Surrogacy Journey Explained From the formal process to the actual experiences from EWS surrogates.
Posted on June 17, 2020 by admin
If you are reading this, chances are that you are curious about the surrogacy process and what to expect.
Welcome! We’re so happy you are here and are considering giving the gift of life with Elite Women Surrogacy. It’s very important to research when looking for an agency that is the best fit for you. We hope that this will help you get a better idea of what to expect in the surrogacy process with EWS, in a nutshell.
So you’ve decided to take that leap of faith and apply. Hooray! When filling out the application, it is important to be honest because it is included in your profile that will be presented to potential Intended Parents. Once the application is received, one of our Surrogate Coordinators will review everything and either approve or deny the application. You will be contacted by a coordinator within 24 hours after your submission. If approved, they will send you the necessary paperwork and set up an intake with you via video chat or in our office. With your signed paperwork, your coordinator will also request medical records from all your past pregnancies. During this beginning stage, your coordinator will be your main point of contact to provide you with information about the process. Our surrogate coordinators pride themselves on being accessible to you for any questions you may have at any point. When your profile is complete, you will be introduced to your Case Manager who will provide you with guidance through your entire journey.
Once you are with your Case Manager, the matching process begins. The time line of the matching process can vary. You may be on the database for less than a week or it may take months. There are many factors that are taken into consideration during this process because it is not a simple one. When your match is found, you will be provided with an Intended Parent profile where you will be able to see pictures of them and learn a little bit about them. If you decide that you would like to meet the Intended Parents, depending on the situation, you will meet via video chat or sometimes in person. After the meeting, both you and the Intended Parent’s will decide if you would like to move forward together. If you both feel it is a good fit, and agree to move forward together, you are considered a match.
Congratulations, you’re matched! Upon your match, you will be scheduled for your screenings. The first and most important is the psychological evaluation. This series of tests and interview process should be expected to take at least 3-4 hours. You will then be scheduled for a full medical screening at the Intended Parent’s IVF clinic. This screening includes a vaginal ultrasound and a full panel of blood tests, including drug and STD. If you are coming from a different state, your Case Manager will prepare all of the necessary travel arrangements. Your significant other may need to participate in the medical and psychological screenings as well.
When you have cleared both screenings, we will contact the representing attorneys to begin drafting the contract. This legal contract will be between you and your IP’s and it is critical that you fully read your contract prior to the contract review, which you will have with your attorney. The contract review will be done over the phone or in person. When both parties agree and decide to finalize the contract, everybody signs and notarizes them. When the contract is finalized, there will be NO changes.
Legal clearance is a big step in the surrogacy process. This is when it all starts to really happen! After legal clearance, we will contact the clinic to get you a cycle calendar. This calendar will include a timeline of when you will begin taking medications and scheduling your monitoring appointments to prepare for the embryo transfer. Each physician has a different medical protocol for the IVF process. Prior to the embryo transfer, you will need to attend an appointment with the doctor’s office or a local monitoring clinic for vaginal ultrasounds and blood work at least twice before the embryo transfer. It is very, very important that you attend these appointments and take the proper medications as instructed.
The embryo transfer will be scheduled approximately 4 weeks after the start of injections. The transfer is about a 10-minute procedure and some doctors will use an ultrasound during the procedure. When the transfer is complete, you will lie back for a few minutes. Shortly after, you will be released for bed rest. If you are traveling far from home, your case manager may coordinate a hotel for you and your support person. Bed rest is extremely important. It is important to remain calm and still. You will have blood work appointments between the transfer and pregnancy test to monitor your hormone levels.
Oh baby! Most IVF Physicians will perform the first blood pregnancy test approximately 10 days after the transfer. You will have two blood tests and a couple ultrasounds to confirm pregnancy via heartbeat ultrasound. When you are confirmed pregnant, your Case Manager will be available to you for emotional support and you are welcome to contact them with questions at any time. Your Case Manager will check in with you periodically to see how you are feeling. You will update them by phone or email after each doctor’s appointment and about when your next appointment is scheduled to update the Intended Parents and coordinator.
The moment everyone has waited for…
When you enter the third trimester in your pregnancy, be sure to pre-register at the hospital where you will deliver. Your Case Manager will provide you with a Birth Plan so you and the IP’s are prepared for the involvement in the birth. This moment can be emotional because all of the time and effort you have put into making this dream into a reality for your Intended Parents, will come to a close. While it is the end of the pregnancy, it is important to remember that it is also the start of a new life for a family and you helped make it happen!
Each journey is different in their own beautiful and special way. It is filled with a plethora of emotions for both you and the Intended Parent(s). As your agency, we are here to guide you every step of the way. You will always have someone to talk to, laugh with, and lean on.
We are your agency. Welcome to Elite Women Surrogacy.