What are the Differences between Gestational Surrogacy and Adoption?
When contemplating an addition to your family, you’ll surely have questions about what goes into the Colorado surrogacy process. One of them will, undoubtedly, be: what type of family planning is best for you? For many hopeful parents-to-be, this will lead them one of two ways — either choosing surrogacy or adoption. But, which one will give you what you’re looking for?
There are several differences between gestational surrogacy and adoption. Although both are excellent options. It’s important to consider what kind of family you are looking to create. What aspects are most essential for you to have. Is it genetics? Or does biology and DNA not matter?
Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado is here to support you through the process of whichever choice is right for your family.
Genetic Differences Between Gestational Surrogacy and Adoption
The first difference comes from whether or not you are related to the child. With gestational SURROGACY, one or both of the intended parents will share genetic similarities with the baby. Gestational surrogacy uses in vitro fertilization (IVF). This process is where an embryo is created using an egg and sperm (from the intended parents or supplemented by a donor as needed), which is then implanted in the surrogate’s uterus. The surrogate is not related to the child.
With ADOPTION, neither prospective parent is genetically related to the baby. The birth mother is. The baby can also be from your same race or a different race, depending on what you’re looking for. Throughout the adoption process, the birth mother chooses who she’d like her baby to be raised by and then communicates how involved she’d like to be once the adoption is finalized.
How Does Surrogacy and Adoption Work?
Surrogacy agencies screen potential surrogates for health and fertility. Surrogates are typically required to be between the ages of 21 and 41, who have already delivered a healthy baby and are raising at least one child of their own. They are also screened for medical and social history, as well as alcohol and drug use. Often the surrogate must have reliable transport. With a surrogate, the intended parents are involved in the surrogacy journey and have assurance that the baby in question will be theirs after he or she is born.
With adoption, birth mothers are asked to self-report alcohol and drug use, and the adoptive parents may have less awareness of the birth mother’s medical or social history. Depending on the type of adoption they and the birth mother choose to pursue, the adoptive parents may have less involvement in the pregnancy part of the adoption journey. Additionally, the birth mother has the right to change her mind for an allotted amount of time by her home state about whether or not she wants to relinquish her parental rights. While this isn’t a very common occurrence, it’s important for adoptive parents to be aware of it.
How Does Legal Custody Transfer?
In gestational surrogacy, because the surrogate is not related to the child, this allows for a simpler process with legal custody. However, to ensure that everyone’s privacy and rights are respected, we do recommend that both the surrogate and intended parents get their own surrogacy lawyers to draw up a contract for them. Our surrogacy agency has in-house legal counsel that would be more than happy to help and answer any questions you have about this portion of the surrogacy journey. What’s important to remember, though, is that there is no uncertainty with surrogacy as to who the legal parents are. The surrogate has no claim on the child.
With adoption, as aforementioned, birth mothers reserve the right to change their minds at any time before or after their baby is born. The adoptive parents do not become the child’s legal parents until the birth mother signs the relinquishment paperwork in the hospital and the adoption has been finalized in court. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our in-house legal counsel.
How Does Contact Work after Birth?
With adoption, depending on what type of adoption she chose, birth mothers often ask to be allowed contact with the adoptive family to see how the child grows over the years. This can be through letters, photos, social media, or in person. Being related to the child makes this a natural and healthy way for the child and birth mother to get to know one another and learn about family history if they choose to. If you believe adoption is the right choice for you and your family, our adoption agency will help you through the adoption process and give you information on how you can create an adoptive parent profile for our birth mothers to view.
Within gestational surrogacy, this depends on the closeness that the surrogate has with the intended parents. Many surrogates don’t ask for contact post-birth, yet if they have a strong relationship with the intended parents, she and they may decide to keep in contact after the baby is born. Both parties’ wishes will be taken into account when you are matched with the help of our surrogacy agency to ensure that everyone is satisfied with the arrangement — before and after the birth and delivery process.
Differences Between Gestational Surrogacy and Adoption
Adding a baby to your family is a big step, so it’s very important to research and think about what path to parenthood you want to take. Deciding between surrogacy and adoption requires a lot of thought, as both have their own sets of pros and cons. There is no right or wrong answer, though. Only what is best for you and your family.
If you have any questions about gestational surrogacy or adoption, please feel free to reach out to our experts 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!