What is the Surrogacy Process?
8 Steps to Making Your Family Dreams Come True
Many intended parents considering gestational surrogacy wonder where to start or what to expect from the surrogacy process. At Eggceptional Surrogates, we are here to make your experience as streamlined and stress-free as possible, starting with laying out the basic steps of the surrogacy process.
1. Initial Consultation
The first step in the surrogacy process is a free consultation to go over how our program works and answer all your questions. This is our chance to get to know each other, so please feel free to ask us anything you’d like to know! After hearing your story and what you are looking for in a surrogate, we will suggest possible candidates and review the profiles of those that best meet your criteria.
2. Meeting Your Surrogate
Once you’ve selected some possible candidates, we will schedule a meeting, either in person or through a video conference call. We will be present to introduce you all, guide the conversation, and help you and the candidate determine if you would like to work together. This is one of the most important steps, as you get a chance to get to know your potential surrogates and make the important human connection that is at the heart of all surrogacy.
3. Medical and Psychological Screenings
With your surrogate selected it’s time to begin the medical side of surrogacy. Your surrogate will be medically screened by your fertility clinic and receive a psychological evaluation. You will also need to have all your screenings completed as well as a psychological evaluation.
4. Signing Agreements
Because the surrogacy process is complex, there are a lot of different legal and medical agreements to sign! Both you and the surrogate will sign all the necessary legal agreements. We have tons of resources for finding a lawyer with surrogacy law experience to work with you through this process. Once the agreements are drawn up and signed, you will send the initial funds to begin the surrogacy process.
5. Transferring the Embryo(s)
Once your surrogate has been medically cleared, they are ready for the embryo transfer process. By this point, your fertility clinic will have already created a fertilized embryo or embryos from sperm and eggs provided by the intended parents or by donors. Your fertility doctor will transfer the embryo(s) into the surrogate’s uterus with the hopes of a pregnancy.
6. Pregnancy
Congratulations, the embryo has been successfully transferred and your surrogate is pregnant! Over the next nine months, we will continue to provide emotional and informational support as you prepare for your child’s birth. We are here for you every step of the way. Now is the time to make sure your home is ready for the new addition to your family! Many intended parents also accompany their surrogate to milestone appointments, such as to hear their baby’s heartbeat or discover their gender. Pregnancy is a wonderful, magical time, so be sure to enjoy the journey.
7. Final Legal Procedures
As your baby’s due date approaches, your lawyer will make sure that all the final details are ready for you to take your baby home with you. This usually involves getting a birth certificate or birth order. Intended parents who live outside the United States will also need to consult their attorney on obtaining necessary legal documentation to get home with the proper court orders and passports.
8. Birth
You’re almost there! The final step of the surrogacy process is, of course, the birth of your beautiful new baby. Before the birth, the hospital will be contacted to ensure they know who you are and why you are there. Many intended parents choose to be present at the birth, to experience those miraculous first moments. After your baby is born and declared healthy, you get to take them home and begin your life together as a family.
The surrogacy process is complex, but we are here to help you through this incredible experience. Contact us today for your free consultation and get one step closer to the family of your dreams.
