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Anna and Nathan
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<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large">OUR STORY</h2> </div>
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<div class="bb-theme-elementor-wrap bb-elementor-custom-family bb-elementor-custom-size bb-elementor-custom-line-height"> <p>We met in London for tea and <strong><b>instantly connected</b></strong>, talking for four hours about our future dreams for a closeknit family, our love for good food, and what we want in a <strong><b>marriage</b></strong>. The lengthy deep conversations meant for a quite intense first date, so Nathan then proposed we counterbalance by going for <strong><b>pizza and rock climbing</b></strong> our next date. After <strong><b>lots of laughs</b></strong> at our rock climbing abilities, it was clear we could not only have in-depth hard conversations on a shared life vision, but we could <strong><b>also just have fun</b></strong> together! We were <strong><b>engaged</b></strong> within a year at the beautiful park we loved to take long walks in. In 2020, Anna signed us up to get a dog, Ralphie, who sent us on even more long walks through that park! We spent a year wedding-planning and had the best time <strong><b>celebrating with our friends and family</b></strong> and dancing til the hotel kicked us out in June 2021. While we loved living in London, we decided we wanted to start our family close to family to have a <strong><b>stronger support system</b></strong> around us. We moved to Denver, CO just 2 blocks down from my parents, who shower Olivia with homemade fruit puree (toddler liquid gold) <strong><b>and hugs</b></strong>. We are grateful to have both my parents healthy and involved with Olivia day-to-day. We are also very grateful that our jobs allow us to work from home 4x days a week, so we have lunch and dinner with Olivia almost every day! The remote schedule also allowed me to exclusively nurse Olivia until 16 months, which I hope to continue as we grow our family.</p> </div> </div>
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<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large">Our Interests</h2> </div>
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<div class="bb-theme-elementor-wrap bb-elementor-custom-color bb-elementor-custom-family bb-elementor-custom-size"> <p>We are both very <strong><b>passionate</b></strong> about food and nutrition! We aim to eat as unprocessed & organic as possible and source from nearby family farms. We source raw milk & yogurt from a nearby farm that we pickup every Tuesday. We grind our own wheat and coffee beans in-house. We go as a family to <strong><b>stock up at the farmer’s market</b></strong> every Saturday, where Olivia loves getting her whipped frozen banana as a <strong><b>treat</b></strong>. Nathan is an <strong><b>amazing chef</b></strong>, cooking dinners and Anna likes whipping up a dessert with Olivia helping to <strong><b>“STIR!!”.</b></strong> Anna’s dad is even more passionate and dehydrates seasonal fruit leathers and freezes fruit purees to last us through winter, which Olivia looks forward to having each day with yogurt! Outside of our shared interest around food, Nathan enjoys playing tennis, lifting weights, and listening to music! Anna enjoys yoga, Pilates and cycling!</p> </div> </div>
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<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large">What led us to Surrogacy</h2> </div>
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<div class="bb-theme-elementor-wrap bb-elementor-custom-family bb-elementor-custom-size bb-elementor-custom-line-height"> <p>Unfortunately, I suffered from <strong><b>severe</b></strong> hypermesis gravidarum (HG) my first pregnancy. I could not hold down food or water, vomiting 15+ times a day until about 7 months pregnant, at which point it calmed down into more “morning sickness” (only sick a few times in the morning). I was <strong><b>unable to properly nourish</b></strong> and grow my baby girl, Olivia. We had growth scans as I struggled to keep food down to grow her sufficiently week to week. We are so grateful that Olivia’s only visible complications is hemangiomas (condition linked to low birth weight, but that she should outgrow by 5-10). I was also unable to nourish myself, resulting in <strong><b>severe</b></strong> anemia and abnormal blood results. Due to the anemia, I had severe <strong><b>postpartum hemorrhage</b></strong> and lost over 2000ml of blood (severe defined as over 1000ml of blood). HG has now been proven to be <strong><b>genetically linked</b></strong> due to variations the gene for the GDF15 hormone. My mom and grandma both also suffered from hypermesis graviduram, both hospitalized during their pregnancies as well. Given the discovery of the genetic link, it is <strong><b>very unlikely</b></strong> I am able to have a healthy pregnancy without HG impacting my baby’s growth and my nutrition.</p> </div> </div>
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<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large">Our Hopes & Dreams for Our Future Child</h2> </div>
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<div class="bb-theme-elementor-wrap bb-elementor-custom-family bb-elementor-custom-size bb-elementor-custom-line-height"> <p>We hope to raise a <strong><b>strong and independent</b></strong> thinker. We hope our future child <strong><b>prioritizes family</b></strong> above all and finds a <strong><b>fulfilling</b></strong> way to contribute to the world. We hope our future child is healthy and nourishes their body every day</p> </div> </div>
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<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large">FAMILY TRADITIONS AND VALUES</h2> </div>
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<div class="bb-theme-elementor-wrap bb-elementor-custom-color bb-elementor-custom-family bb-elementor-custom-size"> <p>Anna’s family grew up singing “<strong><b>The Lord is good to me</b></strong>” before every dinner, and we have loved continuing this <strong><b>tradition</b></strong> with Olivia. Olivia loves <strong><b>singing</b></strong> and <strong><b>dancing</b></strong>, and we always end the evening before her bedtime with a <strong><b>10 minute dance party</b></strong> of the 3 of us. Her favorite dancing song is “<strong><b>Biddy Biddy</b></strong>” by Music Together right now:) Anna’s family also has a lot of traditions around the holidays: Easter and Christmas. It’s a lot of fun reunited with the extended family and seeing all the cousins!</p> </div> </div>
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<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large">About Our Family</h2> </div>
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<div class="bb-theme-elementor-wrap bb-elementor-custom-color bb-elementor-custom-family bb-elementor-custom-size"> <p>Our family is <strong><b>goofy</b></strong> and fun, but <strong><b>very intentional</b></strong>. We strive to be intentional every day in how we eat, what we say, and how we <strong><b>role model values</b></strong> for Olivia. We aim to always treat everyone with respect and <strong><b>love</b></strong>, and always assume good intentions. Nathan is the most <strong><b>kind</b></strong>, calm, and <strong><b>respectful</b></strong> man. Nathan is incredibly responsible and takes <strong><b>amazing care of the family</b></strong> and ensures we always have what we need and more. Anna works hard, but is more <strong><b>free-spirited</b></strong> and always planning a fun activity or outing for the 3 of us. Olivia is such a <strong><b>happy</b></strong> and sweet girl, and we look forward to her having a <strong><b>sibling</b></strong> to play with! We <strong><b>believe </b></strong>life is meant to be lived and enjoyed to the <strong><b>fullest</b></strong>! We have fun <strong><b>every day</b></strong>, whether it’s a walk around the neighborhood, doing puzzles together, playing hide and seek, or baking brownies. Life truly is about the journey and finding the <strong><b>joy</b></strong> in the everyday, and Olivia gives us such happy moments every day, whether it’s learning a new word or giving us <strong><b>hugs!</b></strong></p> </div> </div>
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<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large">What we are looking for in a Match</h2> </div>
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<div class="bb-theme-elementor-wrap bb-elementor-custom-color bb-elementor-custom-family bb-elementor-custom-size"> <p>We’d love a <strong><b>close relationship</b></strong>, as the GC is comfortable! Pregnancy is always such a journey, and we would love to be as <strong><b>involved</b></strong> as the GC wants us to be. We definitely want to either video call or fly in for doctor appointments (depending on location of GC). I’d love to know how I can support her and provide gifts/teas/care packages/massages throughout her journey so she <strong><b>feels our deep gratitude</b></strong> and appreciation! I would <strong><b>love</b></strong> to be there during the birth if our relationship is close, but I also understand what an intense moment this is and that privacy may be the GC preference. <br />Post-birth, we would love to keep in touch / send Christmas cards / etc. if the GC is open to this, but will respect the GC preferences.</p> </div> </div>
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<h2 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large">Extra Information</h2> </div>
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<div class="bb-theme-elementor-wrap bb-elementor-custom-color bb-elementor-custom-family bb-elementor-custom-size"> <ul><li><p class="cvgsua"><span class="oypena"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">Names:</span></b></span><span class="oypena"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> Anna & Nathan</span></span></p></li><li><p class="cvgsua"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"><span class="oypena"><b>Location: </b>Millburn, NJ</span></span></p></li><li><p class="cvgsua"><span class="oypena"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">Number of Embryos:</span></b></span><span class="oypena"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> 8 PGS Tested</span></span></p></li><li><p class="cvgsua"><span class="oypena"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">Agency/Management Team:</span></b></span><span class="oypena"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> The Biggest Ask</span></span></p></li><li><p class="cvgsua"><span class="oypena"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">Fertility Clinic:</span></b></span><span class="oypena"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> CCRM Denver</span></span></p></li><li><p class="cvgsua"><span class="oypena"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">Surrogate Compensation:</span></b></span><span class="oypena"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt"> Medium/High</span></span></p></li><li><p class="cvgsua"><span class="oypena"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">Requirements: </span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt">Follows similar Christian values, willing to pump during early weeks after delivery, no prior psychotropic medication use for depression/anxiety, healthy lifestyle and organic eating preferred, no COVID vaccine or other vaccines in the last 12 months, ASRM guidelines</span></span></p></li></ul> </div> </div>
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<h3 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default">The Biggest Ask SaysThe American Society for Reproductive Medicine provides the following recommendations for evaluation of gestational carriers (i.e., many fertility clinics will require the following for their gestational carriers):
- Carried at least 1 child without complications
- Fewer than 3 deliveries via c-section
- Be within the ages of 21 and 45
- Body mass index in between 19 and 32
- No smoking, abusing drugs, alcohol or prescription medications
- Not receiving welfare, public housing or cash assistance from the government
- Has a stable home life with emotional and child care support
- No mental health conditions requiring the use of medications within the last 6 months (including depression)
- No criminal record
Watch the following video to review the Medical and Psychological Clearance procedures that surrogates must complete.
No one likes to talk about surrogate compensation, but it is an important factor in any surrogacy agreement. The following is how we classify high, medium and low compensation (excluding the value of any benefits). Many factors affect surrogate compensation including surrogate experience (e.g., has the woman been a surrogate before?), whether the surrogate is signed up with an agency and surrogate preferences.
- Low = surrogate compensation less than $30,000
- Medium = surrogate compensation between $30,000 and $45,000
- High = surrogate compensation greater than $45,000
You can learn more about how much surrogates get paid in our surrogacy guide’s module: “How much does surrogacy cost?”.
Could you be their surrogate?
If you're interested in learning more about Anna & Nathan, send us an email at bri@thebiggestask.com - subject line "Anna & Nathan".
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