Now that you’ve decided that surrogacy may be the best option for building your family, you probably have questions about how the process works, what will happen, and when. Each surrogacy experience is unique and varies in cost and duration depending on your needs as future parents, the surrogate you choose, and the natural development of the process. We have created a detailed timeline and explanation of the steps to give you a clearer perspective on a “typical” surrogacy experience.
Before starting
Compare agencies and choose the right one
Surrogacy is a life-changing opportunity and deserves careful consideration to ensure you are confident in your choice of agency. When comparing agencies, focus on four criteria:
- The guarantees offered to you as a future father.
- The support available for pregnant women.
- The level of professionalism.
- How well the agency’s values align with yours.
Schedule a consultation
At this point, you can call or send us a message, and a member of our team will contact you to answer any questions and go over some basic details of our program with you. If you decide to proceed with Gestacy, we will schedule a meeting with our Director to help you decide if Gestacy is the best option to build your family.
Once you decide to start
Join Gestacy
After your consultation, we hope you choose to join us. (Thank you very much if you choose!) You will be asked to complete a form so that we can get to know you better and understand what you need and expect from your surrogacy process. This information will help us understand why you have chosen surrogacy and align your preferences with potential surrogates.
Plan your trip and choose a lawyer and clinic
Once you join, we will begin planning your process with you. We will review several factors, including finances, timing, and surrogate guarantees. Establishing the roadmap for your surrogacy process will take some time, but it is important to select the right clinic and be aware of both the risks and guarantees that Gestacy offers. We will put you in touch with one of our trusted partners.
The search for a surrogate begins
Once we have a clear plan, it will be time to formalize our role in your surrogacy process. We provide a clear and concise contract that sets out what we will do for you and our distinctive guarantees:
- Money Back Guarantee: If no match is found within 4 months.
- Matching Guarantee: No additional cost if a new surrogate is needed during the process.
- Promise of Support: Until you can have your baby with you.
IVF procedures and pairing of pregnant women
Getting started with your IVF clinic
We plan your clinical procedures, which vary according to your personal characteristics and the process. Most families begin the IVF process to develop embryos in parallel with the surrogate compatibility process, while others may have embryos ready for transfer or need to send embryos to the chosen clinic. We will help you organize all of these steps with your IVF clinic to ensure a smooth transition.
Choice of egg/sperm/embryo donors (If necessary)
If necessary, Gestacy will help you choose your donors. We work closely with several egg, sperm and embryo donation agencies, but we are also happy to work with in-clinic donors if you prefer.
IVF
If your embryos from previous cycles are not ready, Gestacy will assist you throughout the IVF process to ensure that your embryos are ready when the surrogate is ready for the transfer. If you are using your own eggs, we will arrange stimulation (which in most cases can be done locally). Once the IVF process is complete, you will have a clearer idea of how many viable embryos are ready for transfer. If the pairing process is not completed at that time, this will speed up the process.
Be matched
Once you have formally joined Gestacy, we will actively search for the perfect surrogate for you. This process generally takes from a few days to a few weeks, but can vary depending on what you are looking for in a surrogate and your personal characteristics. Both parties must agree to ensure the comfort and success of the process. We will show you several profiles of possible surrogates. Once you’ve chosen a surrogate, we’ll schedule a Skype call (or an in-person meeting if you prefer) so you can get to know her. A team member will be with you on the call to ensure a smooth conversation. After the meeting, you will have a better idea of whether she is the right woman for you. If you’re still unsure, we’re here to help you make the final decision and answer any other questions you may have.
During pregnancy and beyond
Medical and psychological evaluation
Both you and the surrogate will undergo a complete medical and psychological evaluation to ensure that the surrogacy journey is safe for both of you and the future baby. Before accepting a surrogate, Gestacy will review her medical records and reproductive history. The medical examination performed after compatibility is simply a confirmation that the surrogate is ready for embryo transfer at the right time.
Insurance review
Due to the complexity of surrogacy, a safe process requires adequate health insurance. We will review and explain the surrogate’s insurance situation before matching.
Contracts
The contract stage is delicate and must be handled carefully. Both you and the surrogate will have different legal advisors and we will ensure that no misunderstandings occur during this stage. Several topics that will have been discussed during the matching process will now be formalized: compensation, insurance, values on invasive procedures, etc.
Pregnancy: Medical treatment
Once all the paperwork is completed, the surrogate will receive fertility medications to try to ensure a successful pregnancy with the first embryo transfer. Our team, as well as the clinic team, will support you during the medical treatment process so that both you and the surrogate mother feel safe and supported.
Embryo transfer and pregnancy test
The surrogate is ready, the clinic is ready and so are you. This is when the big day happens. We will support you and ensure that the embryo transfer is carried out in the best possible conditions. Once the transfer is made, you must wait between 10 and 15 days to confirm the pregnancy. All of us at Gestacy will keep our fingers crossed with you!
During pregnancy
Medical follow-up
The pregnancy will be monitored by the surrogate’s local IVF clinic during the first trimester, and then the surrogate will be seen by a local obstetrician of her choice. We will help you organize all medical appointments and our team will help you with any medical choices that may arise. If you or your surrogate wish, a doula will accompany you, who will give you advice and assistance to make the trip safer and more physically pleasant. This doula will be covered by Gestacy, so there is no additional cost to you. It will also answer any questions related to pregnancy and guide you in speaking to your doctor or midwife.
Support during pregnancy
Both you and the surrogate will have the support of our team throughout the pregnancy. We will be with you to listen to you, guide you and inform you during this emotional and prolonged process for both the surrogate mother and the future parents.
Court order for parents
Most jurisdictions in which we operate provide prenatal orders, which are presented and accepted around 24 weeks of pregnancy. This court order grants full custody of the child to you, the intended parents. They will be legally recognized as parents even before the baby is born.
Before birth
When the delivery approaches, we will begin to polish all the details to ensure that both your baby and the surrogate are 100% protected and that the delivery takes place in a safe and desired manner. We will do everything possible to meet your needs and those of the surrogate mother during the birth process. We will also ensure we have emergency plans for premature or high-risk births.
Delivery
During the contract and matching stages, you and the surrogate will decide whether you, as the intended parents, will be present in the delivery room or if she will make the final decision on this closer to the delivery date. You will have all the necessary medical assistance to make this a safe time. From the moment the baby is born, all medical decisions will be your sole responsibility.
After birth
Registration of the child as a citizen and abroad (If Applicable)
Immediately after delivery, we will work in coordination with your attorney to ensure that the baby is properly registered.
- If the baby is born in Mexico: Mexican nationality will be granted. We will assist you in obtaining a passport, a birth certificate (birth certificate) and a Unique Population Registration Code (CURP). We will also help you register the baby at your country’s embassy if necessary, and these procedures can take 1 to 3 months.
- If the baby is born in the United States: He or she will be granted US nationality. We will assist you in obtaining a US passport, birth certificate, and Social Security number. We will also coordinate with your local attorney to help you register the baby with your country’s embassy if you are not a US citizen.
In both cases, we will ensure that all necessary documents are in order to facilitate the registration process and ensure that everything is in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Homecoming
Gestacy will help you organize your trip home, which may include contacting airlines to ensure your baby has adequate space on the plane, changing flight dates, etc. We will also ensure that you have all the necessary documents for a safe and legal trip home.
Invoice review and compensation
Once the surrogate’s postpartum rest period is complete, all compensation has been provided, and all refunds have been processed, we will conduct an audit of all financial aspects of the process so you can close the financial chapter of your trip. It is important to understand that recovering all outstanding bills in Mexico may take a few months as we audit all medical bills and some bills may take months to arrive.
Follow-up
We will be at your disposal whenever you want. We will follow up with you from time to time, if you prefer. You can also choose to continue participating in our growing community of support. We will be happy to help you whenever you need it and in everything we can