Complete Guide to Colorado Surrogacy in the Midst of a Pandemic for Surrogates
Like everything else, surrogacy has had to adjust to the world during COVID-19. That means both surrogates and intended parents may experience different safety protocols and guidelines, but none that affect their surrogacy timeline.
If you are a surrogate or intended parent hoping to complete your surrogacy journey during COVID-19, Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is here to help. Our surrogacy agency closely follows all current CDC guidelines to ensure your comfort and safety. In addition, we’ve put together this resource to help you have a complete guide to Colorado surrogacy in the midst of a pandemic for surrogates.
Becoming a Surrogate during the Pandemic
If you’re new to surrogacy, you may be wondering how to become a surrogate during the pandemic. Or, perhaps, if it’s even possible or safe. First off, yes, it is absolutely possible. Our surrogacy agency accepts new surrogates no matter what, so you can become a first-time surrogate right now. Whenever you are ready, our surrogacy agency can assist you.
1. Meeting Surrogate Qualifications in the midst of COVID-19
Becoming a surrogate mother is largely the same as it was before the pandemic. Our surrogate requirements exist to make sure our surrogates are healthy and ready for gestational surrogacy. Some of our surrogate qualifications include, but are not limited to the following. At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado, a surrogate must…
- Be between 21 and 39 years of age
- Have a history of at least one healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy
- Be actively raising at least one child
- Not be receiving government aid of any kind
- Be a US citizen
All surrogates must must also pass a physical and psychological exam and a background check.
2. Going Through the Screening Process as a Surrogate during COVID-19
If you meet our requirements for surrogate mothers, you can proceed with the screening process. First, you will be asked to fill out an initial application with general questions about you and why you are pursuing surrogacy. One of our surrogacy specialists will then reach out to you to get more detailed information about you, your family, your health history, and your personality.
Second, you will meet with a fertility specialist for a physical exam and lab work to make sure you are healthy. Our social worker may meet with you in your home to get to know you and give you the opportunity to ask questions about the surrogacy process.The final steps involve standard background checks and a meeting with a mental health care professional to make sure you are psychologically ready for surrogacy.
To make all of these interactions socially distanced, we may host one or more of these steps virtually through video interviews or masked meetings.
3. Being Matched with Intended Parents during COVID-19
You can expect to meet with the intended parents through a video call. The surrogacy agreement can also be coordinated through virtual meetings. Contact throughout the pregnancy can be through phone, video calls, messages, and photos. This can help keep the intended parents informed and updated with any new changes and give them the opportunity to feel involved.
Fundamental Changes for Surrogates during the Pandemic
The pandemic has not made any fundamental changes to being a surrogate. The main difference is in physical distancing from the intended parents and additional screenings for medical appointments.
Your experience with medical appointments will look like many other office visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can expect to be pre-screened for symptoms before any appointments and will need to wear a mask at all times. The intended parents may not be able to attend the milestone appointments with you, but they may ask you or your support person to host a video call to keep them involved from a distance.
The hospital may only allow your support person to be with you for the delivery instead of the intended parents, so another video call could be arranged here as well. Be sure to refer to your fertility clinic and hospital protocols to stay updated on these.
Your Complete Guide to Surrogacy in the Midst of a Pandemic for Surrogates
At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado, we are here to support surrogates and intended parents through what may be a time of many changes in their lives. Our surrogacy specialists can answer all of your questions and concerns about surrogacy during the pandemic.
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: Madilyn Moeller is a writer and editor keen on translating the technical. Madilyn’s years of science writing shine through as she explains everything from health insurance to moving for her readers. Madilyn has a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University in Professional Writing, Psychology, and Neuroscience. She is a lifelong writer bringing her curiosity to the marketing stage, building websites and blogs for businesses moving online. She knows more about Medicare than any young adult should.
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!