Category: Intended Parents

Whether you are thinking about adding to your family through surrogacy or have already started this amazing family-building journey, these articles are for you.

Shortest Wait to Find A Surrogate Mother

We are so proud to be able to offer the shortest wait times in the surrogacy industry. In an average of 30-90 days, we can help you find a surrogate who can help you create your family.

When you start the surrogacy process you probably feel excited to find a surrogate mother. You get to choose who gets to carry your baby and help create one of the most important people in your life. It’s likely a special bond you will have for the rest of your lives.

Ready to find a surrogate? Fill out our online form today to get connected with a surrogacy specialist.

We are so proud to be able to offer the shortest wait time to match with a surrogate. In an average of 30-90 days, you could be matched with the person who will be carrying your child and helping you achieve your dreams of becoming a parent. And we can’t think of anything more special than that.

Why Short Wait Times Are Important

When you’ve been trying and waiting to have a baby, you want to get things started soon. And we all understand the process will take some time. That’s why short match times are so important. The sooner you find your perfect surrogate, the better. For some agencies, you may have to wait 3-4 years. That’s too long. Our commitment to providing short match times goes beyond convenience. Our average 30-90 day match time means you could have your baby in your arms sooner than you think.

You may be wondering why our agency has such a fast timeline to find a surrogate for our intended parents. There are a variety of ways we make this possible.

  • Attentive surrogacy specialists: Our surrogacy specialists work diligently to understand what your needs and wants are when it comes to the process and finding a surrogate.
  • Marketing research: This is how potential surrogates find our agency. Most surrogates will search online for an agency to work with, and our websites reach thousands of people each month.
  • A balanced list: We maintain a 1:1 intended parent to surrogate ratio, unlike our competitors. We prioritize the successful management of our intended parents list. We place your need first in our mission to find a surrogate who is perfect for you.
  • Thorough screening process: All of our surrogates are fully screened. Our screening processes ensure our surrogates are ready for the process. Our high standards ensure the well-being of both you and your future child.

How We Help You Find a Surrogate in the Shortest Amount of Time

We pride ourselves on our exceptional approach to ensuring short wait times for intended parents to find a perfect surrogacy match. Upon receiving an application from intended parents, we initiate a thorough assessment to understand your preferences and needs. Simultaneously, we actively engage with our pool of pre-screened surrogates, carefully selecting candidates who align with your surrogacy goals.

With clear communication and constant updates, we maintain a seamless flow of information between all parties, accelerating the matching process. This commitment to transparency and personalized attention significantly reduces the waiting period, ensuring you can move forward with your surrogacy journey with unwavering support.

Empowering Your Experience

The timeline to starting a family will look different when you go through the surrogacy process. We want you to feel as empowered as possible when you are on your surrogacy journey. Our shorter wait times and thorough screening process help instill a sense of hope, reduce anxiety and help you achieve your dreams of parenthood sooner. Our surrogacy specialists are here to help you move through the process to find a surrogate, navigate the medical and legal processes, and help you get to the moment where you are heading home with your baby.

Waiting is hard. And we know you’ve been waiting long enough to have your baby in your arms. That’s why we are committed to offering the shortest wait times to find a surrogate mother who is right for you. Don’t wait any longer. Fill out our online form to get started today.

Follow our Instagram to hear from surrogates and intended parents who have had their lives changed by surrogacy.

How to Find the Best Surrogacy Agencies for Intended Parents

Finding the best surrogacy agency is a crucial step for intended parents embarking on their surrogacy journey. Working with the right agency can provide the guidance, expertise and support necessary for a successful and fulfilling surrogacy experience.

When you’re first beginning your surrogacy journey, one of the first things you’ll need to do is choose a surrogacy professional who can help guide you through the process. If you’re looking for a professional who provides comprehensive support throughout the entire process, you may want to look into working with a full-service surrogacy agency.

But how do you know if a surrogacy agency is right for you? The best agencies are happy to sit down with you to explain their services and answer any questions you may have. At American Surrogacy, we strive to make the process as smooth and simple as possible. And we happen to be experts in knowing how to find the best surrogacy agency to work with.

If you have any questions about finding the best surrogacy agencies, then contact us online now or call us at 1-800-875-2229 (BABY).

What to Look for in the Best Surrogacy Agencies

One of the best things you can do as you search for the best surrogacy agency is to think about what’s most important to you. As you keep in mind what you’re looking for, you’ll discover which professionals are right for you and which ones are not. As you research prospective surrogacy agencies, here are some things you should look for:

  • Thorough screening process: When you enter into a surrogacy arrangement with a surrogate, you’re placing your trust in them and the professional you choose. Surrogacy can be a legally and emotionally complicated process and the best surrogacy agencies will make sure to fully screen all prospective surrogates to make sure they’re ready for the challenges of the surrogacy process.
  • Track record of success: Surrogacy is still a new field, and some surrogacy agencies have been around longer than others. But it’s important to choose a professional who has done surrogacies successfully in the past. If a surrogacy professional can’t give you names of people they’ve helped before, it’s a sign that you should not work with them.
  • Experienced legal counsel: Since surrogacy involves a lot of legal rules, it’s important to have a lawyer who can make sure everyone’s rights are protected. The best surrogacy agencies can recommend reliable and experienced lawyers who know about surrogacy laws. They’ll take care of all the legal requirements even before the medical process begins. If the agency doesn’t do this or insists that one lawyer can represent both sides, those are signs that you should be careful.
  • Clear direction on responsibilities and steps in the process: If someone you’re working with doesn’t explain what each person needs to do, what to expect and the steps involved from the start, you should be cautious. Surrogacy requires the teamwork of different professionals, and the best surrogacy agencies have a well-organized process that keeps everyone safe and makes things go smoothly. If the person you’redealing with seems disorganized, it might be better to find a different professional to work with.
  • Support and availability: While surrogacy agencies can have similar good qualities, people often choose based on how they “feel” about the agency. You’ll be working with them for a year or longer, so it’s important to feel comfortable, supported and appreciated by your surrogacy specialist. Find an agency where you have a connection, where you don’t feel like you’re just another person on their list.

How to Choose a Reputable Surrogacy Agency

Because of the amount of options out there, you’ll probably find agencies that share some of these qualities. So, how can you find the best one for you? When you come across a potential surrogacy agency, make sure to visit them in person or have a phone call, if at all possible. This is an opportunity to not only get to know them, but also for you to decide if you’re comfortable working with them.

Even if you find one of the best surrogacy agencies, it may not be the perfect fit for you and that’s OK. You’re the only one who can ultimately decide whether or not the professional is right for you. As you prepared to meet with an agency specialist, here are some questions you can ask to help you learn more about their agency:

  • How long have you been in business?
  • When are your requirements for intended parents?
  • What are the expenses for intended parents?
  • How involved is your agency during each step of the process?
  • Which states do you work in?
  • How does the matching process work?
  • Do you offer support and education services?
  • Are you a full-service agency? If not, what services will we need to obtain from another professional?
  • On average, how long does the surrogacy process take with your agency?

While these questions are a great place to start, make sure to write down any additional questions you may have. You’re never obligated to choose a surrogacy professional until you’re 100% sure it’s the right one for you.

Why American Surrogacy is Right For You

As one of the best surrogacy agencies, we offer a wide range of benefits to help make your dreams of becoming parents a reality. Our dedicated team of specialists has helped thousands of hopeful parents on their path to parenthood and we’re ready to do the same for you. Here are some of the key benefits you’ll experience with our program:

  • Short wait times when looking for the perfect match
  • Sense of security from our experienced staff
  • Financial protection
  • Unlimited matching
  • Clear upfront fixed fee structure
  • Unwavering commitment to providing care and support
  • And more

We also maintain a supportive network of surrogates, intended parent, and parents through surrogacy on our Instagram account. Connect with us there for first-hand accounts of the surrogacy process.

Your well-being is top priority and we’re committed to providing you with the utmost care throughout your surrogacy journey. With our full-service program and team of dedicated specialists, there’s no doubt that we’re one of the best surrogacy agencies in the nation.

Our specialists are always willing to answer any questions you may have about choosing a surrogacy professional. To learn more about our surrogacy program, contact us online now or call us at 1-800-875-2229 (BABY).

Affordable Surrogacy Options for You

For individuals and couples who dream of becoming parents, having affordable surrogacy options to choose from can help make budgeting for the journey ahead more efficient.

Because of all the helpful resources and services that go into the surrogacy process, there are various costs to account for when planning for your surrogacy journey.

In addition to managing your own finances through budgeting, there are other affordable surrogacy options. If you’re looking for ways to afford surrogacy, a great place to start is by reaching out to one of our specialists who can help get you started on the right path.

If you have any questions about how to pay for surrogacy, then contact us online or call 1-800-875-2229.

How to Pay for Surrogacy [Your Options]

We offer a fixed fee structure, which means you’ll know exactly what you’ll be paying from the beginning, so that you can budget accordingly. Even with this financial certainty, it’s helpful to have options to help create a more affordable surrogacy journey.

 Below is a breakdown of your affordable surrogacy options.

Loans

Loans are one of the most common ways intended parents pay for surrogacy. There are many lenders out there that specifically offer loans to couples undergoing fertility treatments and pursuing surrogacy. Like any other loan, you must consider the interest charged on loans for surrogacy and decide whether you can reasonably afford monthly payments even after you become parents. Here are some loans you may consider:

  • Home equity loans (using your home as collateral)
  • Borrowing from 401(k) plans
  • Credit cards (although watch out for high interest rates)

For fertility specific financing loans, here are some companies you can contact:

Grants

If you don’t want to borrow money to pay for surrogacy, then you may have the opportunity to earn funds through fertility and surrogate grant programs. Each program will have different requirements, so make sure to fully research each to decide what you qualify for. Below are some grants you can apply for:

Fundraising

Another affordable surrogacy option is community fundraising events. As the intended parent, you may have a supportive community of friends and family members who are willing to help you raise money to help with an affordable surrogacy. There are many ways you can go about fundraising for your surrogacy journey:

  • Online crowdfunding: There are many ways you can reach out to a large audience through sites like GoFundMe to share your surrogacy and infertility journey. Friends, family and strangers can easily donate as much or as little as they’d like.
  • A community event: Whether you want to host a community wide garage sale or something larger like a silent auction, you can reach out to your community to help you accept donations and raise money to help pay for surrogacy.
  • Turn a hobby into a business: If you have any hobbies or interests, you can sell your handmade goods or services on sites like Etsy or partner with a direct sales consultant to get your product out there. These profits can be put toward paying for surrogacy.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends and family for help. You can always ask for money to be put toward your surrogacy fund instead of receiving typical gifts for holidays or birthdays. It’s also a good idea to start saving your money and allocating a portion of your income to a special surrogacy savings account.

Get the latest updates on surrogacy and fundraising through our Instagram.

Choosing American Surrogacy

Although you may be tempted to find a cheap surrogacy agency, you may be sacrificing essential services that can help you have the best experience possible.

We understand the importance of providing high-quality service throughout your surrogacy process, which is why we place such an emphasis on an affordable surrogacy journey that benefits everyone involved.

With our fixed fee structure, you’ll be able to see exactly what you’re paying for, with no hidden fees. You’ll be able to budget accordingly and move through your surrogacy journey with confidence and certainty in your finances.

If you find that surrogacy is out of your price range, you can explore different family building options such as adoption. You can contact our sister company American Adoptions to help you understand the adoption process by calling 1-800-ADOPTION.

However if you are confident that surrogacy is the right path for you, then contact us online now or call 1-800-875-2229 to get started.

Can a Surrogate Keep the Baby?

The amazing surrogates who commit to carrying a child for someone else want nothing more than to help you start or grow your family.

Surrogacy can help you fulfill your dream of becoming a parent and working with American Surrogacy means that you will have all of your questions answered.

 If you’re wondering “Can a surrogate keep the baby?” you can rest easy knowing the answer is a hard no.

In this article, we will answer this and some of the other common questions about surrogate relationships and what it is like to grow your family with American Surrogacy. You can also get help now from a surrogacy professional, and stay up to date with the world of surrogacy by following us.

Can Surrogates Keep the Baby?

No. Surrogates cannot keep the baby that they carry for another family. What is more important though, is that they don’t want to. When you work with American Surrogacy, you can rest assured that each and every gestational surrogate has been screened thoroughly and wants to be a surrogate for the right family.

As a part of our screening, we ensure that surrogates have been through pregnancy before and have their own children at home. This means they have children of their own and if they wanted to have another child of their own, they could. But the truth is that women who choose to be surrogates often feel called or passionate about helping another family have a family of their own. In other words, they want to help you and they don’t want another child of their own.

Do Surrogate Mothers Get Attached to the Child in the Womb?

Gestational surrogates certainly have a unique bond with the children they carry as well as the child’s biological parents, but surrogates know from the beginning that the child they are carrying is not theirs. So while surrogates certainly may feel protective, care for the child they carry, and want to see the child have a happy life, they do not have the same bond as they do with their own children.

Do Surrogates Get Attached to the Baby After Birth?

Gestational surrogates are called “gestational” because they are surrogates only during pregnancy and birth. Once the child is born, as a biological parent, you will be the parent, not the surrogate.

When you find a surrogate, your surrogacy professional will help you and your surrogate make agreements about communication expectations after birth. Some families and surrogates are interested in staying in contact and giving each other updates. However, in other cases, you and your surrogate may agree that you will live separate lives.

Surrogates generally do not have a significant amount of contact with the children they carry after birth as they have their own children and their own lives.

What Happens if a Surrogate Wants to Keep the Baby While Pregnant?

It is worth noting again that surrogates voluntarily choose to be surrogates and usually a big reason for choosing surrogacy is because they want to help a family like yours. Surrogates do not want to keep your baby because they have their own family and they want to help you.

In many cases, getting to know your surrogate ahead of your surrogacy agreement and building a healthy relationship may help ease your mind.

That being said, if you choose surrogacy with American Surrogacy, you will already have an agreement with your surrogate about what will happen, and even if the surrogate has strong feelings towards the baby she carried, that doesn’t change the agreement with you that the baby will be yours at birth.

What if a Surrogate Decides to Keep the Baby at Birth?

If a surrogate gives birth to a child with an established surrogacy agreement, she cannot simply “decide to keep the baby.” When the baby is born, the surrogacy agreement will still be in effect.

When Can a Surrogate Change Their Mind?

Since the surrogate is choosing to be a surrogate voluntarily, she also has opportunities to change her mind about becoming a surrogate. However, that doesn’t mean that you should be worried your surrogate will back out at the last minute. 

With American Surrogacy, your surrogate is screened thoroughly and interviewed, and has several steps to back out of the decision before she makes an agreement to be your surrogate:

  • First, in the informational stage, she can back out at any time and choose not to seek out additional information.
  • If she continues seeking information and begins screening, she can back out of the screening at any time and choose not to become a surrogate. 
  • If she completes screening and is approved to be a surrogate, she has the ability to say no to any family profile she doesn’t want to be a surrogate for.
  • If she chooses to get to know a family, she can still choose not to move forward with the family if she has any hesitations. 

Once you and your surrogate have come to an agreement and created a surrogacy contract, she is obligated to continue with surrogacy. And at this point, she has likely given much thought to the process and is fully prepared to complete the process.

With American Surrogacy, you can get added peace of mind knowing that we offer unlimited matching if you meet a surrogate match that doesn’t work out.

Get Help Now

Surrogacy can be a beautiful journey, and it is normal to have questions about the process. If you have questions like “Can surrogate mothers keep the baby?” or “Can a surrogate change her mind?” our surrogacy professionals can help you understand how we protect you and help you find a great surrogate. Click here to get help now.

Benefits of Gay Surrogacy

In honor of June being Pride Month, we want to take the time to highlight the amazing ways that surrogacy can give LGBT+ couples the chance to have the family of their dreams.

Becoming a parent through surrogacy can be one of the most beautiful journeys of your life. Learn the benefits of gay surrogacy here and how we can help you get started on your journey today.

In this article we will share the benefits of gay surrogacy, eligibility requirements, and answer other common questions about surrogacy for gay parents. You can also click here to get help now.

Follow us on Instagram to hear from other intended parents about how surrogacy gave them the opportunity to experience parenthood.

Am I Eligible for LGBT Surrogacy?

At American Surrogacy there are no additional requirements for same sex surrogacy or individual LGBT surrogacy approval. In other words, surrogacy for gay couples, surrogacy for trans or non-binary couples, and lesbian couple surrogacy have the same requirements as surrogacy for any other couple. Similarly LGBT surrogacy as an individual has the same requirements as surrogacy for a straight, cisgender individual.

If you are interested in gay surrogacy, you will need to meet the basic requirements for surrogacy, and then complete the approval process with a surrogacy professional. Your surrogacy professional will help you prepare for the surrogacy process. Get help now when you click here.

LGBT Surrogacy Benefits

  • Opportunity to parent from birth: When you choose LGBT surrogacy for your family, you can have an opportunity to parent from the moment your child is born, which can be a meaningful experience for many parents.
  • Creating a family on a predictable timeline: When you choose surrogacy and get started on the embryo transfer process, it can be easily predicted when you will have your new family member. And at American Surrogacy, we have the fastest matching in the industry.
  • Experiencing the pregnancy process with your surrogate: Surrogacy is a beautiful journey, and if you have been looking forward to pregnancy and seeing your little one even in ultrasounds, you can have this experience. Many surrogates are excited to share each step of the pregnancy with you and help you on your journey to growing your family.
  • Possibility of genetically-related family: LGBT Surrogacy can allow you to have a child who is genetically related to you. In some cases LGBT couples may not otherwise be able to have genetically related children, but LGBT surrogacy can allow one or both partners to have a genetic link to their child.
  • Building a meaningful bond with your surrogate: Pregnancy and birth can build a family, but surrogacy takes an extra step and allows couples

Gay Couple Surrogacy Considerations

Surrogacy for gay parents is the same as surrogacy for other parents in most ways, but there are some special considerations that gay couples

  • Legal requirements
  • Finding surrogates for gay couples or individuals
  • Finding a supportive surrogacy agency
  • Finding donor eggs, sperm, or embryos

Gay Surrogacy Costs

The cost of surrogacy can vary widely depending on several factors, including the location, the specific services involved, and the individual circumstances of the surrogacy arrangement. At American Surrogacy, we simplify costs by offering services at a flat fee and listing all of the services that are included before you begin your surrogacy journey. And gay surrogacy costs the same as surrogacy for any other couple or individual.

Here are some of the factors to take into account when considering the finances of surrogacy:

  • Agency Fees: Surrogacy agencies typically charge fees for their services, which can include the screening and matching process, legal support, counseling, and coordination of medical procedures.
  • Legal Fees: You will need to work with a reproductive attorney to draft and review the necessary legal agreements.
  • Medical Expenses: The medical expenses associated with surrogacy can include the surrogate’s medical screening, fertility treatments, prenatal care, and delivery.
  • Insurance: The surrogate’s insurance coverage may not fully cover the costs associated with surrogacy, especially if the insurance policy excludes surrogacy-related expenses. Intended parents may need to purchase a separate surrogacy insurance policy or cover any additional medical expenses not covered by the surrogate’s insurance.
  • Compensation and Expenses for the Surrogate: Surrogates typically receive compensation for their time, effort, and the physical demands of the pregnancy. Additionally, intended parents are usually responsible for covering the surrogate’s pregnancy-related expenses, such as travel costs, maternity clothing, and reasonable living expenses.

Get Help Now

If you are excited about starting your LGBT surrogacy journey, you can get help now when you click here.

Honoring Infertility Awareness Month

June is Infertility Awareness Month. The event was created to help people experiencing infertility discover they aren’t alone and to highlight how they can work through this common diagnosis.

If you’re considering using surrogacy to grow your family, you or your partner may be working through infertility. We want you to know that you’re not alone, and we’re here to support you through whatever stage you’re at in your family-building journey.

Contact us today to connect with a surrogacy specialist who can refer you to a counselor specializing in infertility. With Infertility Awareness Month on the horizon, now is the perfect time to find a professional to help you work through your feelings.

Keep reading to learn about Infertility Awareness Month, how to honor it, and more.

What is Infertility Awareness Month?

June is Infertility Awareness Month. The month-long event was created to bring awareness to how common infertility is and to spotlight the treatments that can help solve some infertility issues.

We’re choosing to honor Infertility Awareness Month by detailing who is affected by it and how people overcome the condition.

Who Experiences Infertility?

According to the National Library of Medicine, 10% to 15% of couples in the United States experience infertility.  Men and women experience infertility at the same rate (10%), and sometimes, a couple’s infertility challenges are because of a combination of several factors.

The following are a few other facts about infertility:

  • A doctor can diagnose infertility when a couple cannot conceive after 12 months of regular, unprotected sex.
  • A doctor can check men and women for infertility through a variety of tests.
  • There are several infertility treatments men, and women can pursue.

Common Infertility Treatments

One of the important aspects of Infertility Awareness Month is ensuring people affected by this common condition know their options. One way to handle infertility is through treatment.

The following are just some of the effective infertility treatments people try:

  • Infertility Medications: Certain medications can be prescribed to men and women to help resolve certain infertility issues.
  • Infertility Surgeries: Men and women may undergo certain surgeries that can help repair internal infertility causes.
  • Assisted Reproductive Technologies:  Recently, IUI and IVF have become more common. These procedures can help couples overcome many infertility challenges and help them conceive.

Embracing Surrogacy After Infertility

One of the final aspects of acknowledging Infertility Awareness Month is working through your feelings on infertility and deciding your next steps.

Working Through Infertility Grief

Choosing when you’re ready to move from infertility treatments to another family-building option like surrogacy isn’t a simple decision.

You and your partner will experience several intense emotions during this time. You may even decide to work with an infertility counselor to help process your feelings.

Even if you decide not to continue your family-building journey this year, you can use this time to work through your grief and allow yourself time to heal.

Choosing Surrogacy

If you and your partner determine that you’re ready to move on from infertility to another family-building option and choose to go forward with surrogacy, congratulations! Surrogacy is a wonderful choice, and it has helped many people become parents.

One of the benefits of working with American Surrogacy for your surrogacy journey is that our agency can provide the essential benefits needed to help you succeed.

The following are some of the most important benefits our agency can provide you:

  • Surrogacy Screening: We’re dedicated to ensuring that hopeful intended parents and prospective surrogates are ready to start the surrogacy process. We do this by coordinating your psychological, medical, and physical screenings.
  • Matchmaking: When you work with our agency, you can expect an average match time of 30 to 90 days. We maintain this by prescreening all hopeful intended parents and surrogates, providing in-house marketing, and keeping a 1:1 intended parent-to-surrogate ratio.
  • Case Management: We will organize and manage your case so you can spend your time focusing on yourself and your surrogacy partner during your surrogacy journey.
  • 24/7 Support: American Surrogacy will provide you with continuous support from licensed social workers from the beginning to the end of their journey.
  • Financial Certainty and Transparency: Our agency offers a transparent fixed cost of $149,900 that covers our services, gestational carrier fees, and medical and legal costs. We also provide a Parent Protection Fee and will organize your journey’s variable fees.

Reach Out to Us Today

This June, we hope you can honor Infertility Awareness Month by caring for yourself. If you need extra support during this time, you can contact us anytime, and we’ll refer you to an infertility counselor who can help you process your emotions.

You aren’t alone. There are plenty of intended parents just like you, struggling with very similar situations. Connect with them through our Instagram.

Surrogacy is On the Rise, But Don’t Call it Commercial

Surrogacy is on the rise, and is often referred to as commercial surrogacy. However, it’s important to understand what surrogacy really means and how it’s far more than a transaction.

With gestational surrogacy on the rise as a family-building option, many people have taken note of the compensation that surrogates receive for the selfless service they provide. Because of the financial aspect of surrogacy, many have come to refer to this form of surrogacy as compensated surrogacy or commercial surrogacy.

While commercial surrogacy is not an inaccurate term, it can paint a blurry picture of what it truly means to be a surrogate. To get more information about what commercial surrogacy really means, get connected with a surrogacy specialist today.

Below we’ll break down why you should be wary of using terms like “commercial” surrogacy.

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is an amazing family-building method where a surrogate, also known as a gestational carrier, carries a baby for intended parents who may not be able to conceive or carry a pregnancy on their own. There are many reasons why intended parents might choose surrogacy as a way to build their family:

  • Couples struggling with infertility
  • LGBTQ+ couples
  • Hopeful single parents
  • Couples who don’t want to pass on health conditions

No matter what the reason is, gestational surrogacy allows hopeful couples and individuals to become the parents they’ve always dreamed of being.

How Does Surrogacy Work?

The majority of commercial surrogacies today are gestational surrogacies. Gestational surrogacy is a type of surrogacy where the baby being carried by the surrogate is biologically related to one or both of the intended parents and/or a gamete donor.

The main three stages of the gestational surrogacy process include:

  • Finding a surrogacy match
  • Completing a legal contract
  • Transferring an embryo to the surrogate

In most cases of commercial surrogacy, intended parents will work with a full-service surrogacy agency to find a surrogacy match. Once they’ve found their perfect match, both parties complete a surrogacy contract that will outline responsibilities, risks and surrogate compensation. Once everyone is on the same page, a fertility clinic will facilitate the IVF and embryo transfer process. The IVF process usually involves:

  • The eggs and sperm of both intended parents
  • A donor egg fertilized with sperm from the intended father
  • The intended mother’s egg fertilized with the donor sperm
  • An embryo created from both donor egg and sperm

Once a pregnancy has been confirmed, the surrogate will begin receiving surrogate compensation in monthly installments. This is where commercial surrogacy gets its name. The surrogate will carry the baby to term, and the intended parents will assume full custody of their child when they are born.

What is Commercial Surrogacy?

Commercial surrogacy, more accurately known as compensated surrogacy, is when a surrogate is paid for her service as a surrogate. The alternative to this is altruistic surrogacy, where a surrogate carries a baby for intended parents without compensation. This type of gestational surrogacy is typically done between close friends and family members.

Some critics feel that commercial surrogacy is unethical because it appears exploitative in nature and commodifies pregnancy. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Every surrogate who enters into a commercial surrogacy contract does so willingly and enthusiastically.

Going through the surrogacy process and carrying a baby for someone else often means surrogates are dedicating one to two years of their time and physical and emotional energy. Proponents of commercial surrogacy argue that it’s only fair that surrogates are compensated for the incredible service they’re providing in addition to caring for themselves and their own families.

What Commercial Surrogacy Really Means [More than a Transaction]

While surrogates do get paid through commercial surrogacy, money is rarely the factor that inspires them to become gestational carriers. For many surrogates, surrogacy is an opportunity to change the lives of hopeful intended parents by helping them grow their family.

Many hopeful intended parents are not able to have a child on their own but still want to be involved in bringing their baby into the world. Surrogacy gives them that gift, which is why intended parents are not only prepared to compensate their surrogate but often happy to do so.

Creating a family is priceless, but commercial surrogacy allows intended parents to express their gratitude for all their surrogate has given them.

Get Help Now

If you have questions about commercial surrogacy, we’d be more than happy to have a conversation with you. Get connected with a surrogacy specialist or call 1-800-875-2229 today to learn more.

What if Embryo Transfer Doesn’t Work?

Becoming a parent through surrogacy can be a beautiful journey, but the journey can be long. At American Surrogacy, we can help you even if your embryo transfer doesn’t take.

You can fulfill your dreams of becoming a parent through surrogacy, but an unsuccessful embryo transfer can be difficult news when you’ve already been on a long journey to parenthood.

At American Surrogacy, we protect you if an embryo transfer doesn’t work, so you can rest easy and focus on preparing for your new family member. You can get more information by calling 1-800-875-2229 or connecting with one of our surrogacy specialists.

Here is how we handle embryo transfers that don’t work out:

First Embryo Transfer

The first embryo transfer with your surrogate can be exciting—you will likely have spent months or more preparing for this moment. You will have spent time getting information, finding a great surrogate, working out the details of your surrogate agreement, and preparing medically for the transfer procedure.

You will likely have spent a significant amount of time, energy, and money preparing, and there is no guarantee that your first transfer will be successful.

When your anticipation and excitement end in disappointment at an unsuccessful transfer, you can be left with many questions. With some surrogacy agencies, you may be required to pay again to find another surrogate. You may find yourself with another long wait time or may have to stop your surrogacy journey, but not with American Surrogacy.

At American Surrogacy, we will match you with another surrogate, and you can repeat the embryo transfer process without paying again for matching with a surrogate.

Second Embryo Transfer and Beyond

Even if your first and second embryo transfers don’t take, American Surrogacy will help you find another surrogate, and you can continue the process of surrogacy with no extra charges, which means you can have peace of mind for the surrogacy process.

American Surrogacy will continue to help you until you run out of embryos or you decide to end the process, and even then, you have options for your family.

Gamete or Embryo Donation

When you run out of embryos, you can always seek out gamete or embryo donation to continue your surrogacy journey, although this may take extra steps.

If you have sperm or eggs, you can seek out a donor for one or the other.  Sperm donation can be relatively quick, while egg donation can take longer due to the egg retrieval process. Both sperm and egg donations may also require health screenings, which could add time to your surrogacy journey.

But ultimately, gamete and embryo donation means that you can continue your surrogacy journey even if you run out of your initial embryos.

Ending Your Surrogacy Journey

Pregnancy always has some unpredictability. Some intended parents end their journey sooner than they expect, and some intended parents can make multiple attempts at a surrogate pregnancy without success. In these unfortunate situations, many intended parents spend many thousands of dollars and come away disappointed.

The money and time you spend on surrogacy may mean that other options for growing your family may be more difficult when you decide to change course.

When this happens at many surrogacy agencies, there isn’t a lot you can do. You may be at square one for financial planning, or you may just have to accept that your money is gone.

But at American Surrogacy, we know how important your plans are and how much you have anticipated this journey. We make sure you are protected from financial loss— we make some of your fees refundable so that if you choose to end your surrogacy journey, other options for growing your family can still be within reach.

Get Help Now

We know community is an important part of any surrogacy journey. You can connect with others going through similar experiences through our social media.

No matter where you are in your surrogacy journey, American Surrogacy can help you through the whole journey, even if you have had unsuccessful surrogacy attempts. Connect with our surrogacy specialists here or call 1-800-875-2229.

How to Talk About Your Surrogacy Decision

Surrogacy can be a beautiful journey, and it is becoming more common, but not everyone is familiar with the process. Sharing the news with friends and family can be an exciting step, but it can also bring up questions and conversations.

This guide can help you talk about your surrogacy decision with friends and family. You can connect with the surrogacy community through our Instagram.

You can also call 1-800-875-BABY or click here to talk to a surrogacy professional and get guidance on sharing the news with friends and family.

How to Share Your Good News

How you share your news of surrogacy is totally up to you, and you have some options:

Sharing One-on-One

Sitting down with each person individually in a comfortable space can give you time to talk through any details. This can be a great way to share news with people close to you so that you can give them space to feel included in your journey and give them an opportunity to show their support for you.

This can also be a great strategy if you think someone may have questions or concerns so that you can address them fully and allow them space to share their thoughts and feelings with you. You can also choose who exactly you want to tell and keep the process as private as you would like.

Sharing Through a Social Media Post or Pregnancy Announcement

When it comes to sharing with a lot of friends and family, social media posts or pregnancy announcements can be a great way to get the word out to everyone.

If you choose to share through a social media post or pregnancy announcement, it means that all of your family and friends can feel included in your journey, and it can also help you out later on when the new baby comes—since you won’t be showing a baby bump, it can keep people from being surprised by the new addition to your family.

This choice can allow you to get creative in announcing the pregnancy, and you may even choose to include your surrogate so that people are aware of your journey. It also gives people an opportunity to come to you if they want to talk to you more about surrogacy.

Those who have any questions or negative thoughts may have the space to do research or collect themselves before they talk to you, so you may have more productive conversations, and if they have negative things to say, they may not go out of their way to talk to you.

Sharing at a Dinner or Gathering

Another great strategy for sharing your announcement is to share the news while your friends and family are gathered. Sharing in person can make the news feel more personal and special rather than sharing it over social media or in mailed announcements.

Sharing in a group can be even easier if you tell a friend or two ahead of time because you will know that you have supportive people by your side. When you are surrounded by supportive people, anyone who might have something negative to say may keep their thoughts to themselves.

Answering Some Common Questions

Coming prepared with answers to common questions may help you prepare for announcing your surrogacy. We have included some below.

Why?

Asking why you chose surrogacy may be a sensitive subject, especially if you have personal or medical reasons for choosing surrogacy that you don’t want to share with friends or family.

Remember that you are empowered to share your journey in the way that is most comfortable for you, and no one is entitled to know your personal or medical history. Something as simple as “We are excited to grow our family, and this is a great way to do it.” can be just as effective as a more in-depth answer.

If you are comfortable, sharing more information with friends or family may be a great way to include them in your journey. Having a one or two-sentence explanation for why you chose surrogacy can help you if you are nervous about getting the “why” questions.

Some examples:

“We had embryos left from IVF and were excited to have a child.”

“We wanted to have a child, and after reflection, we decided surrogacy was our best option.”

“It’s been a long journey to have a child, and it led us to surrogacy.”

“We learned more about surrogacy and found that it was a great option for us.”

Will Your Surrogate Share DNA with Your Baby?

In modern surrogacy, your baby will not share DNA with your surrogate. You can simply say “no.”

How Does it Work?

This kind of question can come in many forms. Some may ask you about generalities or specifics. In some cases, people may even wonder aloud about whether there was intimacy involved with your surrogate.

These questions can sometimes be said without thought, but the questions almost always come out of genuine curiosity. You can read articles on how the process works and explain as much as you want, or you can share articles and resources that they can read themselves. With the wide variety of information available online, you only need to share what you feel comfortable sharing.

How to Deal with Potentially Unsupportive Friends and Family

If you are expecting a friend or family member may not be supportive, talking one-on-one with a supportive partner or friend by your side may help you feel comfortable.

It may also be helpful to remind yourself that this may be a new process for friends and family, and they may be learning, so try not to take questions or their emotions personally. Their first reactions are not necessarily a reflection of their long-term support or feelings on the subject.

Get Help from a Surrogacy Professional

Surrogacy professionals can help you during every step of your surrogacy journey, including announcing the decision to family and friends. You can call 1-800-875-BABY or click here to get help from a surrogacy professional now.

Why 2023 is a Great Year to Pursue Surrogacy

The 2023 year is a great opportunity for you to pursue the surrogacy process and become a loving parent for your future child. Find out how you can begin today.

Many people look to the new year as a refreshing start with the “new year, new me” mentality. In addition to setting achievable goals, we also welcome change in our lives.

The 2023 year is a great opportunity for you, as intended parents, to pursue the surrogacy process and become a loving mom or dad for your future child. Your dream of parenthood can become a reality. And, you don’t need to wait any longer to see that come true.

American Surrogacy provides expert care from the best professionals and has many helpful services waiting for you, like:

  • Unlimited re-matching until a successful pregnancy
  • The shortest wait times in the industry
  • Extensive surrogate screening
  • Your own surrogacy specialist for every step of the process
  • And more

You can reach out to a surrogacy specialist at any time for free advice and guidance on how to navigate your 2023 year of family-building through surrogacy. Continue reading for our helpful tips below.

5 Steps to Welcome a New Family Member in the New Year

There is inspiration and hope that come with a new year. So, whether previous family-building methods have not gone in your favor or surrogacy was your first choice, you deserve to be parents. Our team is prepared to make that happen.

Every intended parent’s journey to surrogacy will be different, but there are a few general steps that our surrogacy specialists recommend every hopeful parent take before making life-changing decisions.

In our experience, those who are best prepared for the surrogacy process have usually completed these steps:

Step 1: Decide American Surrogacy is Right for You

Surrogacy is a complicated process and is not one that an intended parent jumps to right away. Those struggling with infertility have many other assisted reproduction methods before gestational surrogacy, such as an IUI or IVF.

Additionally, the adoption process is another method intended parents choose. Very different processes are taken for surrogacy vs. adoption, but they are viable options for those looking to add to their family.

In order to know what is best for your family, you must fully understand all of the options available to you. Fortunately, the specialists at American Surrogacy are well-experienced in both the gestational surrogacy and adoption processes.

Your surrogacy specialist will be your point of contact and will oversee the entire gestational surrogacy process from your initial phone call to well after the surrogacy process is completed. They will be available to:

  • Answer any questions you have along the way
  • Offer support and advice
  • Make sure that your surrogacy journey is proceeding as smoothly as possible

Step 2. Complete the Screening Process with American Surrogacy

To get to know you and your goals for surrogacy better, your specialist will first send you our Surrogacy Planning Questionnaire.

The SPQ will have a variety of questions designed to tailor the surrogacy process to your preferences, including:

  • Do you have any past experiences with surrogacy or adoption?
  • What is your budget for surrogacy?
  • Do you require an egg or a sperm donor?
  • What type of contact do you want with the surrogate during and after the surrogacy?
  • And many more

The screening process is an essential step in our surrogacy method. Your answers will help us find the right surrogate for your family and prepare for the upcoming steps of your surrogacy process.

For intended parents, our screening process includes two steps: the home assessment and background clearances.

The home assessment consists of an in-home inspection and interviews. Your social worker will conduct these steps. Additionally, screening both intended parents and surrogates ensures that the other party is physically, psychologically and legally ready for the surrogacy process before matching. This prevents any delays in your surrogacy process once you begin.

Step 3. Match with a Surrogate

Based on your preferences and goals, your surrogacy specialist will help identify possible surrogate candidates and show them your Intended Parent Profile.

Your profile will include:

  • Information about your family and your home
  • Pictures of your family
  • A letter to any prospective surrogate reading your profile

Your surrogacy specialist and our media team will work with you to create your profile to help you find the right surrogate for your family.

Once you and a surrogate reciprocate interest in one another, your surrogacy specialist will set up a meeting for you to get to know each other and discuss your surrogacy goals.

From there, if both parties are ready to move forward with our surrogacy procedure, you are officially matched, and the legal process will begin.

Step 4. Understand the Legal Process

Both you and your surrogate will have your own attorney who will meet with you individually to review the agreements and ensure you understand your rights and any possible risks.

The legal process is a crucial part of how surrogacy works. Once the contracts are signed, your attorney will begin working on the pre-birth order after the first trimester, which will:

  • Establish you as the legal parents of your child
  • Allow you to make medical decisions for your child
  • Resolve any insurance conflicts
  • Direct the hospital and the state’s vital records department to include your names on the birth certificate

Step 5. Complete the Embryo Transfer

American Surrogacy partners with fertility clinics across the country. We’ll help you find a fertility clinic that’s current with the best surrogacy technology to make this medical process of surrogacy go as smoothly as possible.

In gestational surrogacy, a surrogate is not related to the child that she carries. Instead, a previously created embryo will be transferred into her uterus.

If an egg or sperm donor is required, the fertility clinic will handle much of this surrogacy process while we oversee it.

Once all conditions have been satisfied, the embryo will be transferred to your surrogate. A few months later, once a healthy pregnancy is confirmed, base compensation of monthly payments will begin.

Supporting the surrogate is a vital part of the overall surrogacy process, especially at this stage. Her surrogacy specialist will be available for her during every step of the pregnancy, and we educate and encourage intended parents to be there for her as well in any way they can.

Bringing Your Baby Home This New Year

The hospital stay is obviously a very exciting time for everyone, as everyone’s hard work and dedication will soon result in a beautiful newborn.

You and the surrogate, along with your surrogacy specialist, will determine the events of the hospital stay and the surrogacy birth, such as:

  • The hospital choice for the surrogacy
  • Whether you will be involved with the birth in the delivery room
  • How much the surrogate wants to be a part of post-birth

Once the surrogate can be dismissed from the hospital, you will all leave together, forever connected in this new year.

Our staffs’ help isn’t finished yet. As we said at the beginning, any support and guidance you need over the next few days, weeks or years, we will be there for you.

You can find a community of surrogates and intended parents sharing their stories on our Instagram page.

If you’re ready to have a baby through surrogacy, please contact us today at 1-800-875-BABY.