Complete Guide to Surrogacy in the Midst of a Pandemic
Intended Parents
As an intended parent, you probably have a lot of questions about how surrogacy is being done in the time of COVID-19. You’ve come to the right place! At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado, we have your complete guide to surrogacy in the midst of a pandemic.
Starting Surrogacy as an Intended Parent during the Pandemic
If you are ready to add to your family, don’t let the pandemic stop you. Surrogacy agencies have done everything in their power to make the process safe, as have fertility clinics. We can guide you through the surrogacy process.
Why should you start now? The better question is, why not start now? We understand that the amount of time it can complete your surrogacy journey can seem daunting. After all, you have to be matched with a surrogate, sign a surrogacy agreement, begin fertility treatments, and wait through the pregnancy before you can have your child. But that’s all natural. So, what’s holding you back? Surrogacy is ready whenever you would like to begin. Don’t put your family on hold because of COVID-19.
The Surrogacy Process for Intended Parents during the Pandemic
So, what are the steps of surrogacy as an intended parent? Once you have found a reliable surrogacy agency, you will need to consult with a surrogacy specialist and sign an agreement for the surrogacy services. Then, you will have an intro video call with the Journey Coordination team. If you need an egg donor, you will be matched with one and create embryos.
After this, you enter the matching stage where our Matching Team will help find you the surrogate who best matches with you. If you and the surrogate are mutually interested in working with one another, you will have an intro video call and be officially matched together.
To begin your surrogacy process as intended parents, your egg and sperm, respectively will be collected, then fertilized in a lab. As the embryos are being created, and your surrogate is preparing for the IVF process, you will work with your surrogacy lawyer to draft a surrogacy contract. The surrogate will also work with her legal representation.
The IVF Process and Pregnancy for Intended Parents
When everything is ready, the surrogate will have the embryo transfer at the fertility clinic. At some initial appointments, her doctor will confirm she is pregnant and your baby will be on its way.
During the pregnancy, you will be able to keep in regular contact with your surrogate through phone calls, video calls, and messages. The clinic may not allow you to be physically present for the 20-week ultrasound to help eliminate COVID-19 risk, but you will be able to attend virtually through video calls. Hospital protocols will determine whether you can be present for the birth, so ask ahead of time to prepare. In no time, you will have your baby home.
Surrogacy Changes due to the Pandemic
Most of the changes brought on by COVID-19 are additional steps to the logistics involved. As intended parents, you can expect to encounter more telecommunication and socially-distanced medical appointments.
Your surrogate will encounter increased COVID-19 safety precautions when attending her medical appointments as well. Specific alterations depend on the protocol of the facilities you agree to use. In general, surrogates have been given pre-screening for COVID-19 symptoms and contact with people exposed to the virus. They may have to wait in their vehicles before appointments to avoid spending time in waiting rooms. If your surrogate tests positive for COVID-19, or shows any symptoms at the time of her appointment, the fertility clinic will delay the embryo transfer. These measures are in place to protect her and your future baby.
Your clinic or hospital will let you know if intended parents are allowed to be present during medical appointments during the pandemic. In many cases, facilities are restricting the number of people allowed in, and surrogates have been allowed to have their support person present. Intended parents can expect to arrange for the surrogate or her support person to use a phone or tablet to let you experience the medical appointments virtually through video calls.
Hospitals have varied on their protocols as to whether the intended parents can be present for the birth during the pandemic. Even though you are the baby’s biological parents, the medical facilities want to limit the potential exposure to COVID-19, especially with your baby’s young immune system. We recommend that you communicate with the hospital in advance to ask about their protocols and prepare for the possibilities.
Intended Parent’s Complete Guide to Surrogacy in the Midst of a Pandemic
At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado, our surrogacy specialists are ready to guide you through the entire surrogacy process. Whether you need counsel, support, or someone to answer your questions, we are here to help. Contact our surrogacy agency with all of your questions about gestational 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!