Amy’s Story: Having a second child through egg donation

Written by: admin | Posted: September 15, 2020

As an egg donor, have you ever wondered about the lasting impact you can have by helping to create a family? Like so many intended parents, Amy Huston and her husband, Evan, are grateful for the egg donor who helped them expand their family and provide a sibling for their son.

Amy has a heart condition that prevents her from safely carrying a pregnancy, so she and Evan used gestational carriers (or surrogates) for both of their children – Eli, age four, and Hallie, age one. Eli was conceived after three rounds of invitro fertilization using Amy’s eggs while Hallie was conceived with the help of a donor.

Deciding to use an egg donor

Because of Amy’s health condition, extra precautions had to be taken during her egg retrievals, like having them done in an operating room instead of a fertility clinic. And as Amy explains, she “never got great results” with any of her retrievals.

When Eli was six months old, Amy and Evan decided to try for a second child. They transferred their last remaining frozen embryo with a surrogate, but it didn’t take. “After that, we decided to use an egg donor for our next attempt to have another baby,” Amy says.

Will I love them the same?

For intended parents who already have a biological child or children, it can add another layer of complexity to the process of having a child via egg donation. Questions like “Will I compare him or her to my biological child?” or “Will I love a non-biological child the same?” may come to mind.

“It’s hard when you first learn that an egg donor is your best option, but over time, you come to realize what an incredible option it is,” Amy says. “Any reservations you have about loving a child – you don’t have to worry because you will.  Once that child is here, you get to just be a family. You’re that child’s parent, and it’s wonderful.”

Amy adds that she loves Eli and Hallie “equally but differently” because of who they are as individuals. “They are each their own unique person that we are getting to know,” she says.

The role of nurture

Some of her children’s traits can be attributed to genetics, like Eli’s resemblance to Amy and Evan and Hallie’s personality, which Amy describes by saying, “She’s a firecracker!” Noting that it’s not a trait Hallie gets from her or Evan, Amy says that she would love to ask her donor if she was as fiery as Hallie as a child.

There are other characteristics that are a reflection of how Amy nurtures her children and the values she and Evan are instilling in them. For example, as a speech pathologist, Amy has been focused on helping her children develop language skills from an early age – something Hallie has been able to pick up quickly. “She’s very language driven,” Amy says. “It amazes me what a good communicator she is at just a year old.”

Amy also describes how Hallie has embraced her parent’s love of the beach, which is evident during the family’s trips to the ocean. “She loves it,” Amy says. “It’s neat to see how some of the things we have purposefully put into Hallie’s life are things she enjoys and are shaping her into the person she will become.”

Grateful for her “miracle” children

Whenever Amy’s mom calls to ask about Eli and Hallie, she always says, “How are your miracle children?” And as Amy explains, “They really are little miracles.”

She adds, “It’s amazing that we were able to have both of our children. It was with the help of a lot of people, and I’m so grateful that there are people who are willing to help others have a family.”

Could you help intended parents like Amy and Evan have a child? We are thankful for all our donors at Egg Donors Solutions who are helping to create happy families! If you are a donor who is currently waiting to be matched, check out our tips for getting selected as an egg donor. Or, If you have considered becoming an egg donor and would like more information, you can review our egg donor criteria and frequently asked questions. You may also contact us directly at donor@eggdonorsolutions.com, and we would be happy to answer any questions.

Rewards of being an egg donor

Written by: Barette Best | Posted: August 21, 2020

If a couple is unable to build or expand their family in the ways that they hoped; they need the help of someone else. This couple is searching for the right method to fit their fertility needs.

There are so many benefits to being an egg donor. It isn’t easy to be the donor. It is time consuming and at times can require you to rearrange your schedule to meet the needs of the egg donation cycle. However, there are some amazing rewards to being an egg donor.

Being a donor has many benefits that may not be realized from the beginning.

• Your donation benefits the intended parents and the potential child. It may seem obvious but to the intended parents that you are a hero. The egg donor is the one to make their desire to have a healthy child in their lives come true. You are amazing!!

• As an egg donor, you will help to create a mom, dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins. As an egg donor, you are helping to make dreams come true & create a family. The child will be able to have parents that will love and raise it, the child will also know that they were loved and chosen because his or her parents went through a lot of heartache to conceive.  

• You are offering the greatest act of giving. All over the world there are infertile couples that are finding it hard to eliminate their fertility issues. 15% of couples are infertile and search for options to help them have a family. The egg donor gets to be that gift for the couple, allowing them the ability to have a family. This is one of the most trusting and noble things that any woman can do, giving your egg to another to have a child they would otherwise not have. You will forever be a part of that family’s story.

• There are selfish benefits as well. It may seem selfish to think of the benefits that are only yours. It is generous to become an egg donor and you will be remembered by the couple forever, however you will be compensated by participating in an egg donation cycle. An individual will be compensated anywhere from $7,000 to $14,000 for their time and commitment. 
• Another benefit is that of the egg will often be screened medically to qualify for the process and it can help a donor learn more about themselves and their genetic makeup. You will learn if you are a carrier of any genetic mutation, you will learn about your own genetic health.  Lastly, you are doing something not many would do. You are selflessly helping to create a family & that is amazing. We are so thankful for you & so very proud of you!

No matter the circumstances that have caused you to decide to be an egg donor, never forget that you are doing one of the most selfless things another person can give an infertile couple.

As a donor you will not only be giving a child the ability to grow healthy, happy, and loved. You are also offering an infertile couple a chance that they may never have gotten another way. If you are interested in learning more about the rewards of being an egg donor we encourage you to contact the caring staff at Egg Donor Solutions. We also invite you to share with your friends. There are so many couples waiting for someone like you to help them!

Is Egg Donation right for you?

Written by: Barette Best | Posted: August 14, 2020

Egg donation is not a simple scenario. There are still considerations you need to think about and possibly discuss with your significant other or close friends before deciding if donating is right for you.

Woman must bear in mind that egg donation requires thorough decision process for the sake of the future undertakings she might encounter, may it be beneficial or not. Before getting involved in the process of egg donation, you need to be conscious about these things. Mental preparedness, educate yourself, deliberate within yourself the consequences you might bump into after several years.

Most cycles are unidentified, so you will never learn or know the child that was conceived out of your donated eggs. It is helpful to be in a stable environment with supportive family and friends near by.

Physical preparedness, it is best to be active and live a healthy lifestyle. These requirements include the physical preparation of a woman for the donation process. Women, who have incurred mental or health problems are advised not to go through the egg donation process. In order to be eligible in the process, you need to refrain from sexual activity, drinking alcohols, doing drugs, and certain medications. If you can do these things, it will help to ensure you’re physically prepared before plunging into an egg donation cycle.

What to expect? A physical similarity is a reflection for a family or couple in choosing the egg donor. Donors are picked based from her physical profile pictures, and videos. You will undergo injections once or twice a day for your preparation.

You will also be undergoing blood draws and ultrasounds regularly to monitor your response to the medications. It is also very helpful to have a flexible schedule & childcare arrangements, if you have children, because there will be several doctors appointments to take place prior to the actual egg retrieval.

One benefit of becoming an egg donor, is you get to learn about your own genetics and fertility health. You learn your genetic make up and if you could potentially be a carrier for any genetic mutations, some of which are common and others can be more of a significant concern. The retrieval is a simple surgery under sedation will be done after ten-twenty days to retrieve the eggs.

There are basic risks associated with surgery and we recommend you research these to feel confident in your decision. We are available anytime to dicuss in questions, concerns in detail that you may have. Most donors however return to their normal activities one day after the retrieval procedure.

There is no out of pocket expense to you through the process. After the entire process of egg donation, your compensation will be available. Donors use this extra income in all different ways from buying cars, homes, paying of student loans, paying for weddings or taking lavish trips. .If you decide to travel as an egg donor, we cover those expenses as well. Many of our donors prefer to travel and explore new cities as a donor, they also get to bring a travel companion.