14 Aug Surrogacy During a Pandemic
A worldwide pandemic doesn’t stop people’s desire to become parents. Their needs haven’t changed. The process takes a little more time and effort, as does everything right now, but it’s the same outcome: a family!
Surrogacy is considered the safest way to create a family: even though it has been a popular option for those in need for almost three decades now. In that timeframe not only has the science changed and progressed in leaps and bounds, so has every aspect of the field. It has grown and changed with the times and the needs of the Intending Parents (“IPs”). Our current global situation is just another set of new challenges that we’re all adapting to together (while apart).
Some of those largest changes are to do with our international IPs. Traveling now is one of the most difficult hurdles. From the very beginning with coming to the US for sperm and egg donations – all the way to being here before, during, and after the birth of their babies. We have worked with professionals in countries all over the world to find new solutions to ease our IPs travel stress. Working together we have come up with effective answers. From collecting specimens, freezing, and having them shipped to IVF clinics here in the United States … to even having our very own owners open up their hearts and homes by becoming temporary legal guardians until we can get our Intended Parents into the US and/or through quarantine once their children are born. This has been up to three weeks at a time of SLS staff inviting these new families into their personal lives.
There are also many new challenges for our surrogates and egg donors. Travel is more difficult for them as well. IVF clinics have strict new Covid-19 protocols with appointments: more testing, waiting in cars etc. Many times their partners are not allowed to be there when support is needed. However, we give a shout out to these amazing women who have willingly done all of this and more to help our IPs obtain their dreams of parenthood. These women know there are more adversities now and yet still volunteer. In fact, instead of less we’ve had an influx of qualified applicants since the lockdown: all wanting to help! That’s how much heart they all have.
We’re providing additional support and education for all our clients and staff about Covid-19 throughout the journey. Yes, it saddens us not being able to go to conferences around the world or to do in-person consultations because we are all about that personal touch and individual experience. We won’t lie, it has been difficult with the added responsibilities, costs and liabilities that all companies are facing right now. However, Same Love Surrogacy as an agency has faced all these different, strange, and new times with the same bold curiosity and thirst for knowledge we’ve always had. It’s part of the reason we’re all here, doing what we love.
The silver lining to all of this is that we at SLS have been tested and have grown in our own understanding and knowledge. We know that we can tackle and overcome any difficulty put in our path. That’s proven now. It has also brought us even closer to our IPs, surrogates and egg donors. It really is a time to show our true colors, to go above and beyond – and we do it gladly because we have the same love for surrogacy that we’ve always had and always will.
