10 Ways Intended Parents Can Prepare for Surrogacy
Are you an intended parent looking to start your surrogacy journey, or are you a surrogate mother wondering how do intended parents prepare for this? If you are feeling overwhelmed by your research on surrogacy, then let’s go over some questions you might have about the surrogacy process.
There is plenty for an intended parent to prepare for when working to grow their family. By working with a surrogate agency, they can ensure all their bases are covered so that their path to parenthood goes smoothly. With a surrogacy agency, a team of licensed professionals to help them every step of the way.
Adoption and Surrogacy Choice of Colorado can help you prepare for your journey and make sure you are taken care of through each step whether you are an intended parent or a surrogate mother.
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a surrogate, please call or text us at 303-670-4673 (HOPE) or visit us at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado.
- How do I Get in Contact with a Surrogacy Agency?
As you start your surrogacy journey, you might be wondering what the best options for you are. As an intended parent or surrogate mother, you have an option to either work independently or through a surrogacy agency. The surrogacy process is a delicate one and can be a lot for one person to take on. By working through an agency, you can have access to licensed professionals and reliable resources. You can have the support you need during this process. To start your journey, you can get in contact with us and start your application.
- What is an Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado’s Surrogacy Plan?
Our agency has an organized step-by-step to ensure a smooth journey. Your first step is to get in contact with our agency. After consulting with us, we will start the paperwork. You will then go through health screenings followed by reviewing our surrogate mother or intended parents’ profiles. We can help you find your match or work with the individual or couple you already have in mind. Then you will go through the in-vitro fertilization process. Through the pregnancy term, you will connect and support each other. With our team, you can rest assured that you will have the help you need.
- Intended Parents: What if I need a Donor?
If for any reason, you need a donor, our licensed professionals can help you find one. Our agency believes that everyone deserves a chance to have the family they are hoping for. We are happy to help transracial, same-sex, and heterosexual couples or individuals grow their families. We can help you keep track of the necessary medical appointments and consultations you’ll need through the process.
- How Do I Come Up with a Compensation Plan?
Intended parents and their surrogate mothers will meet with one of our professionals to come up with a fair compensation plan. Keep in mind that costs can vary depending on the individual’s needs. Some costs to expect are but are not limited to:
- Monthly costs (travel to doctor appointments, childcare, allowance, etc.)
- Embryo transfer
- Fee for gestational surrogate
The plan we help you come up with is customized to your needs and abilities. Your plan will also be secured through the legal representation you find. Our team will be ready to help you with any concerns you have.
- Why Do Intended Parents Have to Go through Health Screenings?
Part of your requirements when you start your surrogacy journey is to go through provided health screenings. This is necessary to keep you and everyone involved safe. Health screenings are also there for your legal protection. Our agency will make sure you go through the necessary screenings to make sure you are physically and mentally ready for your journey.
- Do I Need a Lawyer?
Because the surrogacy process can be delicate, it is important for you to have a lawyer helping you through your journey. A lawyer can help make sure you have all of the state’s necessary legal documents in order. You will need to look over and sign documents that determine the legal guardianship of the child. Having a lawyer on your team will ensure those matters are all in order. If you don’t have a lawyer in mind, our surrogacy agency can help you find one.
- Intended Parents: Will I be able to Meet and Talk to my Surrogate Mother?
The surrogacy process can be a fulfilling and connective experience. You will be able to meet your surrogate mother and get to know each other from the very beginning. Through your journey, you will be looking to one another for support. It’s important you bond and encourage each other while working toward your common goal.
- Surrogate Mother: Why Do Some Women Choose to Become Surrogate Mothers?
The type of person who chooses to become a surrogate is truly kind-hearted and selfless. These women have had smooth pregnancies and enjoy being pregnant, which is why they feel called to help others by helping them grow their families. They also know the joys of parenthood and hope to pass that along to someone with a caring heart. The kind of woman who is or wants to become a surrogate mother is taking on an admirable and selfless act to help others.
- What is Traditional VS Gestational Surrogacy?
You might come across two terms when doing your research on surrogacy: traditional vs. gestational. Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate mother uses her egg to carry the baby, making her genetically linked to the child. This can be emotionally, physically, and legally difficult for everyone involved. Traditional surrogacy is also illegal in the US. Gestational surrogacy uses the egg and sperm of the intended parents or donors. The surrogate mother then carries that to term. This way, she is in no way genetically linked to the child. Gestational surrogacy protects everyone involved.
- Is Surrogacy Legal in Colorado?
Colorado has a surrogacy-friendly legislature making the legal process much smoother. Our agency can help make sure your legal matters are in order. If you live in a state where surrogacy is illegal, then we can still help you! We can work out a plan to help you have the family you hope for.
How Should I Prepare for the Surrogacy Journey?
The surrogacy journey can be overwhelming at first, but with Adoption and Surrogacy Choice of Colorado, you can have access to a team of professionals ready to help you. Now that you know what to prepare for, you can feel more confident taking on your surrogacy journey. What are other ways you can prepare for the surrogacy process? What are the next steps you can take on?
If you are interested in learning more about your gestational surrogacy options, contact Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado by email, phone, or text: Email Us, Text us: 720-371-1099, Call us: 303-670-4673 (HOPE). If you are hoping to adopt, please contact us here.
Meet the Author: Courtney Chunglo is a California-based writer who keeps her poetry romantic and her prose thrilling. Courtney has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Her poetry has been published in Sonoma State University’s anthology titled, Zaum XXI where she also served as one of the editors for the short story submissions.
Courtney grew up in a family of women storytellers who could make you feel, hear, smell, and even taste their tales. This inspiration to tell stories and being a voracious reader morphed into an unshakable desire to write. Possessed by the pen, Courtney strives to engage readers’ intellect and satisfy their need for a good story.
Stephanie joined the Adoption Choices family in 2014 as the Child Placement Supervisor. Her love for adoption began in first grade when she made friends with twins adopted from Vietnam. Her heart grew strong over the years for adopted children and ultimately led her to graduate school where she continued her focus to her dream of working in the adoption field. Stephanie earned a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver in 2001. Over the past 15 years, Stephanie has worked as a pregnancy counselor and as an adoptive parent counselor for foster care, international adoption and domestic adoption, writing hundreds of home studies for families, and helping build their forever families. Stephanie is married and has three boys ages 12, 9, and 5. Together with her family she enjoys riding bike, playing games, watching her three sons compete in their various sporting and musical activities and go on vacations.
Christy Ikeler, is our Executive Director and Birth Parent Director. Christy has been with Adoption Choices Team for 18 years, since opening the doors in 2002! Christy has a true passion for what she does and her true love is working with and helping each birth parent. Whether she is up all night on the phone talking with them, taking them to doctors appointments, out for their favorite treat, providing counseling or at the hospital during labor and delivery, Christy is very involved every step of the way. She has a contagious laugh and a spunky personality that our birth moms all can bond with and relate to. As an adoptive parent herself, adoption holds a very special place in her heart and she can relate on every level with both birth parents and adoptive parents. In her free time Christy loves spending time with her daughter, gardening, baking and taking vacations with her family. Christy is an excellent leader for our team at Adoption Choices and is truly one of a kind!! As Executive Director, Christy spends time with the staff, birth parents and adoptive families in order to ensure that the agency is running smoothly. She has placed a huge emphasis on community outreach and programs for birth parents. Christy loves the opportunity to lead the agency into a brighter future.
Ms. Mackenzie has built a successful counseling career over the past 20 years, supporting mothers and families, people of all ages and genders, students, community professionals and fellow clinicians. Liv values a diverse professional focus, including the entrepreneurial life of a sole proprietor, the evaluative process of certifying foster/adoptive homes, the insightful and mindful one-on-one one work with enthusiastic clients, and serving as an advocate for underserved populations. Liv is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a BA in Pre-Law and Economics from American University, an MA in Counseling from Adams University and a certificate in Human Resource Management from Villanova University. Away from work you will find Liv spending time in nature, biking to the farmer’s market and adventuring with her family.
Catherine A. Madsen, joined the Adoption Choices family as legal counsel in 2013. Catherine is responsible for providing legal guidance to the Agency, training and updating staff on developments in adoption law and legislation, and program development. Catherine
Virginia Frank is an adoption attorney accredited since 1991 with the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Ms. Frank is a leader in the field of private adoption and has completed over 4,000 adoptions in her career. Ms. Frank has a law degree from Oklahoma City University and a BA in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
Cassidie has been with Adoption Choices since 2015, she has her bachelors in Interdisciplinary Affairs with concentrations in both Sociology and Business Management. Cassidie has additional training in Victim Advocacy, foster care and has been working in women’s services for over 10 years. Cassidie has always had a heart for adoption and it was her career dream to work in adoption. She started off doing volunteer work for advocacy programs, adoption organizations and worked in High Risk Maternal Fetal Medicine through the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. Cassidie is also blessed to have personally experienced an adoption of her own in 2012, completing her family of five! Cassidie loves what she does as a case worker from initial phone calls, meetings, doctor appointments, interaction with the adoptive families to delivery and counseling. Cassidie has a passion for those in need and strives to help make a difference in the lives of the people she meets. She is a firm believer in being kind, compassionate and open minded in all situations. “Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, there’s no place for judgment. A kind word or compliment can go a long way!” The bittersweet moments in adoption reminds Cassidie each and every time, why she loves what she does!