What to Expect During the Surrogacy Process

For intended parents, the surrogacy process offers a path to building a family, but it also comes with key steps and deliberations along the way. From matching with a surrogate to medical procedures, understanding what to expect helps reduce uncertainty. For prospective parents, being prepared aids a smooth experience and a stronger foundation for welcoming their child.

Beginning the Journey

The first step involves scheduling a consultation with a surrogacy agency or fertility clinic. During this meeting, intended parents discuss their family-building goals and learn about the specific process. The consultation covers legal requirements, financial aspects, and timeline expectations.

Medical clearance is another key component of the initial phase. Prospective parents undergo fertility evaluations to assess their ability to produce viable eggs and sperm for embryo creation. These tests help determine the most appropriate medical approach for the surrogacy arrangement.

Prospective parents also complete profile creation during this phase. The profile includes personal information, preferences for communication with the surrogate, and specific requirements for the arrangement. This document becomes fundamental to the matching process that follows.

Matching With the Right Surrogate

The matching phase connects intended parents with potential surrogates based on shared values and preferences. Agencies present surrogate profiles that align with the prospective parents’ criteria, including communication style, location, and personal beliefs. They review detailed information about potential surrogates, including medical history, previous pregnancy experiences, and psychological evaluations.

The review process allows prospective parents to make informed decisions about compatibility and comfort levels. Virtual or in-person meetings occur between matched parties before finalizing the arrangement. These meetings help both sides determine if the relationship feels appropriate for the months-long journey ahead.

Undergoing Medical Procedures

Medical procedures begin with IVF treatments to create embryos using the prospective parents’ eggs and sperm, or donor gametes when necessary. The fertility clinic coordinates timing between the intended parents’ cycle and the surrogate’s preparation for embryo transfer. Embryo transfer takes place at the fertility clinic, where selected embryos are placed in the gestational carrier’s uterus.

The surrogate undergoes hormone treatments to prepare her body for pregnancy and optimize the chances of successful implantation. Pregnancy monitoring involves regular medical appointments to track the health of both the surrogate and the developing baby. Prospective parents often attend key appointments, including ultrasounds and necessary medical checkups.

Preparing for Birth and Beyond

Birth preparation includes finalizing legal documents that establish parental rights before delivery. Pre-birth orders generally name the intended parents on the birth certificate and grant them legal authority at the hospital. Hospital arrangements require coordination between the prospective parents, surrogate, and medical team. 

The surrogate and prospective parents discuss preferences for the birth experience, including who will be present during delivery and immediate post-birth procedures. Post-birth procedures involve the baby’s discharge directly to the intended parents. Legal documentation completed during pregnancy allows for smooth transitions of custody and parental responsibilities. The surrogacy agency often provides support during this transition to address any questions or concerns that arise.

Schedule Your Intended Parents Consultation Today

The surrogacy process offers a structured pathway for building families when other options are not viable. Each phase involves specific steps that require careful planning and coordination between multiple parties. Understanding these stages helps prospective parents prepare for the journey ahead and set realistic expectations. Contact a surrogacy agency today to schedule a consultation and begin your journey toward parenthood.

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