I have found Intended Parents myself. Why do you recommend that a Surrogate works through an agency such as Advocates for Surrogacy?
Yes, for several very important reasons. The laws of each state of the parties involved in the process govern surrogacy and these laws are either non-existent or differ from one state to another. This is a complex and highly emotional process and you need professional support and consultation during the process. We will ensure that the legal and financial details are worked out before you begin the medical process, we ensure funds are in escrow and will ensure prompt and accurate payment according to an agreed upon schedule. We have both Intended Parents and Surrogates complete comprehensive questionnaires so that we ensure the best match possible. We can then negotiate the details between the parties which will make the process less stressful than if you are trying to do this yourself. We ensure that all details are included in your agreement. In part, those details will include the coordination of medical treatment before and during pregnancy, and for delivery; understanding and working through the many options available to you in a third party reproduction relationship; and settling financial and business details so you can concentrate on your relationship with your Intended Parents and your pregnancy. We coordinate all the testing required - medical, background checking and psychological evaluations.
How do you evaluate potential Surrogates?
- We will interview potential surrogates either in person or by phone. If during the interview, it appears that you are ready and able to become a surrogate, we then ask you to complete an in-depth questionnaire inquiring about your medical, social, psychological, history. We will review this to ensure that you meet our basic requirements. For exmaple, you have given birth to children previously; you are between the ages of 21 and 39, you do not indicate medical or psychological history that would disqualify you from our program) and you have passed out criminal, financial, and child abuse history background checks.
- Once accepted into our program, your profile is provided to our Intended Parents.
- Upon initial acceptance by an Intended Parent(s), you will then provide medical information for review by the Intended Parent(s)’ chosen fertility clinic.
- Advocates for Surrogacy will arrange and facilitate a telephonic introduction upon request by you or the Intended Parents.
- Upon clearance by the fertility clinic, you and your spouse are brought to our offices in Miami where you will undergo psychological assessment and clinical interview by our licensed psychologist for final clearance.
How will I be matched with Intended Parents?
You and the Intended Parents are asked to complete detailed questionnaires. Both questionnaires explore, in depth, the many facets of surrogacy, choices, preferences, and medical considerations. Based on the information in your profile, your views and our consultations with you, we review the profiles of Intended Parents to make sure that both parties agree on various issues. Once we determine that there is a potential match, we send the Intended Parents your profile and we send you the Intended Parents profile. Identifying information is not revealed initially. After both parties agree to move forward, identifying information is provided. Depending on your location and the Intended Parent(s)’ location, we set up a telephone consultation so that you may speak with the Intended Parent(s). If your conversation goes well with the Intended Parent(s), you and your spouse are flown to our offices in Miami where you will meet with our staff, meet with our Director of Psychological Care and complete a psychological assessment to make sure you are fully prepared to act as a Surrogate in our program.
Do you screen Intended Parents?
Yes, we screen Intended Parents in the same manner that we screen Surrogates. Intended Parents must undergo criminal background checks and also meet with our Director of Psychological Care and complete a psychological assessment. We also explore with Intended Parents the following issues:
- Managing the relationship with the Surrogate
- Can you cope with the stress of surrogacy?
- Can you live with the fact that you have no genetic link to the child you will raise? (for traditional surrogacy and those cases of egg donation.)
- Will you feel that this is not your child? For cases in which both parents are not genetically related.
- How will you cope with the fact that you are not carrying this pregnancy?
- After years of infertility and perhaps unsuccessful pregnancies, how can you allow yourself to overlook your sad history and be happy when your surrogate mother is confirmed pregnant?
- Impact of a gestational surrogacy arrangement on your children and your relationships with your husband, friends and employers
How long does it take to be matched?
It may depends on your requirements as a Surrogate as well as Intended Parent(s)’ requirements. Generally, we will have a match in 2-4 months.
What support and counseling do you provide a surrogate before, during and after the process?
We are here to support our Surrogates before during and after the process. We want to make this as enjoyable and smooth a process for you and for your Intended Parent(s) Our Director of Psychological Care who holds a Phd in psychology will work with you and your husband and assist you in exploring the following issues:
- Managing the relationship with the Intended Parent(s)
- Coping with attachment issues to the fetus
- Impact of a gestational surrogacy arrangement on your children and your relationships with your husband, friends and employers
We hold monthly group counseling sessions with our Surrogate Mothers and you will receive individual counseling at the beginning of the pregnancy, during the middle, at the end and after the pregnancy. Our staff is also available to assist you as well.
Special intervention counseling is also available if the need arises.
What kind of support do you provide Intended Parents during the surrogacy process?
Our team of experienced professionals will guide Intended Parents every step of the way. Our Director of Psychological Care, a licensed psychologist is available to provide counseling to Intended Parents and intervention counseling as necessary.
Where will I give birth?
Typically, you will deliver your baby at a hospital that is local to her. Typically the hospital and obstetrician you choose are the same as they were for your own children; however these are the issues that are discussed during the matching phase of the process.
How much compensation will I receive and how will I be paid during the pregnancy?
Our surrogates receive between $25,000-$30,000 for experienced surrogates. You will be fully reimbursed for travel expenses, including you and your spouse’s trip to Miami to meet with our Director of Psychological Care and staff. You will also receive additional compensation for other procedures (as necessary and/or agreed to between you and your Intended Parents, such as amniocentesis, Cesarean, multiple births, and multiple IVF transfers. Once the gestational surrogacy agreement has been signed by you and your spouse and the Intended Parents, we require the Intended Parents to deposit funds anticipated for the entire process, plus an additional contingency amount, into an escrow account. You will be paid from these funds according to your signed gestational surrogacy agreement.
How much contact can we have with our chosen surrogate mother?
When you complete your profile you tell us how much contact you want to have before, during and after the pregnancy. We will match you with Intended Parents who wants the same contact as you do.
The level of interaction between you and your Intended Parents is a personal preference between both parties. You will need to decide how much interaction you are comfortable with, and also consider how much interaction the other parties to the Surrogacy expect. Some Intended Parents like high levels of interaction; i.e., regular updates via e-mail and/or phone, and the expectation to attend as many of the doctor appointments as possible. It is highly important to some Intended Parents to be "included" in the pregnancy.
Similarly, some Surrogates also desire a close relationship with their IP/s and may be disappointed if the Intended Parent/s did not maintain regular contact with them throughout the pregnancy and beyond. Many Surrogates and Intended Parent/s hope to have a life-long friendship even after the birth, and some correspond throughout the life of the child. A percentage of Intended Parents and Surrogates commit to a fairly low level of contact such as occasional updates and phone calls - but do not necessarily want a close relationship. This type of Surrogacy is more of a "business arrangement." Some Intended Parents may not be able to (or may choose not to) attend doctor appointments and may not see the Surrogate very often (or at all) throughout the pregnancy. A lot of Surrogates may also prefer this type of relationship because they may already have their hands full in their own lives, and may not desire an overly close relationship with their Intended Parents. Before entering into contract together, it is important that the Intended Parents and Surrogate discuss what would be a desirable level of contact between the parties throughout the pregnancy and beyond.
What is your application process?
Our application process starts with a telephone consultation with our Executive Director, an attorney. Depending on your location you can follow up with visits to our office or additional telephone consultations. You complete our application and we will complete background checks. She will review the process, legal considerations and provide a detailed questionnaire.
Once you are accepted into our program, and upon receipt of our detailed questionnaire, we will begin the match process.
- Intended fathers whose sperm will be utilized to create their child or whose wife will carry their pregnancy must take an HIV, CMV, and Hepatitis B and C blood tests, undergo STD screens and a semen analysis, and will provide a health history to the agency and the treating physician.
- Intended mothers who will carry their pregnancy and only seek an egg donor will complete the same blood tests, as well as additional tests required by the treating physician. Intended mothers seeking a surrogate must take HIV, CMV, and Hepatitis B and C blood tests, and may expect to provide a health history to the treating physician for a gestational surrogacy. In some instances, treating physicians will require additional testing of intended parents, such as a chest x-ray or EKG.
Is there a fee for the initial consultation?
No, Advocates for Surrogacy does not charge a fee for our initial consultation.
Where do I begin?
Please contact us. Once we have been contacted by you, we will be provide you with information about our program, how we might be of assistance for your personal needs and make arrangements for an initial consultation.
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