A Beginner’s Guide to the Surrogate Pregnancy Process

Beginning your surrogacy journey? Here is your step-by-step guide to the surrogate pregnancy process as an intended parent.

Surrogacy is a unique and successful way to build families, but the process can be complex, especially for those new to it. If you’re an intended parent considering surrogacy, understanding the step-by-step journey is essential. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the surrogate pregnancy process, including finding the right surrogate, the embryo transfer, confirming the pregnancy, and what to expect in terms of costs.

An Introduction to Surrogate Pregnancy

A surrogate pregnancy involves a woman (the surrogate) carrying a baby for intended parents who are unable to carry a pregnancy themselves. This process is an effective way for many to start or expand their families, but it requires careful planning and coordination with professionals like surrogacy agencies, fertility clinics, and legal experts.

There are two types of surrogacy: traditional and gestational. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate uses her own egg, making her the biological mother. However, gestational surrogacy is more common and ensures that the baby is genetically related to the intended parents or donors. In this process, the surrogate carries an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF), which is not genetically her own. If you’re curious about how gestational surrogacy works, this guide focuses on that type of surrogate pregnancy process.

1. Choosing a Surrogate

The first step in the surrogate pregnancy process is finding the right surrogate. For intended parents, selecting someone to carry their child is a deeply personal and critical decision.

• Work with a Surrogacy Agency: Partnering with a surrogacy agency simplifies the matching process, ensuring that surrogates and intended parents are paired based on shared values, expectations, and compatibility. Agencies like Northwest Surrogacy Center (NWSC) screen potential surrogates based on medical, psychological, and personal qualifications. They also handle legal contracts, which protect both the surrogate and the intended parents.
• Get Matched with a Surrogate: The matching process is essential in building a trusting relationship between the surrogate and intended parents. When you work with a surrogacy agency, they will carefully match you with a gestational surrogate based on your preferences and the surrogate’s goals. This ensures a positive, collaborative journey throughout the pregnancy. The agency plays a vital role in managing expectations and facilitating communication, so you’ll feel confident in your choice.

Choosing a surrogate is a significant decision, and NWSC is dedicated to helping you find the perfect match. You can learn more about how to get matched with a surrogate by visiting NWSC’s Becoming Parents Through Surrogacy page.

2. Embryo Transfer

Once matched with a surrogate, the next step is the embryo transfer. This medical procedure is at the heart of the surrogate pregnancy process.

• Fertility Clinic Involvement: The embryo transfer takes place at a fertility clinic. First, intended parents work with fertility specialists to create embryos through IVF. In this process, eggs from the intended mother or a donor are fertilized with sperm from the intended father or a donor. Once the embryos are created, they are usually frozen until the surrogate is ready for the transfer.
• Embryo Transfer Procedure: When the surrogate’s body is hormonally prepared, the fertility clinic will thaw the embryos and transfer one or more into her uterus. The embryo transfer itself is quick and minimally invasive, taking only a few minutes. Afterward, the surrogate will rest briefly to encourage implantation.

For more information on the embryo transfer process, visit NWSC’s Guide to Gestational Surrogacy.

3. Confirming the Pregnancy

A few weeks after the embryo transfer, the next step is confirming whether the pregnancy is successful. This is one of the most exciting stages in the surrogate pregnancy process.

• Pregnancy Test: The surrogate will take a blood test to determine if the embryo successfully implanted in her uterus. If the test results are positive, the pregnancy is confirmed. Shortly after, an ultrasound will be performed to check for a heartbeat, marking the official beginning of the pregnancy.
• Surrogate Compensation and Installments: Throughout the pregnancy, surrogates receive compensation for their time, dedication, and the physical demands of pregnancy. The base compensation is typically distributed in installments, with the bulk of payments received after pregnancy confirmation. This payment structure ensures that surrogates are financially supported throughout the entire process.\

If you’re curious about how surrogate compensation works, NWSC offers a comprehensive overview on their Surrogate Compensation page.

4. Surrogacy Costs

Understanding the financial aspect of surrogacy is crucial for intended parents. Many families wonder, “How much does it cost to have a surrogate?” While the costs can vary, it’s essential to plan carefully for the expenses involved.

• Surrogacy Prices: Surrogacy can be a significant financial investment. Costs typically range from $100,000 to $150,000 or more, depending on several factors. These include the agency’s fees, IVF procedures, medical care, legal fees, and the surrogate’s compensation. Surrogacy prices also cover other essentials like psychological evaluations, insurance, and travel expenses.
• Health Insurance: Health insurance is another important factor in surrogacy costs. The surrogate’s medical expenses throughout the pregnancy may be covered by her insurance, but sometimes additional policies are required to ensure full coverage. This can be a complex process, so working with a surrogacy agency helps ensure that both the surrogate and intended parents are adequately protected.

For more information on the financial side of surrogacy, you can explore NWSC’s detailed guide on Surrogacy Costs.

Conclusion

The surrogate pregnancy process is a remarkable journey that allows intended parents to build their families with the help of a caring and committed surrogate. While surrogacy may seem complex at first, working with an experienced surrogacy agency like NWSC ensures that each step, from choosing a surrogate to embryo transfer and confirming the pregnancy, is handled with professionalism and care.

Surrogacy is both an emotional and financial investment, but with the right support, intended parents can navigate the process smoothly and look forward to welcoming a new member into their family. If you’re ready to begin your surrogacy journey or want to learn more, Northwest Surrogacy Center is here to guide you every step of the way.

For additional information and resources, be sure to check out NWSC’s Becoming a Surrogate Mother and Parent Guides pages.