This time of year traditionally means a break from our regular lives to rest and relax. But for many LGBTQ+ parents and parents-to-be, this is also the time we brace ourselves for dealing with ignorance and intrusive questions. How can queer parents navigate the unique social stress of the holidays? We have some ideas we hope will help.

Through multiple disappointing failed IUI and IVF cycles and the emotional roller coaster of fertility treatment, Malorie and Holli learned a lot about what it's really like to go through this process as an LGBTQ+ couple. In this blog, they share what they learned, how they navigated their journey and where they turned for support. 

One of the first questions that prospective patients ask when starting to learn about LGBTQ+ family-building is “How much is this all going to cost?” An important question - with a complex answer. When it comes to LGBTQ+ fertility and growing a family, there are so many amazing pathways to biological parenthood. Between IUI, IVF and surrogacy, as well as egg or sperm donation, the cost considerations are plenty.

We know that the finances of fertility and biological family building can be confusing - there's no denying it. Here at Gay Parents To Be, we’ve been working with patients, parents, and insurance companies for years, so we’ve taken our experience with benefits, finances, and open enrollment to give you an in-depth rundown of your options, the best questions to ask HR and your insurance company, and how to make the most of your coverage.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage...right? Well, not always! In this blog, parents-to-be Rosa and Jackie share their unique story, including their fertility journey and path to parenthood, as they await the arrival of their first baby together. 

In June, towns across the world celebrate the history of “Pride Month,” and we highlight LGBTQ icons from across history. The infamous Stonewall Riots that began June of 1969 have long been recognized as a catalyst for the gay rights movement as we know it today. But, who said education and celebration must stop in June?

Navigating any surrogacy journey is challenging, but what does it look like to embark on one during a global pandemic? In this blog, new dads Robbie and Mackenzy share what it was like to become parents during the COVID-19 crisis, how they maintained a connection with their gestational carrier long-distance and everything else they learned along the way. 

When any parent-to-be embarks on a family-building journey, the last thing they expect is the worst-case scenario. While most families understand there will be bumps in the road, the majority of them emerge from the process relatively unscathed. This is the story of one LGBTQ+ couple's experience growing their family and grieving the loss of the future they imagined.

Surrogacy allows those in a same-sex relationship to do something that wasn’t possible 40 years ago – have their own children. You've likely already explored the surrogacy process, and now you’ve ended up here, trying to determine why the surrogacy process costs so much. 

There are many moving parts to any surrogacy journey, but one that begins at the start of a global pandemic adds a whole new layer of challenges. Dads-to-be Doug and Sanjay found that out quickly after embarking on their first surrogacy experience in March of 2020. Based in the United Kingdom, with a fertility clinic and surrogacy agency located in the United States, they had to get creative and be flexible, especially during the ban on international travel.

While images of “traditional” pregnancy are always just a scroll away on social media, we’re still working on making LGBTQIA+ family building (in all its forms) visible and normalized. The more we see different experiences of family building on our feeds, the more that queer people will feel encouraged to pursue the path to parenthood that best works for them. Surrogacy is one of those important family-building options for the queer community.