Becoming a Surrogate Mother is one the most rewarding experiences you can have in life. But it is a big decision and there are many steps to becoming a surrogate mother. Family Matters Surrogacy, LLC (“Family Matters” or “The Agency”) is committed to walking with you each and every step of the way.
Family Matters Surrogacy
Guide to Becoming a Surrogate Mother
The Surrogate Evaluation Process
The first step is to complete the online surrogate inquiry form. The Agency representative will contact you to learn more about you and to go over the complete surrogacy process in greater detail. Once we determine that we are great fit for each other,
, you will be sent a surrogate application, profile and consent forms to complete and return. The agency will review this information, run a background check on you and request medical records from all of your pregnancies and deliveries. We will also conduct a personal visit or Skype call – dependent upon location. Once this review is completed, you will be contacted by our knowledgeable staff.
Acceptance
Congratulations, you are now an accepted Surrogate Mother with Family Matters Surrogacy, LLC. We will now look for the right couple for you to help create a family! Once we have a great couple for you, we will send you their profile for review.
We will then schedule a meeting in person, by Skype or by phone – dependent upon the location of all parties – with you, an Agency representative, and the Intended Parents. The discussion will include expectations and partnership plans during the surrogacy pregnancy, and just generally getting to know one another. You will then mutually agree to move forward.
You are Matched
You are now matched and ready to get your journey moving forward in preparation for your pregnancy! The first step is to complete a Psychological evaluation. The Agency appointed psychologist will contact you to arrange this meeting directly.
The meeting will involve a session with a psychologist or equivalent and a written test/questionnaire (MMPI or PIA). The testing and session will take approximately 3 hours. This is completed to ensure that you are mentally-able and safe to carry a baby for your Intended Parents. The psychologist will send the results to the Agency within 72 hours. The Agency will update you with the results as soon as they are available.
Medical Screening
The IVF clinic will contact you to schedule your medical screening appointment. If you will be traveling for this appointment, the Agency will work with you to prepare your travel arrangements. This appointment will consist of the following:
A physical exam
Lab work (blood and urine). Drug screening & STD screening will be performed.
Vaginal Ultrasound (sonohysterogram) or Hysteroscope. (A probe is inserted into the uterus looking for polyps, scar tissue and the thickness of your uterine lining).
Once your blood work comes back, you are now considered medically cleared and the legal process will begin.
Legal
During the legal process, the Intended Parents’ attorney will draft a legal contract and send it to your attorney. This agreement is to clarify the intentions of all parties involved. Your attorney will review this contract prior to signing.
It is important to review the agreed-upon expectations of each party and the compensation. Once everyone is in a greeance, you will be given instructions to have this document notarized and sent back to the attorneys. They will then issue “Legal Clearance” for your surrogacy journey.
Surrogate IVF Cycle
Now that you have complete all of the necessary screenings, it is time to for the IVF doctor to begin preparing your body to receive an embryo and to carry a surrogate pregnancy. Medications will begin approximately 6 weeks prior to the embryo transfer and continue through the first trimester of pregnancy.
The IVF nurse will review each medication with you; including restrictions and what to expect during the cycle. During this time, you will most likely be taking Estrogen and Progesterone hormones, these medications are taken as injectable, patch, pill or oral form. You will also have approximately 3-5 in-office visits to check your blood levels and your uterine lining. Once these levels are ideal and your body is ready, the embryo transfer will be scheduled.
Embryo Transfer
The embryo transfer consists of an in office visit where a speculum is placed into the vagina followed by a small catheter which carries the embryo(s) from the incubator to the uterus.
This process takes a matter of minutes to complete once you are properly prepared by the clinic staff. After the embryo transfer, some IVF doctors will require bedrest or for you to take it easy from 24-48 hours.
Pregnancy test
Nine to fourteen after your embryo transfer, you will have a blood test to confirm your pregnancy. This blood test will check for the hormone detected in pregnancy named Human Chorionic Gonadrotropin; or HCG.
If you are confirmed pregnant, you will be approximately 4+ weeks pregnant at this time. You will repeat this blood test in 48 hours to ensure that your HCG is doubling as this number should double every 48-72 hours.
Heartbeat
Your first ultrasound will be scheduled between 6-8 weeks of pregnancy. This ultrasound will be to look for a fetal heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, we consider you “officially” pregnant.
The IVF clinic will also look for placement of the fetus in the uterus as well as the number of fetuses. You will have another 2-3 ultrasound within the following weeks to look for fetal growth and development. At Approximately 11-13 weeks of pregnancy, the IVF doctor will release your care to an Obstetrician or “OB”.
Family Matters Surrogacy
OB Care
Now that you are released to the OB, your pregnancy will continue under the care of your doctor, just like any other pregnancy you have had. If you are carrying multiples, you may be asked to see a specialist.
Family Matters Surrogacy
Pregnancy & Delivery
This pregnancy may or may not be different than your own pregnancies. During this pregnancy, the Intended Parents will want to be involved and have constant communication regarding their child and your health. It is important for you and the Agency to update them each step of the way. The Agency will ask you to participate in support groups and online forums for continued success of your surrogacy journey. The Agency will attend some of your appointments with you for ongoing support. It is likely that the Intended Parents will want to be in the delivery room as this is a memorable and amazing time. Upon delivery of the baby, the baby(ies) will go straight to the parents for bonding. The Intended Parents have waited a long time for the bundle of joy you have just allowed them to ability to have.
Congratulations, you are now a successful surrogate mother!!