Victoria Hopewell — Author of Grade A Baby Eggs
Victoria Hopewell — Author of Grade A Baby Eggs
Infertility Matchmaking Photo
Fertility Authority provides matchmaking for those looking for a doctor. On In Search of Fertility Jay Palumbo, care manager at Fertility Authority, speaks about finding the right infertility doctor for you. A free referral is just a phone call away. There is enough that is out of your control when you are facing infertility and trying to get pregnant. At least the choice of the right doctor is something that you can control.
This week on In Search of Fertility, I interviewed an egg donor named Colby. Colby donated four times previously. She wanted to help other women have a much desired baby. Colby felt that she was giving her eggs but the resulting babies were not hers. When I used an egg donor, I too had to feel that the baby would be truly mine. I greatly appreciated hearing about egg donation from the perspective of the donor. Colby enjoyed donating so much that she plans to donate two more times and to reach the six time recommended donation limit.
Being A Surrogate Photo
A two time surrogate shares her experiences on the In Search of Fertility radio show. Sandrine Levy tells of the joy of carrying a baby, giving birth and handing the miracle infant to an ecstatic family. Her own husband and children were supportive of her being a surrogate and her best cheer leaders during the process. Now Sandrine Levy helps others to become surrogates at the Family Forward Surrogacy agency. Surrogacy is as win-win for the surrogate and the lucky parents to be.
Surrogacy Photo
My recent guest on the radio show In Search of Fertility was Sandra Lippard of Family Forward Surrogacy. For those who need a surrogate, it is not always easy to find one. Family Forward Surrogacy can help make that happen for Americans and for women from other countries. The agency recently appeared on French TV. The French TV crew arrived to spotlight the arrival of French women who are coming to America for a surrogate. In France it is illegal to use a surrogate. Once their babies are brought home they are not even recognized as French citizens. In the United States not all states allow surrogacy, but at least the baby is recognized as a US citizen.
Psychotherapist Helen Adrienne was the radio show guest on In Search of Fertility. She wrote the book On Fertile Ground: Healing Infertility. The mind-body connection can be used to lower stress. Helen writes about “letting go” techniques like hypnosis and imagery. Positive thinking is a plus, and Helen quotes one of her clients whose Irish grandmother used to say “think a good, get a good.” Helen concludes that out of the adversity of infertility can come life change and unseen benefits. I know that for myself after five IVF trials with my own eggs and two more with donor eggs, I now am able to handle most things that come my way.
Attain Fertility Centers Photo
Now if you don’t get pregnant you can get your money back! I interviewed representatives of Attain Fertility Centers on the Radio show In Search of Infertility. If you don’t get pregnant from IVF, you can get your money back from Attain! When I was trying IVF five times with my own eggs, I was going broke. I met other women in the waiting room who had maxed out their credit cards and obtained second mortgages on their homes in order to try one more IVF attempt. In the end, I did not get my baby after my five attempts with my own eggs. I would have loved a refund! Next I went on to spend even more money by using donor eggs.
If you finally decide to use an egg donor, it can be hard to find one. I was placed on a hospital wait list for a year and a half before I was given an egg donor. Instead you can find a donor from an agency. On my radio show In Search of Fertility, I interviewed Nazca Fontes from the egg donor and surrogacy agency Conceive Abilities at conceiveabilites.com She provides important information about how to find a donor. When I was waiting for my egg donor, I was thrilled to discover that I could use an agency to find one right away. After 5 IVF attempts with my own eggs, I wasn’t going to wait years because there was a long line at the hospital donor egg bank.
Infertility and Prematurity Photo
Kelly Damron appeared on In Search of Fertility to talk about infertility and prematurity. When there are twins or triplets from IVF there is an increased risk of prematurity. Kelly had premature twin daughters from IVF and one of them had NEC (necrotizing enterocolitus) that caused digestive issues. In the end, both girls developed normally, and they are happy, healthy miracle babies. Kelly now gives back by running support groups for RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and by advocating for the rights of the infertile. She also wrote Tiny Toes: A Couple’s Journey Through Infertility, Prematurity and Depression.
Donor Egg Legal Contract Photo
When you use an egg donor, you don’t want the mother to come claim the baby afterwards. Also when you are a donor, you don’t want to have to pay for the college education of the egg that you donated. A donor egg legal contract protects both the donor and the recipient. New York attorney Amy Demma was a guest on the In Search of Fertility radio show. Amy specializes in donor egg contracts for both the donor and the recipient. Make sure that you are protected legally!
