Tuesday, December 28, 2010

What Comes Next?

I've been thinking that if any of you are anything like me, you probably had never heard about embryo adoption before we mentioned it. So, I figured I'd write a little blogpost and kind of give you an idea of what the next steps will be for us. :)

Right now, we're still technically in the application phase with Nightlight, though we have been accepted by them. This is because they need our home study report and a few other documents before our file can be considered complete. So, we are working to get the home study finished up (should be sometime in Jan) and get the other documents together.

One of the documents we're working on is called a family profile. This document is sent out to prospective families to give them a peek into our world and see whether we match their preferences for their embryos' adoptive parents. So, it's kind of an important document. :) We're probably a quarter to a third of the way through that so far.

After all of the above documents are with the agency, we will have a pre-matching interview with a social worker from Nightlight, just to clarify exactly what we're looking for in genetic parents and our preferences for future contact with them.

Next comes what is called the "matching phase", which entails our profile being sent out to prospective families. This phase can involve a lot of waiting. It just kinda depends on the genetic families and their preferences as to how quickly you are chosen.

After a genetic family chooses us, we receive a bunch of info about them, including detailed medical history, info about the embryos themselves, and their family profile. We get to decide whether they are a match for us.

If we choose them, then we begin signing contracts that solidify the adoption!! :D

Next, travel is arranged for the embryos from the genetic family's fertility clinic to our clinic.

And...finally...the most exciting stage: frozen embryo transfer (FET): where the embryos (up to 3) are transferred to me and Lord-willing, I become pregnant! :D

Nightlight estimates that the whole process should take 5-13 months from start to finish, with it being on the lower end of that timeframe if you're not picky (which we aren't). So, who knows ~ this time next year we could have a baby in our arms! :D

2 comments:

  1. Beka,
    I am so excited for you. I've read up a little bit on snowflake babies. I was curious if the agency has told you what the success rate is for implantation. If it fails the first time what is the procedure for a second implantation and does the adoption cost provide for more than one implantation. If this is too much to answer on the blog please email me. Thanks!

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  2. The agency has a success rate of about 56%, while the national average is about 51%. (This sounds low, but when compared with a woman's natural chances of getting pregnant each month, these numbers are actually high.)

    You can have up to three embryos implanted at any one time. If none of them result in pregnancy, and there are still leftover embryos, you are able to try again, you just pay the fertility clinic costs for the procedure. And, if you do not achieve pregnancy with any of the embryos, you do have the option to be rematched with a different family for an additional fee.

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