Courteney’s Surrogacy Story

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Courteney kicked off 2021 with a beautiful baby boy for her couple! Although their journey began in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she fearlessly underwent IVF treatments and pregnancy while also working fulltime and caring for her son. Her positive attitude and diligence eased the minds of her intended parents as they anxiously awaited the arrival of their baby all the way from the UK! 

 

Thankfully, all of the travel restrictions did not stop her couple from arriving prior to her due date. Especially lucky, because at her 39 week check up Courteney was directed to head over to labor & delivery. Just 12 hours after settling in at the hospital on February 23rd at about 5:30am she changed her couple from Intended Parents to “Parents” with the birth of their 9lbs 2oz baby boy!

Former GC Angela Received COVID-19 Vaccine

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Hello Everyone! My name is Angela and Carol & Randi asked me to document my experience in receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. I was a Surrogate and delivered last year in September 2020. You can read more about that https://www.buildingfamiliesinc.com/en/2020/09/angies-birth-story/.

I am a clinical laboratory scientist and work daily with body fluids including urine, blood and respiratory samples. The clinic where I work most often has begun limited testing for covid-19 infection and I am excited, from a scientist’s perspective, to be a part of this ground-breaking and live-saving work!! I jumped on the offer to receive the Covid-19 vaccine when it was offered to me.

My first dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine was on 12/29/2020 at about noon. I was asked to wait for 15 minutes after the dose was administered so they could observe me for any adverse reactions. Thankfully, I felt completely normal the rest of the day. The next morning, however, my arm was sore and I had a small lump and some redness at the injection site. It was no worse than when I get my flu shot every year. But, at around 36 hours after the first dose I was totally exhausted and had very little appetite. I assume this was because my immune system was hard at work pumping out as many antibodies as quickly as it could. By two days after the first dose I was back to feeling normal. Side note, I was still pumping breast milk and donating to a local bank.

I was able to maintain my breast milk supply just as before the vaccine. My second dose of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine was on 1/27/2021 at about 9:30 in the morning. I was again asked to wait for 15 minutes after the dose was administered so they could observe me for adverse reactions and again, thankfully I was fine. I loved seeing all the 75+ year old members wearing their masks and sitting 6 feet apart after receiving their vaccines. It filled me with so much hope that maybe the end to the worst part of this global pandemic is finally in sight.

About 12 hours after my second dose is when I started to feel really tired again, so I went to bed early. Around 11pm I woke up with chills and body aches, much like the flu. I alternated freezing chills with overheating in sweat for the next couple of hours but did eventually sleep. The next morning I had a headache and felt achy and tired like recovering from the flu. I took a dose of Advil and began to feel much better. By the second day, I was again back to normal. And now, almost 2 weeks after receiving the second dose of vaccine I am feeling great! I am so thankful to have been given this vaccine to help keep myself and my family safe.

More to follow!!!

February Bio of the Month

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Courteney

Courteney is the epitome of a California Girl! When the weather is nice, as it most often is in sunny SoCal, you can find her swimming in the pool, lounging on the beach, or soaking up the magic at Disneyland. According to her, her purpose in life is to make an impact on the people around her. Not only does she do that daily as she raises her adorable 5-year-old son, Noah, but also as she is helping to create a family for a couple halfway around the world. With her love of travel and desire to see the world, we won’t be surprised if she visits her surrobabe in London someday!

Happy New Year!

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2020….So much to say. I know it has become a moniker when things go badly. But I have a different perspective, as usual!
If I were to list all of the amazing things that happened in 2020, I would have to change my blog to a novel. Here are some moments that most of us are aware of as they were shared moments in 2020. We had 14 babies in 2020!! Nataly was first in January with a beautiful baby boy, Randi next with a sweet girl, Annette, a bouncing baby boy, Maritza followed suit with another handsome baby boy and Danielle finished the Springtime with a gorgeous girl. Monique began our summer with a precious girl and we had two babies in July…on the same day!!!! That’s right, Jamie & Melissa delivered baby boys on the same day! That was amazing and truly memorable. Then Fall 2020 arrived along with the sweet baby girl Aleza delivered in August and two more darling girls that Angie & Lauri-Anne delivered in September. October was Tiffany and Shelby’s month. Two cutie pies arrived, a boy and a girl, respectively. Derek finished our year in November with a beautiful addition to the BFI family, a treasured baby girl. Wow!!

What else? We celebrated high school and college graduations of our children and the children of many families we helped to build. We witnessed many teenagers earning their licenses to drive! People around the country brushed up on their sewing skills, making masks for people who need them most. So many rushed to adopt and foster pets in need amid the pandemic. My daughter will insist that TikTok should be added as the best of 2020, haha! We learned that homeschooling is hard and finally recognized teachers for the heroes that they are. Each year has its own value and we should feel fortunate to be alive to see it.

I have chosen the word to describe the summation of 2020. Ok, maybe a few words as you know I have trouble minimizing, lol! Perseverance, Pride, and Honor. I am in awe of everyone who persevered the obstacles thrown their way in 2020. I am proud of all of the women who came forward to help a couple build the family of their dreams in the midst of a pandemic and I am honored to be even a small part of their surrogacy journeys. These words apply to my staff as well. They were faced with hindrances since March and practically created a new program to ensure everyone was cared for in the best way possible. Each week brought new challenges, but they were not deterred. I am proud and honored to have Randi at my side and to work with Shannon, Lauryn, Ana, and Christine. I am truly blessed. And my hope for all of you is that you are able to see the beauty around you and to embrace each day as the gift that it is.

Happy New Year!!!

How has COVID affected the surrogacy industry and BFI specifically?

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Everyone remembers when COVID hit the USA. In early 2020, it hit the East Coast and fairly rapidly made its way west. Before we knew what was happening, airports closed around the world. Imagine that hundreds of babies were due to be born and there was no way for their parents to get here!

The first week or two, it seemed bleak as there were no answers to our many questions and concerns. But then, something amazing happened. The industry came together to support each other. Attorneys made strides with the federal government to have them recognize the necessity of uniting these new parents with their children. What initially took 3 months was streamlined to only a few weeks before the family could be together. Infant care providers volunteered to help care for these babies while their parents were working diligently to get here. It was beautiful to see so much goodwill between agencies and practices.

Of course, a big change was being able to share in the daily appointments and deliveries. The hardest hit were those who delivered in late March through May. The hospitals adhered to severe lockdown procedures that many times the surrogate mom had to labor and deliver all alone. And in many cases during that time, the new parents and the surrogate mothers didn’t see each other in the hospital due to social distancing. I have never been more thankful for technology than I have been this year. Between Zoom, Whatsapp, Facetime and a myriad of other apps, no one was truly alone. Something that we never experienced before was being present for the birth via phone. We got to hear the baby’s first cry and all the shouts of joy!

Working and living in a pandemic teaches you many things. Having to constantly reset your plans is a lesson in resilience. Waiting for the quarantine to lift or just holding out until you can eat in your favorite restaurant again, patience is the lesson here. Technology is now embraced by all ages so we can maintain a connection with our friends and family. Although it is preferred by everyone in the world that the COVID-19 pandemic did not exist, many valuable lessons were learned as a result.

Toys for Tots!

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We were so excited to stumble upon the Virtual Toys for Tots Drive! Carol has always made donations a priority all year long, but especially at Christmastime. Please join us in turning gift cards into toys this holiday season! https://givetoysfortots.com/

Virtual Toy Drive for Toys for Tots

He’s here!

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After countless years of tears & hope, amidst the chaos of nurses working, our surrogate & doctor congratulating us, and machines beeping, we can only stare in awe at the miracle that is our son. He is finally here!

 

December Bio of the Month

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Lauri-Anne

Lauri-Anne was born in Jamaica and was brought up with a strong sense of spirituality that she shares with her three children; Christian, Sean, and Sidoni. She follows the golden rule and makes the happiness of herself, and her children, a priority. When she isn’t working as a pharmacy technician, you can find her creating art with her children. It isn’t surprising that someone inspired by the beauty in the world would want to create something so amazing with her intended parents. She is the epitome of grace and we are thankful for her presence in our Building Families’ family!

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