It’s natural for intended parents to want to be sure that the woman carrying their baby is healthy and prepared for this journey. And it’s equally natural for a prospective surrogate to want to be sure that her privacy will be respected in a process that is often a little invasive.

In the surrogacy process, once a prospective surrogate has been screened and matched with intended parents, her health records will need to be passed around to the appropriate medical professionals. But those won’t be her full health records — just the records of information that is relevant to pregnancy, fertility and the surrogacy process. Nervous intended parents may wonder if something is being hidden, but that’s not the case.

Here’s what you should know about health records in surrogacy:

What Is Included in the Surrogate’s Health Records?

Medical information that is relevant to the surrogacy process — which may include screening information, pregnancy health records, information about medications and more.

Intended parents can request to read the surrogate’s previous prenatal and delivery records, but most agencies have them sent directly to the fertility clinic because they’re massive, tedious and full of medical abbreviations that are difficult to understand. As the experts, clinics should be trusted to handle these health-based judgement calls rather than the intended parents.

Why Is Access Restricted?

Anything outside of what is provided in the health records isn’t relevant to the surrogacy process or the pregnancy. Viewing a person’s extended records is a deeply personal thing — only medical professionals should have access to full health records. Going through a surrogate’s full records would be a terrible breach of her privacy and trust.

How Do Intended Parents Know a Surrogate is Safe and Healthy?

Of course, when you’re entrusting someone you’ve only recently met with the life of your baby, you want to know that she’s going to be a safe choice. But intended parents need to trust their agency and fertility specialists. These professionals carefully screen all prospective surrogates — physically and mentally, to make sure that they’re ready for surrogacy.

Many women inquire about becoming surrogates, because they’re generous enough to want to help others. But only a select few are able to meet the requirements needed to actually become a surrogate. So, if a woman has made it through all those screening processes, then she’s as healthy as a horse! Trust that the medical professionals who have approved her are certain that she’s ready for this.

To help put yourself more at ease, learn about the ways in which American Surrogacy meticulously screens surrogates and intended parents for the protection of both parties, and how these screening measures ensure that all surrogates are healthy and ready for surrogacy long before the medical processes begin.