It may be intimidating. You definitely do not want all that “liquid gold” to go bad in the shipping process. Here is what I did when I shipped breast milk.

Pumping is a full-time job. I pumped about every 3 or 4 hours for a few months. I had so much stored that we purchased a deep freezer (which comes in handy now). It was less than $200 at Home Depot when we purchased it in 2016. I would freeze the milk in the deep freezer for at least a day before shipping. A good tip is to freeze the bags flat in the freezer after getting all the air out. This made it easier to pack and ship the bags. If you don’t have a deep freezer, putting the milk in the back of your freezer will work too since it’s the coldest part.

I used a cardboard box for shipping that snuggly fit the Styrofoam cooler I purchased at Wal-Mart. If there are a lot of gaps between the cooler and the cardboard shipping box, stuffing it with newspaper helps. This keeps the milk from shifting in transit.

When the box was ready to be packed, I used ice packs to outline the perimeter of the Styrofoam cooler and would lay the milk bags in rows and stack them about 4 bags high before adding a layer of ice or another ice pack. Sometimes I would pre-pack the milk bags into larger freezer bags. This served as another layer of protection for the milk bags. So if they leaked, the milk may still have another chance and also helped avoid spilling all over the other bags and creating a sticky mess! Although the ice takes up a large amount of room it ensures that the milk will get there still frozen; overnight.

At this point, the precious package is ready to ship. Always ship overnight! The ice and ice packs only last so long. Even dry ice will last only a day and it’s more expensive. Be careful about handling dry ice properly to avoid burns.

There are so many other methods to shipping breast milk including services that you can Google that specializes in this task. It is more expensive, but that is a conversation you need to have with your recipient. And don’t worry if you are on vacation. As of now, you can carry breastmilk on a plane. It requires a little more time with security and most likely a pat down so add that extra time into your arrival at the airport. Also, if you freeze the milk before you arrive at the airport, it is considered a solid and does not require as much time as bringing the milk on cold. Your flight length and travel time should also be considered when traveling with your breast milk.

If you decide to pump for your surro babe, please consider adding this into your contract. You can include breast milk and pump supplies, shipping supplies and fees. If you have any questions, call us! Our superior staff will walk you through this process.

“Tummy Mummy,” “Gestational Carrier,” “Surro Mom” – There are many different names for a surrogate mother. Some are cute, some are just technical, but how to become a great surrogate mother is a quality all surrogates must possess in order to have a smooth, stress-free journey.

What makes someone a great surrogate? That’s a question we often get from surrogates. Even intended parents ask us which qualities to look for in a potential surrogate. The answer depends on you. That is why Shared Conceptions carefully and methodically matches each intended parent(s) with their surrogate. There are several qualities and factors that play into a successful match and journey with a surrogate mother.

Beyond meeting the requirements and passing medical and psychological screening, a strong surrogate should love being pregnant, have an understanding of the time and commitment involved in a surrogacy journey, and an overall sense of kind-heartedness. Here are a few things to consider to have the happiest surrogacy journey.

• Be an excellent communicator. Shared Conception is a relationship-based agency, who finds it very important that you remain available to your intended parents. We encourage communication at least once a week between surrogates and intended parents. Have fun with it, too! Some intended parents enjoy pics of the belly or updates on the baby’s movement and of course, logistics such as the date and time of the next appointment.
• Share your story! Becoming an advocate for surrogacy and showcasing your support for the process, is one of the best things a surrogate can do. While the social acceptance of surrogacy has grown tremendously, there are some people who don’t completely understand the process. Educating others can easily help the cause. It’s usually because of unawareness and lack of education with the subject, that can cause people to assume surrogacy is wrong, immoral or illegal. With surrogate mothers sharing their experiences, more and more people can open their minds to this wonderful and joyful process.
• Create and use your support system. Whether you are married, partnered, dating, or single, having a primary support person is a requirement for all surrogates in our program. Beyond the physical demands of a pregnancy, you’re going to have emotional ones as well. This special person should be able to assist with child care, housekeeping, hormonal injections during the IVF process, and emotional support during your entire journey. Your support person will play an important role in helping to make this journey a positive experience for you.
• Have an open mind. Surrogacy is a human experience. There is no one that can control how a surrogate will respond to the medications or, even in best case scenarios, if a pregnancy will be achieved. These elements are often out of your control, which is why our surrogacy agency asks surrogates (and intended parents) to focus efforts on managing expectations throughout the process.

Shared Conception hopes these little bits of information can offer a more fulfilling surrogacy for you and your intended parents!

There are so many surrogacy agencies to choose from. It can be very overwhelming. First, you need to educate yourself on the process so you can “interview” each contender. One of the most common questions we get is, “Why should we utilize a surrogacy agency instead of an independent surrogacy arrangement?” Some intended parents independently locate their own surrogate mother. In this case you must manage all the legal, medical, psychological, financial and travel details yourself. Dealing with all the logistics, plus the emotional aspects of the pregnancy at the same time, can be extremely overwhelming to an intended parent. A reliable surrogacy agency will handle all necessary background checks and screen potential matches for any medical and psychological matters. With an independent arrangement, you may not locate the ideal candidate for you and your family plus you may expose yourself to a lot of negativities, possible scams and other risks. Closely working with an agency like Shared Conception eliminates a huge amount of stress and anxiety. We grant you access to only the most thoroughly-screened surrogate mothers and can even arrange financial and legal assistance. Naturally, a surrogacy agency also provides consistent psychological and emotional support as well. We have close relationships with the area’s finest psychologists, lawyers and clinics that all specialize in the surrogacy process. A surrogacy agency also arranges some of the doctor appointments and possible travel arrangements that need to be scheduled once you choose that perfect surrogate mother. An agency will also expertly manage all the logistics involved such as seeking legal counsel, any administrative details, all paperwork and assist with financial agreements including, but not limited to, escrow services. Our surrogacy agency's goal is to make the arrangement as simple and as enjoyable as possible, with as little stress as possible. Shared Conception is always at your service and can provide emotional support while guiding you through each stage of the surrogacy journey. We are here for you! Contact us today!

Surrogacy can be complicated, costly and is a huge decision for any couple. A surrogate mother or gestational carrier is a woman who carries a child for someone else. There are many ways that different types of families can find their way to surrogacy. For straight couples and lesbians, surrogacy is typically considered if a woman cannot carry a child herself or after a woman has experienced many miscarriages or unsuccessful IVF attempts.

For gay men and couples, surrogacy is a way to conceive a child that is biologically associated to one or both partners through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Some clinics even combine the sperm of each partner with separate batches of the donor eggs. This could result in multiples, each with the same biological mother, but separate fathers. If a single child is born, a DNA test will be needed to determine which donor is the father. Another option is to have one of the partner's female relatives serve as the egg donor while her eggs would then be fertilized by the sperm of the other partner. In this way, the child would be biologically related to both men.

While less common, a lesbian couple may also use a surrogate mother if one or both partners are unable to produce an egg to be fertilized or unable to carry a child to term.

Surrogacy is a good option for many gay men because at least one partner will be biologically connected to the child conceived. If you live in a state that prohibits LGBT adoption, using a surrogate will ensure you will be recognized as the child’s biological parent, and means you will not have to obtain an adoption to gain parental rights (although your partner will). Luckily, Texas has some of the most favorable laws for surrogacy. An experienced surrogacy agency, such as Shared Conception, can help you navigate the entire surrogacy process. Our mission is to give all that want a family, the proper path to achieving one. Give us a call today or check us out on the web at www.sharedconception.com.

There are many ways for a surro babe to receive breastmilk. You can look at our blog if an intended mother is interested in inducing lactation. This requires some preparation before your gestational carrier delivers, including hormone therapy, breast massage and nipple stimulation. You can also ask your surrogate if they are interested in pumping. There are many advantages to pumping for both baby and surrogate post-partum. Below are some tips if you are a surrogate interested in pumping for your intended parents and new baby, or if you are an intended parent wanting breast milk for your lovely new addition!

1. Speak with the staff at the hospital where the baby will be born and let your nurse and the hospital’s lactation consultant know of your plan to pump for baby. The goal is usually to be able to begin pumping within the first 30 minutes after birth. This may not be possible, depending on the circumstances, but the earlier you begin, the better for both surrogate and baby.

2. Carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of formula feeding vs. breast milk at the very beginning of your journey to establish good digestion for the newborn and to allow the baby to get the proper nutrients they require. Talk to your surrogate to find out if she is willing to pump breast milk for the child after they leave the hospital.

3. Surrogates can start early to establish a milk supply. Some experts recommend starting as soon as six weeks in advance of the baby’s arrival and others recommend a couple of months in advance.

4. Use a high quality, electric, hospital grade breast pump with dual attachments so you can pump both breasts at once. Your health insurance may even cover the cost! Start gradually with a gentle massage, nipple stimulation, and pumping a couple of times a day for 3 to 5 minutes. Work up to pumping for 10 minutes 6 to 8 times per day. Follow a lactation induction protocol. You can also contact your local La Leche League for more information.

5. Don’t be discouraged by how much breast milk you are able to pump. Pumping even without large milk production helps change the breast and increases the likelihood of success regardless how much milk you are producing in the beginning.

6. If the infant needs supplemental milk, that’s okay. If you do not have enough breast milk at the beginning, it is not uncommon to supplement with formula mixed with breast milk.

8. Have a board-certified lactation specialist available to work with you when you are first trying to pump. All hospitals have one on staff. It is very helpful if this person is knowledgeable about the specific issues the surrogate or intended mother may face with pumping. You can also check with the International Lactation Consultant Association or your local La Leche League for someone near you.

9. Remember to relax, enjoy the benefits of pumping if you are a surrogate, or the benefits of breastmilk for your baby as an intended parent.

10. You can always contact us at Shared Conception for more information on this subject.

There are many individuals and couples out there that are struggling with infertility; more than you may know. Whether it is your neighbor, the checkout associate at your grocery store, a personal trainer at your gym or the bank teller that gave you change for that twenty-dollar bill, infertility affects thousands of Americans, but is rarely talked about. For those who have struggled from years of infertility, any reminder of their situation can heighten their sadness.

Family gatherings can be stressful enough, and for those unable to have a child, dodging or answering “family-building questions” may trigger tension and sorrow. A pang of emotional pain could have emerged at the sound of children laughing or at the sight of them scampering.

Those who encountered challenges reproducing do admit that when they were ready to start a family, they thought having and raising the baby would be the hard part; not conceiving.

If you are battling infertility, you are definitely not alone. According to recent statistics, 10 to 15 percent of couples living in the United States have been diagnosed with infertility. Compound this with couples and individuals around the globe suffering from infertility, and those numbers increase astronomically. Although fertility treatments work for some, others do not respond to these various forms of treatment.

Despite the obstacles, it’s important to never lose hope.

Never forget, if one road doesn’t bring about the birth of a child, another will. And a very special way is through surrogacy.

In addition to those dealing with their fertility challenges, there are also same-sex couples who rely on surrogacy, and sperm and egg donation so that they can achieve their dreams of parenthood.

While it’s a different pace for all, intended parents arrive at a point in their lives, when recognizing that their future family is within their reach through surrogacy. They have endured so much to have their baby. Coupled with their compassion, intended parents redefine the meaning of appreciation and patience.

Over time, they come to realize that anything worth the wait is worth waiting for. And that way is through surrogacy. Give us a call at Shared Conception, we can help you.

Yes! It’s possible; it is not a myth and many intended Moms have chosen to do this to promote the bond between themselves and their newborn. Throughout history, women have induced lactation, dating as far back as ancient times.

Prolactin, the milk-making hormone and oxytocin, the milk-releasing hormone, are the two hormones that administer lactation. These hormones are not ovarian hormones; they are pituitary, which means that even without a pregnancy, a woman may lactate.

There are many ways to induce lactation. Hormone therapy such as high doses of estrogen and a regimen of prolactin, is taken to mimic the abrupt changes in hormones levels found during pregnancy and delivery to bring in the milk. Additionally, breast massage and nipple stimulation with a pump or by baby is necessary at this point.

Intended mothers who wish to attempt induced lactation must remember to be informed, supported, educated and guided by a professional. Contact your local La Leche League and consult with your doctor.

There may be a time in your journey that you will be asked invasive and sometimes offensive questions about the surrogacy process. Some awkward moments are bound to happen. By choosing to be a surrogate, these awkward moments sometimes come with the territory. It may be an uncomfortable question asked by a relative, or a stranger asking, “How can you give up the baby?” Although you are not obligated to give an answer or justify your decisions, if you do answer, it helps remind the curious of the wonderful gift you are about to give a family.

Sometimes it may be as simple as handling these moments with a giggle or a smile. You may even want to take the opportunity to educate inquiring minds about the surrogacy process. The majority of the public is unaware of what exactly a surrogate does. Surrogacy is relatively new to mainstream America. Take this as an opportunity to show the positive side of surrogacy. You have the ability to direct the discussion to focus on the good side of surrogacy and what your journey provides a family.

There are more good times than bad when you become a surrogate. You are creating families and making the impossible, possible. We would love to support and guide you through your journey. Call Shared Conceptions and become a surrogate with us.