Surrogacy offers the chance for couples to grow their family when other means are not available to them. It’s one of the best gifts a gestational carrier can give to another person.
Whether you’re a hopeful couple exploring surrogacy or an individual considering serving as a surrogate, you might be wondering how does surrogacy work? Get a full breakdown of the step-by-step process of surrogacy.
How Does Surrogacy Work?
Each surrogacy journey is unique. But it often starts with some basic exploration of whether surrogacy might be right for you. The decision is highly personal and individualized. You don’t have to make the decision alone. A surrogacy agency can help, which is why it’s the first step in the process.
1. Meet with a Surrogacy Agency
Meeting with a surrogacy agency will guide you in weighing pros and cons, expenses, and even emotions involved in the process.
You’ll get into the details when you meet with the agency, including a hard look at whether your insurance covers surrogacy or how that might affect your total cost.
During the process, you will also explore the type of surrogacy that’s right for you. With traditional surrogacy, the carrier undergoes intrauterine insemination, meaning she uses her own eggs and either donor sperm or sperm from the intended father.
With gestational surrogacy, the surrogate shares no biology with the baby, meaning a fertilized embryo is transferred to the surrogate.
2. Create a Surrogacy Plan
Once you’ve met with the surrogacy agency to learn more about what to expect and your options, you are ready to start building your surrogacy plan. This will include a variety of factors.
- Surrogacy type (gestational or traditional)
- If you need egg or sperm donation
- Whether you need paired with a surrogate or have someone willing to be a surrogate
- How you’ll pay for surrogacy or what resources are available to you, such as benefits through your employer
3. Find a Surrogate Match
As you build out your plan, one of the most important elements is selecting a surrogate match. Some couples have great success using their network to find a surrogate, which can make the process more affordable if the person is willing to do it out of the goodness of their heart or for minimal compensation.
However, if you don’t know someone or feel uncomfortable asking your network if they’d be willing to serve as a surrogate, your agency will pair you with a match based on your goals and expectations.
Families have different desires for involvement in the pregnancy and delivery process. Likewise, surrogates have certain comfort levels with having the baby’s parents at every medical appointment or in the delivery room. This is a crucial aspect of matching up with a surrogate because it will greatly impact your experience.
Prospective parents have the opportunity to review surrogate matches and accept or deny them. You can also meet with potential surrogates to get a feel for the fit between you.
4. Complete the Legal Process
Now that you have a surrogacy plan and a surrogate lined up, you’re ready to complete the legal proceedings. This involves a formal contract between the prospective parents and the surrogate.
Only once the prospective parents and the surrogate have signed the contract can the process begin.
Feel free to ask many questions throughout this process to ensure you understand and are comfortable with what you are signing.
5. Embryo Transfer
This part of the process is very exciting for prospective parents. You’ll work with a fertility clinic for egg retrieval, fertilization and embryo transfer.
While it is exciting, it can also be a stressful, nerve-wracking time. If the mother is undergoing egg retrieval, she will be on medication to help ensure her eggs develop leading up to retrieval. Likewise, the surrogate will be on medication to prepare her body for the transfer.
At this point, you’ve gone from the legal proceedings to the medical side of the process. Make sure to care for yourself and find ways to relieve stress as stress can hinder the process.
6. Baby’s Heartbeat is Confirmed
You’ll move to the pregnancy phase of surrogacy once you’ve confirmed that the surrogate is pregnant and heard a heartbeat. Now the surrogate will start receiving payments and prenatal care.
You’ll go through a normal pregnancy process of regular care. Surrogates will often share the pregnancy experience with prospective parents.
7. Your Baby Arrives
After months of planning and another nine months of pregnancy, you’ll experience the joys of parenthood. It’s truly life-changing.
Depending on your agreement and terms with the surrogate, you might join her at the hospital for the delivery.
Once the baby has been discharged from the hospital, they’ll go home with their parents. The surrogate will have completed her responsibilities and be discharged to return home as well.
Start Your Surrogacy Journey
If you have questions or are ready to explore surrogacy, contact Accel Conceptions. We can help with the process from start to finish, including pairing you with an egg donor, if you need one.