AS A SURROGATE, WILL I GET ATTACHED TO THE BABY? PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM It is not uncommon for potential and first-time surrogates to ask, "Will I get attached to the baby during pregnancy?" Though it is an understandable concern for surrogates—and sometimes, intended parents as well—the truth is that such an attachment is quite rare. As a surrogate, you embark on this surrogacy journey to help others build their path to parenthood. For you, it is a deeply compassionate and empathic act, motivated by helping others build and grow their families. We share other reasons you are unlikely to form an attachment to the baby you carry below. YOU ARE NOT GENETICALLY RELATED TO THE BABY One of the key factors differentiating surrogate pregnancy from traditional pregnancy is that surrogates understand that the baby is not genetically related to them. Because you, as a surrogate, undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF), the process ensures that the baby is genetically linked to the intended parents (or donors) and not you. This awareness—as well as undergoing the process —helps you maintain a healthy emotional distance, and reinforces your commitment to helping another family achieve their goal of parenthood. YOU HAVE COMPLETED YOUR OWN FAMILY You and many other surrogates choose this path precisely because you feel you have completed your own family. You feel a deep sense of fulfillment in helping others experience the joys of parenthood. Your decision to become a surrogate is driven by a desire to make a positive impact on someone else’s life rather than a longing to expand your own family. YOU CAN MAINTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARENTS & BABY Many surrogates and intended parents maintain their connection even after the baby is delivered. Surrogates and parents will have discussed the level of communication and relationship after the baby’s birth , and you may have the opportunity to see the baby again either in person or through photos and updates shared by the intended parents. The ongoing relationship reinforces the collaborative and supportive nature of the surrogacy journey, providing you with a sense of fulfillment and closure. YOU ARE SCREENED TO ENSURE YOU'RE EMOTIONALLY READY Before embarking on the surrogacy journey, you undergo a thorough screening process to ensure you are prepared for the experience, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Surrogacy agencies work with medical professionals to evaluate your psychological well-being and assess your ability and capacity to maintain appropriate boundaries throughout the pregnancy and beyond. These screenings help identify any potential attachment challenges and ensure that you are equipped to navigate the emotional complexities of surrogacy with compassion and professionalism. While concerns about your emotional attachment to the baby are natural, the reality is that as a surrogate, you are able to maintain a healthy emotional distance from the baby. You are motivated to help others on their journey to parenthood. You approach your surrogacy journey with a sense of purpose and altruism. By debunking the myth of attachment, there is a better understanding and appreciation for the selflessness and compassion of surrogates who play a vital role in building and growing families. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a surrogate, you can fill out an application or contact us online for questions or more information.

It's natural for a surrogate to be concerned about whether they'll feel emotionally attached to the baby they'll carry. Discover why this attachment is uncommon. AS A SURROGATE, WILL I GET ATTACHED TO THE BABY? Read More Gay and LGBTQIA+ intended parents often face unique hurdles and challenges during the family-building process. Discover how Growing Generations helps same-sex couples navigate the surrogacy process. SURROGACY PROCESS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES: BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS Read More Before committing to embarking on your egg donor journey, it's essential to keep these simple yet vital egg donation "do's and don'ts" in mind. EGG DONATION DO'S AND DONT'S Read More As you consider surrogacy to grow your family, understanding the pros and cons of gestational versus traditional surrogacy is vital. Discover what you need to know before making this important decision. TRADITIONAL VS GESTATIONAL SURROGACY Read More In preparing for surrogacy, prioritizing your physical and mental well-being can help ensure a. healthy and positive journey for all parties involved. Use these tips to embark on the surrogacy journey with confidence. PREPARING FOR SURROGACY: TIPS TO HELP PROSPECTIVE SURROGATES HAVE A POSITIVE JOURNEY Read More Becoming a surrogate? You shouldn’t feel alone; it can be comforting to hear from people who have been through it. Get advice for surrogates, from surrogates here. BECOMING A SURROGATE: SURROGACY ADVICE FROM SURROGATES Read More Egg Donors Intended Parents Surrogates CATEGORY LOAD MORE

Egg Donors Intended Parents Surrogates CATEGORY It's natural for a surrogate to be concerned about whether they'll feel emotionally attached to the baby they'll carry. Discover why this attachment is uncommon. Read More AS A SURROGATE, WILL I GET ATTACHED TO THE BABY? Gay and LGBTQIA+ intended parents often face unique hurdles and challenges during the family-building process. Discover how Growing Generations helps same-sex couples navigate the surrogacy process. Read More SURROGACY PROCESS FOR SAME-SEX COUPLES: BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS Before committing to embarking on your egg donor journey, it's essential to keep these simple yet vital egg donation "do's and don'ts" in mind. Read More EGG DONATION DO'S AND DONT'S As you consider surrogacy to grow your family, understanding the pros and cons of gestational versus traditional surrogacy is vital. Discover what you need to know before making this important decision. Read More TRADITIONAL VS GESTATIONAL SURROGACY In preparing for surrogacy, prioritizing your physical and mental well-being can help ensure a. healthy and positive journey for all parties involved. Use these tips to embark on the surrogacy journey with confidence. Read More PREPARING FOR SURROGACY: TIPS TO HELP PROSPECTIVE SURROGATES HAVE A POSITIVE JOURNEY Becoming a surrogate? You shouldn’t feel alone; it can be comforting to hear from people who have been through it. Get advice for surrogates, from surrogates here. Read More BECOMING A SURROGATE: SURROGACY ADVICE FROM SURROGATES Learn about the D&C procedure, often recommended after a miscarriage or abnormal pregnancy, including its process, potential complications, and signs to monitor during recovery to ensure proper healing. Read More D&C PROCEDURE AFTER MISCARRIAGE: RISKS & RECOVERY Going through a miscarriage or D&C is a taxing experience. Get some peace of mind on certain topics, like when to expect your first period afterwards, here. Read More FIRST PERIOD AFTER A MISCARRIAGE OR D&C One question we commonly receive when surrogates are preparing for embryo transfer is whether embryos can fall out after a transfer. Get the answer and the reasons behind it here. Read More PREPARING FOR EMBRYO TRANSFER: CAN AN EMBRYO FALL OUT AFTER TRANSFER? When you begin your surrogacy journey, you will have to be paired with an IVF doctor. Don’t let this stress you out; you have options. Read More DURING SURROGACY, WHICH IVF DOCTOR WILL I USE? In order to complete your screening process, you will need to provide your medical records. See how to get your medical records here. Read More HOW TO GET YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS Mosaic embryos, with both normal & abnormal cells, offer new hope in IVF despite potential risks & uncertain long-term impacts. Read More WHAT ARE MOSAIC EMBRYOS? RESOURCES TESTIMONIALS PARENT TESTIMONIALS JOSÉ AND MIQUEL INTENDED PARENTS 1/6 PARENT "We want to explain our child that he or she is the result of a sum of very generous acts: most of all that of his surrogate mother and the egg donor who also made it possible for him to exist. This gesture of offering the potential of one’s own body to others is something beautiful. This makes us think that this baby will bring with him this sum of generosity, solidarity, hope and understanding. He will not be born by surprise, but rather our surprise will always be in him, in his amazing existence to which so many people have contributed with professionalism, love and dedication." TIM PARENT 2/6 PARENT "Thank you, for my new family. The twins are beautiful and perfect in every way. After my parents, who gave me life, you have given me the most important gift I will ever receive. I will be forever grateful. What joy this is… like nothing I have ever known! Yours is the work of angels! Much Love." ERIC AND DOUG SAN FRANCISCO, PARENTS TO TWIN DAUGHTERS 3/6 PARENT "Growing Generations was by our side throughout the process of becoming parents – on the good – as well as the bad days. Now, we’re blessed with the two most beautiful girls in the world. Thank you GG for helping make our dreams come true." PARENT "Don and I want all of you to know that we will be forever grateful to Growing Generations for helping to make our dream come true. We appreciate the professionalism and care that everyone has shown us through this journey. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem real. Words cannot express how much we love our little babies." DAVID AND DON, ARKANSAS PARENTS TO DAUGHTER ALENA AND SON AIDEN 4/6 ANTHONY AND IRA, LOS ANGELES PARENTS TO DAUGHTER NOELLE 5/6 PARENT "Thank you guys for seeing us through. We feel so fortunate that you decided to do what you do, when we decided to do what we’re doing with your help. How’s that for a tongue twister!" PARENT "We want to express our deepest gratitude for making our lifelong dream of becoming parents a reality. Thank you all for helping us through a process that at times was overwhelming. Your professionalism, support, and love made us feel at ease." ERIC AND JOSE, BOSTON PARENTS TO DAUGHTER ALEXA 6/6 BECOME A DONOR BECOME A PARENT SURROGATE TESTIMONIALS CHRISTINA S. SURROGATE 1/6 SURROGATE "Thank you for this incredible opportunity you’ve given me! Being a surrogate has been one of the most fulfilling things in my life and I cannot imagine doing any of this without you. Your support has been incredible and it means the world to me. I could never thank you enough!" TINA SURROGATE, DELIVERED TWINS 2/6 SURROGATE "I wanted the thank you for the adorable silver bear to add to my charm bracelet. It was very thoughtful of you. It being your job or not, you all do a distinguished part in making your surrogates happy. I cannot say enough good things about GG and all you do." JESSICA SURROGATE 3/6 SURROGATE "There are so many things I am thankful for when it comes to Growing Generations and the staff. I don’t think I could name them all. In a “nutshell”, thank you for taking such wonderful care of me and my guys." SURROGATE "I just needed to let you all know how touched I am by all the support and true concern you have shown me. Through the highs and lows, I have felt so surrounded by kindness." JENNIFER, SURROGATE 4/6 TONYA, SURROGATE 5/6 SURROGATE "I wanted to thank you all for making my experience as a surrogate so amazing! It exceeded my expectations. Very few things in my life turn out better than I expect or imagine." SURROGATE "Thank you seems like such a small thing to say for how much I feel. How do you thank people for helping me with one of the GREATEST experiences of my life! You each treated me like I was the most important person in your care." JENNIFER, SURROGATE 6/6 BECOME A SURROGATE BLOG MORE BLOG POSTS...

BEST AIRLINES FOR INTERNATIONAL NEWBORNS PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM When it comes to your newborns first flight, we understand that you’re bound to be a little anxious! Especially for parents whose journey home includes an overseas flight, it is important to consider which airlines are able to make your trip home as comfortable as possible. We’ve done a bit of web crawling for you, and here’s what we’ve learned about international vs US domestic carriers. According to travel expert blogs and articles published on The Huffington Post and Travelsort.com, your best bet is always to book with an international carrier as opposed to an American based carrier. American based carriers have had to focus on cutting their costs to guard their profits over recent years, and don’t have the capital to offer as many amenities as their international counterparts. While most airlines will still allow passengers with small children to pre-board, often times ahead of even first class passengers, many airlines also offer additional considerations to help make your flight more enjoyable. Many International airlines are still able to offer perks and convenience features to parents of newborns including bassinets for sleeping, free on board diapers, wipes, and formula, as well as complimentary formula warming. Only a handful of American based carriers can brag these features, and most can’t guarantee these features will be available ahead of time. Many of the same carriers were applauded time and time again for their attention to your smallest passenger. These airlines include: Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Virgin Atlantic, Emirate, Lufthansa and British Airways. When pricing and booking your tickets to the USA for the birth of your child, keep in mind that you’ll be traveling home with a newborn and look into what each airline offers. When in doubt if certain features or amenities will be available on your flight or in your cabin (will you be flying coach or first class), it’s always best to call ahead and ask.

SURROGATE GLUCOSE TEST DURING PREGNANCY PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM All pregnant women are tested for gestational diabetes during their pregnancy, and it is no cause for alarm. Even if they’ve had no prior issues with blood sugar levels in their day-to-day life or in previous pregnancies, they will still have a glucose test during pregnancy as a surrogate. While being a surrogate does not raise the odds of developing gestational diabetes, factors such as excessive weight, age, and carrying multiples may contribute to a more significant insulin resistance and the development of this condition. GESTATIONAL DIABETES TEST Glucose tolerance tests monitor the body’s ability to turn sugar into energy. During pregnancy, the additional hormones can confuse the pancreas, rendering it unable to break down glucose properly. When this happens, blood glucose rises and, on occasion, the woman will develop gestational diabetes. Unlike type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes is purely hormonal. If a diagnosis of gestational diabetes is given, it is not the result of your surrogate’s food and exercise choices. This is not a diagnosis that could have been avoided with different behaviors. GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST RESULTS Learning that your surrogate’s initial glucose tolerance test came back elevated is a conversation that no intended parent hopes to have during their journey. Your initial reaction will likely be surprise, which then ignites questions and concerns: “ She’s never had THAT in her history ! What does this mean for the pregnancy? What did she do to ‘fail’ this test when she’s never failed it before?” Let’s start by establishing a baseline. Having an elevated one-hour glucose test result is not a “failure.” If the test result is elevated (a “fail”), then there is nothing that could have been done differently by your surrogate to “pass.”. Also, many women will have elevated levels in a one-hour standard test and go on to pass a three-hour screening and have no problems. However, an elevated result on a one-hour glucose screening can also be the first indicator that your surrogate has developed gestational diabetes. In either event, it’s important to note that this test result is not the result of any action or inaction on the part of your surrogate. Understand that your surrogate is likely having an emotional reaction to these results as well. Despite not being able to control the results, she likely feels guilty and perhaps even a bit scared. The kindest thing that you can do for her is to reassure her that she hasn’t lost your trust and that you’re in this together . WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE BABY? If left unidentified or untreated, gestational diabetes can affect the baby. Here's how: With a buildup of sugar in the bloodstream, a pancreas will work harder than it should, often to no avail. This means that the glucose buildup can, and often will, cross the placenta and work its way into the developing baby’s blood. That will cause the newborn’s pancreas to work overtime and create more energy than it needs. As a result, that fetus will store the extra energy as fat. This can lead to a variety of complications, including high birth weight, damage to the shoulders as they exit the birth canal, and an increased risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes later in life. GESTATIONAL DIABETES TREATMENT In most cases, gestational diabetes can be managed by closely monitoring diet and adding a bit of additional exercise. Your surrogate will be asked to monitor her glucose levels with a home testing kit and keep a strict log of her food intake and sugar levels, but she may not need to change much about her lifestyle. Women who are unable to control their blood sugar levels, even with strict adherence to diet and exercise, may be asked to begin taking oral medication or injected insulin. For most women, gestational diabetes will go away once the child is born. The American Diabetes Association advises women who develop gestational diabetes to have a 2-hour glucose tolerance test at 6 weeks postpartum in order to ensure that the diabetes has cleared up. UNDERSTANDING GESTATIONAL DIABETES DURING SURROGACY It’s important to understand what gestational diabetes is (a hormone-driven resistance to insulin) and what it is not (poor dietary choices or the inability to follow a diet). Your surrogate will likely feel some level of guilt in the case of a gestational diabetes diagnosis, even though it was induced by pregnancy. This is a great time to show her that you support her and will stand by her side moving forward. Growing Generations is always here to answer your questions as intended parents and support you throughout your family-building journey.

ABOUT US THE GOLD STANDARD Growing Generations is the gold standard surrogacy agency, known for delivering the most premium service in the fertility space. For nearly three decades, we have been at the forefront of making parenthood a reality for those who aspire to leave a legacy. Our team customizes a service approach for every surrogacy journey, supporting each one of our clients with personalized attention and care no matter what the challenges to family-building may be AT GROWING GENERATIONS At Growing Generations, our mission goes beyond creating paths to parenthood— IT’S ABOUT MAKING SURE THE JOURNEY TO GET THERE IS THE FULFILLING AND ENRICHING EXPERIENCE IT DESERVES TO BE. LEADERSHIP TEO MARTINEZ CEO GROWING GENERATIONS Teo earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles and his MBA at Pepperdine University, Malibu. He began his career with Growing Generations in 1998, when surrogacy and egg donation were still in their infancy. Having worked in every department at GG, today Teo oversees the company’s strategic development and the delivery of GG’s renowned customer care and satisfaction. A husband, father of two, and one of six children himself, he loves that he gets to help people create families. Teo is filled with gratitude to be part of so many miracles, victories, and heartwarming success stories. In addition to being part of these extraordinary journeys, he believes he has the best co-workers in the world and feels privileged to go to work with them each day. ERICA HORTON PRESIDENT GROWING GENERATIONS Erica began her career at Growing Generations as a college intern in 2003. Like most people at the time, she had no direct experience with the fertility world, but she was immediately intrigued when she read an internship listing titled “marketing intern needed for gay surrogacy agency” (we have always helped all prospective parents but back in the early days you had to say it explicitly). As a queer woman and someone with a gay father, she already had a passion for LGBTQ+ people and families. She had a general idea of what surrogacy was but had never thought of the two coming together in such an intentional way. She at once knew she had to be a part of what Growing Generations was doing. When she reflects back, she says “I can vividly recall the moment I saw the internship posting, the moment I received a call for an interview, and the day of my interview-down to the clothes I was wearing and the excitement I felt.” ​ ​ Her role in the company has expanded significantly since 2003, and now—as President—she oversees all departments that manage care for intended parents, surrogates, and donors. She is proud to have been part of establishing Growing Generations as one of the most experienced and reputable agencies in the world. She believes our start working intentionally with the underserved LGBTQ community required us to break barriers and forge paths where none existed before and that still is one of our core strengths today. Erica served on Family Equality’s Board of Directors for 9 years and served as Board Chair for 2 of those years. She has two children: Gavin, born in 2009 and Jack, born in 2012. Both boys were conceived with the help of a sperm donor. Erica is passionate about ALL people realizing their dream to have a family. Outside of work Erica loves spending time with her boys and her partner, Dan; together they love the beach, being in the ocean, riding bikes, traveling, cooking, and trying new foods. KIM BERGMAN, PhD SENIOR PARTNER, GROWING GENERATIONS Kim Bergman, PhD, a licensed psychologist since 1990, has specialized in the area of gay and lesbian parenting, parenting by choice and third party assisted reproduction for over two decades. Dr. Bergman has created a comprehensive psychological screening, support and monitoring process for intended parents, surrogates and donors. She is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (serving as a founder and past Chair of the LGBTQ Special Interest Group, past Chair of the Corporate Member Council, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Mental Health Professional Group, having served as a past Chair), the American Psychological Association, the Los Angeles County Psychological Association, the Lesbian and Gay Psychotherapy Association, and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. She is on the national Emeritus board of the Family Equality. Dr. Bergman writes, teaches and speaks extensively on parenting by choice. Along with co-authors, she published “Gay Men Who Become Fathers via Surrogacy: The Transition to Parenthood” (Journal of GLBT Family Studies, April 2010) and “Gay Fathers by Surrogacy: Prejudice, Parenting, and Well-being of Female and Male Children” (Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, June 2019). Dr. Bergman is the author of, Your Future Family: The Essential Guide to Assisted Reproduction (Conari Press 2019) and You Began as a Wish (Independent Press 2019) and along with co-editor Bill Petok, Psychological and Medical Perspectives on Fertility Care and Sexual Health (Elsevier, 2021). Dr. Bergman created her own family using third party assisted reproduction and she lives with her wife of over four decades. She has two adult daughters. STUART BELL SENIOR PARTNER, GROWING GENERATIONS Stuart has been a Partner at Growing Generations since 2001. Prior to joining Growing Generations, he spent over a decade in executive level positions in both profit and not-for-profit companies. As a writer with a strong emphasis on gay rights issues, his work has appeared in numerous publications over the past 30+ years. He is the author of Prayer Warriors, a memoir published in 1999 by Alyson publications. In February 2008, Stuart and his husband welcomed their son into the world who was conceived through Growing Generations’ surrogacy and egg donation programs. He is active as a donor and volunteer with local and national organizations including Human Rights Campaign, Family Equality Council, LA Gay & Lesbian Center and Youth Emerging Stronger. He served for 10 years on the board of the American Fertility Association (now a program of Family Equality), four of those as co-chair. He is the founder and Co-Chair of The Del Shores Foundation, a non-profit which amplifies and nurtures the voices of LGBTQ+ writers who live in Southern states. A native of Tennessee, Stuart holds a degree in Communications from Middle Tennessee State University and has lived in Los Angeles since 1992.

EGG DONATION & BIRTH CONTROL PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Most of our egg donors come to us on some form of birth control. This is normal and expected and most times has no impact on your 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. Some clinics may require the implant to be removed prior to starting the donation process. HORMONAL IUD. There are two types of intrauterine device 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. If you have additional concerns about your method of birth control and how it will impact your donation you should speak with your admissions specialist. If you are interested in becoming an egg donor with Growing Generations apply here .

THE CONTRACTING PHASE PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM 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.

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YEAST INFECTIONS IN SURROGATE PREGNANCY PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Yeast infections are common and impact millions of women every year. Even so, many women will experience their first yeast infection, or potentially her first outbreak of several yeast infections, in her surrogate pregnancy . WHY ARE YEAST INFECTIONS MORE COMMON IN SURROGATE PREGNANCY? According to the American Pregnancy Association , the second trimester of pregnancy represents the time in a woman’s life where she is most likely to experience a yeast infection. So why is there an increased likelihood of a yeast infection in surrogacy if you never experienced one during your own pregnancies? The link could be because several potential causes of a yeast infection occur all at once as a woman prepares to become a surrogate. For example, some common causes of yeast infections include: Hormonal changes related to pregnancy Starting hormone therapy treatments (including birth control pills, estrogen, or progesterone treatments) Taking antibiotics or steroids (a common component of your pre-transfer medical protocol ) An increase of sugar in the diet (sweets are a common craving for pregnant women) An influx of vaginal intercourse (potentially before or after doctor ordered pelvic rest) Blood or semen in the vagina Often characterized by an increase and change in appearance of your normal vaginal discharge and a persistent, insatiable itch, yeast infections are caused when the levels of yeast and acid in the vagina are out of balance. Both elements are present in your body normally, so the presence of bacteria is not the problem; it is the unbalance that presents the issue. YEAST INFECTION TREATMENT DURING SURROGATE PREGNANCY While yeast infections have no major risks or implications to the pregnancy, they can still be uncomfortable and problematic for you, especially if left untreated. Yeast infections during pregnancy can be difficult to control, so it’s best to get early treatment. Additionally, and unlike traditional pregnancies, yeast infections in IVF pregnancies and surrogacy may require a different form of treatment than your standard over the counter creams. This is because many IVF doctors do not want the creams or their plastic applicators introduced to your vagina in the early stages of your pregnancy. While some doctors may be OK with the creams with hand application only, other doctors may choose to call in a prescription to treat the infection orally. We understand that it can feel embarrassing and invasive to tell your nurse about a potential yeast infection before simply self-treating with over the counter medications, but in the case of surrogacy, you should absolutely mention symptoms to your nurse, even if this is a multi-occurrence infection. Treatment is key, because if it is left untreated, the yeast infection can be transferred to the child you are carrying during birth, leading to a condition of the mouth called thrush. Once you begin treatment you can expect to experience relief from the symptoms within 10 to 14 days, although most treatments will begin to offer relief from many of the symptoms within 48 hours. STEPS TO PREVENTING YEAST INFECTIONS DURING PREGNANCY If you find that you are experiencing repeated yeast infections during your journey, you may opt to introduce the following natural prevention measures in order to try and stave off any future infections. Wear loose clothing Wear cotton underwear Always wipe from front to back after using the restroom Limit sugar intake, as vaginal yeast feeds on sugar If you have additional questions or concerns, try to focus on feeling comfortable mentioning this to your nurse or case specialist. Sending an email to approach the subject may offer you a bit more comfort than mentioning it in a call, but understand that both your case specialist and your nurse manage these sorts of issues every day, and they’re nothing to be embarrassed by. Growing Generations is a premier surrogacy agency that provides intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors with exceptionaly attentive service. If you are interested in becoming a surrogate, contact us online or complete our surrogate application .