The steps to surrogacy.

Beginning your surrogate process

The Greatest Gift You Could Ever Give

In a gestational surrogate cycle the surrogate mother will take part in an IVF cycle using the egg of the intended mother or an egg donor. The intended mother or egg donor will take stimulating hormones to develop multiple follicles while the surrogate mother takes certain medications to prepare her lining to accept the embryo and support the pregnancy. There is no genetic relationship between the surrogate mother and the embryo. In order to have a positive surrogacy journey there are several essential parts to help create the positive cycle. The application and evaluation phase, being matched with intended parent(s), the medical screening phase, finalizing the legal agreement, the surrogates medical IVF cycle, the pregnancy and delivery. Please review the process below. Some cycles may vary slightly depending on location and clinical protocol.

Phase One: Application

You will be required to complete an in-depth application questionnaire. This in-depth application questionnaire will ask about your health, lifestyle, past pregnancies, work history. We will review your application and contact you if you meet our agency criteria outlined under, “surrogate requirements”. If you meet the requirements we will arrange for an interview in our office or Skype interview. Next, we will schedule your in-home interview. Arrangements will be made for your Psychological Evaluation, Medical Pre-screening and Background Check. Once all clearance is received we will then assist you on writing a “surrogate bio” that will be presented to potential intended parents. We will also share potential intended parent bio’s with you. If interest between parties we will arrange for everyone to meet. Once a match has been confirmed we will make arrangements for you to be medical cleared at the intended parent(s) fertility clinic.

Phase Two: Psychological Screening, Background Check, Medical Pre-Screening

Background Check:
You and your spouse and/or partner will complete a background check searched by your name and SSN. This is conducted on both a federal and state criminal records, as well as residential history.
Psychological Screening:
We will request your past pregnancy records going back seven years and any current medical records. We require that you have a current pap and/or physical exam completed in the last twelve months. If you are due for your annual exam we will make arrangements for you to complete. You will need to provide a clearance letter from your current ob/gyn stating that you are medical cleared to be a surrogate mother.
Medical Pre-Screening:
You will undergo psychological screening with a PhD Psychologist whose focus is on third party reproduction. The psychologist will administer the MMPI-2 or PIA personality assessment questionnaire. Your spouse and/or partner will be required to attend this appointment. This appointment is for the purpose to ensure that you are of sound mind and emotionally stable to undergo the surrogacy process. Also, that you have the support of your spouse and/or partner. During this appointment the psychologist is also there to provide support to you and discuss any concerns or fears that you may have.

Phase Three: Medical Screening

Medical Screening: Once your match is official you will then be seen at the intended parent(s) fertility clinic by their reproductive endocrinologist. This appointment is to conclude that the intended parent(s) fertility doctor deems you suitable to be a surrogate mother. You will be required to complete an in-depth exam from the fertility doctor. Complete infectious disease testing, meet with the clinical nurse coordinator to go over the steps that are medical required of you and the medications.

Every clinic can possibly have different protocols. Your spouse and/or partner will be required to complete the FDA infectious disease panel.

  • Meet with a Reproductive Endocrinologist
  • Screening for rubella, cytomegalo virus, toxoplasmosis
  • Physical examination
  • HIV Antibody
  • Gynecological Exam – Pap smear
  • Hepatitis A, B and C Surface Antigen
  • Hysteroscopy – a small camera is placed in the uterus to look at the uterine cavity
  • Cervical Cultures for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and Mycoplasma
  • RPR for Syphilis
  • Blood count and chemistry
  • Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
  • Blood type and RH
  • Drug toxicology
  • Group B Strep

all screening costs are covered by the intended parents.

PHASE FOUR : SURROGATE MOTHER IVF CYCLE

Your clinical IVF nurse will go over your responsibilities to synchronize your cycle with the intended mothers or egg donors. All necessary medications that you will be required to use in order to prepare your lining to accept the embryo for implantation and support a pregnancy.

  • You will start with Lupron to down regulate you. You will then be asked to take birth control to synchronize your menstrual cycle with the intended mother or egg donor.
  • You will have an embryo transfer where a small catheter is inserted into your vagina and through your uterus. The embryos will be placed in the uterus with the hopes of implantation.
  • You will then start taking estrogen in either a patch form or oral pill.
  • You will have a beta test (pregnancy test) 10-14 days later to confirm a pregnancy.
  • You will then start using progesterone in either a suppository form or injection.
  • You will have blood draws and ultrasound throughout the first 8-12 weeks to monitor the pregnancy before being released to the Ob/Gyn.
  • You will have several lining checks before the embryo transfer to confirm that your uterine lining is thick enough to accept the embryo for implantation.

If the cycle is using frozen embryos then the clinic would only be preparing the surrogate mothers lining to accept the embryo for implantation.

PHASE FIVE: SURROGATE MOTHER'S PREGNANCY AND DELIVERY

With a surrogate pregnancy is does differ somewhat then your natural pregnancy. With a surrogate pregnancy you went through IVF so you will be required to continue on medication to help support the pregnancy that are naturally produced by the body in a natural pregnancy for the first trimester.

Every clinic can possibly have different protocols. Your spouse and/or partner will be required to complete the FDA infectious disease panel.

  • You will be monitored more closely throughout the first 8-10 weeks at the fertility clinic then from a natural pregnancy.
  • The intended parents are a huge part of this journey and might want to attend appointments with you. On going open communication about ever appointment is crucial to the intended parents should they not be able to attend.
  • The delivery is a very special time for all involved. Before this time our surrogate coordinator, mental health counselor, intended parents and surrogate will meet to come up with a birth plan that everyone is comfortable with.

Throughout your surrogate journey with Creative Love we will provide you with support with either in person or through Skype to assure that all of your questions are answered and that you have the full support that you need.

If you are ready to join our agency family we welcome you to complete a surrogate application with us today!