The Surrogate Process

Completing the Surrogacy Application

• The first step in being considered as a surrogate candidate is to complete the initial surrogate application.
• Once you submit the completed application, it will be sent to a surrogate coordinator to qualify you as a candidate.
• When you are approved, we will email you paperwork to fill out so we can begin requesting pregnancy records.
• You will complete a short telephone consult with a coordinator to review your application in full and help answer questions.
• The medical records stage can take several weeks or longer, depending how long it takes the doctor(s) and hospital(s) to send back your records. We continue to follow up until we have your completed pregnancy file.
• Our RN will review the file for final determination that you meet our program criteria.

Surrogate Screening and Testing

• After passing the application process above, you will begin screening appointments. This process takes about 2 to 4 weeks depending on your availability.
• A surrogacy coordinator will come to your home for a casual meeting with you and your partner (if applicable). A Skype interview will be conducted in cases where distance prohibits an in-home interview.
• Then a background check is done for you and any adult over the age of 18 living in your home.
• Afterward, you will schedule a comprehensive evaluation of you and your partner (if applicable) with a mental health professional to discuss your suitability for the intricacies that surround a surrogacy journey.
• If you have medical insurance, a detailed review will be conducted to help provide details on the appropriate use of your insurance for a surrogacy pregnancy.
• Finally, you will have a phone consultation with a maternal fetal medical professional to review your pregnancy records and discuss any potential risks associated with a subsequent pregnancy.

Surrogate Selection and Matching

• We will add you to our roster of available surrogates after we receive screening and testing clearance.
• When Intended Parents show interest in your profile, your Case Manager will contact you to review the Intended Parents’ profile before you decide if you want to meet them.
• Your Case Manager will schedule and facilitate the Match Meeting between you and the Intended Parents. After giving you a chance to review, your Case Manager will ask for your decision on proceeding with the Intended Parents or not.
• Once you are matched, you will have a comprehensive physical evaluation at the Intended Parents’ fertility clinic. Your partner (if applicable) will be asked to have blood tests as well.
• Now you will contact your assigned attorney for consultation, a process which will help protect you in all legal matters regarding the surrogacy agreement. We’ll make sure you have the attorney’s contact information ahead of time.
• As soon as the contract is finalized, signed by all parties and notarized, you will begin receiving monthly surrogacy checks and attend monthly support groups, which are both enjoyable and informative.

Surrogate Pregnancy and Delivery

• You’re now ready to start the surrogate cycle. You will follow a cycle calendar of birth control pills and self-injections of fertility hormones to prepare your body for the embryo transfer, which also takes place at the Intended Parents’ fertility clinic. You will do an injection teaching to learn how to give yourself the fertility hormone shots. It is crucial to the process that you are able to administer these injections yourself. Click to learn more about the medications.
• About 10 days after the embryo transfer, you will go to a local lab approved by the fertility clinic to have a blood test. The clinic will report back the hormone levels, which may indicate pregnancy.
• If pregnancy is confirmed, you will schedule an ultrasound. Until around 10 weeks of pregnancy, you will have several monitoring ultrasounds at a fertility clinic near your home. After this point, you will visit your own obstetrician for the duration of the pregnancy, including delivery (this is assuming your OB/hospital are in-network for the insurance in place throughout the surrogacy pregnancy).

When the baby or babies are born, you have completed your surrogacy journey and have made the Intended Parent’s dreams come true! You can relax and recover from the birth knowing you’ve made an incredible lifelong impact on a deserving family!