Adopting a baby in the United States can be expensive. Typically, it can cost anywhere between $15,000 and $70,000, depending on what type of adoption you choose to pursue. There are, however, some ways that hopeful parents can save money when pursuing adoption to grow their family.  The different types of adoption Before we dive into the more affordable vs. less affordable paths when it comes to adoption, we’ll share a brief overview of each option. Choosing the one that is right for you will be the first step of your adoption journey.  Foster care adoption...

Same-sex couples, individuals pursuing parenthood on their own, or couples facing severe male-factor infertility, may consider using donor sperm as an option for growing their family. You can use donor sperm from a vetted sperm bank or someone you already know. Opting for donor sperm from a sperm bank may be the right move for people who want access to well-screened samples and who don’t want to navigate the complexities of leaning on a friend or loved one. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are two common ways to use donor sperm to try...

I’ve spent the past decade covering reproductive health, and here’s what I’ve noticed during that time: Celebrities have been a real force in the normalization and de-stigmatization of fertility issues.  Every time a star opens up about a miscarriage or tells their fertility story, it moves the mission of removing the shame from these issues forward. And that’s powerful. It’s also complicated. Because while speaking out about reproductive issues and sharing personal stories does so much for the greater good — especially when a person with a big platform does it — no one needs to...

If you’re considering adopting a child and feeling overwhelmed about deciding which type of adoption is right for you, I get it; I’ve been there. I spent countless hours Googling, trying to figure it all out. There were many times when I felt incredibly frustrated with the process. If you’re feeling the same way, read on.  Breaking down the four different types of adoption To help you narrow it down, let's first focus on the four different types of adoption and then transition into the questions you should ask yourself when considering adopting.  Embryo donation There...

Hoisting carry-ons into overhead bins, I peered between my up-stretched arms. My two young sons played in their seats. Here was the picture of everything I’d prayed for ⁠— the children for whose births I’d emotionally labored through fertility treatments, and our one-way airline tickets back to Atlanta after five years living in Israel. The heartening sight totally contrasted with a discomfiting, cold emptiness. I swallowed hard and told myself my yearning for a third was foolish. Thinking of repeating fertility treatment wearied me. At home in Atlanta, however, the desire only strengthened. After five additional years...

If you asked a group of people affected by infertility to describe what it feels like, I imagine the word “isolating” would come up…a lot.  Even in 2024, when we are so much more aware of fertility issues than we’ve ever been before, when so many people are candidly opening up their own experiences, when communities devoted to the “infertility club” are forming online and IRL, the experience can still feel so deeply lonely. Part of that is because, while there are universal elements at work, everyone’s journey is so, so different. There is no roadmap....

My journey to motherhood began in 2016 when I became pregnant with my son, Luke. I was fortunate to conceive easily and have a smooth pregnancy, until 21 weeks.  On Christmas Eve morning, I began bleeding, and we rushed to the hospital.  Our unimaginable pregnancy loss  I delivered our son, Luke, on Christmas morning at nearly 22 weeks gestation. To this day, we are unsure if the loss was due to an incompetent cervix, preterm labor, or a bit of both. Several weeks later, I was hemorrhaging and it turned out that I had retained placenta,...

For the 10 to 20% of pregnancies that end in miscarriage, the loss is compounded when there are more people involved in the journey toward becoming parents. And when assisted reproductive technology is part of that journey, there may be an increased risk of early miscarriage. When a gestational carrier experiences pregnancy loss, it’s a devastating period of time for both the surrogate and the intended parents. This can make the web of grief and coping with the loss even more complex for all parties.  Lynetta Cuomo, a surrogate with the agency SurrogateFirst, had three of...

There are so many different ways to have a family, and it is totally worth it, but it is definitely an endeavor that requires budgeting. Giving birth in a hospital is covered by health insurance, if you have it, but it still may require close to $3,000 out of pocket. Working with a surrogate or assisted reproductive technology, such as IVF, averages about $12,400 per cycle without financial assistance (and multiple cycles are often necessary for pregnancy).  Another family-building option is adoption—and there are multiple routes you can take within adoption, including a public adoption, a...

A fertility journey can involve many steps between you and your future baby. Some are in your control, some aren’t, but all usually provide a certain amount of information. PGT-A testing is one way to gain valuable knowledge to help you move forward on your path to parenthood. It can be especially helpful for couples trying to build their families who have experienced prior losses, want to decrease the time to pregnancy, increase chances of success, or are over age 35.  The team at Genomic Prediction, who created the LifeView testing platform, has studied and continues...