Where to Start? Six Main Steps of the Whole Surrogacy Process

In this article, we are going to consider the six main steps of the whole surrogacy process. Both for parents who are dreaming of having a baby through surrogacy and for surrogate moms who decided to give this priceless gift for couples it is extremely important to understand where does the surrogacy journey start and what are the most important moments on each of its stages. We divided the whole surrogacy process into six separate steps or stages which should be performed. Each of these stages is divided for surrogates and parents and the most important moments that should be taken into account are considered for them separately. If you are on the beginning of the surrogate journey and can’t decide where to start, sit comfortably and follow our guide which will help you to get only the positive emotions from the surrogacy.

Step #1: Think carefully about whether it is your final choice or not.

Prior to searching for a suitable surrogate and pass through all other stages of surrogacy you should think twice and decide whether it’s your final choice or not. You should be absolutely sure about your choice in order not to regret about it in the future. Note, that it is the quite emotionally difficult process which has its own pros and cons. It is highly recommended for couples and surrogates to carefully research all the surrogacy laws in your country to prevent possible problems. Also, consider all advantages and disadvantages of the surrogacy, moreover, it is recommended to consult with the surrogacy professionals to get answers to all your questions and discuss all the important moments. Note, that it is a very responsible decision.

Important info for parents:

Actually, it doesn’t matter if you are a single parent who wants to expand a family, a couple, or a member of the LGBT community, in any case, you should carefully weigh all pros and cons of this process and be ready to take not only benefits of the surrogacy but also its risks and emotional difficulties. In addition to this, you should make sure that you will be able to invest the necessary sum of money into this process and to financially support a future child. If you feel that you are not sure about this or your partner hasn’t finally decided yet, it is recommended to ask for help from a specialist prior to starting the whole surrogacy process.

Important info for surrogates:

Before deciding to become a surrogate mom you should carefully consider all the advantages and disadvantages of this process. Despite the fact that it is a real feat and this baby is a priceless gift for its parents, you should remember that it is also a challenge which is hard both emotionally and physically. First of all, you should put up with the thought that the future baby isn’t yours and will have to deliver it to its genetically native parents. Also, you should understand that you will have to become the real part of the family you are helping, so these people should be emotionally close to you and any further relationship problems between you and the couple shouldn’t arise. Besides the emotional and moral point of view, you should also remember that the surrogacy process is generously rewarded and this can change your whole life. It is one of the most important advantages of surrogacy if don’t mention your priceless contribution to the family you help to create. Be ready for all difficulties related to all the difficulties related to the pregnancy, childbirth, and all medical examinations. If you are not sure that this is your way and don’t ready to make such an important choice, you should consult with the specialists from the surrogate agency to discuss all the peculiarities of the surrogacy.

 Step #2: Start your preparation to the surrogacy.

So, if you finally decided to start the surrogacy journey and is completely sure in your choice, it’s time for the step number two. Both surrogate mom and parents should start the preparation for the surrogacy process. This preparation should start with the choice of which type of surrogacy you are going to use and which type of surrogacy professionals suits your requirements most of all.

Nowadays the surrogacy is divided into two main types – gestational and traditional. In the case of gestational surrogacy, the surrogate doesn’t have any biological relations with the child. The embryo is created in laboratory conditions by taking the sperm of the genetically native father (or donor if the father is unable to conceive a child) and the egg from the genetically native mother (or donor). After carrying the process which is called in-vitro fertilization, an embryo is transferred into the surrogate’s uterus.

The traditional type of surrogacy significantly differs from the gestational. In this case, the surrogate mom is genetically related to a child because her egg is fertilized with the sperm of the genetically native father through the process of intrauterine insemination.

Also, we mentioned types of the surrogacy professionals which can help you through the whole surrogacy process. They are also divided into two types – surrogacy attorney and surrogacy agency. The surrogacy attorney is indispensable in completing the legal side of this process but will not be able to help you with other questions related to the surrogacy. At the same time, the surrogacy agency is able to provide you with all the necessary surrogacy services such as medical examinations, legal work, case management, and many others.

You should think through these types and choose the most suitable one for you prior to going to the next step.

Important info for parents:

At the second step of the surrogacy parents will have to think through several important moments and make their final decision about:

  • whether they choose the traditional or gestational surrogacy type;
  • whether they need donor eggs and sperm or not;
  • whether they decided with the certain surrogate or they will need the help of a surrogate agency to find a surrogate mom;
  • whether they find the most suitable surrogate agency (or surrogacy attorney) or not;
  • the most important goals for the surrogacy.

When you finally decided with the surrogacy type and choose your surrogacy professionals (attorney or agency) you will have to go through the process of screening which includes home assessment and checking the criminal and child abuse records. After you will be approved with the surrogacy agency you are ready to choose a surrogate mom for your child.

 Important info for surrogates:

As well as for parents, if surrogates are absolutely sure about a choice they have made, it’s time to clarify some important moments. Among them are:

  • whether you are going to work on the surrogate agency or you have already decided with the parents;
  • whether you are aimed at a work with the surrogacy agency or you are going to work independently;
  • in which type of surrogacy you are interested most – in traditional or gestational one?

When each of these moments is considered and the choice is made, it’s time for the third step.

Step #3: Find a surrogate (or parents)

This part of the surrogacy process is the most exciting. Finding a match means to choose the most suitable surrogate or parents for both parts of the surrogacy process. In case, if you have already decided with the surrogacy opportunity then the one thing you have to do is to sign a contract and to settle all legal issues. The situation is absolutely different if you haven’t found a surrogate or parents yet. In this case, you have to use the services of the matching agency which will help surrogate to find parents who are aimed at a surrogacy maternity and vice versa. Let’s consider how it works.

First of all, when a couple or a surrogate starts working with a surrogacy agency, the professionals create a profile for them by taking into account all the goals of their surrogacy plans. The final profile will be shown to parents who are searching for a suitable surrogate and for surrogates searching for parents. In the case when the surrogate plans of a couple and a surrogate mom are similar, the agency professional helps them to know each other better via e-mails, phone calls or meetings. If everything is all right and both parts are ready to move forward, they should draft the legal surrogacy contract where all terms of an agreement will be mentioned.

Important info for parents:

At the beginning of your surrogate journey, you will have to create a surrogacy plan with the help of your surrogacy professional. This plan together with your profile where you can browse photos and information about your family will be shown to surrogates looking for parents. At the same time, you will be able to look through the similar profiles of surrogates and choose the most appropriate one. If you have found the surrogate you would like to work with, your surrogacy professional organizes a meeting or a phone call for you to discuss all the questions. If both you and surrogate are ready to work together and move forward, it’s the turn of the fourth stage of the surrogate process.

Important info for surrogates:

For surrogate moms, it is very important to decide with which parents you are ready to work with. After clarifying these moments, your surrogacy professional will search you the most suitable couple which fit all your requirements and organize your meeting or a phone conversation.

In the majority of cases, among the main questions, the surrogate need to answer are age, sexual orientation, religion, race, and personality. These are only main factors which, as a rule, are supplemented by other additional personal requirements of a surrogate mom.

Step #4: The legal side of a question.

When the couple and a surrogate finally found each other and are ready to work together, there is a turn of the legal side of the surrogacy process. The agreement between these two sides should be performed as a legal contract that each party has to sign. Both surrogate and parents have their own layer who have to clear them all the legal aspect of the surrogacy process. When each part agreed with the contract conditions and each layer has explained all the legal aspects of surrogacy and approved the contract, both surrogate and parents sign the contract and are ready to the procedure of an embryo transfer.

 Important info for parents:

As it was mentioned above, the layer will meet the parents of a child one-on-one and discuss all possible risks, legal rights, and the amount of a compensation to your surrogate. If you agree with all of these aspects, you will sign the contract and start preparing for the procedure of fertilization and further pregnancy. During the first three months, your attorney will work with you in order to prepare all necessary documents for making you the legal parents of a child. After this work is finished, you will be able to make medical decisions about your child and your names will be on the birth certificate. This is one of the very important steps of the whole process as when it is finished you will be declared as the legal parents of a newborn child.

Important info for surrogates:

As well as for parents, your attorney will arrange you a meeting when you discuss all the possible risks of this procedure and all the legal aspects. Also, the amount of compensation will be established. Your attorney will also check the contract signed by the parents in order to ensure they are similar and there are no differences between them. When everything is discussed and checked twice, the surrogate mom signs the contract and starts to receive a monthly allowance from the intended parents in order to cover all expenses and medical examinations related to the pregnancy (each of these expenses should be mentioned in the contract).

Step #5: Process of the fertilization and embryo transfer.

The fifth stage of the surrogacy process starts with the medical examinations. Surrogate mother undergoes a set of special procedures to ensure that her health is in a good condition to perform the embryo transfer. Some medication may be prescribed to help the surrogate mom develop eggs. At the moment when the healthy pregnancy is detected the surrogate starts receiving the prenatal care and payments for base compensation. The payments will be received during the whole pregnancy and after it during the previously agreed period.

Important info for parents:

For parents, it is important whether they own eggs or donor’s eggs are used for the fertilization procedure. If you are going to use your (or your partner) eggs, you will be prescribed special medications which will help to stimulate their production. When the eggs are taken they will be fertilized with the sperm of the donor or the biological father and then transferred into the uterus of a surrogate. The surrogate starts receiving compensation when the heartbeat of a child was detected and the healthy pregnancy was registered.

Important info for surrogates:

The surrogate will also be prescribed with the certain medications prior to the embryo’s transfer. When it will be the necessary time, the fertilized eggs will be transferred into the surrogate’s uterus. This procedure is absolutely painless and fast. No anesthesia is required. In a few weeks, you will need to visit the specialist to make a test and to register the pregnancy.

Step #6: Meet the baby!

After a long waiting, it’s finally time to meet the baby! This event is exciting and sensual. In many cases, parents of a child meet the surrogate in a hospital to take the newborn and to congratulate their surrogate. As a rule, surrogate and parents are maintaining friendly relations during years supporting each other. The main task of the surrogacy agency on this stage is to control the postpartum compensation and all the other important aspects related to this period and mentioned in the contract.

As a conclusion to this article, we want to say that it doesn’t matter whether you are trying to create your family or to help someone else to create it and to get so long-awaited baby, in any case, it is an extremely rewarded experience.

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