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.

The majority of surrogate births occur at a significant distance from your home. In many cases, the distance will necessitate a plane ride home with your newborn. This reality can send chills down the back of any new parent. Flying with a newborn doesn’t have to be a stressful event; it just takes a little pre-planning and a lot of patience.

How To Fly With a Newborn 

#1. Travel Documents

As an intended parent, you’ll want to make sure you have your paperwork updated and easily available. 

• For domestic births, this simply means calling the airline after the birth to add an infant in lap to your ticket. 

• For international couples you’ll need to add the infant to your reservation as well as ensure that your child’s passport is ready and stored with your own. 

#2. Be Flexible

Be prepared for anything. Many times, a newborn’s behavior during that first flight will vary slightly from what you’re becoming used to. Regularly hearty eaters may sleep through feedings, while a light eater may consume twice the amount they normally do. Try to follow your newborn’s lead.

#3. Prepare for In-Air Feedings

Plan on having more food on hand than your newborn would usually consume. If using formula, have it pre-measured (single-use packets or snack-sized Zip-Lock baggies work great) and in an easily accessible location. 

Airports in the U.S. do allow unlimited ounces of breast milk and baby formula to be brought through security, despite the standardly enforced three-ounce maximum rule. Your fluids may be subject to additional screening, but they should not be confiscated.

#4. Pack Plenty of Changing Supplies

Also plan on having more diapers than you think you could need. Perhaps the only thing worse than running out of food is running out of clean diapers! While you’re at it, you may want to throw in a spare outfit or two in case of a diaper blowout. An aisle seat may also be a good idea for ease of diaper change and bathroom trips.

#5. Dress (You & Your Baby) for Success

Another great tip is to dress your newborn in layers. Airplanes are predictably unpredictable when it comes to the onboard temperature, and you’ll want to make sure your child is prepared for both hot, stuffy environments as well as cool, breezy ones. This is also a solid tip for yourself. Layers can help not only your comfort, but your potential need for a change of shirt in the event of spit up or a bad diaper encounter.

#6. Choose the Right Airline

Remember that not all airlines are created equal when it comes to caring for their tiniest passengers. Before you book your flights you may be well served to look into a few different airlines and compare their newborn policies against each other. This is especially important for international intended parents. (Read our related blog post for information about the best airlines for international travel with a baby.)

#7. Try To Relax

Finally, try not to stress over the flight too much. It’s been a long journey just to get to this flight, try to take time to enjoy the moment as you fly home with your new family. Not only will this more relaxed approach benefit your stress levels, but research suggests it can prevent your baby from feeling stressed too.

Growing Generations attends to your needs throughout your surrogacy journey. If you're ready to take the next step toward building your family through surrogacy—and looking forward to flying home with your new baby—contact Growing Generations. You can also apply today online to get started.

Planning to arrive in your surrogate’s hometown in time for the birth of your child can be especially difficult when you’re traveling from another country. While it is important to arrive in town early, international intended parents also have to plan accordingly for the time they’ll need to be stateside following the birth as well. This can turn your stateside visit into a lengthy one.

First of all, understand that most babies are not born on their due dates. In fact, studies estimate only about 5% of babies are actually born on their due dates, the rest falling within two weeks to either side of the due date.

For this reason, we strongly urge our international intended parents to arrive in town no later than 38 weeks gestation for a singleton, and 36 weeks gestation for a multiples pregnancy. Many intended parents will choose to arrive even earlier as, in many cases, the travel time from their home to their surrogate’s home can be in excess of 24 hours, leaving little chance to make it in time for delivery if labor begins earlier than expected. If you are unable to travel this far in advance of your expected due date, we advise that you’re able to “drop everything and go” when you receive the call that your surrogate is in active labor.

In the final weeks of pregnancy your surrogate and her OB will be paying very careful attention to your surrogate’s body as it prepares for labor and child birth. Her OB will be monitoring her swelling, blood pressure, and the heart rate of the baby to ensure that no one is in distress. Elevated levels could lead to a medical induction. The OB will also be performing internal exams on your surrogate’s cervical opening to check for softening, thinning, or dilation, as these can mean labor is approaching.

Some women who have experienced childbirth many times say that they are able to tell when labor is nearing and may be able to share her instincts with you in the final weeks. Of course, there is no exact science and false alarms can happen to anyone.

A defined plan of action leading into the final weeks of the pregnancy can provide the most relief possible as you await the birth of your child. Whatever your plan is, due try to relax and enjoy the final weeks and days of your journey as much as possible.

 

Once you have confirmed the match with your surrogate, you will move into the contracting phase of your journey. During this time, you will be working with lawyers who are very well versed in fertility and reproductive law in the United States to draft and execute your surrogacy agreement.

Many states require a legal contract between the surrogate and the intended parents. This contract, commonly known as the surrogacy agreement, will be catered to suit the laws of the states/countries that are included as well as any specific requests you and your surrogate have agreed upon.

The main purpose of the contract is to specify and clarify the outcomes of any issues that may arise during the course of the pregnancy. 

Examples include:

• What will happen to the child should something happen to the intended parents before the baby is born

• What would happen if the baby were diagnosed with a genetic illness while in utero.

• How many fetuses is the surrogate willing to carry

The contract is designed to protect all parties and prevent potential disputes.

Most IVF clinics will stipulate that a surrogacy agreement be in place before any medical procedures begin.

Later on in your journey, you will need to manage more legal paperwork to establish parental rights. Final parental establishment for the intended parents is acquired via a court order declaring the parental rights and obligations of the intended parents. At this point, you will be identified as the sole legal parents. The court order will also include directions for the department of Vital Records to issue a birth certificate for the child, upon which will be placed the names of the intended parents. This is usually done before the end of the third trimester, though this may vary from state to state.

Occasionally, a woman will come to our egg donation program with the desire to donate her eggs after completing her family. If the potential egg donor has had her “tubes tied,” she might feel that she is unable to donate as a result. This is a myth. You can donate eggs if your tubes are tied. 

HOW CAN YOU BE AN EGG DONOR IF YOUR TUBES ARE TIED?

Following a tubal ligation, women are still able to donate eggs because the process of egg retrieval removes the eggs directly from follicles, before they are released into the body. Cut fallopian tubes do not have an impact on the body’s ability to produce mature, fertile eggs.

HOW DO YOU DONATE EGGS AFTER TUBAL LIGATION?

The egg donor process is no different for a donor that has undergone a tubal ligation than it is for any other donor. You will still be required to take injectable medications and attend several monitoring appointments leading up to the retrieval. The medical process for retrieval will be completed the same way it would if your tubes remained intact. Recovery will also be similar, and side effects will still consist of mild cramping and bloating. You can learn more about egg donation from ReproductiveFacts.

Interestingly enough, a woman who has had a tubal ligation is also able to be a surrogate. With the help of science, it is entirely possible for a child to be born without the use of fallopian tubes. 

Complete our online form to apply to be an egg donor and discover the Growing Generations difference.