You’ve taken the first big steps: You’ve decided that you’re ready for the surrogacy journey and you’ve reached out to American Surrogacy to help you do that. But now that you’re here, you probably have one big question:
“How will I find a gestational carrier or intended parent?”
The process is actually much simpler than you might think. And it all starts with creating what’s called a “surrogacy plan.” American Surrogacy’s planning process is unique, and it’s the best way to make sure you have everything you’re looking for. And in a lot of ways, it’s the key to finding the perfect match. But it does require a lot of thought.
Here, we’ll be going into detail about what you need to fill out to help find the perfect match. But if you’d like to go into more detail with your American Surrogacy specialist, you can give us a call at 1-800-875-2229 or fill out our contact form.
In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about making a surrogacy plan.
What is a Surrogacy Plan?
The surrogacy plan is like a roadmap – one that’s very much like an adoption plan. Whether you’re becoming a surrogate or a parent, this personal roadmap will guide your entire experience.
Through a set of simple questions, you’ll outline all of your preferences for a match. You’ll also fill out some important information about yourself, too. Your answers to all of these questions will help your surrogacy specialist find the perfect match for you.
Both parties will answer similar questions. But there are a few differences that you’ll see below depending on whether you’re an intended parent or gestational carrier. Here’s what it will look like for each of you:
Intended Parents
You’ll be asked:
- Some basic information about you, like your full name, birthday, address, etc.
- Your assisted reproductive history
- The type of contact you’re comfortable sharing with your gestational carrier
- Whether or not you’re currently working with an attorney for assisted reproduction
- Your surrogacy budget
- Additional questions to help assess your readiness for surrogacy
You’ll also be asked questions about what you’re looking for in a gestational carrier, like:
- Are you looking for someone in your state?
- Are you looking for a married surrogate?
- Are you looking for a single surrogate?
- And more
Gestational Carriers
You’ll be asked:
- Are you looking for a family in your state?
- Are you open to traveling?
- How close would you like to be in contact afterward?
- And more
In addition to their surrogacy plan, gestational carriers will also have to fill out information regarding their social medical history. As the name implies, this form gives your surrogacy specialist some much-needed information on your medical background.
As you can see, these questions are pretty similar. The purpose of these questions is to make it easier to find the best match. And one of the easiest ways to do that is to make sure everyone is on the same page.
What Happens After I Create My Surrogacy Plan?
In addition to creating a surrogacy plan, you’ll also start the process of making either an intended parent or gestational carrier profile. This profile will be used to show potential matches a little more about you before accepting a match.
This profile is basically a snapshot of who you are. If you’ve found one that you like, you can move on to the next step: Getting to know each other!
What Happens After I’m Presented with an Opportunity?
Once both parties decide to move forward with a potential match, it’s time to start getting to know each other. Typically, the first time you speak to one another will be a mediated call over the phone with your surrogacy specialist. This call typically lasts about 1 hour while everyone gets to know each other. After that, you can continue to build your relationship on your own through phone calls, emails, and video calls.
If both parties decide that you’re ready to move forward, then you’ll make the match official by drafting a legal contract.
How Will I Know When I’ve Found the Right Match?
It’s important that you’re absolutely certain before you accept a match. If you’re not getting a good gut feeling, or if you need to change your mind about anything at all, please don’t be afraid to let your specialist know how you’re feeling. It might feel stressful to start the process of finding a match again, but it’s better that you take some time to look at all your other options before you get into a match that doesn’t feel like a good fit.
Remember, the relationship you have with your gestational surrogate or intended parent will be life-changing. The right partnership is what makes a surrogacy journey a meaningful, enjoyable and emotionally rewarding shared experience. Don’t feel pressured to say yes to the very first match you’re presented with if you feel unsure. Intended parents and gestational carriers have a lot of control when it comes to deciding what they’re looking for in a match. Until you decide that you’ve found a good one, it’s okay to take your time and wait. We’ll help you find the right fit!
I’m Ready to Create My Surrogacy Plan. How Do I Get Started?
There’s a lot of thought that goes into making the perfect surrogacy plan. But we’re ready to talk you through all of your questions. If you’re ready to start your surrogacy process as a parent or as a surrogate, you can give us a call at 1-800-875-2229 or fill out our contact form.