THE SURROGACY PROCESS
A CARING AND CHERISHED EXPERIENCE
With over 25 years of experience, Growing Generations has worked—and continues to work—with surrogates who reside all over the United States as well as intended parents who reside on six different continents.
Surrogates are a vital key to helping individuals and couples grow families of their own. Our team is dedicated to making this a life-changing, fulfilling journey for surrogates and the intended parents. We want our surrogates to feel supported and taken care of during their surrogacy journey from the moment they apply.
HOW TO BECOME A SURROGATE
The first step to becoming a surrogate is to complete a quick survey to see if you qualify. Once qualified, you will complete our full surrogate application.
After you submit your surrogate application, it will be reviewed by our team. If your surrogate application is approved, you will be invited to schedule a consultation.
Your admissions specialist will guide you through your surrogacy admissions process during your consultation. This process includes a review of your pregnancy-related medical records, income documentation, surrogacy preferences, and general paperwork. You will also complete psychological screening with a mental health professional.
During this time our matching team works hard to identify the right intended parent match for you. We have a unique, customized surrogate matching process, and will hand pick an intended parent profile just for you.
Once you approve an intended parent profile, your profile will be sent to the intended parents for review. If everyone accepts the match, you will have a video match meeting facilitated by a member of our case management team.
STEP 1
SEE IF YOU QUALIFY
STEP 2
REVIEW OF SURROGATE APPLICATION
STEP 3
NEW SURROGATE CONSULTATION
STEP 4
PREPARE FOR YOUR SURROGATE MATCH
STEP 5
MATCH WITH INTENDED PARENTS
If you have any questions before beginning your surrogacy, please contact us at family@growinggenerations.com, and a member of our surrogate admissions team will contact you directly. Growing Generations is always here to help and support you through your surrogacy experience from the very first step to the last stage of your journey.
TIMELINE AND OVERVIEW
Your surrogacy journey begins with an in-depth screening process which includes a pre-qualification process, application, consultation, and medical screening.
IT TYPICALLY TAKES AN AVERAGE OF 14 TO 18 MONTHS FROM THE MOMENT YOU APPLY TO BE A SURROGATE TO THE TIME OF DELIVERY.
Every surrogate and surrogacy journey are unique, so the timing and process may vary. This general overview provides a more in-depth explanation of what to expect when you decide to become a surrogate with Growing Generations.
Before completing the surrogate application in its entirety, you will need to take a few minutes to complete a quick survey. If you meet the minimum surrogacy requirements, you will be asked to complete the full application.
Your surrogate application will be reviewed by our team. If your application is approved, you will be invited to schedule your surrogacy consultation. Your case specialist will guide you through our admissions process, which includes a review of your pregnancy-related medical records, income verification, surrogacy preferences, and general paperwork. You will also complete psychological screening with a mental health professional.
The consultation is an hour-long phone conversation between you and an admissions specialist with Growing Generations. During the consultation, a summary of the entire surrogacy process will be provided, from application to birth. If you have any questions and concerns, there will also be plenty of time to address them.
After the surrogacy consultation is complete, you’ll move on to the document submission phase. Some of the documents we will need are:
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Your driver’s license and social security card
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Your partner’s or spouse’s driver's license and social security card
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Pay stubs
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Past pregnancy and delivery records
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Medical records
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Medical insurance card
The documents submitted will be used to complete the criminal background check, insurance verification to review your insurance options, as well as a review of your pregnancy and delivery records by a maternal fetal specialist. Any paperwork items that require a signature can be signed virtually. This phase of your surrogate application process tends to be the most time intensive and will move at your speed.
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During your admissions process, our matching team works to identify the right intended parent match for you. We begin by asking several questions. Our goal is to understand your hopes and expectations for the surrogacy, so we can match you with like-minded parents.
Our unique, highly customized matching process means we hand pick an intended parent profile for you. Once you approve a parent profile, your profile will be sent for their review. If everyone accepts the match, you will have a video match meeting facilitated by a member of the case management team. Matching can happen within a few days or several weeks. We will work diligently to find a match you’re excited about!
You will complete medical screening with the doctor overseeing your IVF cycle. In most cases, this will involve travel. The travel expenses for you and your partner will be covered. During your trip, you will have a physical examination and blood draw. Your surrogacy medical screening results are typically received within two weeks of your appointment.
After you are medically cleared and your intended parent match is confirmed, the legal phase begins. You will complete a legal contract between you and the intended parents to establish the terms of the surrogacy. The legal process takes a few weeks on average and can vary. You will not be able to begin injectable medications until your legal clearance is issued. Once the contract is in place, your case specialist will work with you and the IVF clinic to create a calendar with your medication protocol and tentative embryo transfer date.
You will receive a copy of the cycle calendar from your IVF clinic. The cycle medications will be shipped to you, and the clinic will provide detailed instructions on how to administer the medication and what dosages to take. You will also have a few local monitoring appointments at a facility near your hometown to track your progress. Once your body is ready for the transfer, you will travel to the IVF clinic for the procedure. The first pregnancy test will occur 10 to 12 days after the transfer.
Once a pregnancy is confirmed, you will continue some of your IVF medications until 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. At that time, you will be released to the care of your local obstetrician. Once the IVF process is complete, your pregnancy care becomes more routine. Your OB appointments will occur approximately every four weeks and will increase in frequency near the end of the pregnancy. Your case specialist will be with you the entire time to help navigate the practical and emotional sides of this process. You will have milestone calls with your case specialist and intended parents to help prepare for delivery. You will also have access to our online resource center as well as a private social media group to connect with other wonderful surrogates and to share your feelings and experience.
Once a pregnancy is confirmed, you will continue some of your IVF medications until 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. At that time, you will be released to the care of your local obstetrician. Once the IVF process is complete, your pregnancy care becomes more routine. Your OB appointments will occur approximately every four weeks and will increase in frequency near the end of the pregnancy. Your case specialist will be with you the entire time to help navigate the practical and emotional sides of this process. You will have milestone calls with your case specialist and intended parents to help prepare for delivery. You will also have access to our online resource center as well as a private social media group to connect with other wonderful surrogates and to share your feelings and experience.
The day you’ve all been working toward! Surrogates often describe delivery day as life altering. After delivery, the baby will be discharged from the hospital with the parents, and you will be discharged as well. We’ll be here to support you in the postpartum period to ensure you’re recovering and have everything you need.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
As a surrogate, what you do is not only meaningful, but also essential. Surrogates play a crucial role in building families and creating legacies for those who dream about parenthood. At Growing Generations, we meet your incredible generosity with our commitment to you and your well-being.
If you have any questions before beginning your surrogacy, please contact us at
family@
growinggenerations.com,
and a member of our surrogate admissions team will contact you directly. Growing Generations is always here to help and support you through your surrogacy experience from the very first step to the last stage of your journey.