Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, 41, speaks candidly about her ‘surrogacy journey’

Jen Atkin announced earlier this week that she welcomed a baby boy, named River Julién, via surrogate on March 5.

And the celebrity hairstylist, 41, opened up about her and her husband Mike Rosenthal’s ‘Surrogacy Journey’ in a nearly eight-minute video uploaded to Instagram on Thursday.

In the caption of her video, which is the first of several installments to come, Atkin revealed that she decided to ‘do egg retrieval and freeze [her] embryos’ back in 2015.

New parents: Jen Atkin announced earlier this week that she welcomed a baby boy, named River Julién, via surrogate on March 5

‘It started in 2015, I was turning 36 and not ready to have children. We called Dr. Andy Huang (@drandyhuang @reproductivepartners ) and decided to do egg retrieval and freeze embryos,’ she explained. 

Before recalling their ‘incredible surrogacy experience,’ Jen and Mike thanked ‘all the people who helped [them] along the way’ and acknowledged that their ‘ability to share [their] story is such a blessing.’

She also admitted that she ‘wanted to talk openly about it bc it felt very lonely at the time’ and that it made her ‘upset’ that the entire process – from egg retrieval to surrogacy – is so costly.

‘I don’t understand how most employers don’t help cover this cost for women.’

Wanting to give her followers a candid look at the labor that goes into egg retrieval, Jen included footage from 2015 that showed her injecting shots in her abdomen to stimulate egg production.

Surrogacy Journey: And the celebrity hairstylist, 41, opened up about her and her husband Mike Rosenthal's 'Surrogacy Journey' in a nearly eight-minute video uploaded to Instagram on Thursday

Surrogacy Journey: And the celebrity hairstylist, 41, opened up about her and her husband Mike Rosenthal’s ‘Surrogacy Journey’ in a nearly eight-minute video uploaded to Instagram on Thursday

Longtime coming: In the caption of her video, which is the first of several installments to come, Atkin revealed that she decided to 'do egg retrieval and freeze [her] embryos' back in 2015

Longtime coming: In the caption of her video, which is the first of several installments to come, Atkin revealed that she decided to ‘do egg retrieval and freeze [her] embryos’ back in 2015

The footage also included images of the injection site on Atkin’s stomach and how her body began to respond to the shots.

Once the eggs were successfully retrieved from her body and frozen, Jen bravely filmed herself on the car ride home – when she was 36-years-old – to remark on the experience.

‘If I want to carry a baby [in the future], they will put my embryos back in me or I can get a surrogate,’ she explained, before noting that ‘the only pain that I felt was a bit of nausea – I hate needles – and I felt like I had to pee.’ 

Man of the hour: 'It started in 2015, I was turning 36 and not ready to have children. We called Dr. Andy Huang (@drandyhuang @reproductivepartners ) and decided to do egg retrieval and freeze embryos,' she explained

Man of the hour: ‘It started in 2015, I was turning 36 and not ready to have children. We called Dr. Andy Huang (@drandyhuang @reproductivepartners ) and decided to do egg retrieval and freeze embryos,’ she explained

Candid: Wanting to give her followers a candid look at the labor that goes into egg retrieval, Jen included footage from 2015 that showed her injecting shots in her abdomen to stimulate egg production

Candid: Wanting to give her followers a candid look at the labor that goes into egg retrieval, Jen included footage from 2015 that showed her injecting shots in her abdomen to stimulate egg production

Candid: Wanting to give her followers a candid look at the labor that goes into egg retrieval, Jen included footage from 2015 that showed her injecting shots in her abdomen to stimulate egg production

Response: The footage also included images of the injection site on Atkin's stomach and how her body began to respond to the shots

 Response: The footage also included images of the injection site on Atkin’s stomach and how her body began to respond to the shots

Five years later, Jen and Mike – with the help of Dr. Huang – decided ‘surrogacy was our best option to start [their] family.’

‘I know a lot of people have been asking for details about miscarriages, failed IVFs, etc but I’m not sharing any of that bc I don’t think anyone has to explain why they chose surrogacy, period,’ she stressed in her post’s caption.

Atkin’s frozen embryos were transferred in June of 2020, but due to to COVID-19 the couple were unable to go and witness the process in person. Fortunately, Dr. Huang allowed Jen and Mike to ‘attend’ the transfer via FaceTime.

Retrieval: Once the eggs were successfully retrieved from her body and frozen, Jen bravely filmed herself on the car ride home - when she was 36-years-old - to remark on the experience

Retrieval: Once the eggs were successfully retrieved from her body and frozen, Jen bravely filmed herself on the car ride home – when she was 36-years-old – to remark on the experience

Not too bad: 'If I want to carry a baby [in the future], they will put my embryos back in me or I can get a surrogate,' she explained, before noting that 'the only pain that I felt was a bit of nausea - I hate needles - and I felt like I had to pee'

Not too bad: ‘If I want to carry a baby [in the future], they will put my embryos back in me or I can get a surrogate,’ she explained, before noting that ‘the only pain that I felt was a bit of nausea – I hate needles – and I felt like I had to pee’

Clearly excited, Jen showed her followers various images of the ‘thawed embryo’ that had just been implanted.

The couple received the good news that they ‘were pregnant’ during a phone call with Dr. Huang last year, which they happened to catch on film. 

‘So we are officially pregnant?!’ asked Jen excitedly, to which Dr. Huang replied: ‘You guys are officially pregnant.’

Choosing surrogacy: Five years later, Jen and Mike - with the help of Dr. Huang - decided 'surrogacy was our best option to start [their] family'

Choosing surrogacy: Five years later, Jen and Mike - with the help of Dr. Huang - decided 'surrogacy was our best option to start [their] family'

Choosing surrogacy: Five years later, Jen and Mike – with the help of Dr. Huang – decided ‘surrogacy was our best option to start [their] family’

It's all happening! Atkin's frozen embryos were transferred in June of 2020, but due to to COVID-19 the couple were unable to go and witness the process in person. Fortunately, Dr. Huang allowed Jen and Mike to 'attend' the transfer via FaceTime

It’s all happening! Atkin’s frozen embryos were transferred in June of 2020, but due to to COVID-19 the couple were unable to go and witness the process in person. Fortunately, Dr. Huang allowed Jen and Mike to ‘attend’ the transfer via FaceTime

The doctor told the couple that their child would be due on March 17 of 2021 and that ‘around the 40 weeks if [the surrogate] has not delivered, there are things that we do to get her closer to delivering.’

After getting off the phone with their doctor, Jen and Mike made several FaceTime calls to their relatives and closest friends to reveal their exciting pregnancy news.

One of those friends happened to be Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, who vacationed with the couple back in December. 

Success! The couple received the good news that they 'were pregnant' during a phone call with Dr. Huang last year, which they happened to catch on film

Success! The couple received the good news that they ‘were pregnant’ during a phone call with Dr. Huang last year, which they happened to catch on film

Excited: After getting off the phone with their doctor, Jen and Mike made several FaceTime calls to their relatives and closest friends to reveal their exciting pregnancy news

Excited: After getting off the phone with their doctor, Jen and Mike made several FaceTime calls to their relatives and closest friends to reveal their exciting pregnancy news

Excited: After getting off the phone with their doctor, Jen and Mike made several FaceTime calls to their relatives and closest friends to reveal their exciting pregnancy news

Famous pals: One of those friends happened to be Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, who vacationed with the couple back in December

Famous pals: One of those friends happened to be Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, who vacationed with the couple back in December

Just weeks prior to their trip, the couple were able to witness their first in-person ultrasound of their unborn baby in Fullerton, California.

‘We are going to see our baby for the first time, which is the weirdest thing to say. This is exciting,’ Jen told the camera.

Once they arrived, the couple were whisked into a movie theater-style viewing room with a large screen display.

First ultrasound: Just weeks prior to their trip, the couple were able to witness their first in-person ultrasound of their unborn baby in Fullerton, California

First ultrasound: Just weeks prior to their trip, the couple were able to witness their first in-person ultrasound of their unborn baby in Fullerton, California

Surreal: 'We are going to see our baby for the first time, which is the weirdest thing to say. This is exciting,' Jen told the camera

Surreal: ‘We are going to see our baby for the first time, which is the weirdest thing to say. This is exciting,’ Jen told the camera

They got to hear their baby’s heartbeat, before getting a glimpse of him inside the surrogate’s belly.

‘Because of covid it was obviously hard with us not being able to go to appointments, but our surrogate was so incredible. She took photos, videos, and really made us feel like we were a part of every single part of this pregnancy and we are so grateful for that,’ gushed Atkin via voiceover as images of the fetus played out on screen.

The video cut-off just before the child’s arrival, which will be documented fully in a second installment. 

Ready! Once they arrived, the couple were whisked into a movie theater-style viewing room with a large screen display

Ready! Once they arrived, the couple were whisked into a movie theater-style viewing room with a large screen display

'Because of covid it was obviously hard with us not being able to go to appointments, but our surrogate was so incredible. She took photos, videos, and really made us feel like we were a part of every single part of this pregnancy and we are so grateful for that,' gushed Atkin via voiceover as images of the fetus played out on screen

‘Because of covid it was obviously hard with us not being able to go to appointments, but our surrogate was so incredible. She took photos, videos, and really made us feel like we were a part of every single part of this pregnancy and we are so grateful for that,’ gushed Atkin via voiceover as images of the fetus played out on screen

Heartbeat: They got to hear their baby's heartbeat, before getting a glimpse of him inside the surrogate's belly

Heartbeat: They got to hear their baby’s heartbeat, before getting a glimpse of him inside the surrogate’s belly

‘Our society doesn’t normalize surrogacy, adoption, or fostering. Being adopted myself I have always known the importance of celebrating without judgement every family’s unique journey (you grow tired as a kid of saying ‘yes I know I look different but that is my mom’)’ continued the hair guru in her video’s caption.

After giving some special ‘thank yous’ to various medical staff that helped them along the way, Jen concluded her post with some encouraging words. 

‘It doesn’t matter how you decide to become a parent, or if being a parent to a little human lasted a million days shorter then it should have, you are still a parent and it deserves massive celebration.’

Coming soon: The video cut-off just before the child's arrival, which will be documented fully in a second installment

Coming soon: The video cut-off just before the child’s arrival, which will be documented fully in a second installment

Surprise: Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, 41, announced via Instagram that she's become a mother via surrogacy to baby River Julien, born on March 5

Surprise: Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin, 41, announced via Instagram that she’s become a mother via surrogacy to baby River Julien, born on March 5

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Atkin shared a mirror selfie in which she’s seen wearing gray sweats and white socks while holding her infant son against her shoulder.

She also shared two pics of her husband with the baby. 

In the caption, she wrote: ‘Never say never! Meet River Julién Rosenthal 7.10 lbs born 3/5/21.’

She went on: ‘We are so in love with this little man…… We love you guys and are editing our Surrogate Journey video in btwn feedings. Stay tuned.’ 

Baby: 'Never say never! Meet River Julién Rosenthal 7.10 lbs born 3/5/21,' Atkin wrote on Instagram as she shared pics of the infant sleeping alongside her husband Mike Rosenthal

Baby: ‘Never say never! Meet River Julién Rosenthal 7.10 lbs born 3/5/21,’ Atkin wrote on Instagram as she shared pics of the infant sleeping alongside her husband Mike Rosenthal

More details to come: The hairstylist said she's be released a Surrogate Journey video when she's finished editing it

More details to come: The hairstylist said she’s be released a Surrogate Journey video when she’s finished editing it

Back in December 2015, Atkin had announced on her Instagram that she had had her eggs retrieved and embryos frozen.

‘I hope that career driven women can stop feeling the social judgement and pressure once they reach a certain age,’ she shared.

Atkin’s celebrity clients include Chrissy Teigen and the Kardashians.

Surrogacy: Back in December 2015, Atkin had announced on her Instagram that she had had her eggs retrieved and embryos frozen. Her clients include Chrissy Teigen and the Kardashians

Surrogacy: Back in December 2015, Atkin had announced on her Instagram that she had had her eggs retrieved and embryos frozen. Her clients include Chrissy Teigen and the Kardashians