How Does Surrogacy Process Work- 7 Easy to Follow Surrogacy Steps

For many childless couples, the surrogacy process is the only way to build their family.

You might be one of the few couples who need the Gestational Surrogacy Process to build their family. For this purpose, in this article, we will cover the basic six steps of the surrogacy process.

While the surrogacy laws will differ from state to state, but surrogacy process will remain more or less the same. Although your surrogacy agency can navigate you through “How Does Surrogacy process Work, here we brief step by step guide.

If you wish to grow your family through the gestational surrogacy process, you might have many questions and we do have answers!

The surrogacy procedure may vary according to your state legislation or sometimes as per the individual case. The subsequent 7 step-by-step guides can allow you to prepare for what is to come during your surrogacy journey.  In this article, we will cover “what is the surrogacy process step by step ?” in 7 easy steps.

Step #1. Understand if the surrogacy process is the right choice for you?

Just like any significant decision in your life, the couple should talk about surrogacy and then decide whether it is the right option or not. You should consider the pros and cons of a surrogacy pregnancy and then evaluate all the aspects and then only come to a conclusion.

For prospective Intended parents – There are several factors to consider surrogacy as an option for becoming parents.

Some couples have gone through various failed IVF attempts, and then there are single or same-sex couples who wish to start their families. Before beginning the surrogacy process, it is crucial to evaluate the risks and benefits of gestational surrogacy and then opt for it. Also, the intended parents must have the financial and emotional investment for the operation of surrogacy.

For the surrogate – Surrogates are doing an excellent job by giving happiness to childless families. But they need to understand that the process of surrogacy can be extremely overwhelming at times to them and their families.

Surrogacy pregnancy is not an easy enterprise. Surrogacy requires you to commit to the other family for a year or so. During this period, you have to through various psychological and medical evaluations. If you are confused about becoming a surrogate, then you must reach out to a surrogacy agency and have your doubts clear.

In the very first step, you know if becoming parents through the surrogacy process is an ideal choice for you.  Sometimes it is the only option left for gay couples.  For heterosexual couples, there is a chance they might not need a surrogate mother at all.

Becoming a parent via surrogacy is a long and emotional journey, and it requires a significant commitment for both intended parents and surrogate mothers.

Couples and singles considering surrogacy should carefully research surrogacy laws, and consider the advantages and disadvantages of each option. It is advised to speak to the surrogacy professionals who have been working in this sphere for a long time. A free surrogacy consultation with them will help you to know how surrogacy work, and it is an ideal choice for them.

Even if you are a heterosexual couple who is struggling with infertility. Or a same-sex couple who wishes to become parents. There are reasons to think about growing your family through surrogacy, but knowing if this is the only option is good.

Before you begin the surrogacy procedure, it is crucial to educate yourself about the Pros and Cons of surrogacy.

Make sure that you are prepared to commit to the surrogacy process fully.  The intended parents should know that surrogacy is a huge financial and emotional investment.  They need to ensure that they have the resources to commit to surrogacy and parenthood.

If you or your spouse are struggling with the decision about becoming parents through surrogacy, or if you require additional information before making the final decision,  reach out to a surrogacy expert before proceeding with the surrogacy process.

Step #2.  Preparing for Surrogacy Process 

Once a prospective intended parent has decided to commit to the surrogacy process, they must determine the objectives and needs of the surrogacy journey.

First, there are two types of surrogacy they can opt for:

Traditional Surrogacy 

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is also the biological mother of the child she carries. Her eggs are fertilized using sperm from the intended father or a donor with the IUI ( intrauterine insemination).  Most time, no invasive medical procedure like IVF is needed.

Gestational surrogacy

The embryo is created outside the body with the eggs from the intended mother and sperm from the intended father. Embryos are then implanted in the surrogate uterus. A medical procedure like IVF is done to create embryos and then to implant them in the surrogate’s uterus, who will later become pregnant and carry the child until its birth. Here the surrogate does not have any genetic relationship with the child.

Surrogate process costs are more than gestational surrogacy but it is a legally more protected and viable surrogacy option.

There are two types of surrogacy professionals who can complete your surrogacy:

Surrogacy Agency 

Surrogacy agencies can offer services like recruitment and screening of surrogate mothers, case management, facilitating the medical procedure, counseling, legal assistance, and more. They are your one point of contact throughout the surrogacy process.

Surrogacy attorney

They specialize in doing surrogacy legal work like drafting surrogacy agreements and applying for a pre-birth order. Their role is restricted to only the legal side of the surrogacy process.

Intended parents need to look at these and other factors as they organize and prepare themselves for surrogacy. These conclusions (among others) can help intended parents determine and create your surrogacy plan, which outlines their goals and preferences throughout the surrogacy procedure.

If you decide to utilize the services of a surrogacy agency,  you’ll work closely with them to ensure all your goals and expectation are understood and taken care of.

The intended parent- They can start making surrogacy plans, which will be a summary of your goals and preferences for the surrogacy procedure.

You should have the answers to the following questions by this time.

• What sort of surrogacy you’d like to pursue (gestational or conventional )
• Whether you want donor eggs or wish to use your eggs.
• Whether you know a lady, who can be your surrogate mother or do you need to hire a surrogate mother with the help of a surrogacy agency.
• Do you wish to take the assistance of a surrogacy agency, and if yes, which surrogacy agency you may use

For the surrogate – Once the surrogate has decided that she wants to become a surrogate. She needs to consider several other factors like –

a) Does she know the intended parents she wants to work with?

b) What type of surrogacy is she interested in?

c) Would she like to work with an agency throughout?

These decisions will help you determine how likely your surrogacy journey will look. Here, the surrogacy specialist will work with the surrogate and ensure that the screening has been done and now she is ready for the next step in the surrogacy process.

Once you’ve determined the types of surrogacy you want to pursue and have selected a surrogacy agency, then you’ll begin to complete the screening process to meet your agency’s qualifications for intended parents.

After you have been screened and approved by your surrogacy agency, you will be ready to start the journey of finding a surrogate, if necessary.

Step #3. Finding a surrogate mother either yourself or with the help of a surrogacy agency 

The most exciting and significant step of the surrogacy process is locating the right surrogate mother for the intended parents.

The most critical step of surrogacy is to find a surrogate mother for the intended parents. There are some aspirations of the intended parents from the surrogate which they require to be fulfilled.

So, here is the process of how the match works –

• Once the surrogacy agency identifies a surrogate mother for wishful parents and if they share comparable surrogacy plans. Then both parties will be provided with the other party’s profile to see if they are interested in the surrogacy process with each other.

• If both sides are interested in moving forward, they can get to understand each other better through phone calls, emails, or in-person conferences and then formalize the game by drafting the first legal contract.

For prospective surrogates – Becoming a surrogate is a life-changing decision. As a surrogate mother, you will decide on what kind of intended parents you will be working for and what type of relationship you want to have with the intended parents. You can look for intended parents based on –

• Religion
• Race
• Age
• Sexual orientation
• Personality and many more.

For Intended parents – During your surrogacy journey, a surrogacy agency will ask you about your goals and aspirations for this surrogacy process.

This profile will help the agency to create a match between you and the surrogate. Also, you might create a profile with your photographs and information about your family and yourself. Once you have identified a surrogate that you would like to match (or if you have been recognized by a surrogate), your surrogacy agent will organize a meeting or telephone call which will enable you to get to understand each other better.

Here is the way the match functions:

Every time a prospective surrogate mother or planned parent begins working with a surrogacy professional, their surrogacy specialist will help create their surrogacy plans. According to their surrogacy programs, they will probably make a profile to show to other planned parents or surrogate mothers who are also looking for a surrogacy opportunity.

The surrogacy agency works closely with surrogate mothers and intended parents to share similar surrogacy programs. The surrogacy agency can supply them with a profile of each other to find out if they are interested in working with each other.

If both parties are interested in moving ahead, they may get to know one another better through phone calls, emails, or in-person meetings. If all goes well, a process of drafting the initial legal agreement can be initiated.

Sooner or later in your trip, your surrogacy specialist will probably request that you make a surrogacy plan, which outlines your goals and preferences for the surrogacy process. This strategy will be used to match potential surrogates with the intended parents.

You might have a chance to navigate similar profiles for potential surrogates ( more than one). As soon as you finalize a surrogate mother, your surrogacy professionals will arrange a meeting or telephone call which will make it possible for you to get to know each other much better.

Once you are matched with the ideal surrogate mother, you’re all set to proceed to another step of the surrogacy process, which is to satisfy legal requirements for surrogacy.

Step #4. Satisfy Legal Requirements by making surrogacy agreements

Once a surrogate and intended parent have decided to proceed together, they need to make it official by drafting a legal arrangement. Each party will have its own reproductive lawyer to ensure that its legitimate interests are represented and protected.

Each party will meet their particular attorney separately to understand and review the legal aspects of surrogacy. Once everyone agrees to the terms and conditions of the surrogacy contracts and each lawyer had a chance to review and approve it,  surrogacy contracts are signed.

For prospective surrogates: Your lawyer will meet with you to discuss all legal elements of surrogacy, ranging from compensation to potential hazards. Your attorney will review the agreement drafted by the attorney of the expected parents to guarantee that it complies with your demands.

For prospective intended parents: Your lawyer will meet with you one-on-one to address your constitutional freedoms, potential hazards, and the compensation that you and your surrogate have agreed to.

Potential Intended Parent’s lawyer will meet with you one-on-one to discuss your legal rights, potential risks, and the compensation you and your surrogate consented to. After the contracts have been signed, it is going to be time to move to another phase — fertilization and pregnancy.

After the first trimester, your lawyer will work with you to set you as the legal parent of your child. It will let you make medical choices for the baby and also include your name on the birth certificate. This process is known as a pre-birth order, which is a significant step in announcing the child as legally yours.

Step #5. IVF process starts with fertilization and embryos transfer.

Once legally viable surrogacy contracts are signed, it’s the right time to start medical processes to get ready for the embryo transfer. The IVF process is carried out with a pre-defined IVF clinic.

The intended mother or egg donor will be given medicine to help her create many eggs.  She will have a small invasive medical procedure – egg picks up. The eggs are then fertilized in the lab with male sperms to make an embryo, and these embryos are then transferred to the matched surrogate mother.

The surrogate mother also needs to undergo fertility treatments to make a good endometrium lining and to prepare her for upcoming embryo transfer. She needs to be attentive to her health and medical wellbeing throughout the pregnancy.

The surrogate pregnancy process is not easy for both intended parents and surrogate mothers. Both of them need a great leap of faith and positivity throughout the gestational surrogacy process.

For the surrogate – The transfer procedure is quick and painless and does not require either anesthesia or a long stay in the hospital. You have to stay at the fertility clinic for a few hours and need to take a rest at home for one week. After 2 weeks, you need to go to the fertility clinic and take a pregnancy test and confirm your pregnancy. When the heartbeat of a child is heard, you will begin receiving the payments.

For prospective intended parents:  It depends on your specific case.  If you are using an egg donor, then the female parent does not have much role to play.  If not, then the intended mother has to go through a set of pre-IVF tests and start the process of stimulation.

Once the eggs are harvested from either the intended mom or an egg donor, the intended father or a donor will fertilize them using sperm. Before transfer to the surrogate mother, the embryos are incubated and evaluated for growth. After embryo transfer, the pregnancy will be confirmed with blood tests.

Once pregnancy is confirmed, and the baby’s heartbeat is seen, the surrogate mother will start receiving payments for basic compensation and her monthly allowance as agreed and mentioned in her surrogacy agreement. She’ll also begin to receive medical attention, which will last through the pregnancy.

She comes back to the fertility specialist after two weeks, to have a pregnancy test  ( Serum BHCG) and confirm that pregnancy. She might be asked to visit the fertility clinic to get routine blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor the development of the pregnancy.

From 12th weeks onward, a surrogate pregnancy conceived via IVF won’t be different from another pregnancy.  The surrogate needs more regular checkups to make sure the health of the infant. She can discuss her pregnancy journey with all the intended parents.

Once the heartbeat of the baby is heard, the surrogate will start receiving her monthly payments. The parents need to give psychological support to the surrogate throughout her pregnancy.

Step #6. Surrogacy baby birth and arrival of a new baby!

Following the very long surrogacy process, the arrival of the baby is a life-changing moment for the surrogate and the intended parents. In most cases, the intended parents are there with a surrogate mother at the time of baby delivery.

Once the baby is born, the surrogate mother and intended parents come to the end of a long but mutually satisfying journey. The baby goes back home with their new parents. However, the parents and surrogate mother stay in touch and can share the pics of the baby with a milestone reached.

After the baby is born and the surrogate is discharged from the hospital, the new family and surrogate can all return home. The parents come back home with their new baby. Surrogates can go home with the satisfaction of giving the selfless gift of parenthood to someone who couldn’t do it on their own.

For parents and surrogate mothers, surrogacy can be a remarkably rewarding and satisfying experience.

Step #7. Baby citizenship and travel in case of the cross border surrogacy process 

If you are opting for cross-border surrogacy, which many intended parents do to save the high cost of surrogacy. For them, there is an additional step of taking a baby home is involved. Once the baby is born, they get the baby’s birth certificate with their names.  The local surrogacy agency and an attorney can help them to submit an application for baby citizenship.

They need to submit documents like

• IVF Report
• Embryos transfer report
• Antenatal care tests and scan of the surrogate mother

Most embassies ask for DNA tests to establish the genetic link between the child and at least one parent.  Once all these formalities are done, the baby’s citizenship is granted along with the passport.  The baby is ready to travel back with its parents.    The approximate time for the full baby exit process depends on the individual country and how much backlog their embassies have.  But on average 4-8 weeks are needed.

How long does the surrogacy process take?

A typical surrogacy process can take around 15^th months to 18th months. It includes the pre-IVF preparation like a surrogate match for IP, selecting an egg donor, legal surrogacy agreement, IVF, and surrogacy pregnancy care. The baby exit process varies but it can take up to 1-2 months.  So, we can say that right from the start till you have a baby home safely might take up to 2 years.

In case if first embryos transfer to a surrogate mother is not successful, this time frame can go up. The surrogate pregnancy process remains the same most of the time.

More topics

How does surrogacy work?

What does a surrogacy mother cost?

How to choose an egg donor?

Conclusion

For both surrogate mothers and the intended parent, the surrogacy journey is not as easy as it seems.  It is full of unknown and unexpected turns, which are out of control.  The best thing you can do is to be educated about the surrogacy process so to make an informed decision.

Having said this, being a parent is one of the best feelings in the world and it comes with great joy and contentment.  So, while perusing your most important journey, do not give up and ask for the right help.

If you are wondering how surrogacy works, we are here to guide, support, and manage your surrogacy journey.

Are you ready to start the gestational surrogate process? Do you want to learn how the surrogacy process works and if surrogacy is the right option for you?  Get in touch now to know about our cost-effective yet legal surrogacy options, globally.