Questions about Surrogacy for Same-Sex Couples in Colorado
Colorado’s LGBTQ+ and surrogacy-friendly laws make it an ideal place for same-sex couples considering surrogacy as a pathway to parenthood. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is an experienced surrogacy agency that has helped build many families through gestational surrogacy. For many same-sex couples, surrogacy is the best pathway to realizing their dream of having a family. If you’re considering surrogacy, you may have some questions about how surrogacy works in Colorado.
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.
Questions Surrogacy for LGBTQ+ Couples in Colorado
- What is a surrogate? How is she different from a birth mother?
A surrogate mother is a woman who carries an embryo implanted in her uterus via in vitro fertilization (IVF) on behalf of the baby’s intended parents. While some types of surrogacy do involve the surrogate also donating her own egg, Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado facilitates gestational surrogacy only. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is not biologically connected to the child in any way.
A birth mother is a woman who is the biological parent of the baby she delivers. Most often, the term “birth mother” is used in an adoption scenario in which the birth mother is relinquishing her parental rights so her biological child can be parented by another family. A gestational surrogate, on the other hand, never has parental rights to the baby she carries.
- How does same-sex surrogacy work?
For gay couples, one of the men in the relationship can provide his sperm for IVF. For lesbian couples, one of the women in the relationship can give her egg for the IVF procedure. Therefore, one of the intended parents in the relationship maintains a genetic link to their child. The remaining genetic component is provided by a donor. Many same-sex couples have a person in their lives who is willing to be their donor. Others choose an anonymous donor. Regardless, the embryo is created in a lab, then implanted into the gestational carrier, or surrogate, through the IVF procedure.
- With same-sex couples, the baby can only be genetically linked to one intended parent. Does the other intended parent have to adopt the baby?
Not in Colorado! In many states, the law does require one of the parents to petition for second-parent adoption. Colorado’s pre-birth orders allow same-sex couples to petition to have both intended parents’ names listed on the birth certificate at the time of the birth.
- Can I choose, as a surrogate, to specialize only in same-sex families?
Absolutely! It’s not uncommon for a surrogate mother to choose to focus on helping same-sex couples realize their dream of parenthood through surrogacy. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado works hard to match intended parents with just the right surrogate for them. We can match you with the same sex couple as intended parents if that’s the kind of family you’re passionate about helping.
- Why do I need a surrogacy agency to become a surrogate in Colorado?
Using a professional, experienced surrogacy agency such as Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado makes the entire surrogacy experience safer and more stress-free for everyone involved. Our resources provide support and care throughout the surrogacy process, greatly benefiting everyone involved.
We carefully screen both the potential gestational carrier as well as the intended parents. Screenings include things like physical exams, social and medical history, and background checks. Our Case Managers facilitate your medical care during pregnancy and even at the hospital for the birth to make sure things go smoothly. We even manage the compensation for the surrogate mothers to make the financial part as simple and seamless as possible for both the gestational carrier and the intended parents. As the surrogate, your job is to take care of yourself and the baby you’re carrying. We try to take care of everything else.
- Even though, as the gestational carrier, I wouldn’t be the baby’s biological mother, I feel like there’s a special bond there. Will I be able to see the child again after he or she is born?
Their baby’s surrogate mom carries a special place in the hearts of intended parents. Without you, their dreams of having their own family may not have come to fruition. Though there’s never a guarantee, it is very common for intended parents and their surrogates to form a very special life-long bond that results in an ongoing relationship. Since most surrogates are already mothers themselves, they have experienced both the joys and occasional frustrations of parenting. That experience allows the surrogate to be a potential source of support and advice for the new parents as their baby grows.
If you’re considering becoming a surrogate mother or would like to help same-sex couple realize their dream of parenthood, reach out to Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado for more information. We’re helping to build families, and we’d love to connect you with the right intended parents for your surrogacy journey.
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: After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in Education, majoring in English and Social Sciences, Brianne Davis has spent her adult life as an educator; first in the public schools, later through martial arts. Her ability to convey difficult concepts, navigate varied learning styles, and always keep it interesting defined her reputation as an impactful instructor. Many of her early published blogs centered on the goal of helping other instructors effectively teach children for whom learning is a struggle. Once an empty nester, she committed to sitting in traffic less and writing more. With those goals in mind, she, along with her husband and dogs, packed up, sold their family home and moved to the banks of the Columbia River in Central Washington’s wine country, where the pace of life is slower and the sun shines brighter. Realizing in our modern age, more of us turn to the internet for information than ever before, Brianne, now dedicates her time to educating others through blog writing.
As a life-long information junkie, Brianne enjoys taking deep dives into new topics, then condensing them in an interesting way to convey valuable information in a relatively short amount of space. Once her career, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and mixed martial arts remain hobbies, along with boating, reading, and traveling.
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!