Annette was kind enough to let us interview her about what it was like to be pregnant and deliver during the height of COVID-19 and if that was not enough, to manage a pregnancy complication named Vasa Previa.
Here is the first article that will give you an idea of what makes Annette the special gal she truly is:
In the past few years, I saw my best friend and her husband struggle to conceive. I approached them and offered my help. Then a miracle happened, 6 siblings needed a home so they went from a family of 2 to 8 overnight! Their family was complete. But for me, the feeling of helping someone was still in my heart. Then I met Yolanda, a coworker, and she had just started her first surrogacy journey. I was intrigued and quickly became excited as I knew this was the way I could help a family grow. Next stop, I’m cleared to be a Surrogate Mom!! Randi told me about a single dad who wanted to give his daughter a sibling. I’m a single mom so I understood his reason perfectly.
Meeting the Intended Father was nice. He had such a welcoming and appreciative presence. I immediately felt comfortable with him as he talked about his daughter and life in Spain. He also shared with me that he already had 2 failed attempts with another Surrogate Mom and this would be his last embryo. I have to admit, I was so nervous. I didn’t want him to experience that again. When I arrived to the clinic for the embryo transfer, I was a nervous wreck. So many thoughts were going through my mind! But then I saw Shannon and she eased my mind right away. She explained the process in such detail that my fears went away. Of course, the 2-week wait felt like 2 months, but it didn’t matter. The test was positive!!!
I decided right then that I would only have a positive mindset. No more worries, I could handle any obstacle that came my way. The first heartbeat ultrasound was incredible. It is hard to believe what you can see and hear so early in the pregnancy. I made sure that the Intended Father could see his son at every ultrasound and watch him grow. Sharing those moments with him over Skype was priceless.
