There are several steps to surrogacy for both intended parents and surrogate mothers. Here’s what you need to know about the surrogacy process and how to get help growing your family with surrogacy or becoming a surrogate.
Determine If Surrogacy Is Right for Your Family
Your first and most critical task is to decide if surrogacy is right for your family. Consider your options and what you hope to gain. Talk to other surrogates and families who have used surrogates.
Create Your Surrogacy Plan
Decide what you want your surrogacy to look like. Would you like to stay in contact with the intended parents or surrogates? What type of surrogacy would you like to pursue? Create an outline with your non-negotiables at the top.
Get Matched
The matching process can be nerve-wracking for both parents and surrogates. Who you match with depends on a number of factors decided by each party. Age, race, religion, sexual orientation, relationship status, and more should be considered to increase your chances of a successful match. You should also compare surrogacy plans and make sure what you want for your surrogacy experience aligns with the other party’s. Note that being “matched” doesn’t necessarily mean that the agency will pick a surrogate for you. Oftentimes the selection decision is yours, although most agencies will (and should) assist you in making that selection.
Complete Legal Requirements
Once you’ve found a match, it’s time to draft a legal agreement to protect the rights of both parties during and after the pregnancy. You should have your own attorney as the same lawyer shouldn’t represent both parties in a surrogacy agreement due to conflict of interest.
Begin the Clinical Process
Next, you’ll begin the clinical process. There are dozens of clinics across the country that offer surrogacy services, with widely varying success rates. Just as you investigate a surrogacy agency, you should also check out the clinic to ensure that you getting the most for your money. If you’re a surrogate, this typically includes medical examinations, mental health screenings, fertility treatments and an embryo transfer procedure. For the egg donor or intended mother, fertility treatments are also necessary, and she will undergo an egg retrieval procedure. Throughout the pregnancy, both parties will stay in contact as agreed.
Welcome Your Baby
The road to welcoming your new baby has been long and difficult, but the day has finally arrived. It’s time to say hello! This can be an extremely emotional time for both the intended parents and the surrogate mother. It’s typical for both parties to remain in contact for some period of time after the child goes home with the intended parents, however, this is also dictated by your and your surrogate’s wishes..
Interested in Surrogacy? Contact Us Today
Surrogacy can be a gift to both prospective parents and surrogate mothers. If you’re interested in becoming a surrogate or working with a surrogate to grow your family, contact Surrogate Mothers, Inc. today at 1-888-SURROGATE.
