Making Surrogacy Mock Cycles Suck Less

Surrogacy mock cycles are the coolest!

OK, not really.

Let’s step back and define this whole mock cycle talk. What is it exactly and why is it necessary?

We had one last hurtle before we could get the “all clear” to move forward with our potential surrogacy. Which in our case, was for Kanga to subject herself to some awesome hormones and hop on the crazy train of infertility meds for the sake of just in-case-ies. God bless this woman.

In the past, I have done a mock transfer before which is kind of a run of show of your IVF transfer without meds and embies, a month prior to an IVF cycle. An empty catheter goes in, the RE checks and measures the path for the future transfer and that’s about it. Nothing exciting to report.

In a surrogacy mock cycle (not a mock transfer ) things are a little different.

If the surrogate and IM are syncing cycles together (which will not be the case for us) both women will have to take some, not all of the cycle medications depending on the RE’s individual recommendation. In our case, the only medications Kanga had to take was estrogen patches and the dreaded PIO (progesterone in oil). The RE will monitor hormone levels, uterine lining and if he is feeling froggy they may toss in a hydro sonogram and a endometrial biopsy.

Kanga was a badass throughout this whole process. Hormones stimulations, pio shots and all she handled it with grace. The word “grace” and fertility meds are never in the same sentence together so that should tell you something. She maybe flinched a little, during the endometrial biopsy, otherwise you would have never thought she was phased, not one bit. Endometrial biopsy’s are not for the weak. I have had a lot in the past and frankly they hurt like hell and my eye is twitchy just thinking about them.

Like I said my surrogate, just like our last one was, is a BAD-ASS. I think there is a badass gene thread in the DNA of all surrogates.

Back to mock cycles, a day or two before an egg retrieval would normally take place, the RE will analyze the overall response, and say, “OK, are you ladies ready to make a baby!?” Then, you stop all medications and then when everyone is ready you start the process … for “realsies” this time.

I wanted to make sure Kanga had everything she needed for her mock cycle since she would be starting medications and well, that is pretty darn stressful. Surrogacy is such a deep act of kindness. There will literally be no gift that can ever top one of helping an infertile couple have a child. BUT I can try to make this process as less sucky as possible! I put together a “Mock Cycle Survivor Kit” for Kanga packed with all kinds of fun things she would need to start her medications.

 I picked out a few goodies I knew she may need

Here’s the breakdown of said goodies:

1. A travel hanging make-up bag to hang on the door and help store the medications.
2. Unicorn Leggings, because everyone needs those.
3. Cotton balls and Neutrogena Sesame oil. This is a must. Are you writing this down? A MUST. This will help remove the estrogen patches with ease and prevent her stomach looking like a sticky mess.
4. Pomegranate and Raspberry hot tea. Relax… and have a cup.
5. A movie. I went with the Storks since it just made sense but if anyone knows of any good Kangaroo movies HOLLA…
6. A calendar/planner
7. Remember what I said before about endometrial biopsy’s?
8. Hand sanitizer
9. Items to help promote relaxing and pampering. I went with fun face masks and chocolate!
10. Band-Aids. LOTS of Band-Aids. Make it fun. My goal in life is to find ridiculous Band-Aids but I was in a pinch for time so Chewbacca, Elsa and flowers had to do.

Of course every cycle needs something to hold the ridiculous amounts of medications and vitamins. I used a hanging make-up bag, complete with in-depth instructions.

Toss it all together in a fun basket and BAM! That folks, is a mock cycle gift basket for your amazing future surrogate. What items do you think would have made good additions? Would love to hear more ideas so…comment below!

For those who want to keep insta-tabs on our surrogacy journey for hash-tagy purposes check out #KangaKapers on Instagram. If you want a little more than just a blog post here and there or have questions, comments or witty quips to share with us, toss an email our way or stop by our Facebook page   for some  #IF encouragement.