How Is This Program Different?
The Nightlight Snowflakes program goes beyond the embryo donation-only approach provided by some fertility clinics to also include the safeguards and education available through traditional adoption programs.
Consider if you adopted an embryo elsewhere: the receiving family would not be required to participate in a home study, the donating family would remain anonymous and there would be no sharing of information or contact between the families before or after birth, even through an intermediary.
Through Hope Cottage and the Nightlight Snowflakes embryo adoption program, you can expect:
- A home study to be prepared on the adopting family, including medical screening and education.
- The donating family will select the family to raise their genetic child(ren) (as opposed to a clinic doctor making the choice).
- The donating family will be made aware if a child(ren) is born from the adopted embryos.
- Counseling will be made available to all parties involved.
Additional Considerations of Embryo Adoption
The most obvious difference between an embryo adoption and a traditional adoption is the pregnancy experience. As an adoptive mom, you are able to experience the joys (and burdens!) of pregnancy and labor. There is also peace of mind in knowing your child was not exposed to alcohol or drugs during pregnancy.
And although an embryo adoption allows more control in some ways, it provides less in other ways.
- You cannot choose the gender of the child as you might in an international, domestic or older child adoption.
- You can't change your mind and not accept the baby if it's born with a medical or developmental illness or condition.
- Because up to three embryos are implanted at once, twins or triplets are possible.
- Embryo adoption may be more difficult emotionally than traditional adoption, since there is no guarantee implantation will result in a child.