Q: How can I choose the sex of my child?
A: "Family Balancing" is often used if a couple already has children of the same sex or if the IP's already have to use one of the methods below for other reasons already...ie PGD. All costs $$$....What doesn't!?
Good Luck
High Tech Gender Selection
Proven to give you the best odds of having the desired gender, but at a high price.
MicroSort and PGD for baby gender selection are clinically proven and acknowledged by experts to give you the best odds of conceiving the gender of your choice. There is no doubt that these methods really work.
Getting pregnant by IUI (artificial insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilization) is no easy task. It's such a stressful experience, with giddy highs when your dream seems almost within your grasp, and devastating lows when it seems all hope is lost, that it's called the "emotional roller coaster". It's enormously expensive and inconvenient, you'll almost certainly need to try several times, and there's no guarantee of successfully getting pregnant and delivering a baby.
But for many women the high tech route has made a dream come true, because if you can manage to get pregnant, your odds are indeed very high of having the son or daughter you're hoping for.
MicroSort Sperm Sorting
MicroSort is a technique for separating X and Y sperm, with a success rate of 91% for a girl, and 76% for a boy. This is the only method proved to effectively sort X and Y sperm, and is available only in the US.
PGD, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
PGD is the only method which can guarantee the gender of your choice with virtually 100% accuracy, because embryos are tested for gender before being implanted in the mother's womb.
PGH, Preimplantation Genetic Haplotyping
PGH works the same way as PGD, except that the genetic testing technique is more advanced. This is a very new variation of PGD, with the first pregnancies announced in mid-2006. I do not see any reason for PGH to be used for gender selection rather than PGD; this technique should mainly be of value to parents who are carriers of rare genetic disorders.
The Ericsson Method and Sperm Spinning
The Ericsson method for sperm sorting is less expensive, and is widely available in the US in Europe. However, it is not clinically proven to increase your chances of having the desired gender, and most experts dismiss this method as ineffective.
Any other sperm sorting or sperm separation method claimed to be used for gender selection falls into the "sperm spinning" category, and none have been proven effective.
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Jacking for Rock Beatz
So DJ AM a while back put out a mix called A.D.D which was basically a ton of samples put together in a cool order. the tempo didn't match up so you couldn't dance to it, it was just something cool to check out. I decided to make an A.D.D mix with some Justice Samples and some Rock Samples check it out below.
Jackin Rock Beats - DJ Thrill
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
A.D.D Mix 1 - DJ AM
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
Jackin 4 DJ AM - Danny Diggz
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
Friday, March 27, 2009
Five Ways to Boost Your Pregnancy Odds
The information below is great to know whether you want to get pregnant for yourself or as a Surrogate mother. The more research and information that you know about your own body the better!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
Five Ways to Boost Your Pregnancy Odds
by John C. Martin
Your desire to have children is important to both you and your partner. And while you work with your physician on developing a plan to reach that essential goal, you don't always have to take a backseat in the process, letting your doctor or "nature" take major plans of action. You can be just as proactive in your reproductive health. There is a wide range of factors involved in the process to pregnancy. And experts say that even one minor flaw in any of these processes can have a negative impact.
Acquiring 'Power Over the Process'
"Dealing with infertility is draining, from a mental, physical, and emotional standpoint," said Mark Leondires, MD, Medical Director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut in Norwalk, Connecticut. "By providing five simple ways that men and women can determine—and enhance—their own fertility levels, I hope to give them back a sense of power over the process."
There are ways to be proactive, involving your own self-assessment of your fertility potential, which can then be incorporated into your reproductive health status:
1. The Biological Clock
Women are born with all the eggs that they will ever have.1 Additionally, the vast majority of these eggs never mature, and of those that do, their quality and quantity diminish with age. That said, while younger women are considered infertile if they haven't gotten pregnant after 1 year of unprotected intercourse, that timeframe is shortened to 6 months in women over age 35. "At 35 and above, we know that pregnancy rates go down," explained Spencer Richlin, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist at Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut. "So we don't want people to wait too long because we really would like to do an evaluation to make sure there are no issues that are going on."
Primarily, infertility evaluations involve the health of the fallopian tubes, sperm, and an ovarian reserve assessment (an egg quality test), Richlin explained. The latter test consists of a blood sample collected on day 3 of a woman's cycle to assess levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This is a hormone released by the pituitary gland early in a woman's cycle to stimulate ovulation. If the ovaries don't respond, the pituitary gland releases more FSH; thus, a higher FSH level indicates ovulation difficulties.2 In cases in which elevated FSH levels reach a certain threshold, studies have suggested that the odds of pregnancy can be less than 1%, even with assisted reproduction, Richlin pointed out. At that point, his clinic offers patients the option of a donor egg pregnancy, he said. "We have a live birth rate with a donor egg of 70%."
2. Ovulation Self-Assessment
The typical menstrual cycle lasts from 21 to 40 days, varying from woman to woman.3 However, if yours is shorter or longer, it's possible that you're not ovulating, experts say. And you can determine this yourself by using a reliable test known as an Ovulation Predictor Kit, which aids in timing intercourse properly. It can be purchased from any local pharmacy and detects hormone levels in urine. The test is taken fairly early in the cycle. If two lines are seen on the special stick used in the kit, it indicates a luteinizing hormone (LH) surge is taking place and that intercourse should take place the next day—the most fertile day in the cycle—to boost the odds of pregnancy, Richlin said.
The other option—though used much less frequently—is known as basal body temperature, in which a woman takes her temperature each day and notes it on a special chart over the course of several months. "The basal body temperature will typically dip in mid-cycle, then spike and remain higher until menstruation," said Leondires. "The dip and spike usually indicate ovulation."
3. Fallopian Tube Assessment
The fallopian tubes are the only route between the ovaries and uterus, and they're typically the area in which sperm fertilize an egg. However, if one or both tubes are blocked, conceiving will likely be much more difficult. Knowing that, women should advise their doctors of any previous circumstances that might indicate a tubal blockage, said Richlin. About 35 percent of his patients will have an infertility cause due to uterine or fallopian tube complications, he pointed out.
"What we often do [to assess that] is the hysterosalpingogram [HSG]. It's an x-ray dye test that tells us if the tubes are open and if the uterine cavity is normal in shape," he told Priority Healthcare. A catheter is inserted into the cervix, and dye is subsequently funneled through the cervix into the fallopian tubes. It is monitored during this process to determine if there are any blockages.
While the test is very reliable, knowing a woman's history will aid in that evaluation. Previous pelvic infection, tubal pregnancy, abdominal surgery or a ruptured appendix raise the odds of a damaged fallopian tube, Leondires said.
Other possible risks that may prompt an HSG include pelvic pain or an endometriosis diagnosis, added Richlin.
4. Importance of Timing
Timing is everything in planning pregnancy. According to Leondires, up to one-fifth of couples miscalculate the optimal time for conception. Thus, he suggests subtracting 17 days from the average number of days in your cycle, then having intercourse on that day and two days later. You can determine the number of days in your cycle by counting the numbers of days between your periods.
Richlin adds that since ovulation typically occurs in mid-cycle, it's best to have intercourse on or around that time. "That's potentially the most fertile time," he said. Using the example of a 28-day cycle, ovulation would occur on or near day 14. Thus, to cover that 'window of opportunity,' it's best to have intercourse on days 11, 13 and 15. "We know sperm lasts in the cavity a couple of days, so [by doing that,] they've covered the time that they're most likely ovulating," Richlin said.
5. Male Factor Infertility
A male cause of infertility is confirmed in about 35% of cases, said Richlin. So, it's important to discuss any relevant medical history with your doctor. For example, reproductive surgery, history of infection, a mumps diagnosis, excessive alcohol or drug use, or close contact with industrial chemicals can boost the odds of a male infertility factor, said Richlin. When a male cause is suspected, a semen analysis is then typically ordered. A 'normal' semen analysis consists of a minimum of 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen. Additionally, at least half should have adequate motility—the ability to move spontaneously—as well as a healthy morphology, or appearance, Richlin explained.
John Martin is a long-time health journalist and an editor for Priority Healthcare. His credits include coverage of health news for the website of Fox Television's The Health Network, and articles for the New York Post and other consumer and trade publications.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
I'll House U: Thursday #10 **WMC 2009 EDITION**
Here are some MASSIVE TRACKS that should blow up in Miami this week at the Winter Music conference (WMC).
Smile When You Kill Me (Original Mix) - Jerome Isma-Ae Tech House banger
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
Laktos (Original Mix) -Sebastian Ingrosso Beautifully constructed House tune
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
Im Not Alone - Deadmau5 Remix - Calvin Harris Deadmau5 never disappoints
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
Insanity - Nari & Milani Remix - Stefano Pain & Best Seler Big room house track
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Presets @ 9:30 Club April 1st
Australian Duo "The Presets" come to the "9:30 Club" Wednesday April 1st. It should be a great show.
Infertility Testing for Females
Q What types of tests do RE's or OB's give for women who haven't conceived after a year of trying?
A There are several tests that you can take and each one comes up with a different conclusions. You and your Doctor need to decide together which ones would be beneficial for you and you individual issues.
Endometrial Biopsy: Using a small sample of endometrial tissue taken after the 21st day of your cycle, a biopsy allows your doctor to have a detailed analysis of the endometrial development. The results of the biopsy can show whether the lining is thick enough for implantation. This test is helpful for women who have experienced multiple miscarriages.
Abdominal Ultrasound: Using a hand-held probe on top of the abdomen, high frequency sound waves are bounced off the body to produce an image. This type of ultrasound can give your specialist a general image of your pelvic health.
Transvaginal Ultrasound: This type of ultrasound is similar to an abdominal ultrasound except that the probe is inserted into the vagina. Because the probe is much closer to the pelvic structure, a significantly clearer image is produced than in abdominal ultrasounds. Ultrasounds are often used to check how the follicles are developing during a cycle. It can also be used to diagnose fibroids or ovarian cysts.
Sonohystogram: A variant of the usual ultrasound, a sonohystogram uses water or sterile saline to inflate your uterus. This gives your doctor a clearer view into your uterus.
Laparoscopy: This is a surgical procedure that is done under anesthetic but on an outpatient basis. It involves using an illuminated small tube that is inserted through an incision just under your naval allowing your doctor to get a good view of your ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes from the outside. It is also possible to insert small tools into the tube thereby helping your doctor to correct any problems. It is useful in locating scar tissue, blockages, abnormalities and endometriosis.
Hysteroscopy: Related to laparoscopy, a hysteroscopy employs a fiber optic telescope to look around the uterus. The viewing device is inserted up through the vagina and cervix and into the uterus. Again, it is possible to insert small tools into the tube to fix any problems.
Falloposcopy: This procedure uses a similar viewing device as the ones used in laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. The telescope is inserted into the vagina, goes up through cervix and uterus, and into the fallopian tubes. Falloposcopy has been found to be effective in treating some blockage problems but more importantly, it allows a doctor to have a more accurate diagnosis, thereby giving way to a more precise treatment.
Hysterosalpingogram: This is a special type of machine that takes an x-ray of your uterus and fallopian tubes. Before the x-ray is taken, though, a water or oil-based dye is injected into your uterus and fallopian tubes. The dye makes it easier for your doctor to identify any problems in the organs on the x-ray. This device is often used to locate blockages and other problems.
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
A There are several tests that you can take and each one comes up with a different conclusions. You and your Doctor need to decide together which ones would be beneficial for you and you individual issues.
Endometrial Biopsy: Using a small sample of endometrial tissue taken after the 21st day of your cycle, a biopsy allows your doctor to have a detailed analysis of the endometrial development. The results of the biopsy can show whether the lining is thick enough for implantation. This test is helpful for women who have experienced multiple miscarriages.
Abdominal Ultrasound: Using a hand-held probe on top of the abdomen, high frequency sound waves are bounced off the body to produce an image. This type of ultrasound can give your specialist a general image of your pelvic health.
Transvaginal Ultrasound: This type of ultrasound is similar to an abdominal ultrasound except that the probe is inserted into the vagina. Because the probe is much closer to the pelvic structure, a significantly clearer image is produced than in abdominal ultrasounds. Ultrasounds are often used to check how the follicles are developing during a cycle. It can also be used to diagnose fibroids or ovarian cysts.
Sonohystogram: A variant of the usual ultrasound, a sonohystogram uses water or sterile saline to inflate your uterus. This gives your doctor a clearer view into your uterus.
Laparoscopy: This is a surgical procedure that is done under anesthetic but on an outpatient basis. It involves using an illuminated small tube that is inserted through an incision just under your naval allowing your doctor to get a good view of your ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes from the outside. It is also possible to insert small tools into the tube thereby helping your doctor to correct any problems. It is useful in locating scar tissue, blockages, abnormalities and endometriosis.
Hysteroscopy: Related to laparoscopy, a hysteroscopy employs a fiber optic telescope to look around the uterus. The viewing device is inserted up through the vagina and cervix and into the uterus. Again, it is possible to insert small tools into the tube to fix any problems.
Falloposcopy: This procedure uses a similar viewing device as the ones used in laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. The telescope is inserted into the vagina, goes up through cervix and uterus, and into the fallopian tubes. Falloposcopy has been found to be effective in treating some blockage problems but more importantly, it allows a doctor to have a more accurate diagnosis, thereby giving way to a more precise treatment.
Hysterosalpingogram: This is a special type of machine that takes an x-ray of your uterus and fallopian tubes. Before the x-ray is taken, though, a water or oil-based dye is injected into your uterus and fallopian tubes. The dye makes it easier for your doctor to identify any problems in the organs on the x-ray. This device is often used to locate blockages and other problems.
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
Monday, March 23, 2009
When Intended Parents Can't Pay
I have been having a little debate with myself. Did I want to blog about this article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-surrogate-agency21-2009mar21,0,3918452.story?page=1 regarding two California based firms who have stopped paying their surrogates and seemingly taken off with over a million dollars of Intended Parents money or leave it alone and let everyone else chat about it. And then I received an e-mail that pushed me into what I am writing now...a different angle then what I have been reading about in the New York Times or the LA Times....what about the surrogates? With the payments being nonexistent, will they want to keep the babies? This was the question that was asked of me.
Of course that question is coming from the angle that these surrogates are only 'doing it for the money' and now that there isn't any what will happen? Will they keep the babies until there is payment? Will they abort? What happens when Intended Parents can't pay?
Now let me be clear, I know not one person involved in this current scandal. Not a surrogate or intended parent but I believe that what I do know that not one of those surrogates has sat down and thought..Geez..I need to abort because now I will not be paid for my services! Or, I guess I will just keep this baby for myself now that I won't be getting my money...'no money for me means NO baby for you!' I just think that even someone doing it for the money wouldn't go to those extremes. I will go even further out on a limb and say that those surrogates who are pregnant are supporting their Intended Parents through this awful financial loss and saying that something else can be worked out. It will be O.K. Perhaps offering suggestions and ideas of how they all can get through the last months of pregnancy together all the while dealing with the lack of financing.
Remembering that there are still contracts in place and that ins. still needs to be paid, these people all need to work together no matter what happens during the pregnancy. I know that other infertility professionals are offering free or reduced services. There is going to be an auction to help raise funds for the 70 couples and their surrogates who are affected. But I have not heard one story regarding a woman who is planning on holding a baby for ransom..."when you can pay me, you can have him". Remember, Surrogacy is not all about the money. Sure, money helps take care of her while she is pregnant and she can have it ear-marked for certain things she would like to do for her own family but the compensation that Surrogates receive from their willingness to carry a child is not (should not) be the only income coming into the home.
I am hoping that the stories that come out of this current mess puts a huge positive spot light on Surrogates and the compassion that truly runs down to the soul of these wonderful women. Because the real gift here is being tested...and I am sure the rewards will be greater then what anyone has ever expected.
Of course that question is coming from the angle that these surrogates are only 'doing it for the money' and now that there isn't any what will happen? Will they keep the babies until there is payment? Will they abort? What happens when Intended Parents can't pay?
Now let me be clear, I know not one person involved in this current scandal. Not a surrogate or intended parent but I believe that what I do know that not one of those surrogates has sat down and thought..Geez..I need to abort because now I will not be paid for my services! Or, I guess I will just keep this baby for myself now that I won't be getting my money...'no money for me means NO baby for you!' I just think that even someone doing it for the money wouldn't go to those extremes. I will go even further out on a limb and say that those surrogates who are pregnant are supporting their Intended Parents through this awful financial loss and saying that something else can be worked out. It will be O.K. Perhaps offering suggestions and ideas of how they all can get through the last months of pregnancy together all the while dealing with the lack of financing.
Remembering that there are still contracts in place and that ins. still needs to be paid, these people all need to work together no matter what happens during the pregnancy. I know that other infertility professionals are offering free or reduced services. There is going to be an auction to help raise funds for the 70 couples and their surrogates who are affected. But I have not heard one story regarding a woman who is planning on holding a baby for ransom..."when you can pay me, you can have him". Remember, Surrogacy is not all about the money. Sure, money helps take care of her while she is pregnant and she can have it ear-marked for certain things she would like to do for her own family but the compensation that Surrogates receive from their willingness to carry a child is not (should not) be the only income coming into the home.
I am hoping that the stories that come out of this current mess puts a huge positive spot light on Surrogates and the compassion that truly runs down to the soul of these wonderful women. Because the real gift here is being tested...and I am sure the rewards will be greater then what anyone has ever expected.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Social Security Numbers For Children
will be breif here because the link below says it all....
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10023.html
When you have a baby, one of the things that should be on your “to do” list is getting a Social Security number for your baby. The easiest time to do this is when you give information for your child’s birth certificate. If you wait to apply for a number at a Social Security office, there may be delays while we verify your child’s birth certificate.
So if you are about to have a baby, through Surrogacy, IVF, or without any help at all go to the hospital prepared with the information to start the Social Security wheels in motion!
Happy Sunday!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10023.html
When you have a baby, one of the things that should be on your “to do” list is getting a Social Security number for your baby. The easiest time to do this is when you give information for your child’s birth certificate. If you wait to apply for a number at a Social Security office, there may be delays while we verify your child’s birth certificate.
So if you are about to have a baby, through Surrogacy, IVF, or without any help at all go to the hospital prepared with the information to start the Social Security wheels in motion!
Happy Sunday!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
New Music
"This Is Detox" (Ft. Dr. Dre) - T.I.
Click Here To Download Very Hott
"Get That Money (Do It To It) - T.I.
Click Here To Download Okay
"Boo" (Ft. 8-Ball & MJG) - T.I.
Click Here To Download
"Shone" (Ft. Pleasure P) - Flo Rida
Click Here To Download Hott >>Second Single Off "The R.O.O.T.S"<<
"Im Fucked Up" (Ft. Jim Jones & Snoop Dogg) - Problem
Click Here To Download Hott
"Bounce" - Pitbull
Click Here To Download Okay
"Hooked On You" - Jennifer Lopez
Click Here To Download Hott
"Grizzly" - Ludacris
Click Here To Download
"Sidekick" (Ft. Lil Wayne) - Natasha
Click Here To Download
"Payow" (Ft. Lil Wayne & Bobby Valentino) - Huey
Click Here To Download
"Flight School" (Ft. Kanye West) - T-Pain
Click Here To Download Okay
"I Got You Dancing" - Lady Sovereign
Click Here To Download Hott >>From Her Album "Jigsaw"<<
"So Human" - Lady Sovereign
Click Here To Download Okay >>1st Single Off "Jigsaw"<<
"Pennies" - Lady Sovereign
Click Here To Download Okay >>From Her Album "Jigsaw"<<
"I Got The Goods" - Lady Sovereign
Click Here To Download >>From Her Album "Jigsaw"<<
"Guitar" - Lady Sovereign
Click Here To Download >>From Her Album "Jigsaw"<<
"Call Me Commando" (Ft. T.I. & Lil' Wayne) - Young Jeezy
Click Here To Download
"Not Alone" (Ft. Flex Powdal) - Young Jeezy
Click Here To Download
"Winner" - Ne-Yo
Click Here To Download Okay
"Brand New" - Trey Songz
Click Here To Download Hott
"Everybody" - Rudenko
Click Here To Download
"Aint I" (Ft. Maino, & Lil Wayne) - Rick Ross
Click Here To Download Hott
"Shittin On Them" (Ft. Busta Rhymes & Rick Ross) - Birdman
Click Here To Download
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
What do you mean I can't get a new tattoo?!
I thought I would write a FYI here because there are some potential Egg Donors and Surrogates out there that are not aware that you can not donate your eggs or become a surrogate if you have had a tattoo or body piercing within the past 6 months to a year. (In most cases it's 6 months for the piercing's and a year for the tattoo unless you have written proof that the needles used were disposable and in that case, you would be free and clear to donate or volunteer to carry.) This requirement is a safeguard against the risk of infectious diseases. Obviously any tattoos you have that are over a year old are fine!
This was the easiest Q & A ever!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
This was the easiest Q & A ever!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
Monday, March 16, 2009
Random Remixes : "Part 4"
Pitbull - "I Know You Want Me" (Calle Ocho) (DJ Tune Cee Mix R&D)
Click Here To Download Very Hott
Flo Rida - "Right Round" (Electro Banger Mix)
Click Here To Download Very Hott
Flo Rida - "Right Round" (Lollipop Club Rerub Mix)
Click Here To Download Hott
Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow" (Lollipop Rerub Mix)
Click Here To Download Hott
Kelly Clarkson - "My Life Would Suck Without You" (Ranny vs. The Popstar Edit)
Click Here To Download Hott
Rihanna - "Rehab" (Timbaland Remix)
Click Here To Download Hott
Blog Worthy
These are my top 10 favorite blogs
1. Fräulein
2. Serato Fourms
3. BrightestYoungThings
4. MOCOLOCO
5. Elitaste
6. RCRDLBL
7. The Sartorialist
8. Beatportal
9. PalmsOutSounds
10. WhiteFolksGetCrunk
1. Fräulein
2. Serato Fourms
3. BrightestYoungThings
4. MOCOLOCO
5. Elitaste
6. RCRDLBL
7. The Sartorialist
8. Beatportal
9. PalmsOutSounds
10. WhiteFolksGetCrunk
Steve Angello @ Glow April 11th 2009
Steve Angello is coming to Glow @ Fur, April 11th. Steve Angello is one of my all time favorite DJ/producers. He is one member of the Swedish House mafia and runs the House/Techno record lable Size. I'm always watching for new stuff coming out of Sweden and off the Size label. This will be a show not to miss, last time he came to D.C. her completely tore it up.
Recently I came across a bootleg of the Swedish House Mafia's track "Leave The World Behind"
This Bootleg is absolutly amazing... I know it will be a massive tune at WMC and I can't wait to get my hands on the original version.
You can listen to the Bootleg version Below.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
What not to say to your wife when she is pregnant....with another couple's baby...
**When your wife, who is a surrogate mother,is praying to the porcelain god at 3 months pregnant you DON'T say..." You volunteered for this!"
Instead you could get her a glass of water, a wash clothe and a hug and say how lucky you are to have a woman so willing to give this much of herself to others.....
**When your wife is huge and uncomfortable from carrying twins you DON'T say...."Remember, You are getting paid for this!!"
Instead acknowledge how fortunate those babies are to have her carry them with such love, care and sacrifice. (A foot rub will help as well!) Adding the reminder that after the babies are born, she can sleep through the night!
**When your wife is denying you the intimate part of your marital relationship (for what seems like months) you DON'T say..." Look what YOU ARE doing to ME!!"
Instead know that you can still be close and realize that this time of her pregnancy will go fast and she will appreciate you all the more for your understanding and support!
**When your wife is about to give birth and wants YOU by her side you DON'T say.."Why, they aren't my babies!!"
Instead understand that this is YOUR WIFE, YOUR Woman and that she needs you no matter whose babies she carries. You are a huge part of this surrogacy and why not share in the end result, seeing the Intended Parents dearest dreams come true!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
Thursday, March 12, 2009
REUP
A lot of the older Mixtape links have expired. Over the next few weeks I'm going to re upload the Mixes. Also stay posted for my new Mixtape.
Who Shot my Stork?
This is an actual title of a blog and I am amazed that the creativity of other bloggers out there in Cyberville. I am kind of embarrassed that I could only come up with Surrogacy 101! But...it's simple and you don't have to guess what the topic is. ( I am trying to console myself here!)
I have been spending some of my online time reading other peoples blogs...Intended Parents mostly...and although I have talked with, e-mailed, IM'ed, and met many IP's, reading their blogs are so much more intimate for lack of a better description. Inner thoughts...fears...challenges and assumptions are all written about in a variety of different styles. Emotions that I only have experienced the fringes of through my journey of secondary infertility. (which might explain, to some, why I have a 9 1/2 year gap between my own children. Sometimes I am very flippant when people ask if I am on my 2nd marriage and I say No...we just like to grow our own babysitters) HA.
If you are interested in seeing what others are writing about I suggest that you visit Mel's site: The Stirrup Queen's Completely Anal List of Blogs That Proves That She Really Missed Her Calling as a Personal Organizer . You can find this link under my blogroll...which I just started. So if you would like to have your blog listed there as well, just send me the link!
Have a great day!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
I have been spending some of my online time reading other peoples blogs...Intended Parents mostly...and although I have talked with, e-mailed, IM'ed, and met many IP's, reading their blogs are so much more intimate for lack of a better description. Inner thoughts...fears...challenges and assumptions are all written about in a variety of different styles. Emotions that I only have experienced the fringes of through my journey of secondary infertility. (which might explain, to some, why I have a 9 1/2 year gap between my own children. Sometimes I am very flippant when people ask if I am on my 2nd marriage and I say No...we just like to grow our own babysitters) HA.
If you are interested in seeing what others are writing about I suggest that you visit Mel's site: The Stirrup Queen's Completely Anal List of Blogs That Proves That She Really Missed Her Calling as a Personal Organizer . You can find this link under my blogroll...which I just started. So if you would like to have your blog listed there as well, just send me the link!
Have a great day!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Donor Network Alliance ~Intended parents in control of the egg donor search process
Are you tired of looking from agency website to egg donor data base searching for that perfect donor? Then I suggest that you visit the brand new Donor Network Alliance (DNA)! Read the press release below and check it out! I would love to hear your comments and feed back!
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
A new Web site has launched that facilitates the search for egg donors by prospective parents undergoing alternative reproductive processes. The Donor Network Alliance (DNA) http://www.donornetworkalliance.com/ is the first and only consolidated source of egg donors recruited by multiple agencies across the United States.
Membership-based DNA was started by three competing Chicago egg donor agencies that saw the need to pool resources: The Center for Egg Options (CEO), Northbrook, IL; ConceiveAbilities, and Alternative Reproductive Resources (ARR), both of Chicago.
"DNA is needed as the fertility field grows in size and complexity," said Robin von Halle, president of ARR. "This has resulted in a proliferation of agencies that recruit egg donors, which makes weighing agency and donor choices more costly, confusing and time consuming for intended parents."
The DNA Web site is the portal to a robust, searchable database of hundreds of anonymous egg donor candidates represented by donor recruitment firms of all sizes across the country. It is expected to house at least 10,000 profiles from participating agencies by the end of its first year in business.
For a nominal fee, subscribers have unlimited access to the database for the two-week usage term. They can search according to various parameters, from ethnic descent to eye and hair color. Searches can be saved. Favorites can be flagged. Each donor profile is posted alongside her agency, which can be e-mailed directly from the site for further information.
"It's all about putting the intended parents in control of the egg donor search process," said Nazca Fontes, president of ConceiveAbilities. "This helps them avoid excessive research of multiple agencies, tracking multiple usernames and passwords, and paying multiple usage fees. It's a needed improvement of the customer experience."
Nancy Block, president of CEO, noted that egg donor agencies also benefit in an environment where it's costly and difficult to achieve differentiation. "DNA helps to level the playing field, giving participating agencies exposure to far more prospective parents through a shared site than they'd see individually," she said.
Find the Donor Network Alliance at www.donornetworkalliance.com. For further information, e-mail info@donornetworkalliance.com or call 877-DNA-EGGS (362-3447).
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
A new Web site has launched that facilitates the search for egg donors by prospective parents undergoing alternative reproductive processes. The Donor Network Alliance (DNA) http://www.donornetworkalliance.com/ is the first and only consolidated source of egg donors recruited by multiple agencies across the United States.
Membership-based DNA was started by three competing Chicago egg donor agencies that saw the need to pool resources: The Center for Egg Options (CEO), Northbrook, IL; ConceiveAbilities, and Alternative Reproductive Resources (ARR), both of Chicago.
"DNA is needed as the fertility field grows in size and complexity," said Robin von Halle, president of ARR. "This has resulted in a proliferation of agencies that recruit egg donors, which makes weighing agency and donor choices more costly, confusing and time consuming for intended parents."
The DNA Web site is the portal to a robust, searchable database of hundreds of anonymous egg donor candidates represented by donor recruitment firms of all sizes across the country. It is expected to house at least 10,000 profiles from participating agencies by the end of its first year in business.
For a nominal fee, subscribers have unlimited access to the database for the two-week usage term. They can search according to various parameters, from ethnic descent to eye and hair color. Searches can be saved. Favorites can be flagged. Each donor profile is posted alongside her agency, which can be e-mailed directly from the site for further information.
"It's all about putting the intended parents in control of the egg donor search process," said Nazca Fontes, president of ConceiveAbilities. "This helps them avoid excessive research of multiple agencies, tracking multiple usernames and passwords, and paying multiple usage fees. It's a needed improvement of the customer experience."
Nancy Block, president of CEO, noted that egg donor agencies also benefit in an environment where it's costly and difficult to achieve differentiation. "DNA helps to level the playing field, giving participating agencies exposure to far more prospective parents through a shared site than they'd see individually," she said.
Find the Donor Network Alliance at www.donornetworkalliance.com. For further information, e-mail info@donornetworkalliance.com or call 877-DNA-EGGS (362-3447).
Monday, March 9, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Remix of the Week: Prom Queen (NICBALZ Remix)
I'm feeling this remix of Prom Queen, It has more of the club vibe than the original version and it keeps the integrity of the track intact.
PROM QUEEN (NICBALZ REMIX)
This week's remix of the week is by NICBALZ Check him out at: www.myspace.com/nicbalzbeats
PROM QUEEN (NICBALZ REMIX)
This week's remix of the week is by NICBALZ Check him out at: www.myspace.com/nicbalzbeats
Narrowing your Choices: Surrogates Being too Picky
If you have been following along you may have read what I wrote to the IP's....and you know, it goes the same for a surrogate. How can a surrogate be 'too picky" when SHE is the one doing the favor? When she is the one helping a couple make a family? Now let's be honest, one surrogate to another, we have our reasons for being surrogates AND our biological clocks can run out and we don't like the feeling of being in limbo forever!(Our families don't like it either! And so on and so forth) Sure you have your hopes for the type of people you finally are matched with but it can take a lot longer if you don't have a realistic view of just who is out there looking for YOU, Suzy Surrogate. You have your beliefs and I am saying stick to those...if you don't believe in selective reduction and abortion by all means do not compromise yourself. However, if you are thinking that you only want to help a 'childless' couple, I ask you to rethink that notion. Isn't providing a sibling for that only child just as important as helping someone that has no children. I know some women that wouldn't even talk to a couple if step children were involved or adopted children...that choice leaves out a whole category of IP's who want their own baby. What about location. Yes, I know that you too are looking for someone close and who will be there every step of the way...but know that you may have to wait all the longer because you hate the idea that the IP's are over 200 miles away. Perhaps you need to think of what is really important to you in this surrogacy relationship...and by all means if location and looking for a childless couple is that important then don't be disappointed that you need to wait longer then someone who says "I am open to anyone who needs my help" and then when you meet them you can decided if the chemistry is there and all of the other things you might be looking for are in place. And you might be surprised and have the best relationship with IP's that you might otherwise have passed by.
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
Thursday, March 5, 2009
I'll House U: Thursday #8
Hey guys sorry for last weeks absence but we're making it up to you "I'll house U" is back with some SLAMMING tracks!!!This week's #8 has a little bit of everything Electro, Progressive, Tech, ETC. I Hope you enjoy. Make sure you Stay tuned every Thursday for the latest House!!
Falling Anthem Feat. Alyssa Palmer (Herve's Remix) - Bad Boy Bill
Music Matters (Mark Knight Remix) - Faithless Feat. Cass Fox
Can't Be Wrong (Original Mix) - Santiago & Bushido
Deep Inside - Harry Choo Choo - Hardrive
Touch My Horn - Original Mix - Jesse Rose
Amazzonia (David Tort Remix) - Giordano
Blow Up - Original Mix - Gooseflesh
Montezuma (Will Bailey & Mikey Hook Remix) - Wolfgang Gartner
Rockstar - Clubz Mix - Clubzound
Beestung - Kaskade's Grand Mix - Zip Zip Through The Night
Take My Breath Away - Gui Boratto
If You Knew (Original Mix) - Chris Lake Feat Nastala
My Love Sees You (DerDieDas Remix) - Beni
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Your urgent and immediate action on two bills introduced in the Georgia State Senate is of vital importance.
In talking with Evelina, who is in GA (and on the EDSPA Board) and very involved with fighting this (which may be voted into law by next Thursday!) This bill is about only being able to MAKE 2 or 3 embryos at a TIME....not just what you can transfer. So if you are under 40 and have 12 eggs, only 2 can be fertilized...if you are over 40 then only 3 can be fertilized! No more then that....We need to clearly get the truth of this bill a crossed to everyone because who is going to want to make just 2 or 3 embryos at a time? Who can pick and choose which eggs would be the best to fertilize AND then there would be NO EMBRYOS LEFT for freezing! (perhaps you can freeze the eggs however that is not perfected yet and the cost....well....it just wouldn't be worth it) Apparently it's the right to lifers who are pouring money into this GA bill so that there will/would be no more 'babies on ice"...
On another note, if this bill passes I hear that the ASRM will consider moving the Oct. meeting to another location.
Please forgive me for posting this but I wanted everyone to read this!
Sharon LaMothe (comments welcome!)
This was posted by Mark Perloe~
Your urgent and immediate action on two bills introduced in the Georgia State Senate is of vital importance.
The Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hold a hearing on two bills: SB 169 and SB 204 this Thursday, March 5, at 9:00 AM in Room 450 of the State Capitol. At the hearing, the committee will hear testimony on the bills. Reproductive medicine physicians from across the state, along with Resolve and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) oppose both of the bills. The hearing is open to the public and we encourages you to attend the hearing and send a letter to the Committee members before Thursday. To send a letter immediately, click here.
Senate Bill 169 would restrict doctors' ability to perform IVF in accordance with best medical standards. Here are the key provisions:
- No more than 2 or 3 eggs could ever be fertilized in a cycle; if a woman produced more eggs, they still could not be used.
- Only 2 embryos could ever be transferred to the uterus, unless the woman is age 40 or over (then a max of 3).
- No extra embryos could be cryopreserved. If they are created, they have to be transferred.
- No financial relief, such as insurance coverage, is proposed to help with the added financial burden of using less effective treatment. Patients will still have to pay out of pocket for less effective treatment.
- Bans all financial compensation for donor gametes, such as egg donor, sperm donor, or embryo donation, which would reduce the pool of available donors in Georgia.
SB 204 is an embryo adoption bill. It would subject embryo donation to all the same provisions as required by law for adoption of a child. This would subject infertility patients needing an embryo donation to go through the judicial proceedings, home visits, and other procedures required for an adoption. Such treatment is not appropriate nor is it needed for embryo donation.
If you care about open access to the best care possible, let the Committee members know before Thursday that you oppose these two bills. To send a letter or fax to the Committee, simply click here http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://secure2.convio.net%2Fres%2Fsite%2FAdvocacy%3Fcmd%3Ddisplay%26page%3DUserAction%26id%3D219 for a letter template that will be automatically sent to each of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee members. You can also call your state Senator even if they are not on the Committee and tell them you oppose these two bills. A full list of the Committee members can be found by clicking on the link below, then clicking on the Senators name for a link to their direct contact information: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.legis.ga.gov%2Flegis%2F2009_10%2Fsenate%2Fhealth.php
Please be respectful in all communications to the elected officials and their staff. Please remember that rude communications work against our interests.
Thank you for taking action today and showing the Georgia Senate that you care about open and available access to care for the women and men diagnosed with infertility in the state of Georgia.
To send a letter to the Committee members immediately, click here. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://secure2.convio.net%2Fres%2Fsite%2FAdvocacy%3Fcmd%3Ddisplay%26page%3DUserAction%26id%3D219
To view the full text of the bills please follow the links below:
SB 169: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.legis.state.ga.us%2Flegis%2F2009_10%2Fsum%2Fsb169.htm
SB 204: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.legis.state.ga.us%2Flegis%2F2009_10%2Fsum%2Fsb204.htm
Georgia Economic Impact
• More than $200 million in revenue and countless jobs would be lost by Georgia medical practices, psychologists, lawyers, pharmacists, as well as by those in the restaurant and lodging industry who provide services to those traveling for care.
• An expected 50-60% drop in live births associated with legislation limiting the number of oocytes fertilized or transferred would create a powerful incentive for Georgia couples to seek care outside Georgia. Alternatively, they would have to consider multiple treatment cycles to achieve the same success rate as we now see. The cost for additional treatment cycles as well as lost productivity due to time away from jobs can not be immediately calculated.
• Embryo donation is the most a cost effective option for many couples hoping to build a family. Yet this legislation would impose additional legal expenses and home studies that would create a significant cost barrier for many with limited financial resources. As a result this option would no longer be available for many couples
• The majority of higher order multiple pregnancies [triplets or more] result from ovulation induction and not IVF. This legislation will result in a marked decrease in local IVF services and a dramatic increase in the number of ovulation induction cycles with the higher risk of multiple births and the resultant costs.
• The American Society of Reproductive Medicine is planning its annual meeting in Atlanta this fall. Approximately 5,000 people are expected to attend. Passing this legislation will induce many to stay at home. The resultant revenue loss for our convention and travel industry comes at a very difficult time for our economy.
• This legislation will preclude the use of preimplantation embryo screening to prevent diseases such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, Huntington’s diease and other genetic conditions that result in an enormous financial burden to the individual and often to the state to provide ongoing medical care.
• The financial cost of defending court challenges to HBB during an economic downturn is a needless tax on government funds.
• Biotech industry seeking to relocate will likely have second thoughts about moving to Georgia with passage of this legislation.
Unanswered Questions
• Will cryopreserved embryos that already exist be subject to this law?
• Will this law be applicable to embryos that have been created in another state?
• Will this law apply if the individuals are not Georgia state residents?
• Does this law allow for inheritance rights for embryos deemed to be children?
• Are embryos entitled to social security survivor benefits?
• Will embryos be entitled to child support in the case of divorce to cover the expense of storage?
• Will women who have undergone embryo transfer be able to use the HOV lane….there is an additional “child” on board.
• What happens to embryos that were frozen more than two at a time?
• What about agencies that charge a fee to match recipients and embryo donors while not providing a medical service? Will this be considered the same as selling a baby?
• If an embryo has been frozen longer than 18 years is it still a child? How do you calculate a child's age if the embryo is 20 years old, but the child was born two years ago, how old is the child?
• Not too infrequently, a one cell embryo splits resulting in twins. As this bill describes a single cell embryo as a child do we consider these identical twins as one child or two?
• If an embryo has been frozen longer than 18 years is it still a child? How do you calculate a child's age if the embryo is 20 years old, but the child was born two years ago, are we dealing with a child or an adult?
• The bill states that its purpose is to promote the best interest of the child. As cryopreserved embryos are classified as children and only 20-30% of embryo transfers results in pregnancy, we must ask if this means all embryos should undergo cryopreservation rather than transferring them to avoid the 80% loss rate for these "children"?
--------------------
On another note, if this bill passes I hear that the ASRM will consider moving the Oct. meeting to another location.
Please forgive me for posting this but I wanted everyone to read this!
Sharon LaMothe (comments welcome!)
This was posted by Mark Perloe~
Your urgent and immediate action on two bills introduced in the Georgia State Senate is of vital importance.
The Georgia Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hold a hearing on two bills: SB 169 and SB 204 this Thursday, March 5, at 9:00 AM in Room 450 of the State Capitol. At the hearing, the committee will hear testimony on the bills. Reproductive medicine physicians from across the state, along with Resolve and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) oppose both of the bills. The hearing is open to the public and we encourages you to attend the hearing and send a letter to the Committee members before Thursday. To send a letter immediately, click here.
Senate Bill 169 would restrict doctors' ability to perform IVF in accordance with best medical standards. Here are the key provisions:
- No more than 2 or 3 eggs could ever be fertilized in a cycle; if a woman produced more eggs, they still could not be used.
- Only 2 embryos could ever be transferred to the uterus, unless the woman is age 40 or over (then a max of 3).
- No extra embryos could be cryopreserved. If they are created, they have to be transferred.
- No financial relief, such as insurance coverage, is proposed to help with the added financial burden of using less effective treatment. Patients will still have to pay out of pocket for less effective treatment.
- Bans all financial compensation for donor gametes, such as egg donor, sperm donor, or embryo donation, which would reduce the pool of available donors in Georgia.
SB 204 is an embryo adoption bill. It would subject embryo donation to all the same provisions as required by law for adoption of a child. This would subject infertility patients needing an embryo donation to go through the judicial proceedings, home visits, and other procedures required for an adoption. Such treatment is not appropriate nor is it needed for embryo donation.
If you care about open access to the best care possible, let the Committee members know before Thursday that you oppose these two bills. To send a letter or fax to the Committee, simply click here http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://secure2.convio.net%2Fres%2Fsite%2FAdvocacy%3Fcmd%3Ddisplay%26page%3DUserAction%26id%3D219 for a letter template that will be automatically sent to each of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee members. You can also call your state Senator even if they are not on the Committee and tell them you oppose these two bills. A full list of the Committee members can be found by clicking on the link below, then clicking on the Senators name for a link to their direct contact information: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.legis.ga.gov%2Flegis%2F2009_10%2Fsenate%2Fhealth.php
Please be respectful in all communications to the elected officials and their staff. Please remember that rude communications work against our interests.
Thank you for taking action today and showing the Georgia Senate that you care about open and available access to care for the women and men diagnosed with infertility in the state of Georgia.
To send a letter to the Committee members immediately, click here. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://secure2.convio.net%2Fres%2Fsite%2FAdvocacy%3Fcmd%3Ddisplay%26page%3DUserAction%26id%3D219
To view the full text of the bills please follow the links below:
SB 169: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.legis.state.ga.us%2Flegis%2F2009_10%2Fsum%2Fsb169.htm
SB 204: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.legis.state.ga.us%2Flegis%2F2009_10%2Fsum%2Fsb204.htm
Georgia Economic Impact
• More than $200 million in revenue and countless jobs would be lost by Georgia medical practices, psychologists, lawyers, pharmacists, as well as by those in the restaurant and lodging industry who provide services to those traveling for care.
• An expected 50-60% drop in live births associated with legislation limiting the number of oocytes fertilized or transferred would create a powerful incentive for Georgia couples to seek care outside Georgia. Alternatively, they would have to consider multiple treatment cycles to achieve the same success rate as we now see. The cost for additional treatment cycles as well as lost productivity due to time away from jobs can not be immediately calculated.
• Embryo donation is the most a cost effective option for many couples hoping to build a family. Yet this legislation would impose additional legal expenses and home studies that would create a significant cost barrier for many with limited financial resources. As a result this option would no longer be available for many couples
• The majority of higher order multiple pregnancies [triplets or more] result from ovulation induction and not IVF. This legislation will result in a marked decrease in local IVF services and a dramatic increase in the number of ovulation induction cycles with the higher risk of multiple births and the resultant costs.
• The American Society of Reproductive Medicine is planning its annual meeting in Atlanta this fall. Approximately 5,000 people are expected to attend. Passing this legislation will induce many to stay at home. The resultant revenue loss for our convention and travel industry comes at a very difficult time for our economy.
• This legislation will preclude the use of preimplantation embryo screening to prevent diseases such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, Huntington’s diease and other genetic conditions that result in an enormous financial burden to the individual and often to the state to provide ongoing medical care.
• The financial cost of defending court challenges to HBB during an economic downturn is a needless tax on government funds.
• Biotech industry seeking to relocate will likely have second thoughts about moving to Georgia with passage of this legislation.
Unanswered Questions
• Will cryopreserved embryos that already exist be subject to this law?
• Will this law be applicable to embryos that have been created in another state?
• Will this law apply if the individuals are not Georgia state residents?
• Does this law allow for inheritance rights for embryos deemed to be children?
• Are embryos entitled to social security survivor benefits?
• Will embryos be entitled to child support in the case of divorce to cover the expense of storage?
• Will women who have undergone embryo transfer be able to use the HOV lane….there is an additional “child” on board.
• What happens to embryos that were frozen more than two at a time?
• What about agencies that charge a fee to match recipients and embryo donors while not providing a medical service? Will this be considered the same as selling a baby?
• If an embryo has been frozen longer than 18 years is it still a child? How do you calculate a child's age if the embryo is 20 years old, but the child was born two years ago, how old is the child?
• Not too infrequently, a one cell embryo splits resulting in twins. As this bill describes a single cell embryo as a child do we consider these identical twins as one child or two?
• If an embryo has been frozen longer than 18 years is it still a child? How do you calculate a child's age if the embryo is 20 years old, but the child was born two years ago, are we dealing with a child or an adult?
• The bill states that its purpose is to promote the best interest of the child. As cryopreserved embryos are classified as children and only 20-30% of embryo transfers results in pregnancy, we must ask if this means all embryos should undergo cryopreservation rather than transferring them to avoid the 80% loss rate for these "children"?
--------------------
Throwback: Infinite
This track is from the first album Em put out back in 1996. Only a few copies (Vinyl and cassette) were made and were sold out slim's trunk in Detroit. You can tell he was strongly influenced by NAS back then.
Infinite
What questions are raised by globalizing surrogacy?
I just can't help myself. I find these articles and read in awe at how much the world has changed in the 10 years since I started swimming in the sea of surrogacy. Now, when speaking of surrogates and surrogacy the words "globalization" and "outsourced" are used. How about medical tourism as a term? The world is a much smaller place for sure when you are talking about frozen sperm being flown from one continent to the next and International surrogates being referred to as incubators in the 'market place'.
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
What questions are raised by globalizing surrogacy?
Ellen Goodman, ellengoodman@globe.com
Saturday, April 12, 2008 (Please note that this is over a year old but still relevant today)
By now we all have a story about a job outsourced beyond our reach in the global economy. My own favorite is about the California publisher who hired two reporters in India to cover the Pasadena city government. Really.
There are times as well when the off-shoring of jobs takes on a quite literal meaning. When the labor we are talking about is, well, labor.
In the last few months, we've have had a full nursery of international stories about surrogate mothers. Hundreds of couples are crossing borders in search of lower-cost ways to fill the family business. In turn, there's a new coterie of international workers who are gestating for a living.
Many of the stories about the globalization of baby production begin in India, where the government seems to regard this as, literally, a growth industry. In the little town of Anand, dubbed "The Cradle of the World," 45 women were recently on the books of a local clinic. For the production and delivery of a child, they will earn $5,000 to $7,000, a decade's worth of women's wages in rural India.
But even in America, some women, including Army wives, are supplementing their income by contracting out their wombs. They have become surrogate mothers for wealthy couples from European countries that ban the practice.
This globalization of baby-making comes at the peculiar intersection of a high reproductive technology and a low-tech work force. The biotech business was created in the same petri dish as Baby Louise, the first IVF baby. But, since then, we've seen conception outsourced to egg donors and sperm donors. We've had motherhood divided into its parts from genetic mother to gestational mother to birth mother and now contract mother.
We've also seen the growth of an international economy. Frozen sperm is flown from one continent to another. And patients have become medical tourists, searching for cheaper health care, whether it's a new hip in Thailand or an IVF treatment in South Africa that comes with a photo safari thrown in for the same price. Why not, then, rent a foreign womb?
I don't make light of infertility. The primal desire to have a child underlies this multinational Creation Inc. On one side, couples who choose surrogacy want a baby with at least half their own genes. On the other side, surrogate mothers, who are rarely implanted with their own eggs any longer, can believe that the child they bear and deliver is not really theirs.
As one woman put it, "We give them a baby and they give us much-needed money. It's good for them and for us." A surrogate in Anand used the money to buy a heart operation for her son. Another raised a dowry for her daughter. And before we talk about the exploitation of the pregnant woman, consider her alternative in Anand: a job crushing glass in a factory for $25 a month.
Nevertheless, there is - and there should be - something uncomfortable about a free-market approach to baby-making. It's easier to accept surrogacy when it's a gift from one woman to another. But we rarely see a rich woman become a surrogate for a poor family. Indeed, in Third World countries, some women sign these contracts with a fingerprint because they are illiterate.
For that matter, we have not yet had stories about the contract workers for whom pregnancy was a dangerous occupation, but we will. What obligation does a family that simply contracted for a child have to its birth mother? What control do - should - contractors have over their "employees' " lives while incubating "their" children? What will we tell the offspring of this international trade?
"National boundaries are coming down," says bioethicist Lori Andrews, "but we can't stop human emotions. We are expanding families and don't even have terms to deal with it."
It's the commercialism that is troubling. Some things we cannot sell, no matter how good the deal. We cannot, for example, sell ourselves into slavery. We cannot sell our children. But the surrogacy business comes perilously close to both of these deals. And international surrogacy tips the scales.
So these borders we are crossing are not just geographic ones. They are ethical ones. Today the global economy sends everyone in search of the cheaper deal, as if that were the single common good. But, in the biological search, humanity is sacrificed to the economy, and the person becomes the product. And, step by step, we come to a stunning place in our ancient creation story. It's called the market place.
Ellen Goodman is a columnist for The Boston Globe. Her column is distributed by the Washington Post Writers Group. Her e-mail address is ellengoodman@globe.com.
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers.net
What questions are raised by globalizing surrogacy?
Ellen Goodman, ellengoodman@globe.com
Saturday, April 12, 2008 (Please note that this is over a year old but still relevant today)
By now we all have a story about a job outsourced beyond our reach in the global economy. My own favorite is about the California publisher who hired two reporters in India to cover the Pasadena city government. Really.
There are times as well when the off-shoring of jobs takes on a quite literal meaning. When the labor we are talking about is, well, labor.
In the last few months, we've have had a full nursery of international stories about surrogate mothers. Hundreds of couples are crossing borders in search of lower-cost ways to fill the family business. In turn, there's a new coterie of international workers who are gestating for a living.
Many of the stories about the globalization of baby production begin in India, where the government seems to regard this as, literally, a growth industry. In the little town of Anand, dubbed "The Cradle of the World," 45 women were recently on the books of a local clinic. For the production and delivery of a child, they will earn $5,000 to $7,000, a decade's worth of women's wages in rural India.
But even in America, some women, including Army wives, are supplementing their income by contracting out their wombs. They have become surrogate mothers for wealthy couples from European countries that ban the practice.
This globalization of baby-making comes at the peculiar intersection of a high reproductive technology and a low-tech work force. The biotech business was created in the same petri dish as Baby Louise, the first IVF baby. But, since then, we've seen conception outsourced to egg donors and sperm donors. We've had motherhood divided into its parts from genetic mother to gestational mother to birth mother and now contract mother.
We've also seen the growth of an international economy. Frozen sperm is flown from one continent to another. And patients have become medical tourists, searching for cheaper health care, whether it's a new hip in Thailand or an IVF treatment in South Africa that comes with a photo safari thrown in for the same price. Why not, then, rent a foreign womb?
I don't make light of infertility. The primal desire to have a child underlies this multinational Creation Inc. On one side, couples who choose surrogacy want a baby with at least half their own genes. On the other side, surrogate mothers, who are rarely implanted with their own eggs any longer, can believe that the child they bear and deliver is not really theirs.
As one woman put it, "We give them a baby and they give us much-needed money. It's good for them and for us." A surrogate in Anand used the money to buy a heart operation for her son. Another raised a dowry for her daughter. And before we talk about the exploitation of the pregnant woman, consider her alternative in Anand: a job crushing glass in a factory for $25 a month.
Nevertheless, there is - and there should be - something uncomfortable about a free-market approach to baby-making. It's easier to accept surrogacy when it's a gift from one woman to another. But we rarely see a rich woman become a surrogate for a poor family. Indeed, in Third World countries, some women sign these contracts with a fingerprint because they are illiterate.
For that matter, we have not yet had stories about the contract workers for whom pregnancy was a dangerous occupation, but we will. What obligation does a family that simply contracted for a child have to its birth mother? What control do - should - contractors have over their "employees' " lives while incubating "their" children? What will we tell the offspring of this international trade?
"National boundaries are coming down," says bioethicist Lori Andrews, "but we can't stop human emotions. We are expanding families and don't even have terms to deal with it."
It's the commercialism that is troubling. Some things we cannot sell, no matter how good the deal. We cannot, for example, sell ourselves into slavery. We cannot sell our children. But the surrogacy business comes perilously close to both of these deals. And international surrogacy tips the scales.
So these borders we are crossing are not just geographic ones. They are ethical ones. Today the global economy sends everyone in search of the cheaper deal, as if that were the single common good. But, in the biological search, humanity is sacrificed to the economy, and the person becomes the product. And, step by step, we come to a stunning place in our ancient creation story. It's called the market place.
Ellen Goodman is a columnist for The Boston Globe. Her column is distributed by the Washington Post Writers Group. Her e-mail address is ellengoodman@globe.com.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
New Music
"Love And Sex And Magic" (Ft. Justin Timberlake) - Ciara
Click Here To Download Hott >>2nd single Off "Fantasy Ride"<<
"Turntables" (Ft. Chris Brown) - Ciara
Click Here To Download Hott >>Re-Up<<
"Boom Boom Pow" - Black Eyed Peas
Click Here To Download Hott >>1st single off "The E.N.D"<<
"Walking On The Moon" (Ft. Kanye West) - The Dream
Click Here To Download *
"I Did It For Love" (Ft. Sean Garrett) - BoA
Click Here To Download *
"Dr. Hyphenstein" (Ft. Snoop Dogg) - B Real
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"My Life Would Suck Without You" - Kelly Clarkson
Click Here To Download * >>From "All I Ever Wanted"<<
"I Do Not Hook Up" - Kelly Clarkson
Click Here To Download * >>From "All I Ever Wanted"<<
"If I Can't Have You" - Kelly Clarkson
Click Here To Download Hott >>From "All I Ever Wanted"<<
"Long Shot" - Kelly Clarkson
Click Here To Download >>From "All I Ever Wanted"<<
"Impossible" - Kelly Clarkson
Click Here To Download * >>From "All I Ever Wanted"<<
"Speed Of Light - Laze & Loyal (Prod. By Timbaland)
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"Whatever" - Young Buck
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"Oh My" (Ft. Lil Wayne) - Ya Boy
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"Topless" (Ft. T.I. & Nas) - Dr. Dre
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"I Am Hip Hop" - T.I.
Click Here To Download *
"Shit Popped Off" - T.I.
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Do What It Do (Ft. R. Kelly) - 50 Cent
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"Stanky Leg" (Ft. Trina) - BS Boyz
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"Blame It" (Remix) - Rick Ross
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Tune In
So every Tuesday night I listen to two of my friends college internet radio stations.
The first one is "The MadDog & K-Dizzle Show" from St. Lawrence University from 8PM-10PM
I would describe the show as "Completely Random but in a good way" I love the Cuts, and the great vinyl collection and you can tell they are have a great time on the air!!!
http://students.stlawu.edu/kslu
The second is
Tigran's Electronic show...Him and his friends Drop House/Electro/Trance, and Rant about dumb but funny stuff for 2 hours. From 11PM-1AM
www.wdce.org
Monday, March 2, 2009
Design Spotlight: Kate Moross
I recently came across these beautiful records designed by Kate Moross, as a collector of Vinyl I really appreciate the physicality and design of a record and I'm nostalgic to days before the MP3 when the design of a record was of greater importance.
I looked her up and learned that she is also the Creative Director for the Band "Simian Mobile Disco", has done work with the clothing brand Diesel and runs a design house out of London.
Check her out at: http://www.katemoross.com/
Narrowing your Surrogacy choices: Being too Picky
I recently talked with an IP and we were discussing some of the requirements of their mystery surrogate. One of the first things mentioned was that they, the IP's, wanted the woman to be close to where they were located so that they could be involved with the pregnancy and birth. That common request is understandable but impractical. When some IP's are losing control of everything in their reproductive life they try, by default, to make the surrogacy experience as close to the real thing as possible. In a perfect world the IP's surrogate would LIVE WITH THEM. The IM would cook and serve the nutritious meals to her. There wouldn't be a ghost of cigarette smoke or a car fume near their pregnant surrogate. She wouldn't have an ounce of stress and all her appointments would be chauffeured and attended by both the IP's. (I didn't say THIS was the Surrogates perfect world....) Reality is that IP's narrow their choices dramatically by looking for a surrogate in their home town. Yes, some can get lucky, but most should be more reasonable. If you have all the time in the world you might be able to wait and see what your agency will come up with in fulfilling that IP wish list. Knowing very well that not only is the request for location listed but also a woman willing to have a selective reduction. has her own health insurance, white (or black, or Hispanic or...), be experienced and have a BMI lower then 24, etc. Narrowing the choices and therefore expanding the time frame.
I encourage IP's to open the field! Say a woman in any surrogacy friendly state...CA, TX, FL, IL. If the IP's have relatives or friends in any of these states that may help with travel expense. Perhaps she will be willing to fly to your state for the birth...there are ways to communicate and be a part of the pregnancy experience when you are flexible and open minded. The important thing is to find someone you trust to carry your baby for you. Someone who fits all those other requirements both you, the IP, and the clinic has for this woman. Believe me, you will be matched faster and pregnant sooner if you put location last on your list.
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers,net
I encourage IP's to open the field! Say a woman in any surrogacy friendly state...CA, TX, FL, IL. If the IP's have relatives or friends in any of these states that may help with travel expense. Perhaps she will be willing to fly to your state for the birth...there are ways to communicate and be a part of the pregnancy experience when you are flexible and open minded. The important thing is to find someone you trust to carry your baby for you. Someone who fits all those other requirements both you, the IP, and the clinic has for this woman. Believe me, you will be matched faster and pregnant sooner if you put location last on your list.
Sharon
www.InfertilityAnswers,net
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