Delivering Dreams International Surrogacy Agency works with couples around the world have children through surrogacy in Ukraine. Covid-19 is affecting everything around the world. It is also affecting Ukrainian surrogacy.
There is very little information about the situation in Ukraine. Delivering Dreams International Surrogacy Agency wants to update all on the situation in Ukraine with Covid-19; how surrogacy in Ukraine is impacted by the virus and how they are handling the new risks to continue to provide healthy and successful surrogacy journeys.
Please understand these are very uncertain times and all dates mentioned are as of today, March 19, 2020, and may change as the situation develops.
SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE:
The first case of the Coronavirus in Kyiv on March 12th. It was someone who returned from Italy. On that date Ukraine took fast measures, installing a nationwide quarantine. All schools and shopping malls were closed.
Ukraine has closed its borders to anyone traveling from Europe or stopping in Europe on route to Ukraine. This will be in place until April 3rd.
On March 16th Ukraine closed the Metro, and intercity transportation until April 3rd. Domestic flights are grounded.
As of March 17th, there are 30 confirmed cases. It is believed this number is a low estimate, as many people are not coming forward and there are not enough testing kits.
The government declared a state of emergency in Radomyshl and Chernivtsi. Radomyshl is about 3 hours drive west from Kyiv In the Zytomir region. Chernivtsi region is in the far southwest of the country. Interestingly, they are not at all near each other.
Everything has been closed except for pharmacies and food stores. Food stores are only allowing one person per 30 square feet at one time.
The goal is the same as everywhere in the world: self-isolation. Groups have been limited to no more than 10 individuals.
WHAT IS DELIVERING DREAMS DOING TO PROTECT SURROGATES AND DONOR?
Delivering Dreams International Surrogacy Agency has always known that the best way to ensure a healthy child is to guarantee the healthiest surrogates and donors. A surrogate or donor with even a normal cold or flu is a potential success risk.
The measures Delivering Dreams has always had in place continue to protect couples from COVID-19. They have experience dealing successfully with the mass measles outbreak. Their surrogacy selection process includes the following elements in addition to 50 medical tests to ensure their health:
- Ensuring that our surrogates and donors have strong and healthy immune systems.
- Checking their health history.
- Where surrogates and donors have lived and making sure they live in areas that have not been affected and have a degree of social isolation – especially not residing in cities and densely populated areas.
- Making sure they have always had good nutrition, a healthy living and working environment to ensure the best immunity.
- Educated smart surrogates and donors that understand the risks and responsibility of maintaining good health and hygiene and implement them vigorously.
- Surrogates and donors that are accountable and responsible, sensible and trustworthy. This is essential to ensure that medications are taken exactly as necessary on a strict schedule and that health measures and virus prevention are followed.
- Surrogates with healthy families and children with no health or immunity issues.
- Delivering Dreams moves our surrogates earlier than most to apartments near our clinic. Typically, we move them in their 5th month.
- Those surrogates near Delivering Dreams’ clinics are always in their own apartments. This imposes a social distancing they always knew was important for health reasons and provides a low stress environment.
- Personal around the clock doctor availability.
- Constant check ins Delivering Dreams’ and clinic staff on our surrogates and donors.
CORONAVIRUS’S DIRECT IMPACT ON SURROGACY IN UKRAINE AND ADDITIONAL MEASURES DELIVERING DREAMS IS TAKING AS A RESULT OF THE VIRUS:
- Travel restrictions will most likely will prevent you to be at the birth and exit documentation may be delayed. We have taken contingencies to take care of newborns and watch remotely.
- Delivering Dreams is working with Embassies on emergency actions to allow travel and child documentation. They are keeping in constant contact with them and preparing for births and solving the problems of parent and child travel and documentation.
- They are only screening and considering surrogates and donors from areas where there are no cases or quarantines.
- Educating Surrogates and Donors about virus and illness protection for themselves, their family and friends by proper hygiene, cleaning and social distancing.
- Educating about the symptoms of coronavirus and ensuring they contact nnour doctors immediately if symptoms arise for assistance.
- Anyone planning on traveling to start IVF stimulation or to donate sperm should delay travel until this crisis has passed. This is not only to avoid travel problems, but to prevent exposure and the stress that can affect your fertility. Delivering Dreams recommends that you cryopreserve your biological material so that it can be shipped later.
- No Intended Parent should donate if they have any symptoms or think they may have come in contact with someone with the Coronavirus. It is best to be overly cautious.
- Shipping of biological material was originally banned to and from all highly effected areas. Now with the new rules limiting travel, shipping from most countries are on hold. At this point, shipping from the US can only resume after April 12th and Europe after April 3rd. This is subject to country by country regulations and could well change as the situation develops. Peter Hura of CryoArk a specialty shipping company, says the company has made a decision to halt shipping in the face of constantly changing situation to protect against and potential dangers to shipments, and couriers.
- According to ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) there have been no adverse effects from pregnant women who tested positive for Covid-19 on their children. The children have been negative for the virus. However, these results are not scientific and as so little is known, pregnancy should be considered high risk with Covid-19. Delivering Dreams International Surrogacy is cancelling all egg retrievals and transfers until April 12th to be very careful. This is also the recommendation of the European ESHRE association.
- Delivering Dreams are replacing any surrogate or donor with any potential illness, should it be coronavirus or a cold or flu, at no expense to couples for a new donor and surrogate that meets their criteria and requested characteristics.
WHAT IS GOING ON AS NORMAL?
- Delivering Dreams continues to screen donors and surrogates within the limitations above.
- The first step of preparing documents for surrogacy and acceptance into the Ukrainian surrogacy program.
- Intended parents can choose their surrogate and donor so they will be ready to start as soon as possible.
With much of the in quarantine, please take advantage of this time. If you have considered Ukrainian surrogacy, please reach out and learn more.
Intended parents can request pricing and program details at https://international-surrogacy.com/surrogacy
For any intended parents interested in having the best Ukrainian surrogacy experience should not hesitate to call Tel: +380 32 253-7541, +1 908 386 3864, or email: info@deliveriing-dreams.com or visit www.delivering-dreams.com.
Media Contact
Company Name: Delivering Dreams International Surrogacy Agency
Contact Person: Susan Kibler
Email: Send Email
Phone: +1 908 386 3864, +380 32 253-7541
Address:PO Box 36, 55 Main Street
City: Califon
State: NJ 07830
Country: United States
Website: www.international-surrogacy.com