The labor and delivery process is the most emotional, nerve wracking, exciting, overwhelming and, more than anything, confusing day of your journey as an intended parent. After all, your entire life is about to change forever! Here’s a look at a few of the labor and deliver terms and abbreviations that you may hear flying around during the hours that lead up to the birth of your child. 

SHOW

Also referred to as the “bloody show” is when the softened cervix begins to open, thus rupturing tiny blood vessels and leading to blood tinged mucus. This is also known as the mucus plug. This is usually indicative on the onset of early labor. 

DILATION

A term used to measure the opening of the cervix. Through the process of labor the cervix will go from 1cm (the size of a Cheerio) to 10cm (The size of a sliced bagel). 

EFFACEMENT

A term used to measure the softness of the cervix. Usually measured in percentage from 10-100% effaced. 

EPIDURAL

A popular form of pain management used in childbirth. A form of regional anesthesia, an epidural is administered through a small tube inserted into the back. The goal is to decrease sensation in the lower half of the body by blocking nerve impulses. More than 50% of laboring women will request this form of pain management. 

STATION

This refers to how far into the birth canal your baby’s head is located. The scale ranges from a -5 to a +5. Generally speaking, a -5 station is a baby that is not engaged at all, and a +5 station very engaged and preparing for delivery. 

MECONIUM

The fetal waste that accumulates in a baby’s intestine during gestation. It is expelled during or shortly after birth and is greenish in color. If it is present at the time of birth members from the NICU may be called in for observation. 

NICU

Short for neonatal intensive care unit. This is a hospital inside of the hospital for babies born either very premature or with serious health conditions. You can learn more about what to expect if your baby needs to stay in the NICU in our related blog post. 

BREECH

The term given to the position of the baby when the buttocks or the feet are positioned to exit the vagina before the head. 

EPISIOTOMY

The procedure of cutting the thin skin (the perineum) between the vagina and the anus. The doctor may perform this procedure in the final stages of labor in order to enlarge the vaginal opening in preparation for delivery. This can help prevent excessive tearing. 

Learn more about Growing Generations and building your family with surrogacy on our Surrogacy Program page. If you're ready to get started, complete your intended parent application.

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.

 

If you're entering surrogacy, you will typically be placed on a regimen of hormone IVF surrogacy therapies to prepare the uterus for the embryo transfer and aid in maintaining the pregnancy. Some of the surrogacy medications you can expect to be on during your medical cycle may include:

• Estrogen- You are likely to be on at least one form of estrogen supplement. This is to build the uterine lining. Common forms include Estrace (pill) and/or Delestrogen (intramuscular injection).

• Lupron- This medication (subcutaneous injection) is given primarily to women who are planning on transferring a fresh embryo as opposed to a frozen one. It is used to help suppress the ovaries while waiting for the transfer.

• Progesterone- Most surrogates will be on progesterone for many weeks. Progesterone is used to mimic pregnancy in the body and sustain a viable early pregnancy. Common forms are vaginal suppositories (Endometrin), patches, and intramuscular injections compounded with oil (Ethyl Oleate, Sesame Oil, or Olive Oil are common.)

• Medrol- This is a short term steroid administered orally prior to transfer. It is given to suppress the surrogate’s immune system in hopes of encouraging embryo implantation and potential pregnancy.

• Prednisone- This is another steroid form, administered (pill) for the same purpose of immune system suppression, but given over a prolonged period of time.

• Baby Aspirin- Given as a blood thinner as a precautionary measure due to the high levels of hormones the surrogate is taking.

• Doxycycline- Some surrogates are given this antibiotic (pill) before their embryo transfer to help fight infection in the body, including possible low-grade pelvic infections.

• Prenatal Vitamins, Folate & DHA- Just as with all pregnant women, most surrogates are asked to take daily supplements to aid in their overall health and the development of the fetus.

The list above is purely a sample of frequently used medications in IVF. Your medical cycle may vary. Just as with all medications, an individual’s response to each medication can vary widely from one patient to the next. What works well for one patient may not work at all for another. 

Ensuring you're a good fit for the surrogacy process is one of the reasons for our in-depth medical screening during the initial surrogacy process.

MONITORING MEDICATIONS

Your hormone medications will be monitored closely through the entire process. Your doctor may order changes to the drugs you take as well as the dosage of your medications many times in order to ensure continued success of your journey. This is normal and is not a cause for concern.

SURROGACY MEDICATION TIMELINE 

You'll likely begin IVF medications a month or two before the embryo transfer. Some surrogates undergo a mock cycle beforehand so the doctor can see how your endometrium lining responds to the medication. 

Typically, you'll be released from medication between 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. That time estimate is just a guideline and actual release may come earlier or later. When you're released from medication, it is a weaning process that generally takes several days.

Any questions or concerns you experience during your medical cycle can and should be discussed with your case specialist and/or nurse right away.

BECOMING A SURROGATE

If you're considering becoming a surrogate, we're happy to walk you through the process and answer all your questions about surrogacy and its medical protocol. Growing Generations is a premier surrogacy agency known for its attentive team. You can reach us online or call us at 323.965.7500.

*Revised 2/29/24

Since most of our egg donors come to us on some form of birth control, we're often asked whether you can donate eggs with an IUD or other form of birth control. Having prospective egg donors on birth control is normal and expected and, most times, has no impact on your egg donation journey. However, certain methods of birth control can cause your donation journey to slow down. 

Here’s a look at what those birth control methods include and why they’ll cause us to hit “pause” on your journey.

DEPO-PROVERA

More commonly referred to as “the shot,” Depo-Provera delays the egg donation process for a period of six months. If you are on the shot, we will ask you to discontinue use and contact us again in six months. The first six months following discontinuation have been shown to lead to a lower fertility return. We want to make sure there is ample time for all of the medication to exit your system before attempting to stimulate your body to produce a large number of eggs. You will need to have regular and normal menstrual cycles before we’re able to move forward.

NORPLANT/IMPLANON

Commonly called implants, this form of birth control slowly releases progestin into your bloodstream to prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs. It's effective for about 3 years. Some clinics may require you to have the implant removed and have one or two normal periods prior to starting the donation process.

HORMONAL IUD

There are two types of intrauterine devices used to prevent pregnancy. The first, Paraguard or other copper based products, may be left in place during the entire donation process. The second option is a hormone based IUD, commonly the Mirena. Some clinics may require the hormonal IUD to be removed prior to starting the donation process. 

Timing your egg donation journey and planning to stop birth control takes some forethought. You can read our egg donation timeline post for a summary of the process. If you have additional questions about your method of birth control and how it will impact your donation, talk about your concerns with your admissions specialist.

If you are interested in becoming an egg donor with Growing Generations apply online.

Telling your boss that you’re pregnant can be stressful. When the baby you’ll be carrying isn't your own, telling the boss your big news can seem overwhelming. Depending on your relationship with your boss and the workplace atmosphere, you’ll first need to decide if you’re an early sharer or a late sharer.

If you have an open relationship with your boss and you don’t feel as though the news would be ill received or put you in jeopardy, then sharing news of your surrogacy hopes early may be beneficial. Early sharing inspires open communications and trust while allowing you to be honest with your boss over the upcoming absences you’ll be taking for the transfer and monitoring appointments. Your boss will also be clued in to any tiredness or moodiness that tends to come with early pregnancy.

Many women do not feel comfortable sharing their goals until much later in the process. Some wait until a positive pregnancy test, and others wait until the end of the first trimester. Delayed sharing allows you to keep their secret a bit longer in the sad possibility of an early miscarriage. Some women also feel as though their bosses would not authorize time away from work for these important medical procedures. If this is your situation, feel confident knowing you are not required to tell your boss why you’re missing work for medically related absences.

Whenever you choose to tell your boss about your surrogate pregnancy, it is probably best to schedule a time for the conversation in advance. A good call would be a time when this can be a one-on-one discussion without many distractions. A lunch break or other time when you’re off the clock is probably best. Be sure to ensure your boss of any intentions you have for time off following the birth, and if you intend to return to work following the birth, ensuring your boss of this intention can help create calm. Finally, ask if he/she has any questions. Giving your boss the opportunity to ask questions about the process and what it means to your job performance is important.  

Revised on 4/17/18

When a surrogate learns she is being considered to carry for a VIP client, she generally has a lot of questions. More often than not, she also may have a few assumptions about these potential intended parents. Considering VIP or celebrity surrogacy can be exciting and challenging, and we're here to provide helpful information about what to expect.

WHO ARE VIP INTENDED PARENTS?

Perhaps the most common first thought is, “Is it someone famous?” While it can be true that you are about to be asked to carry for a celebrity, it could also be the case that the profile you’re about to receive is that of an everyday person. Not all VIP profiles are of celebrities, and not all famous intended parents will wind up as VIP clients.

The one thing that all VIP cases have in common is that they are all a bit outside of the box. Every VIP is different and has different requirements.

HOW TO BE A SURROGATE FOR A VIP OR CELEBRITY

Be open to additional privacy concerns.

In general, a VIP client will be one with needs that fall beyond standard protocol. These clients are often leaders in their fields. While you may not recognize their faces, others in their industries would. To protect their privacy, they’re often seeking additional confidentiality requirements in their surrogacy agreement.

Desired constraints of VIP clients can range from very strict to nonexistent. Some VIP clients will request that no photos be taken and that no names or identifying information be shared with anyone (sometimes including your own family members).

Be prepared for a different birth experience.

Many clients from Asia, specifically China, will seek out a VIP relationship and journey. In these situations they may ask a Client Service Coordinator to attend the birth in order to translate between the intended parents and the surrogate.

Expect less personal information.

Finally, if you choose to consider a VIP client, know that you may not receive a traditional profile of the couple. These clients are not required to fill out our typical intake profile. In place of the traditional questionnaire with photos, you may receive a simple letter from the IPs instead. This letter is like a profile, containing a few photos of the intended parents and introducing you to their lives in their own words.

Be prepared for additional, specific surrogate requirements.

Many VIP clients seek a surrogate with a clean pregnancy history, a low BMI, healthy lifestyle, and a clean personal, legal, and medical background. Often these clients are looking for women who have college degrees, are established in their fields, or are active in their communities.

Carrying for a VIP couple can be challenging, but it can also be exciting. If you have additional questions about what it means to carry for a VIP client, do not hesitate to reach out to your Surrogate Specialist at any time. If you or someone you know is considering becoming a surrogate, use our online application to get started.