Intended Parents FAQs - Choice Surrogacy

Intended Parents FAQ's

How long will it take before I can be matched with a surrogate at Choice Surrogacy? How do your financial programs work? What are the requirements for a surrogate in your program? Where will the surrogate be monitored to check that she is successfully preparing and responding appropriately to the medication for the IVF cycle? How are my legal rights determined as the legal parents of the child at the time of birth? ow is the OBGYN for my surrogate's pregnancy and delivery determined? How soon can I travel back to my home with my newborn?

How long will it take before I can be matched with a surrogate at Choice Surrogacy?

At Choice Surrogacy®, we don't believe in a waiting list that holds you and your money captive and tied up. The right surrogate could be out there at any agency. After your consultation with Choice®, if you feel that we are the right agency to assist you, please let us know that you would like to work with us. We will refer you for a legal consult so you are sure-footed on all things involving surrogacy and its legalities before receiving a profile. At the same time, we will begin assessing surrogates we are already in the process of screening and present a profile according to yours and our timeline. You will see her profile and let us know if you would like to proceed.100% of Choice Surrogate® Profiles are matched, whether you choose her or not, will calculate your additional wait times to begin your surrogacy journey. Our profiles are fully screened with approved psychological assessment and testing for both surrogate and her partner to include background checks conducted by a live private investigative team, not a button on a website.

Once you have chosen your surrogate profile, we will assist you in preparing a heartfelt letter to your surrogate and present your profile, respectfully, for the surrogate family to choose to meet you as well. Once we have agreement for both parties to be introduced to one another, we will have your IVF doctor review her prior pregnancy and delivery records for a preliminary approval. Once approved, you will be scheduled for an introduction match meeting facilitated by Choice® owner Trish Taylor. The match meeting usually lats about an hour and will be a thorough discussion of the parties' desires and legal decision and will be foundation for your surrogacy attorney to draft the language of your gestational surrogacy agreement once we have a full in-office medical screening and clearance with your IVF doctor.

How do your financial programs work?

At Choice Surrogacy®, we are a financial stakeholder in your success. Our financial programs are designed to provide peace of mind by offering a clear, bottom-line number that you will spend to accomplish your goal of creating a family through surrogacy. We understand how stressful and heartbreaking it can be for intended parents to face delays and losses in the process and then must pay more and replenish funds to continue. Our approach focuses on transparency, so you know upfront if you can afford surrogacy. Our all-inclusive programs mean you know what to expect, no matter how long the process takes or what your journey holds.

A primary focus of our financial program is that you don't pay any upfront costs. You only make payments after your IVF doctor has reviewed the surrogate's application and prior medical records and has determined that she is a suitable candidate for surrogacy, and you have met her and agreed to work with her.

We are invested in your success. Choice Surrogacy® makes it easy with three equal predictable fund deposit amounts:

1. Upon Match: The first payment is made when you are matched with a surrogate.
2. After Legal Clearance: The second payment is due once legal clearance is obtained.
3. Heartbeat Confirmation: The final payment is made upon confirmation of a heartbeat via ultrasound with your IVF doctor.

This structured payment plan ensures that you only pay as key milestones in the surrogacy process are achieved, giving you financial clarity and security and a little break between client funding requests.

We guarantee that all premiums, copays, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximum coverages will pay for your surrogate's pregnancy and birth, even if the insurance company excludes surrogate pregnancy coverage for your pregnancy and delivery. If it takes longer to conceive, resulting in more monthly expense allowances and more monitoring for the IVF cycle, it's all covered under our plan.

What are the requirements for a surrogate in your program?

At Choice Surrogacy®, we have specific requirements to ensure that our surrogates are well-suited for the journey ahead. The key requirements for a surrogate in our program include:

Good Family Support: The surrogate must have a supportive family environment.
Communication is Key: We have an intimate screening process where one person alone has the final say of approval after much input from the team. This allows the critical look at timely and mannerly communication. Mandatory 24 hour or sooner responses are required. Just as we promise prompt communication, we expect prompt responses
Authentic Motivations: The surrogate should have a genuine desire to help another family and her own through the financial rewards that surrogacy includes.
Stable Living Environment: The surrogate must have a stable and secure living situation.
Healthy Pregnancy and Life Habits: The surrogate must maintain healthy lifestyle habits and have a history of healthy pregnancies.
Criteria Outlined by ASRM: The surrogate must meet the criteria established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), of which we are members. This ensures that medically, psychologically and socially she is a suitable candidate for surrogacy.

Had Successful uncomplicated healthy pregnancies of their own

No health issues or taking medications that are contraindications to pregnancy

No smoking marijuana, nicotine, or vaping, no drug use or alcohol use during pregnancy

BMI of under 32

Be between the ages of 21 - 45

Live in a surrogacy friendly state legally

Be a legal citizen of the us and if married the partner/husband must also be legal citizen

These requirements help ensure a positive and successful surrogacy experience for both the surrogate and the intended parents.

Where will the surrogate be monitored to check that she is successfully preparing and responding appropriately to the medication for the IVF cycle?

The surrogate will be monitored at a laboratory or fertility center that will carry out the orders of your IVF physician. This monitoring will take place at a facility that is local to her home. This ensures that the surrogate can conveniently attend appointments and receive the necessary care to prepare for and respond to the IVF medication regimen appropriately. Our team checks on the surrogate and your clinic regularly during the IVF cycling process. We ensure that the nurses are responding to her every need or question.

How are my legal rights determined as the legal parents of the child at the time of birth?

Your legal rights as the intended parents are established through a comprehensive legal process that includes the following steps:

1. Legal Contracts: Before the surrogacy process begins, a legal contract is drawn up between you (the intended parents) and the surrogate. This contract outlines the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of all parties involved.

2. Pre-Birth Order: In many cases, a pre-birth order is obtained from the court during the pregnancy. This legal document establishes your parental rights before the child is born, ensuring that your names will be on the birth certificate.

3. Post-Birth Legal Proceedings: In some jurisdictions, additional legal steps may be required after the birth of the child to finalize your parental rights. This might involve a court hearing to confirm the pre-birth order or to complete an adoption process if necessary.

4. Legal Support: Throughout the surrogacy journey, you will be supported by experienced attorneys who specialize in reproductive law. They will ensure that all legal requirements are met and that your rights as the legal parents are fully established and protected at the time of the child's birth.

By following these legal steps, we ensure that you are recognized as the legal parents of the child at birth, providing you with the security and peace of mind needed throughout the surrogacy process.

ow is the OBGYN for my surrogate's pregnancy and delivery determined?

The OBGYN for your surrogate's pregnancy and delivery is typically chosen based on the surrogate's location and her existing healthcare relationships and insurance coverage. Surrogates typically deliver at hospitals that they have had prior experience with their own pregnancies. However we at Choice® make it mandatory the surrogate delivers at a Level II or more NICU. This helps guarantee that the OBGYN and delivery hospital are suitable to handle any complications that may arise with your surrogate pregnancy or baby. This too is written in your legal contract with your surrogate.

How soon can I travel back to my home with my newborn?

The timeline for traveling back home with your newborn depends on several factors:

Both the newborn and the surrogate will need to be medically cleared for discharge from the hospital. This usually happens within one to two days after birth, but it can vary depending on the health of the baby and any complications during delivery.

You must check with your airline guidelines about traveling with a newborn. If they need a letter from the pediatrician this can be achieved with the doctor at the hospital prior to hospital discharge.

Legal details: If you are traveling in the US, you can typically drive or fly home as soon as the pediatrician who examines your baby at the time of discharge from the hospital grants permission to travel. For parents that are traveling internationally depending on the laws of the state where the baby is born, you may need to complete certain legal processes before traveling. This might include obtaining the baby's birth certificate, passport, and any necessary legal documents confirming your parental rights. You will be assisted by an attorney in the state where your child is born to expedite and obtain the necessary documents.

By coordinating closely with your surrogate, medical professionals, and legal advisors, we ensure that you can return home with your newborn as soon as it is safe, and all necessary steps have been completed.