In celebration 🎉 of Journey #2’s trip for Medical clearance next week…

Ask me ANYTHING about Surrogacy!

There’s no question too personal, and nothing outside the realm of what I will answer.

• I want to know what YOU want to know.

• I want to spread awareness & information.

• I want to answer your questions & possibly help you get started on a journey if you would like.

• Ever wondered but didn’t want to pry… Ask away… I’ll answer…

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• Why did I choose to become surrogate?

• Do we get paid?

• Is the baby genetically related to me?

• How could I ‘give’ it up?

• Did I know the intended parents before matching with them?

• Do I have to travel?

Nothing is too personal, so please, ask away.

From Facebook, Kari asks,

Is it emotionally difficult to give up baby to their parents after birth?

Do you breastfeed at all?

How do you feel surrogacy affects/differs in postpartum?

Good questions Kari!

Is it emotionally difficult to give up baby to their parents after birth?

As far as for me, it is one of the best feelings ever to watch the IPs (intended parents) meet their lil one for the first time and to help them establish that bond. To see the joy of not just a new life brought into this world but a new family being born. When they go home. It’s like the completion of an amazing journey. A fulfillment that can’t be measured.

We fostered for years and as Shay says when anybody ask her about it, “We are just babysitting the lil one for a few months until they meet up with their parents. The only difference is the lil one is inside mommy’s tummy instead of out and about here at the time. “

As far as the saying “give the baby up” I feel it’s not giving the baby up when in reality they were not mine to begin with. To me it feels similar to when I help a family though midwifery or fostering. It’s just on such an even more fulfilling and deeper level.

As far as my own kids reaction to the process they were excited. All 3 kids we have here at home were all totally fine with it. I was open about the process and clear I was just helping the baby grow so his parents could have him. They were all bigger kids at the time of delivery. They were, 14, 12, &10. They did researched on the whole process. It was very educational for them. We are open and honest with them about it all. They did get to meet him afterwards and thought he was the cutest. There are also some books to help explain it to kids. Mine were old enough and felt like it was totally a awesome thing to do. They were very understanding and compassionate.

With my previous journey we still keep in touch. Not only did their family grow but so did ours. Our two families will forever be bonded. We all formed not just amazing lasting friendships through the process but became like family. However, each case and person is different. Some IPs and surrogates may not want that kind of connection afterwards. Communication is discussed during matching. That way all parties are comfortable and their personalities mesh well. Everyone is on the same page as far as expectations and needs.

Do you breastfeed at all?

It really depends on the IPs and the surrogate. Every situation is different. If they decide to breastfeed the surrogate is paid and packaging and shipping is covered.

I didn’t get to with my last journey. They were out of country, with out of country shipping, IP decided not to go that direction. They were only here a very short time before heading back home.

Each journey is different. We haven’t discussed it yet for this next journey. I like to discuss it as if I would with a midwifery client. I lay out all the facts and then it’s up to them. They have that choice. I feel like it’s their path to evaluate the facts and make an informed decision based on their life and knowledge. I feel that just like I make the decision to breastfeed with my kids, its their right just like it was mine with my kids, to decide for themselves and their family.

How do you feel surrogacy affects/differs in postpartum?

As far as the effects on my body with the group decision of not breastfeeding, It was different. With us not breastfeeding 🤱 I didn’t have that immediate connection afterward. That golden hour for baby and my body. My body didn’t understand for the first little bit. Even though my mind knew and was ok with it. My mind understood it was not just my decision alone. It took my body a week or so to make that connection.

After that it was a normal postpartum recovery. But I mean what is normal anyway? Just a setting on the dryer? 🤷🏻‍♀️😁 Each pregnancy and birth is different. You know each birthing persons situation, body and mind set towards recovery is different. Depending on how they recover and the time they put into it. Resting is key, you know. Taking that time and space to allow your body to fully heal. The benefit here is in my case all my kids at home after the birth were not babies. They were half grown and didn’t need my 24/7 attention. This allowed me time to rest and recover. To give my body the space it needed to physically heal. But as far as recovery goes it was pretty basic C-section recovery. 😬😉💜

Well, back in Carlsbad awaiting time for the US to check the thickness of my endometrial lining… the magic number is 7mm… Went in for the ultrasound on July 7, 2019. It didn’t exactly go as we wanted. Didn’t really hit that magic number. Missed it by 1.6 mm . No worries though, it’s all in the perfect timing. No worries at all, we are gonna try this one more time .

This time Dr. Slater added some Estrace for a lil boost. I also added some herbs and supplements I researched in my midwifery studies that can help out. I took a tea blend of red raspberry leaf, nettles, alfalfa, and oat straw, then took a few supplements like Vit E, B-12, omega 3, L-arginine, new chapter prenatals, and ate a ton of pineapple 🍍  and avocado.    🥑

Here we are again… I have been checking for ovulation with charting my cycle and body rhythm. Seems I am ovulating early. I let Natlie, Dr. Slater’s nurse know what was going on. She agreed that we needed to move up this months US. I had to miss my second day of clinical with my new apprenticeship. My preceptor was great and totally understanding. July 30th, 2019, road trip to Roswell, NM as the hospital in Carlsbad was already booked. As I sit there early that morning waiting to be called back… all the normal thoughts rushed through my mind… what if it didn’t work out… what if it’s still thin… Well, then it hit me.. no it’s going to all work out just how it’s suppose to. No need to worry because I know this is my path and a way will be made somehow…

Well the tech would not give me a number so I had to wait for the radiologist to read it and make out the report. Roswell is about an hour and a half from my house so I decided to wait for Natlie’s call. Around 1:30 pm the call did come… it was amazing… it was not only the number we needed but it went from 5.4 to 16mm in that time. It was beyond the magic number… we had medical clearance to proceed… That’s right, on the very last day of July, July 30th… we are officially medically cleared.. 🍍🥑  🎉 On to contracts, then start meds, then the big special day…. The journey continues on…

Officially Medically Cleared!!!🎉🎉🎉

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Well, Ivy and myself drove on across to San Angelo from Carlsbad last night and arrived in San Angelo around midnight. Just in time to catch a quick nap 😴 and board that first bird to Dallas/Fort Worth. It was a short flight. ✈️ Felt like it took longer to take off and land then it did to actually be in the air getting there.

In Dallas/Fort Worth there was a small layover. Honestly I’d rather have a bit of a lay over than have to search, run for the gate, then almost miss the flight as I have before. Panama was one of these times… ohhhh don’t even get me started…  I made it just as they were closing the doors… Plus it also gives me time to meet new people. It’s always fun hearing everyone’s story, finding out where they are headed. You meet some interesting people. Then again I’m sure they think the same about me with my weird hippieish ways and dress. 😂 😝 😜

So Ivy and I will board the plan around 8:15 am to fly in to Boise. Until then we are just hanging out, chillin’,  talking to the others waiting to explore Boise for various reasons… Some people are on vacation, some visiting family, others there for medical reasons just as myself.  Each one with their own uniquely different journeys. Each with their own story to tell. I mean that’s what makes this crazy  beautiful world  🌎  spin. It’s what makes it all worth it to blaze the trail for our kiddos, future world.  🌍 So ✌🏻💜🤞🧚‍♀️🍍

I arrived at the clinic and all went well. I meet Dr. Slater and her wonderful team. After all the initial test everything checked out A-ok. 😬😉 Only one small issue of my uterine lining being a bit thin. So she decided to have another ultrasound done back in Carlsbad with my next cycle. No problem … soooo headed back home to await for the time for the next ultrasound.

Clinic time…

Stay tuned… The Adventure Continues…. 

Welcome to New Mexico Ivy…

Ivy’s adventures

Beautiful…

Wellll, it may sound weird or strange to document this awesome adventure through the eyes 👀 of Ivy the uterus, but well as my middle hippy kid says… normal is totally over rated. Ivy has a big awesome journey ahead and who better to tell it than her…

Ok well after a tremendous amount of thought we made the decision to move back to New Mexico to be closer to Eric. He wanted to be a bigger part of this journey and who could blame him… this is gonna be one super awesome wild 😜 ride…

So we are back in New Mexico waiting for Initial Physical Day… only one more day until Ivy and myself catch that big bird ✈️ to Boise for that special day. Keep a watch out for updates…

Well as you guys know as being a nurse and midwife student all aspects of birth are just amazing to me. The strength and just complete growth of a family throughout the whole process. How it changes all the lives it touches in such an extraordinary way. How the empowerment of that tiny little miracle being brought forth into this big world 🌎 can make such an impact on so many lives involved. I feel this will be a chance to help families in a deeper way. This will be an opportunity to further and grow deeper in my calling as a midwife. 

 I love to learn, grow and to expand my knowledge.  This growth can be used to help others on their life’s journey. I look forward to learning as much as I can through out this journey. This will enable me to help even more people. So that when this journey is complete it really will never end. I would love to help and be apart as support in my local community. To also help promote and encourage awareness of surrogacy in my local area. To be able to provide support and encouragement for the more western areas of Texas.

Originally my surrogacy journey with Family Source Surragacy started out in Mississippi back in September of 2018. We attempted a few matches but nothing worked out. I feel this was because everything happens all in the right timing.  My husband works in the oilfield industry. In October of 2018 his job provided us an opportunity to relocate to Carlsbad, NM. 

So, like I said earlier I am a nurse and a midwife student. So you have to understand when around the first of December 2018 I had the opportunity to apprentice at a birth center in San Angelo, I jumped on this amazing opportunity.  My kids and I moved to San Angelo to begin this wild new adventure all with the hopes of now getting settled and finally having the chance to continue with surragacy.

I figured now that we have a permanent address all settled and ready to move forward I got in contact with a midwife friend of mine that worked in the program at the time. On April 17, 2019 I informed her we were ready to start this amazing journey again.

So she started the process of matching with the IPs we are currently matched with. Later she made the transition back to focusing mainly on her midwifery work and my case was passed to another great lady, Kaylee. She was amazing as well. 

We had our match meeting on May 21, 2019. It went great and we moved forward. Since then we have scheduled my initial physical in Idaho for the middle of June. Megan worked on booking flight/hotel. She let me know on June 7th my flight and travel details. So now I’m just kinda waiting and stressing about this physical. 😳😜🥴

My midwife that I apprentice under is absolutely amazing. She will be taking care of me through this exciting time here at the birth center after the transfer of care from the fertility clinic in Boise Idaho. I’m so excited to be able to help these great guys grow their family and do it in such a calm, natural environment. That will be beneficial to the baby as well as a great experience for all involved in this wonder new adventure.

Next stop 🛑 ✋ Boise, Idaho for the initial physical assessment…  More updates to come… stay tuned 

✌🏻 Peace,  ❤️ Love, and 🍼 baby dust …