Another perfect OB appointment with Jennifer today. She looked so fabulous, as usual, even Dr. May with OCWMG commented how he liked the cute flower in her hair. I enjoy seeing her as she always has a smile on her face! And now I will see her more often as her appointments are every week now. It won’t be long before delivery day!
Having been a Surrogate Mother in 2004, 2006 and now in 2013 I have seen many advances in technology that benefits new parents after they get home with their baby. But my Couple discovered a cool device for before their bundle of joy arrives. It is called Ritmo. It is a very comfortable device with 4 speakers that I strap around my tummy. The baby hears the voices of his parents and music they have chosen. They have recorded hours of stories, talking to each other and talking to the baby in their own language. As I relax each day, I attach the Ritmo so Baby V can hear his Mommy & Daddy. – Breann
The term Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) refers to skin to skin contact with the new moms or dads while they hold their infant on their chest, with the infant clad only in a diaper. I’m sure you can imagine many of the wonderful benefits for the new baby and his parents, but I bet you don’t know them all. Read what KMC can do for you and your baby here:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/How-can-kangaroo-mother-care-benefit-my-newborn.html
“My water broke!” Every mother remembers these words and all the craziness that comes after that moment. But what if your water doesn’t break? In this remarkable story, a baby in Greece was born, still inside the amniotic sac. This phenomenon is so unbelievable, you have to read it for yourself!
Hi,
I’m Natalia and have been working as the administrative assistant to Carol Weathers and Building Families, Inc. for the past 9 months. I have found this work to be so amazing and stating that it is rewarding doesn’t describe it enough! I had some questions and Carol thought that interviewing Breann Piccini would not only answer those for me but also make a nice blog piece. So here goes:
Is there a significant difference between your first pregnancy and this one being your fifth?
Actually, I’m very lucky, they’re exactly the same….super easy!
When you first decided to become a Surrogate Mom was there anything that you were concerned about?
Yes! Injections! Just the thought was scary but obviously since I am a third time Surrogate Mom, it really is not that bad. I consider myself an injection Pro. LOL
I will share with you a funny story from my first surrogacy. Progesterone is oil based and requires a large needle to draw it from the bottle and you are supposed to replace it with a smaller gauge needle to inject it into your hip. Well, I guess I was so nervous when the nurse gave me the instructions, that I forgot about the smaller needle. I do remember that the nurse said that it wouldn’t hurt and that it would take a while to inject the oil. Those two things were not true! It hurt and it was super fast injecting the oil….because I was using the bigger needle! After about a week, I noticed the smaller needles and asked my sister, Tracy, what they were for. She just started laughing and eventually fell on the floor as she was laughing so hard. Not funny! Well, it is now!!
If you had to pick one thing that you would say was the most difficult thing you have faced in all of your experiences, what would it be?
I would say when I found out that I was going to have to have a C-section with the twin pregnancy. I have never had major surgery before and I didn’t know what to expect and I think that is where most fears come from, the unknown. But after the surgery and my recovery, truly it was not a big deal. And really in the scheme of things it was a very small sacrifice when you consider what was gained. Two healthy babies!
How would you describe the differences between your three surrogacies?
All three of my surrogacy arrangements were unique and special in their own way. They were/are all amazing journeys that I feel truly blessed to have shared with such beautiful and deserving Couples. The first surrogacy was new for my Couple and myself. There was so much to learn about the process, literally, but we managed beautifully as we had the support and guidance of the Building Families program. For my second surrogacy, I was matched with someone who had a daughter through the program years earlier. The anxiety surrounding the process was not there for either of us. We were both seasoned and prepared for the process itself. The biggest difference between the first and second surrogacy is the Couple’s location. My second Couple were local and were therefore able to attend appointments and I saw them a lot and still do. I am pregnant now for an international Couple. So location is a huge difference from my previous surrogacies. But, I have known this Couple for quite some time as they have been trying to have a baby for a while so we already had a foundation for our relationship prior to beginning the journey. We are super comfortable with each other and know each other so well already. And they are reassured because they know that I understand this process better than most not only because it is my fifth pregnancy but because of my work as a Case Manager for Building Families. I look forward to when they come in a few months and can be there when their son arrives. It will be a beautiful end to my calling as a Surrogate Mother.
So what advice do you have for young women considering becoming Surrogate Mothers?
This is actually a good question for me because I was only 24 years old for my first surrogacy and my kids were 5 and 3 years old. I did work full time and knew that they required a lot of attention and care especially at that age. I realized that Surrogacy was a significant commitment also that would affect not only my life, but my husband’s and children’s lives as well. My husband and I spoke about it and he assured me he could do whatever was necessary. I also had the support of my sister and her family and my Dad. I wanted to make sure that the sacrifices would not be too great for my kids. But I have found that my being a Surrogate Mom has actually given them more in the end. They have a better understanding of compassion and grace. They see that there is always someone less fortunate and it is not about money or one’s possessions. There is no greater position in this world than being a mother or father. And they were a part of helping that happen to 2 special Couples and soon a third. And they are very proud of that fact as am I.
Did you know, more than seven million people of childbearing age in the United States experience infertility? That’s a lot of people! As many of us know, infertility is stressful, painful, discouraging, and just plain difficult to deal with. All too often we don’t say anything because we aren’t sure what to say or how to say it. Although we truly can’t comprehend their situation, how do we show these people we support them? Do you have a loved one suffering with this disease and are having trouble finding the right things to say? Fortunately, RESOLVE has taken the time to write down some “Do’s and Don’ts” such as “Don’t tell them to Relax” and “Offer to pray for them”. Follow this link to RESOLVE’s infertility guidelines that will help you when speaking to these Couples:
http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/for-family–friends/infertility-etiquette.html
Be sure to check out any travel warnings before taking the plunge with your wallet. For instance, although tropical cyclones may occur throughout the year, the South Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season is during November to April. I imagine you can find some really good deals during this time, but then you may encounter inconveniences of delays. However, you may also be subjected to dangerous conditions before and even after the storm has passed. For more tips on when to travel to certain destinations, check out http://travel.state.gov/.
Other things to keep in mind are vaccinations and other health precautions that should be considered. You can always check the Travelers’ Health page of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
I am often asked “What did your husband think of it? Was he supportive?” I have to admit, when I first approached the idea of being a surrogate mom with my husband, he was not sure what to think. He didn’t really understand why I would put myself through the difficulties and risks of pregnancy for someone else. While I recall that I was a perfectly lovely pregnant woman when I carried our two children, his recollection differed a bit…lol! Even though he did not understand, he knew how I could be when I felt strongly about something so he agreed to be there for me and support me through the process.
When I was pregnant, he was awesome…helping out with our kids in ways he hadn’t before, picking up the slack when I was tired or not feeling well. Basically he always made sure I was well taken care of. Although I know he formed a great friendship with our Couple, I could tell he still didn’t fully understand why I wanted to be a Surrogate Mom.
Then it came time for my first surrogacy delivery and he was right there with me in the delivery room along with the baby’s parents. After their son was born and my husband saw the Intended Mother holding her son for the first time, tears streaming down her face, he walked over to my bedside and whispered into my ear “I totally get it now. This is amazing!” In fact, my husband was so supportive that we helped this same Couple have another son and eventually we helped a second Couple have the family they always dreamed of having.
If you are thinking about becoming a Surrogate Mother but your husband/partner isn’t quite sure about it, share my story. It just might be what he needs to hear to get him on board with your desire to help someone less fortunate than you are! – Tracy
We all celebrated our Mothers so now its time to think about the awesome Fathers in our lives! As a Surrogacy Program, we celebrate all of the men that have reached their goal of fatherhood or may be on their journey towards the most amazing job title in the world…..Daddy!!
We are giving away a fun Father’s Day Gift Basket from Candy Crate that includes things like Atomic Fireballs, Bazooka Bubble Gum, Root Beer Barrels and even Wax Lips for those Dads who like to make their kids (and everyone else) laugh!!
Simply “LIKE” our Facebook page and your name will be entered into our drawing for this amazing basket! When you “Share” our page, your name is entered twice. And if your friends “LIKE” the Building Families Facebook page they will have a chance to win too!
Winner will be chosen on June 10, 2013!
For great gift ideas, check out Candy Crate’s website at www.candycrate.com
Busy moms alert! You can save so much time by cooking meals just once a week and freezing them. All you need is some planning, some groceries, and a slow cooker and you can save yourself hours every single week.
How do freezer meals work you ask???? Well, it’s simple.
You go online and search freezer meals and find recipes that you and your family will enjoy. Here are some of my favorites:
Make your grocery list and get to shopping!
When you get home, you do all the prep work and then freeze the meals in gallon sized Ziploc bags.
Use a Sharpie to write the temperature setting and cook time for each bag.
Each night, you put one of those bags into the refrigerator to thaw overnight then put the entire bag into the slow cooker the next day and there you have it!
Easy, breezy, peezy. Dinner is done! And if you don’t mind spending a few extra dollars, buy some slow cooker liners and your clean up takes only minutes.
When I make freezer meals, I typically make 10 at a time and always double my recipes for the ones that are family favorites. Preparing and cleaning takes a mere 2 hours on a Sunday and you are set for about 2 weeks.
Enjoy the meals and the extra time with your family!