The Surrogacy Process for Future Parents

The Pathway To Parenthood Begins Here!
8 Steps In the Surrogacy Process

Beginning the surrogacy process is a very exciting time for individuals/couples who have decided surrogacy is how they will grow their family! The surrogacy process can also be overwhelming creating unnecessary fear and uncertainty. This step-by-step guide explains what you can expect during the surrogacy process and provides a reference point during your surrogacy journey. Working with an experienced surrogacy agency like Pathways To Parenthood will provide support every step of the way.

Step 1: Making the decision

Is surrogacy right for you?

Taking time to gather information and consider all aspects of the surrogacy process is essential before taking action to begin the journey to grow your family through surrogacy. Before making a final decision about whether surrogacy is the right family building option, there are many questions to answer and important things for intended parents to consider about surrogacy.

Most intended parents want to know the timeline for the surrogacy process, and the overall cost of the surrogacy journey. Other topics to consider and become educated about when deciding if surrogacy is right for you, are the legal processes of surrogacy, the benefits of working with a surrogacy agency, if using a friend or family member as a surrogate is a good option to consider, and how to get started on the surrogacy process.

When making decisions about whether using a surrogate is right for you, it can be helpful to talk with other people who have grown their family through surrogacy. Read the stories of our parents and surrogates who have been through the surrogacy process and realized their dreams. Contact us today and we can connect you with some of our parents and surrogates that would be happy to talk with you about their surrogacy path to parenthood.

Step 2: Personal consultation

Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency offers a no charge, no obligation personal consultation that can be done in person, with a phone call, or by meeting virtually. We know you have many questions, and we are ready to answer them for you.

We are prepared to discuss all steps in the surrogacy process for parents and the surrogacy process for their surrogates. We will cover timelines, the costs involved in the surrogacy process, legal considerations and more.

During the personal consultation, we will also learn about you! We want to hear about your journey that led you to surrogacy. We want to know your personal wishes and preferences for your surrogacy journey. We want you to leave our personal consultation meeting feeling ready to take the next step in your surrogacy process.

Step 3: Let’s get started!

You’ve decided to work with Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency! We are ready to get started on the process, working alongside you to build your family through surrogacy! To make it official, sign the agency agreement and make the first of three agency fee payments. Preparation for the matching process will begin. You will complete an information form and begin working on your profile letter to prospective surrogates. This information will be used for matching with your surrogate.

Step 4: Matching with your surrogate

Making the best match

Our goal is to match intended parents with the surrogate that is their best match as soon as possible. Our wait times to match with a surrogate vary and current wait times can be provided during your personal consultation.

There are a variety of factors that go into the surrogacy matching process, and offering parents qualified surrogate candidates that match their preferences are at the top of the list! There are many steps in the surrogate screening process, and these steps can take up to 2-3 months for each surrogate candidate that goes through our stringent screening process.

We offer intended parents surrogate candidates for consideration that are the best fit for them. It is important that future parents are also the best fit for the surrogate candidate. It is essential for the best match possible that all parties feel good about the match and are excited about taking next steps together to make their dreams of bringing a baby into a family come true.

Step 5: Surrogate Medical Screening and Surrogacy Legal Agreement

The medical screening of your surrogate is the next step in the surrogacy process. As your surrogacy agency, we will work with your surrogate and fertility clinic throughout the medical screening process. We will assist in getting the medical screening process started and follow up with surrogate and fertility clinic until the medical screening process is completed.

Once the surrogate’s medical screening is completed and she has been medically approved by your fertility clinic, the legal agreement between intended parents and surrogate and spouse/partner (if applicable) is completed. Intended parents’ attorney will provide the first draft of the legal agreement to the surrogate’s attorney. Surrogates will have an independent attorney who will work with her to explain, clarify, and answer questions with respect to all aspects of the agreement. The surrogate’s attorney represents her interests in the legal agreement and will negotiate terms with your attorney.

All legal expenses will be paid for by intended parents. The legal agreement protects surrogates and parents and also ensures the intended parents are the legal parents of the child. The agreement covers many other important elements including surrogate compensation package and the personal wishes between surrogate and intended parents regarding pregnancy and birth. Once the legal agreement is completed, a Letter of Legal Clearance will be sent to your fertility clinic by the attorneys and funds for surrogate compensation are placed in escrow.

Step 6: Embryo Transfer & Pregnancy Confirmation

Once the legal agreement is completed, the embryo transfer cycle will begin. The surrogate’s medical preparation for the embryo transfer will start the cycle and will consist of medications and monitoring for the surrogate. The embryo transfer day is planned in advance of the cycle start so parents can arrange their schedules to be present for this very exciting day!

The pregnancy test will be scheduled within two weeks of embryo transfer day. The surrogate will have her blood drawn to confirm pregnancy, with repeat blood draws to follow. A heartbeat ultrasound will be done at the fertility clinic at 6 weeks of pregnancy, and most likely repeated at 8 weeks of pregnancy. After the heartbeat ultrasounds, surrogate and baby will “graduate” from the fertility clinic and will begin care with an obstetrician.

Step 7: Pregnancy & Preparing For Baby’s Arrival

At last, the long awaited, planned for, prepared for, and dreamed of pregnancy is real. This is the time to exhale a bit and allow space and time for joy and celebration. Celebrate the milestones of your pregnancy as you get ready for baby to arrive.

Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency will support parents and surrogate throughout the pregnancy as needed. We also assist with a birth plan process for parents and surrogates ensuring everybody is on the same page about the important details of labor and delivery when baby arrives. This process includes communicating with hospital staff so they are best prepared for baby’s arrival and understand the arrangement between surrogate and parents and who is who!

Your legal team will take care of the legal processes with the courts to establish your parental rights. They will also communicate with hospital staff, so they are prepared to implement the parentage process after the baby is born.

Step 8: The Birth Day!

The amazing completion of the surrogacy process is the birth of your baby. This day is one of the most highly anticipated and memorable times for parents as they hold their long-awaited baby in their arms. The birth of baby is an emotional time for parents and surrogate as the unique and extraordinary time spent together to bring a baby into a family has come to an end.

Once baby and surrogate are medically stable and cleared to go home, it is time to part ways. Although goodbyes are said and done, it is more like goodbye for now! Your family and your surrogate will forever be connected. Most parents and surrogates continue their relationship after leaving the hospital but there is not a template for that! It is a personal and special relationship to be determined by parents and surrogates as they wish.

Additional Information for Future Parents

• Surrogacy Services and Fees
• Surrogate Pre-Screening
• Legal Considerations
• Frequently Asked Questions