Gestational Surrogacy is when a woman decides to kindly help others build their families. A Gestational Surrogate carries and nurtures a pregnancy to give birth to a child who has no biological connection to herself. In doing so she gives the best gift of all time, allowing others to have a child they have longed for but are unable to have without the help of a Gestational Surrogate.
There are two types of surrogacy:
Gestational Surrogacy: where the carrier carries a pregnancy that is not created using her own egg but rather by the intended mother’s egg or a donor egg, and sperm from the intended father or donor sperm. IVF (In vitro fertilization) is used to make the embryo, which is implanted into the surrogate's uterus, as a result there is no biological connection.
Traditional Surrogacy: where the surrogate agrees to use her own egg and is inseminated with sperm from the intended father or a sperm donor. This would mean the surrogate is the biological parent of the child, even though she will waive legal parental rights.
Attribute Gestational Surrogacy Traditional Surrogacy
| Attribute | Gestational Surrogacy | Traditional Surrogacy |
| Surrogate's Egg Used |
No |
Yes |
| Surrogate Related to Baby | No | Yes |
| Method Used for Fertilization | IVF | Artificial Insemination |
| Legal Depth | Often Simpler | More complex due to genetic tie |
There are various reasons people may need the help of a Gestational Surrogate. Some mothers are unable to carry a pregnancy due to medical reasons or past health reasons. Same-sex couples may choose gestational surrogacy as a way to build their family, and single men who would like to become fathers may also use this option. In some cases, a woman may physically be able to carry, but the risks of doing so make surrogacy a safer choice.
From both sides, as the surrogate or as the intended parent, going on this journey will bring out some of life’s deepest emotions. Intended parents have often struggled with infertility for many years, pregnancy loss, or challenging medical conditions. Deciding to use a surrogate can bring on emotions of hope and appreciation. It can also bring on stress and anxiety, knowing that there can be a loss and that they have no control during the pregnancy.
For surrogates, completing a surrogacy journey is often rewarding and inspiring, but not without a mix of other emotions. To be able to carry a child for someone else and be able to part after delivery requires a mentally-strong and emotionally-resilient person. During the journey there is usually a bond formed between the surrogate and the intended parents; a relationship like no other. For both the intended parents and the surrogate, having emotional support is a must! Spouses, family or friends are great people to provide in-person support during the whole process. Counseling may be needed for one party or the other, it’s always good to talk to a professional. Making sure both parties agree on what is expected during the journey and are on the same page can help everyone to prepare for the ups and downs of the emotions that may come up during a surrogacy journey.
Surrogacy is a beautiful thing, but for the intended parents, it can be quite expensive.
The intended parents need to cover many costs such as:
*Agency fees
*Legal fees (for their own attorney and one provided for the surrogate)
*Surrogacy Compensation
*Medical and IVF costs
*Prenatal care and delivery
*Health insurance/Life insurance
*Travel expenses
For the surrogate, compensation does vary but will usually include:
*A base fee ( dependent on location, previous surrogacy experience, multiples)
*Pregnancy allowances
*Maternity clothing
*Travel costs (flights/hotel/food)
*Childcare/housekeeping
*Lost wages for the surrogate and her spouse/support person
*Life Insurance coverage
Both parties want to be sure that everything is clear and agreed upon before starting the journey. These things will be put into your legal contracts that all will sign off on. A surrogate can use her compensation for whatever she sees fit: possibly a down payment on a house or a college fund for her kids. Some may just want to save it for the future. There is no wrong way to spend the compensation you get for doing such an amazing thing for someone else.
Each surrogate will go through an extensive screening process to make sure they are physically and emotionally ready to embark on this journey.
This will include:
-Multiple phone/video calls
-A full medical history review
-Background checks (surrogate/partner/any adults over 18 in the home)
-A uterine lining check
-Psychological evaluation
All to make sure you’re in optimal shape to have a safe and smooth IVF cycle and pregnancy.
The intended parents will also go through screening steps including:
-Psychological screening
-Multiple phone/video calls
-Background checks
-Medical screening if utilizing their own eggs/sperm to create their embryos
All aimed at ensuring you are delivering the baby into a safe and loving home.
Once a surrogate has completed and passed these steps, she will be matched with her intended parents and they will all sign off on the legal contract with support from their own individual expert attorneys.
The next step is starting the IVF treatments, working with whichever IVF clinic the intended parents utilized to create and store their embryos. They will have tested embryos frozen and ready to go. The surrogate will take medications to prepare her uterine lining for 3-6 weeks. The embryo will be transferred to the surrogate's uterus by the IVF Doctor. The pregnancy will be confirmed by a blood test 10-14 days later.. They will do an ultrasound to confirm heartbeat around 6 weeks of pregnancy, which is such an amazing moment. The pregnancy will be closely monitored and after about 10-11 weeks of pregnancy most women will be released to their own OB and deliver at their local hospital with a NICU on site. The surrogate and intended parents will keep in contact about updates for the pregnancy and appointments.
There are several legal considerations when doing a surrogacy journey. You want to make sure the intended parents/parent is the legal parent and has all rights to the child. It is important to make sure the surrogate is fairly compensated and this is all transparent and correct in the contract. When doing your legal contracts for a surrogacy journey, you should ensure it is clear on:
*Parental rights (the baby belongs to the intended parents)
*Surrogates responsibilities through the journey (what she can and cannot do)
*What is expected in case there are any medical complications
*Surrogate compensation and reimbursements
It is best to have two separate 3rd party attorneys: one for the surrogate and one for the intended parents/parent, and these attorneys must be familiar with surrogacy. Surrogacy laws differ from state to state, so it is very important to follow each state's laws for surrogacy.
Deciding to go on a surrogacy journey is such a personal decision for a potential surrogate and for intended parents alike. The journey and process is not always easy but it is really worth the end result. If surrogacy sounds like the right fit for you, do your research and understand all that goes into this life changing journey, and find a program that best fits your needs. At Hatch we have been supporting family building through surrogacy since 1991. Our team is composed of experienced surrogates and intended parents, and this first-hand experience allows us to create an optimal experience from start to finish for our surrogates and intended families. If you’re ready to learn more please reach out and we’re excited to get to know you and personalize your experience.
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