The rapidly changing COVID-19 situation is presenting new challenges for our community. We understand that our families and surrogates are being impacted by the pandemic, and we are here to continue providing support and doing everything we can to ensure their success. Our first priority is everyone’s health and safety, and we want to update you on our response and the changes you may experience:

• All NWSC employees are working from home. We are accessible through our regular email addresses and phone numbers. Many of our employees were already working from home on a part-time basis, and this has been a smooth transition for our team. We are committed to continue providing the highest level of service amidst this crisis.
• We encourage surrogates to continue consulting their doctors and local government about how to stay healthy and protect their families. If a surrogate is currently under the care of a fertility clinic, she is receiving instructions directly from the clinic.
• If you are an intended family and starting your surrogacy process soon, NWSC is available to speak with you individually about how the COVID-19 outbreak may affect your timeline.
• We are excited that so many wonderful women are contacting us to start their surrogacy journeys. We are completing interviews, psychological assessments, and even home visits via video for potential surrogates. This pre-match process for surrogates is moving forward efficiently and has not been disrupted. We are here and ready to help you get started! https://nwsurrogacycenter.com/gc-intake/
• We are also pleased that we can continue to match surrogates with intended families normally. Match meetings are typically completed over video, and this process has not been affected.
• Once matched, surrogates and intended families can work on their legal contract. This is also usually done over phone and email, and the attorneys we work with are available to complete this step with you.
• NWSC is committed to reducing exposure in our communities, and we have canceled upcoming social gatherings and non-essential travel. We are providing virtual surrogate group meetings as well as other supportive communication and touchpoints.
• For surrogates that are close to or are ready to start an IVF cycle, the clinics are following ASRM guidelines and have temporarily paused cycles. https://www.reproductivefacts.org/?vs=1&_ga=2.225843162.1536444083.1585066167-206087143.1583882410  We understand this is disappointing, especially when everyone has worked hard to reach that point in the process. Everyone looks forward to resuming cycles as soon as it is safe for the community.
• If you are an international intended parent and your surrogate is currently pregnant, we encourage you to arrive early for delivery in case there are unexpected travel restrictions.  You can find current US travel restrictions here – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html.  Please note that hospitals are limiting the number of support people per patient. Hospital policies may differ depending on the situation.  We ask that you remain flexible and understanding of hospital policies.

Our staff is working diligently to ensure that NWSC continues to function at the highest level, and that we have sound plans and planning processes in place for whatever we face. All of us are working together to prioritize everyone’s health and safety.

Sincerely,

The NWSC Team

Learn more about best practices and recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html