programs take used needles out of the hands of people with drug addiction, replacing them with the donated unused needles. The hope is that this needle exchange program will help curb the transmission of diseases such as hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. Other needle donation programs also exist to help medical needs in developing countries or, depending on the type of needles and syringes you have, to help those living with diabetes in the U.S. 

You can find a donation program by searching online for "donating unused needles near me."

BEGIN YOUR SURROGACY JOURNEY

Growing Generations is for you every step of the way, from surrogate screening to after the birth. Contact Growing Generations to learn more about surrogacy.