Modern science has led to some breakthroughs when it comes to fertility treatments. And because more and more women have been putting off having a baby until well past their prime childbearing years, more and more women have needed to utilize these treatments. Unfortunately, having a baby this way isn’t cheap, and so many women have turned to a novel approach to get the job done: crowdfunding.

Jessica Haley, from Melbourne, Florida, told Cosmopolitan magazine that she was able to raise $8,000 over a 4-month period this way, enough to put a serious dent in the cost of fertility treatments. She got pregnant on her first try and later gave birth to a son. Another mother raised $2,600 to deliver a daughter via a surrogate – a small fraction of the total cost, but a significant sum when every penny counts.

There is a drawback to this approach: Those who have tried it report receiving some less-than-kind comments from others, a common one being from people who pose the question: “If you can’t pay for your fertility treatments, how will you be able to afford the baby?” There’s also the whole deal of opening up details about this personal issue to a bunch of strangers. And because more and more people are turning to crowd funding for everything from weddings to medical bills, there’s starting to be somewhat of a saturation effect – and a competition to depict ever-more moving sob stories to win public support. But for those who have had success, it’s been a valuable tool.

Kickstarter doesn’t allow such campaigns on its site. But other companies such as Fundly, IntigogoLife, and GoFundMe specialize in this sort of thing. The other nice thing is that unlike kickstarter, these sites often forward whatever money is raised, even if it falls short of your goal.

Prospective parents shouldn’t jump into this approach lightly. Also keep in mind that the pages you create in this endeavor will exist on the Internet in perpetuity, so it’s recommended that you keep identifying details to a minimum. But if you’re in a desperate position and have an extended circle of friends and family who might lend their support, it could be worth the effort.