Starting Fresh | The August Voice

from Gay Parents To Be

Hi there,

Over the past few months as we’re all spending more time inside or with our screens, I’ve noticed so many new sign ups for The Voice. To everyone who has been reading for months, thank you for continuing to share in our community. To everyone who is new here, welcome! 👋

My name is Emma, and I’m the editor-in-chief of content here at Gay Parents To Be and RMA of Connecticut. I love hearing more about all of you, so I figured that I would share some more about myself. Here are a few facts about me:

1. I’ve worked with Gay Parents To Be and RMACT for almost 3 years. When I first started, my role involved helping LGBTQ patients learn more about family building and navigate the first few steps in their process. Now, I get to write blogs, plan our events, and make sure our site is up to date with all the latest information that you need to know. I love getting to meet new patients and hear your stories.

2. I graduated from Boston College (go Eagles), where I developed a fierce love for college hockey.

3. I have a very small cat named Rabbit, who is now my work-from-home coworker! She loves to read over my shoulder while I work on my laptop - see below.

4. I’m a classically trained violinist! I still love to play and teach lessons in my spare time.

5. I love spending time outside and at our local beaches, and am an avid (if not the fastest) runner 🏃

If you’re new to our community, or if you’ve been reading along for a while, feel free to respond to this email and say hello. I can’t wait to hear from you.

This month at Gay Parents To Be we’re taking some time to refocus 👓, and make sure that we’re giving you all the information that you need on LGBTQ family building and fertility - and that it’s easy to find on our website!

While we were doing that, we noticed that a few things needed an update. I promised to keep this information relevant and tailored to you, so I’ve separated it into a few topics below.  Please let me know if I’m missing anything, or if you think we could be doing something better on our site (or in this email!)

👩‍👩‍👧‍👦For Moms To Be

When a single female or same-sex LGBTQ couple wants to start their family, there are a few treatment options available to them. These include insemination, IVF, or even a shared pathway called reciprocal IVF. While these pathways are viable options for many moms-to-be, the best journey for you is going to be one that fits with your medical history and personal fertility — so it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor before moving forward with one path or another! Check out our new and improved page on fertility treatment options for moms to be here.

👨‍👨‍👧‍👦For Dads To Be

No matter how you slice it, surrogacy is an expensive process - I can’t lie about that. What I can do is be fully transparent about all the surrogacy costs you need to budget for, what might (and might not) be covered by insurance, and why the quotes you see on different websites seem to vary so much. We just updated our information on surrogacy costs, and we think it’s worth taking a look. 

Whether you’re wondering what’s included in that estimate, where you can go for financial assistance, or just looking to get some questions answered — we’ve got you covered.

p.s. Stay tuned for our comprehensive guide to the surrogacy process. Yup, all that info you need, in one convenient spot! We're pretty excited, too.

🌈For Everyone

Despite the fact that some of us are adjusting to our “new normal”, this is still a challenging time - not to mention if you’re dealing with the added stress of family building or fertility treatment. Let this serve as your daily reminder that you are amazing - and that you’re not alone. In the words of Dr. L, try to:

“convert those anxious feelings into hope for the future. Know that we will get through this as a global community; I hope that this time makes us realize that we truly are all connected" ❤️

Check out some more tips on coping during COVID-19 as a member of the LGBTQ community here.

And if you’re a parent-to-be trying to find your tribe, I might have just the group for you. My colleague and patient advocate, Lisa Rosenthal, wrote this blog about the magic of LGBTQ parenting support groups. She should know, as she’s one of the facilitators of our bi-weekly group for LGBTQ parents-to-be. Read more about it in her own words, or sign up for the group in the section below.👇

 🗓️ It's a Date!

🍎Lunch With Lisas

In this first Instagram Live installment, Lisas Rosenthal and Schuman will be discussing a hot button topic: what to do with embryos after your family building journey feels complete. Learn more here. 

🌈💜LGBTQ Parenting Support Group

This is the group I mentioned above! It’s open to any parents-to-be in search of a little support, and meets virtually every other Tuesday evening. Sign up for one date, or a few, here.

👶Surrogacy Webinar

This event is geared towards dads-to-be looking to learn more about the IVF and surrogacy process. Learn more about picking your donor, connecting with your surrogate, and the people who will help you make that all possible. Sign up now to reserve your spot!

 That's All, For Now 👋

As always, if you think of something more that you want to see here, on our site, or on our platforms, you can respond to this email or drop me a line directly at emma@gayparentstobe.com 💌

🌈Emma - Editor-In-Chief,

Gay Parents To Be

She/her/hers