Some agencies are reporting that the statistics on children born  through Surrogacy is reaching 35,000 in total as of 2011.  This is largely due to increased societal acceptance.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 859 surrogacy and gestational carrier cycles were performed in the United States in 2010. Notably, there has been a 28% increase in gestational carrier cycles since 2007.

ASRM BULLETIN

Volume 14, Number 27
May 8, 2012

Maine’s Highest Court Rules that District Courts Have Authority to Make Parentage Determinations in Gestational Surrogacy.

Last week, Maine’s Supreme Judicial Court addressed for the first time the issue of parentage in a gestational surrogate birth, finding that the District Courts have authority under existing law to determine who a child’s parents are when the child is conceived through ART and then carried and delivered by another person.

In Nolan v. LaBree, a married woman (Mrs. LaBree) agreed to carry a pregnancy for a married couple (the Nolans) resulting from transfer of an embryo created from the Nolans’ egg and sperm; all parties were in agreement that the Nolans were the parents of the resulting child.

ASRM and SART were signers on an amicus brief, along with Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders and other medical and legal authorities on assisted reproduction.

The court’s decision may be read at http://statecasefiles.justia.com/documents/maine/supreme-court/2012-me-61.pdf?ts=1336158415

We had a great time visiting with the doctors, nurses & staff. The decor was very inviting, including picture collages at every turn displaying just some of their successes over the past few decades. This addition to their other artwork created a sense of warmth and we believe will let each Couple know that they are cared for.

Their expansion and upgrades will allow them to provide an even higher level of optimal patient care and the environment that they have created maintains the comfort level that is always felt when visiting an HRC Fertility office.

Thank you HRC Fertility for including us once again!!!

This week is National Infertility Awareness Week and Building Families would like to encourage anyone and everyone to take part in this. There are so many ways that you can help with this amazing cause. Make a donation, post a blog, share links on Facebook and Twitter and ask others to keep passing them on. For more ideas, visit the link below at resolve.org to see what you can do to help!

http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/home-page.html

There are so many amazing stories out there. Some are in honor of this week such as Resolve’s List of must reads like the Infertility Tax Credit. There are also many amazing contributions taking place such as North Texas Fertility Clinic donating one free IVF treatment!

And others are just timed perfectly to coincide with this event like Giuliana and Bill Rancic announcement that they are expectant parents with the help of a Surrogate Mother. We are so happy for them and it warms our hearts to see them not only excited about becoming parents after so many struggles, but that they are proud of their choice to have a baby through surrogacy. We agree completely that the outpour of support they have received shows that stigmas surrounding surrogacy are perhaps a thing of the past.

Building Families appreciates that there is a week devoted to the awareness of infertility and the attention it receives. This is obviously something that we devote ourselves to every day of every month of every year. And it is with great pride to announce that babies are being born every month with a little help from Building Families.

Building Families Staff took a tour of Saddleback Memorial Hospital last week. Amy, Development Officer for Saddleback Memorial Foundation & Mary, Manager for Women’s and Children’s Services, were generous with their time and gave us a tour of the Women’s Hospital.

Improvements at the Women’s hospital will range from new furniture, enhanced security systems, new flooring & paint (colors selected for their healing aspects), state-of-the-art technology that will provide comfort and safety for the expectant mothers and families. The hospital will incorporate design elements that will reduce stress, promote healing and influence well-being …overall improving patient care.

They were excited to tell us about the classes that are being offered now and more that will be coming soon. Here is the list:

• Increased Patient Education
• Infant Safety & CPR
• Infant Safety & CPR for Grandparents
• Lessons on DVD
• Birthing Classes
• Hospital Tours for Intended Parents
• C-Section information for Intended Parents

The hospital’s awareness of the increased demand in surrogacy has prompted them to expand parts of their facilities to “make” room for the Intended Parents. They currently have plans to renovate one of the hospital rooms in the postpartum unit into a bonding room. The new parents will be able to stay there with their new baby/ies and receive round the clock nursing care for their new infant(s). The Surrogate Mom will be down the hall in her own room, but due to the close proximity of the rooms, they can visit all of the time!

“We got a sneak-peak of a room that has been renovated. The improvements are amazing! When you walk down this new hall and enter the room, you feel like you have just checked in to a fancy hotel, but one with all the comforts of home. We can hardly wait until the renovations are done.”

The best part of this improvement project is that Saddleback Memorial is not only addressing the visual aspects of the hospital, but the technological advances they are making will put them at the forefront of the hospital industry in general and also for the Surrogate Mothers and their Couples.

We’d like to thank Amy and Mary at Saddleback Hospital for taking the time to give us a tour.

Saddleback Memorial Foundation Executive Summary

Designed for Healing – Rebirth of the Women’s Hospital

Saddleback Memorial Foundation is partnering with the community to raise money for the “rebirth” of the Women’s Hospital of Saddleback Memorial Medical Center. In 1988 the Women’s Hospital was the first of its kind to open in Orange County, featuring private rooms designed for labor, delivery, recovery & post-partum. The 23 year old facility is now in need of enhancements to provide a greater birthing and healing environment for mothers, babies and their families.

To learn more about the Hospital and the Foundation, please click on the links below:

http://www.memorialcare.com
http://www.memorialcare.com/saddleback/foundation/foundation.cfm
Improvement Information Packet