Heart to Hands has parents waiting for YOU to make their dream come true!

Welcome Katherine Vandagrift, new Surrogate Coordinator!

Heart to Hands is pleased to introduce Katherine Vandagrift, our Surrogate Coordinator.  Katherine will be working with surrogates to complete screenings, create beautiful profiles, support the matching process and be a great friend through the entire surrogate journey!

In Katherine's own words:
"I am excited to join Heart to Hands Surrogacy and help people grow their families. I am a proud mother of four and have devoted most of my time to them growing into well rounded happy individuals. Aside from being a mother, I graduated in 2012 from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Administration and International Studies. I have strong organizational skills and have worked with a very diverse set of people internationally as well as nationally. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, writing in my journal, being outdoors, taking photos and traveling. I fully understand the want to be a parent and how important it is for many people. My desire is to support surrogates throughout their pregnancies and after they give birth. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you and hearing your story of what brought you to surrogacy."

Welcome, Katherine!

Client Baby Shower

What a beautiful day to celebrate the upcoming birth of someone's cherished baby!  This single Intended Mother and her beautiful gestational surrogate touched my heart with their story, and it's been a great joy to be part of their story.

Visit the Intended Mother's Blog, Dandelion Dreams, to read about their story.

Introduction: Adrienne Black, Agency Director and Owner

Adrienne Black has been an active member of the Assisted Reproductive Technology field since 2003, when she became personally interested in surrogacy. In 2007, Adrienne delivered an amazingly sweet and serious little boy for Intended Parents and in 2009 delivered his boisterous and charming brother and sister. In February of 2012, she delivered darling twin girls for an international family.

Adrienne Black, Agency Director

She has worked in the surrogacy legal field as a legal secretary since 2007 and has an extensive understanding of the legal components of surrogacy relationships. She left her job as a legal assistant to serve clients in the more intimate and genuine setting of Heart to Hands Surrogacy.

In addition to her experience with surrogacy and ART, Adrienne also has a professional background in midwifery and birth work. She has worked in the birth community since 1998, as a doula, childbirth educator and birth assistant, and completed the midwifery program at Seattle Midwifery School in 2003. She has extensive training in counseling, communication and facilitation.

Adrienne has a deep belief in the beauty and hard work of surrogacy. She is committed to supporting and facilitating loving, strong and cooperative relationships between Intended Parents and Surrogates.

Welcome Brandy MacDonald, new Intended Parent Coordinator!

Heart to Hands is pleased to introduce Brandy MacDonald, our Intended Parent Coordinator.  Brandy will be working with Intended Parents to process paperwork, work on profiles, and case manage through the entire surrogacy journey!  

In Brandy's own words:

Brandy MacDonald, IP Coordinator

"The transitions of a growing family is a fragile time for everyone; a time full of hope, fear, unknowing, and hopefully, love, support and strength. I have always believed that a family needs to be surrounded by loving support during this beautifully enormous time in their lives. As a doula and a midwife, I have found my calling in the role of supporting families. As a mother of a beautiful child conceived with the gift of donor sperm, I know first-hand the knowledge that there is a child meant to be, and of not knowing the how or when that child would be. I have such high esteem for the people who so consciously welcome new life, and keep the hope of new life threw all of the fears. Additionally, I am in awe of the people who offer such profound gifts to create family. As the Intended Parent Coordinator at Hearts to Hands Surrogacy, I lend my support to everyone in your growing family, hoping to create a loving and empowered growth experience for all."

Welcome, Brandy!

Make Over

Our website, www.hearttohandssurrogacy.com, got a makeover!  Please stop by and take a peak.

Is an Experienced Surrogate Better?

When choosing a surrogate, there are many factors to consider.  One of the options is whether to choose an experienced surrogate or to choose an inexperienced surrogate.

Let's explore the benefits and concerns for each:

Benefits of an Experienced Surrogate:

• An experienced surrogate and her family have already been through the process and released parentage.
• An experienced surrogate understands the medications, the appointments and the commitment.
• An experienced surrogate has proven that she can carry a successful surrogate pregnancy.
• An experienced surrogate knows the ropes and can help guide you.

Challenges with an Experienced Surrogate:

• An experienced surrogate has expectations of the relationship.
• An experienced surrogate will compare you to her previous experience.
• An experienced surrogate may be carrying baggage from her previous experience that will color her experience with you.
• An experienced surrogate generally has a higher base compensation.

Benefits of an Inexperienced Surrogate:

• An inexperienced surrogate has a fresh and new perspective.
• An inexperienced surrogate may be more open to meeting the Intended Parents' needs.
• An inexperienced surrogate is sharing a new experience with you, allowing you to enjoy the 'firsts' together.
• An inexperienced surrogate generally has a lower base compensation.

Challenges of an Inexperienced Surrogate: 

• An inexperienced surrogate hasn't proven that she can relinquish parentage.
• An inexperienced surrogate has never been through the process and doesn't know how she will react.
• An inexperienced surrogate doesn't know how her friends and family will feel about surrogacy and how it will impact them.

In the end, you have to choose what is most important to you.  For some intended parents, having the security that the surrogate has already given birth and relinquished parentage is very important.  For others, building a relationship from scratch may be more important.

As an agency owner, I see advantages to both experienced and inexperienced surrogates, and rarely encourage intended parents to choose a surrogate solely on experience level.