FAQs about Gestational Surrogacy for Surrogates
Surrogacy is a life-changing opportunity for families who need help having a child. If you are considering becoming a surrogate, you might have some questions about the process and whether you would be a good fit. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about gestational surrogacy for surrogates. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado wishes to give you the information you need to consider before you apply to join our agency.
Who can be a Surrogate?
Surrogacy agencies require surrogates to be women between a certain age range who have completed their family. Surrogates should be raising their own children and have a history of healthy pregnancies with no complications. Potential surrogates are screened for physical and emotional health to make sure they are ready to have another family’s child. Surrogate mothers are also nonsmokers who have financial independence and access to reliable transportation.
Sometimes the intended parents will personally know their surrogate, in what are called “identified surrogacies.” These may be friends or family members who wish to help a loved one complete their family. Identified surrogates are still screened for physical health and emotional strength. Our agency encourages these potential surrogates to receive pre-surrogacy counseling to manage attachment and for mental and emotional support.
A surrogate’s family must be supportive of the surrogacy process, as they are her greatest support system. Their partner or spouse must also confirm that they claim no parental rights to the baby.
Are Surrogates Related to the Baby?
No. With gestational surrogacy, the egg and sperm come from the intended parents or donors, not from the surrogate herself. After receiving fertility treatments, the surrogate will undergo an embryo transfer through in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. So, while the embryo will grow in the surrogate’s uterus, the baby will not be biologically related to her.
What goes into Matching Surrogates and Intended Parents?
Our agency takes the lead in matching surrogates and intended parents. After screening surrogates and intended parents, we find the best matches based on a number of factors. These can include their preferences for contact throughout the process and after the baby is delivered. You and the intended parents will have the opportunity to review each other’s profiles and possibly meet to get to know each other before a decision is made. When both parties are happy with the match, our agency will help you to move forward with a surrogacy contract.
How Long does it Take to Find a Match with Intended Parents?
Once a surrogate is approved by our agency and we begin looking for a match, it can take 15 to 18 months on average to match with intended parents. If the surrogate has recently been pregnant and is breastfeeding, the child must be weaned and she must have at least one menstrual cycle before she will be approved for another match.
How Many Embryos will be Transferred?
Usually 1 or 2 embryos will be transferred, depending on what is agreed upon between all parties. This number is predetermined and documented in the surrogacy agreement. The number of embryo transfer attempts will not commonly be more than 3. If you are comfortable carrying multiple embryos, 2 or 3 may be transferred in one attempt.
Will I be Required to Travel during the Surrogacy Process?
During the initial stages of the process, the surrogate will have to travel to meet with the surrogacy lawyers and the intended parents. You will usually be asked to schedule your medical appointments at a clinic close to the intended parents’ home, and this will be agreed upon during the initial meetings.
How much Interaction do Surrogates have with Intended Parents?
The contact between surrogates and the intended parents depends on the agreement they make in the agreement. Often, the intended parents are invited to important medical appointments throughout the process to experience the exciting developments of the pregnancy. The intended parents are also usually present during labor and delivery to experience the joy of welcoming their baby into the world.
Throughout the process, the intended parents and surrogate may exchange regular updates. Some families establish ongoing contact even after the baby is born, but there is no expectation of this. All intended parent and surrogate pairings should be matched with consideration for each party’s wishes in regards to contact. If you wish, you can maintain contact after the baby is born through photos, letters, or social media.
FAQs about Gestational Surrogacy for Surrogates
If you have any additional questions about gestational surrogacy and the surrogacy process, contact our surrogacy specialists at Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado.
If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy and want to learn more about your adoption options, contact Adoption 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!