Being a Gestational Carrier will involve highly customized care, thorough medical testing, and precise timing to ensure a successful pregnancy. There are many parts of the process and each must be tailored to the agreement a surrogate has with intended parents. Surrogacy has become a popular choice for families despite an intense process.

Reasons for Routine Testing for Surrogates 

Depending on the surrogacy agency, medical screening may be done before or after you are matched with intended parents. The purpose is to be sure your body is ready for a healthy and successful pregnancy. 

Routine tests done or requested by the intended parent’s fertility clinic will include:

• Vaginal ultrasound (external) or a hysteroscopy (internal) to examine the health of your uterus and fallopian tubes
• Blood drawn to rule out infectious diseases, such as herpes or hepatitis
• Saline sonograms to flush the uterus and check for fibroids and other things that can interfere with a pregnancy
• Recent pap smear completed by your regular physician
• Mammogram to check breast health
• Social or psychological evaluations if required

Why a “Mock Cycle” May Be Performed

Gestational carriers never use their eggs. The intended mother or egg donor is given hormones to induce ovulation for IVF at a certified fertility clinic. The process for retrieving “fresh” eggs and incubating them for fertilization is very precise. After five days, the date and time of an actual embryo transfer can be scheduled. Your body needs to be ready.

To sync the surrogate’s cycle with the intended mother’s induced ovulation, a reproductive specialist uses medications to prepare you and may do a mock hormone cycle first. Birth control pills and Lupron injections help shut down hormone production to control the timing of your menstrual cycle and ensure your uterus is ready to receive the embryos at the right time. Checking the uterine lining in advance ensures it is responding correctly to the medications. Several ultrasounds and bloodwork may be taken to check hormone levels.

Some fertility clinics do a mock embryo transfer to check the angle of your cervix and the size of your uterine cavity to determine the best way to insert the catheter for embryo implantation. After a successful mock cycle, you are ready.

What’s Happening During the Embryo Transfer Procedure

The day before the egg retrieval, Lupron injections stop, and progesterone is used to maintain the correct level of hormones for the uterus to support a pregnancy. The daily progesterone may require intramuscular injections you can administer at home or the doctor’s office.

Around this time, you may also be taking estrogen replacement. Both progesterone and estrogen are needed for twelve weeks until the placenta takes over hormone production.

When the embryo is transferred, an ultrasound often helps with embryo placement, and you may be asked to remain lying down afterward or rest for a few days to ensure implantation.

Reasons for Follow-up Tests

Approximately nine days to two weeks after implantation, a simple blood test to check for HCG levels will confirm the pregnancy. An ultrasound is done around the sixth week (and sometimes the twelfth week) of pregnancy to check for a heartbeat. After hearing a heartbeat, you may be released to your OBGYN for the remainder of your pregnancy.

Once in the trusted care of your chosen doctor, you will continue routine prenatal care and can choose the hospital for your delivery.

The surrogacy process may require multiple embryo transfers to achieve a successful pregnancy. Taking great care can make things go more smoothly and reach success sooner. 

This article explains the gestational surrogacy process in general terms, but each fertility clinic and agency agreement is different, and procedures depend on whether fresh or previously harvested frozen eggs are used. Each medical procedure is necessary to ensure your health and the success of the surrogate pregnancy. Ask our professionals for clarification about our agency processes and any changes to requirements due to Covid. 

Not too long ago, some people viewed surrogacy as a radical idea. Actually, traditional surrogacy began thousands of years ago with women who had trouble conceiving or carrying a child asking close friends or family for help. Since then, it has gone through a medical and biological evolution due to scientific discovery and changing societal norms. In 1978 the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) baby was born. Then in 1982, the first baby was born using egg donation. These two scientific events made gestational surrogacy a possibility by 1985, and the miracle of surrogacy would become widely accepted over the next few decades.

Traditional Surrogacy

Traditional surrogacy has been around the longest, but it suddenly became a legal problem when a surrogate mother wanted to keep her child after giving birth in 1986. A traditional surrogate uses her own egg and has genetic ties to the baby, which can create legal and emotional gray areas. The surrogate and the intended parents fought a legal battle for two years over custody, sparking many questions about surrogacy worldwide. As a result, commercial (for profit) and gestational surrogacy rose in many different countries, including the US.

Revolutionary Developments

In 1999, the Special Program of Assisted Reproduction (SPAR) allowed an HIV-positive man to have his own biological children without transmitting the disease. It was a groundbreaking development for gay men who wanted to experience a family. Then in 2011, a 61-year-old woman broke the record for oldest surrogate mother by carrying her grandchild. The gift of surrogacy became a family legacy.

Gestational Surrogacy

Gestational surrogacy has become a rapidly growing and viable option for having children, despite changing legal and medical guidelines. Trends driving the need for surrogacy are rising mainstream acceptance of the procedure and a ban on commercial surrogacy in most countries. The demand for alternatives to raise a growing family is projected to surge by nearly 25% over the next few years. Reasons include increased infertility issues such as egg or sperm production, low sperm count, hormonal changes, steroid use, alcohol consumption, and elevated stress.

The Growing Needs for Surrogacy

There are numerous fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies throughout the world. Surrogacy professionals help surrogates or carriers and intended parents navigate the legal and emotional complexities. Increasing disposable income and awareness of available fertility treatments contribute to predictions of spending related to gestational surrogacy to reach 17.7 billion by 2025.

Most parents discussing the possibility of surrogacy are around the age of 38. Women having children later in their child-bearing years face more fertility issues resulting in difficulty getting pregnant or sustaining a pregnancy. Many same-sex couples choose surrogacy, whether they are women with medical problems or men who want a family that shares their genetics. 

The availability of many birth control measures and altering lifestyles are mainly responsible for reduced fertility rates in developed countries where the option to build a career or pursue other life goals can come before deciding to raise a family. With more people waiting, there will be couples looking at various ways to become parents when they are ready.

There are more possibilities for families than ever before, and the miracle of surrogacy is an excellent choice for having children regardless of medical or biological challenges. The idea of surrogacy has certainly changed as society has evolved. If you are searching for a solution or are considering becoming a surrogate, learn about the medical processes and preparing to be a surrogate by reading our articles online or contact us for more information. 

Being a surrogate for parents who cannot conceive on their own can be both a selfless act and a rewarding gesture. You may be making one of the most significant decisions of your life, and it requires careful thought.

There are two types of surrogate mothers. Traditional is when the surrogate has one of her eggs fertilized with sperm from the intended father or a donor. Gestational is when an egg from the intended mother or donor is implanted into the surrogate. It is then fertilized with sperm from the intended father or a donor. The choice you make between the two will affect the legal and medical aspects of the process.

Are you thinking of becoming a surrogate? Here is an overview of what to expect.

Application Process

Once you decide to serve as a surrogate mother, the application process is the first step. Some qualifications to apply include:

• Between the ages of 21 to 40
• Had a healthy, full-term pregnancy
• Strong medical history
• No criminal record

If you meet the requirements and complete an application, an agency will match you with intended parents. Once matched, you will need an attorney to finalize the contract. Both parties will have separate attorneys who will work through financial and procedural details.

Pregnancy

Regardless of the type of surrogacy, there will be a medical procedure to ensure a fertilized egg is implanted, such as in-vitro fertilization or artificial insemination. This will involve some medications to coordinate your cycle for a greater chance of success.

Once you are pregnant as a surrogate, you will want to respect the intended parents’ wishes. Expectations can include regular medical checkups, limited travel or risky activity, regularly communicating with the parents, amending your diet, and abiding by the agreed-upon social media usage during the match process.

The parents and surrogate will also outline the birth plan and discuss who will be present. Consistent communication is vital for all parties.

After the Birth

How the relationship between parents and surrogates will proceed after the delivery is discussed early in the process. There is no right or wrong path. The key is that expectations are set at the very beginning so that nobody is surprised. While some parties become lifelong friends, others intentionally choose not to have a close relationship.

Regardless of the plan in place with the parents, you have still gone through a pregnancy. Line up help to care for other children, deliver meals, and assist with any other tasks during your recovery. As your hormones shift after delivery, you may experience postpartum depression. Your body will also be producing milk. Some surrogates choose to provide it to the parents or donate it.

Allow yourself time to heal physically and emotionally. Journaling is an excellent way to track any thoughts you are experiencing that may guide you in the future when choosing whether to be a surrogate again.

If you are strongly considering being a surrogate, give careful thought to expectations during every step of the process. Reach out for help to eliminate surprises, discuss your specific situation, and instill confidence that you are making the right decision.

Becoming a gestational carrier (also known as a gestational surrogate) is a rewarding and beautiful journey that can absolutely be done in the state of Florida. We’ll get started by sharing some of the basics surrounding surrogacy arrangements and contracts in Florida, and then we’ll go into more detail on whether gestational carriers can be compensated for their services and if they can be reimbursed for expenses in Florida. 

Surrogacy Arrangements & Contracts in Florida 

The intricacies of surrogacy arrangements can be challenging to navigate without experience. Many gestational carriers and intended parents choose to start their journey with a surrogacy agency because of the guidance agency staff can provide throughout the process. By working with an agency, a gestational carrier has direct access to a surrogacy coordinator, and intended parents have direct access to a case manager throughout the surrogacy process. While it is possible to have a surrogacy arrangement without the use of a surrogate agency, ensuring a strong match between a gestational carrier and intended parents and navigating the surrogacy journey can be difficult. 

Surrogacy contracts in Florida are essential but can also be quite complex. In the contract, the parties are required to enter into a written gestational surrogacy agreement, outlining the rights and responsibilities of the parties prior to the initiation of the pregnancy. Once pregnancy occurs, neither of the parties is permitted to change his or her mind and decline to proceed with the surrogacy arrangement. It is imperative that both the gestational carrier and the intended parents be represented by counsel throughout the contract phase of the surrogacy arrangement. 

Can Surrogates be Compensated in Florida? 

A surrogacy agreement can include provisions for compensation to the surrogates in Florida. Allowable expenses under Florida law include reasonable living, legal, medical, psychological, and psychiatric expenses of a gestational carrier that are directly related to the prenatal, intrapartal and postpartal periods.   

At Heart of Surrogacy, LLC, gestational carriers are paid a base compensation. Additionally, surrogate mothers can obtain a monthly allowance to cover expenses, along with an allowance for maternity clothing. Travel expenses are also reimbursed, pursuant to the parties’ contract, for surrogates traveling for medical screenings or embryo transfers. The surrogacy agreement may include provisions concerning other expenses as detailed on the Heart of Surrogacy, LLC website. 

Why Should You Consider Becoming a Surrogate in Florida? 

– Florida surrogates are compensated and usually start at a base compensation of $32,000 or more depending on several factors.  

– Florida is a gestational surrogacy state and does not allow for traditional surrogacy with eggs directly from the surrogate. (In Florida, the gestational carrier has no genetic link to the child.) 

– Gestational surrogacy in Florida results in no parental rights or responsibilities towards the child.  

– Gestational surrogacy is a way to help a couple have a child whereas it otherwise might not be possible on their own. 

Serving as a surrogate can be one of the most selfless acts offered by a woman. Surrogacy occurs when medical issues prevent a couple from carrying a child, so another woman carries the baby for them. It is a huge decision that requires a lot of research and thought. If you are considering being a surrogate, it’s important to know a few details about the process to make an educated decision. 

Two Types of Surrogacies

There are different options for pregnancy when you become a surrogate. You will want to think about your preferences, to match the needs of the couple.

· Traditional surrogacy is when the woman uses her egg to become pregnant, and the intended father fertilizes it. This can be accomplished through either intrauterine insemination or in-vitro fertilization (IVF). 

· Gestational surrogacy is when the intended parents use in-vitro fertilization with their egg and sperm. The egg is then implanted in the carrier. So, while the surrogate is carrying the baby, she has no genetic connection to the child. 

Legal and Financial Considerations

There are many legal and financial matters involved in a surrogate agreement. 

· A compensated agreement means that the intended parents will cover all the costs involved with the pregnancy and a surrogacy fee. Those expenses can include medical care, legal fees, lost wages, and fertility treatments. 

· A compassionate agreement covers those same costs but does not pay any compensation to the carrier. This agreement typically occurs when the surrogate is a friend or family member.

Legal contracts must be fully executed to protect every party’s rights. It is recommended that each party uses separate legal counsel. Every state has different laws relating to surrogacy, so it is important to find an attorney who specializes in surrogacy agreements in your area to ensure the process goes smoothly for everyone.

Physical Considerations

You should physically be in good health with a suitable medical history. Initially, you may have to administer shots to yourself if you are doing IVF. Once you are pregnant, lifestyle changes may be required, including diet adjustments, exercise modifications, and changes to your sleep patterns.

Emotional Considerations

Pregnancy can be an emotional journey. As a surrogate, you are also helping someone else become parents and carrying a child you will give back to the parents after birth. That is a lot to take on, and all with the added hormones of pregnancy. You will also be opening your personal life to another couple. It can lead to an incredible bond. Finally, be prepared to respond to acquaintances or strangers congratulating you on the pregnancy. 

The decision to become a surrogate should not be taken lightly. It’s a journey that could take 19 to 26 months to complete. If you are considering being a surrogate, talk to women who have done it before. They can share their experience and prepare you for what to expect. Speak with surrogacy professionals to gather reliable information. 

Helping another couple become parents can be one of the most joyful experiences of your life. There are many resources to prepare for surrogacy if you decide it is the right path. Contact Heart of Surrogacy for more information or give us a call today at 813-280-6500. We can discuss these critical considerations, put you in touch with other successful surrogates, and help you make the right decision based on your situation.