Early Motherhood

What is a gestational carrier?
Whether you set it up through an agency or as an independent adoption, or negotiate it privately, using a gestational carrier is an emotionally intense and legally complex arrangement that involves having another woman carry and deliver your baby for you. It’s officially recognized in only a handful of states and is still illegal in others. The process can require vast amounts of time, money, and patience to succeed.

Is surrogacy for you?
Using a gestational carrier may be the best choice for you if you’re unable to conceive because your uterus is irregular or missing or if various other fertility treatments have failed.

The pressure to raise a family can be enormous, and the thought of not being able to can make many people feel something is wrong with them. We talked to respected psychologists who work with couples with fertility problems to find out which coping strategies really work.

Recognize that a fertility problem is a crisis. A fertility problem may be one of the most difficult things you’ll ever face. Acknowledging this is a key to coping, says Kate Marosek, who’s counseled couples with fertility problems in the Washington, D.C., area for more than ten years. “It’s normal to feel a monumental sense of loss, to feel stressed, sad, or overwhelmed. Don’t chastise yourself for feeling these ways.” Facing and accepting your emotions can help you move beyond them.

Could I have a fertility problem?
If you’re under 35 and have been trying to get pregnant for less than a year (or fewer than six months if you’re over 35), you have no reason to be concerned yet. To make sure you’re doing all you can to enhance your chances of getting pregnant, see our articles on the importance of timing intercourse, detecting ovulation, and tracking your basal body temperature and cervical mucus.

Source: Management of the Infertile Woman by Helen A. Carcio and The Fertility Sourcebook by M. Sara Rosenthal

Both of the above line graphs are for women with normal reproductive function.