What is the Surrogate Screening Process in Colorado?
Are you a surrogate eager to start your journey but feel overwhelmed by the surrogacy process? Do you have concerns about your well-being and safety? Would you like to know a little more about how an agency can help you navigate your medical appointments? If so, then let’s go over some helpful information so you can be prepared! The surrogate screening process in Colorado can seem tedious at first, but by working with our agency, the process can go smoother. It’s important to know that screenings are meant to keep you, and everyone else involved, safe and protected.
With Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado, you can rest assured you will be taken care of physically, mentally, and emotionally.
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.
Requirements for the Surrogate Screenings Process in Colorado
The surrogacy process is a delicate one, so we try to make it as easy as possible by ensuring your well-being. Our agency provides you, the surrogate mother, with health screenings at the beginning of your journey and through the pregnancy. These screenings are meant to ensure your mental and physical health is ready for the surrogacy process.
Another reason we provide health screenings is to ensure the safety of the baby you will be carrying. You are taking on an incredibly selfless act, so your and the baby’s well-being is our agency’s top priority. These health screenings are for your mental and physical benefit.
What Surrogate Screenings to Expect at the Start of Your Surrogacy Journey
As you start your journey, you will first need to check that you meet our requirements for surrogate mothers. This can be considered the beginning of your screening process. These requirements are not meant to discourage you, but to ensure you are ready for the process. Some examples of these requirements are:
- To be between the ages of 21 and 39
- You have had a previous successful pregnancy
- You are currently parenting a child/children
- You don’t smoke or use any illegal drugs
- You have a stable lifestyle and support
After you look over the requirements and see that you fit them, you will begin the health screening process. The first is the application process to see if you meet our basic physical and medical requirements. After your application is completed, you will go through our matching process. This is a good chance for you to connect with your intended parents. The next will be a medical check-up and mental health evaluation. This will ensure that you are mentally and physically ready for the journey ahead of you. Our team of professionals will make sure you will not face this process alone. We can help make sure you are legally, mentally, and physically protected with these screenings.
The Health Screening Process through the Surrogate Mother’s Pregnancy
Through the pregnancy, you will go through standard checkups that will make sure everyone involved is safe. You will start with a physical along with laboratory testing. To prepare for the “in-vitro fertilization” (IVF) process, you will go through some fertility tests and treatments. These treatments will better prepare you physically. After the tests and treatments, the intended mother’s egg will be fertilized by the intended father’s sperm in a lab. The fertilized egg will then be placed in your uterus to carry, this is the IVF process. Then throughout your pregnancy, you will go to standard doctor’s appointments and ultrasounds which we can help you schedule.
What Surrogate Screenings are Available to Surrogate Mothers in Colorado?
As a surrogate mother, it’s important to keep in mind that your health and safety are our agency’s top priority. By staying well informed, you are ensuring your journey is a meaningful and fulfilling process. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Colorado can offer you resources and professionals that are driven to help you.
Now that you are familiar with the screening process, are you ready to take on the next steps to become a surrogate?
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: Courtney Chunglo is a California-based writer who keeps her poetry romantic and her prose thrilling. Courtney has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. Her poetry has been published in Sonoma State University’s anthology titled, Zaum XXI where she also served as one of the editors for the short story submissions.
Courtney grew up in a family of women storytellers who could make you feel, hear, smell, and even taste their tales. This inspiration to tell stories and being a voracious reader morphed into an unshakable desire to write. Possessed by the pen, Courtney strives to engage readers’ intellect and satisfy their need for a good story.
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!