7 Reasons Why We Love "Men Having Babies"
Jennifer Allen, CEO/Director of JA Surrogacy Consulting, and Nici Shipway, Lead Support Worker of JA Surrogacy Consulting, at the Men Having Babies conference in Brussels, Belgium.
By Sogol Sadrmajles
Our bags were packed and after several weeks of waiting we had finally arrived in Brussels, Belgium, for the much-anticipated, Men Having Babies (MHB) conference.
MHB conferences are geared towards the LGBTQ community and offer many wonderful resources for anyone considering surrogacy as an option to grow their family. For the JA Surrogacy team, it was an opportunity to connect face to face with many other affiliates we had already been working closely with. It was also a great chance to support our partners in the LGBTQ community. Though we are newer to the industry, we were pleasantly surprised by how many other professionals had already learned about our agency. Positive news spreads quickly and clinics, professionals, and other agencies were eager to connect and collaborate. We felt so fortunate for the warm welcome.
Here are 7 reasons why we love MHB, their conference and all they have to offer:
1. Dedicated Professionals.
The MHB team is amazing. Their network is filled with knowledgeable professionals that are eager to answer questions anyone may have about the process. We were so happy to connect with Ron, Shelley, and Sherman on the MHB team. The event is busy with so many hopeful intended parents in attendance, but the MHB team was still able to accommodate, providing support and a chance to connect.
2. Detailed Information.
From books, to guides, to fertility doctors and lawyers, the conference was an encyclopedia of information on surrogacy. As someone who was has been in the field for many years, I happily soaked up the material. Definitions, diagrams, tables, and charts, all clearly explaining the routes of surrogacy. Perfect for a novice navigating the waters of surrogacy for the first time.
3. Informed Discussion.
The MHB conference was packed with community leaders, speakers, and panelists in the realm of surrogacy. Toronto native, Jan Silverman (Ph. D., CReATe Fertility Centre) and Professor Henny Boss from the Netherlands (Professor, University of Amsterdam) drove home the importance of clear lines of communication with all parties; surrogate, intended parent(s), and surrogacy agency. Expert insight on the medical aspects of surrogacy were also provided by Dr. Said Daneshmand (M.D., F.A.C.O.G., San Diego Fertility Center).
Sogol Sadrmajles, Project Manager of JA Surrogacy Consulting, at the Men Having Babies conference in Brussels, Belgium.
4. Comradery.
Sadly, there are some third parties that hold negative views towards intended parents in the LGBTQ community. Fortunately, the MHB space is inclusive and safe. At the conference I felt a sense of safety and belonging. There is a comradery amongst the attendees, knowing that we are all there for the same purpose, to build families. MHB not only supports LGBTQ intended parents, it also supports the reproductive rights of surrogate mothers internationally.
5. Accommodations.
It did not take long to see the tremendous effort that was made by the MHB team to ensure that all persons were supported. Attendees were given translation devices, wirelessly connected with translators who diligently translated the keynote speakers. Accommodating their audience in such a way allowed everyone to participate and hear what the incredible speakers had to say.
6. Resources, Resources, Resources!
Impromptu consultations with industry leaders are the norm at MHB (when was the last time you could ask the CEO of an organization any questions you needed answered?). The MHB team did a great job facilitating discussions and the professionals in attendance were extremely supportive and eager to listen to concerns and provide guidance. Regardless of where anyone was at in their journey, or what their next step was to be, there was someone available to support them. Whether it was connecting with potential egg donors, getting your embryos PGS tested or considering your delivery options, if you needed information a professional was there to help.
7. FUN!
The MHB team knows how to make an event more than just a conference but a social gathering too. Making babies is hard work, and it was great to see people enjoying themselves. A quick walk from the conference, and over to the friendly bars in the gay village- there were intended parents having drinks with field professionals. Past attendees, now parents (that had the night off from their toddlers) took the opportunity to mingle with hopeful new intended parents and share with them their own journeys with surrogacy.
At JA Surrogacy we feel so fortunate to do the hard work we love. Building families through the gift of surrogacy is a joy we take pride in every day! We look forward to continuing to support the LGBTQ community in reaching their dreams of parenthood. We enjoy having an individualistic approach to the care we provide our surrogates and intended parents. Our network is geared to provide continuous support and lasting relationships, welcome to our village.