FROM MATCH TO BIRTH: HOW SURROGACY WORKS STEP-BY-STEP

Surrogacy is a remarkable path to parenthood, offering hope and joy to individuals and couples who cannot grow their family themselves. While the process can seem complex at first, understanding the step-by-step journey can bring clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. Think of it as a roadmap where each milestone brings you closer to holding your baby in your arms.

Surrogacy Journey Overview

Every surrogacy journey is as unique as the family it creates, yet there’s a shared rhythm that gives the process structure and reassurance. At its heart, surrogacy is a collaboration between intended parents, a surrogate, and a dedicated team of professionals with each step carefully designed to protect everyone’s health, rights, and emotional well-being.

The process typically begins with an in-depth consultation where your hopes, needs, and questions are explored in a safe, welcoming space. From there, your chosen agency acts as your guide, helping you navigate screenings, legal requirements, medical steps, and being matched with your surrogate. The journey also includes thoughtful legal planning to ensure parentage is secured, advanced medical procedures to create and transfer embryos, and comprehensive care throughout pregnancy.

While the logistics are important, the true heart of the process is the human connection. Your surrogate isn’t just someone carrying your child; she’s a partner in one of life’s most profound endeavors. At Growing 

Generations, careful attention is paid to matching you with someone who shares your values, communicates openly, and genuinely believes in helping others become parents.

From the first conversation to the day you take your baby home, the journey is filled with a series of milestones, each one bringing you closer to holding your goal of parenthood. The path is clearly marked, but never rushed. With expert guidance, emotional support, and a plan tailored to your family, the surrogacy process becomes less about navigating challenges and more about celebrating the moments that matter most.

Step 1 – Initial Consultation & Admission

You start your journey to parenthood by booking a complimentary consultation. As you learn more about the Growing Generations surrogacy program and surrogates, we, in turn, will get to know you, your expectations and your needs. When you are ready to get started, you will sign a retainer agreement and pay the retainer fee. By doing so, you are giving us permission to start your surrogacy journey. This retainer can be done at any time, including during the initial consultation.

Step 2 – Choosing the Right Surrogacy Agency

Finding the right surrogacy agency is a crucial step in the journey to growing your family, and it requires careful research and consideration. With nearly 30 years of experience, Growing Generations can provide essential support, guidance, and peace of mind throughout the surrogacy process, ensuring all legal, medical, and emotional aspects are expertly managed.

To select the best surrogacy agency, prospective parents should evaluate factors such as the agency’s experience, success rates, legal expertise, and the quality of support services offered to both intended parents and surrogates. Taking the time to compare agencies, ask detailed questions, and read reviews can make all the difference in creating a positive and successful surrogacy experience. When selecting an agency, consider:

• Experience & reputation: An agency’s history speaks volumes about its ability to navigate the complexities of surrogacy. Look for a team with years of proven experience, a strong track record of successful matches, and a reputation for ethical practices. This depth of knowledge can make the difference between a stressful process and one that feels supported and smooth from start to finish.

• Matching services and success rates: The heart of your journey begins with finding the right surrogate. Agencies with thoughtful, personalized matching services and high success rates show they’re committed to making meaningful connections and not just quick pairings. Growing Generations has a 99.3% success rate for surrogacy journeys. We offer a match guarantee that ensures this success rate and our surrogates are at the top 1% of all applicants.

• Legal expertise: Surrogacy laws vary widely, and having legal experts who understand your specific jurisdiction is essential. The right agency ensures every contract and parentage order is handled correctly, protecting your rights and paving the way for a seamless transition into parenthood when your baby arrives.

• Support programs: Quality agencies provide ongoing emotional, logistical, and practical support to intended parents and surrogates alike. This ensures each person feels valued, cared for, and confident both through the joyful moments and the challenges.

• Transparency in Costs and Timelines: Reputable agencies are upfront about all costs, payment schedules, and realistic timelines. Knowing what to expect financially and logistically helps you plan with confidence and stay focused on the ultimate goal: bringing your baby home.

Step 3 – Matching With Your Surrogate

Matching isn’t just about profiles. It’s about alignment in values, communication styles, and emotional fit. At Growing Generations, a matching specialist carefully reviews both surrogate and intended parent profiles, including lifestyle, motives, and preferences, until they find a promising pairing. Over 98% of our intended parents choose to move forward with their first match. If you are matched with a surrogate that does not pass medical screening, not only will we cover up to $5,000 of the surrogate’s screening expenses, but we will also provide you with another surrogate match free of any additional agency fees. That’s our Match Guarantee.  After a tentative match is made, a facilitated video meeting takes place. Both sides then have 24 hours to reflect before making the match official.

Step 4 – Medical Clearance of the Surrogate

Before the embryo transfer, the surrogate undergoes a thorough medical clearance. At Growing Generations, our screening process is rigorous. Surrogates are among the top 2% of applicants and pass evaluations around health, lifestyle, background, and readiness. The clinic may conduct a mock cycle, lab tests, infectious disease screens, ultrasounds, and more before granting final approval.

Step 5 – IVF & Embryo Creation

If embryos have not already been created, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is the next step. This may involve using the intended mother’s or a donor’s eggs and the intended father’s or a donor’s sperm. The eggs are fertilized in a laboratory and monitored as they develop into embryos. Many intended parents choose to use pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT-A) to check for chromosomal health before transfer. The lab timeline depends on the clinics you work with. However, our team will guide you through the process to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Step 6 – Drafting & Signing Legal Contracts

When both parties feel confident in the match, the legal phase begins. At Growing Generations, we ensure that you are connected to a top legal professional. They will provide you with personalized and customized legal advice.  As you go through this step, we emphasize clarity and trust, encouraging open dialogue and ensuring intended parents are protected at every legal turn.

Step 7 – Embryo Transfer Day

Embryo transfer day is an exciting and emotional milestone. The procedure is simple and typically painless, as the embryo is placed in the surrogate’s uterus using a thin catheter. Afterward, most surrogates rest for the remainder of the day but can resume normal activities quickly. While the outcome is ultimately up to nature, maintaining a calm and positive environment can help ease any anxiety during this waiting period. Growing Generations case specialists work closely with both intended parents and surrogates to make sure they have everything they need during this step in the process.

Step 8 – Pregnancy Care & Monitoring

When pregnancy is confirmed, the surrogate will continue with fertility clinic monitoring until she transitions to the care of her obstetrician. Intended parents often receive regular updates, ultrasound images, and reports throughout the pregnancy. Insurance coverage is reviewed to ensure that all medical needs are met and that there are no gaps in protection. Our case specialists are with the intended parents through the pregnancy process and beyond, anticipating their needs.

Step 9 – Securing the Pre‑Birth Order

To ensure legal parentage, many states require a pre-birth order (PBO). This court-issued document allows the intended parents’ names to be placed directly on the baby’s birth certificate. The process and timeline vary depending on the state, but in some areas, the paperwork can be filed as early as the second trimester.

Step 10 – Delivery Day Logistics

When delivery day arrives, the hospital follows the agreed-upon birth plan. Intended parents are usually present for the birth, ready to meet their baby for the first time. Many choose to begin kangaroo care, also known as skin-to-skin contact immediately, which can help the newborn regulate temperature and heartbeat while fostering early bonding. The process of issuing the birth certificate typically begins right away.

Step 11 – After Birth: Transition & Ongoing Relationship

After the baby’s arrival, the relationship between intended parents and their surrogate evolves. Some continue to share milestones and maintain close friendships, while others prefer less frequent communication. The frequency and type of contacts are usually agreed upon together, with the understanding that each relationship is unique.

Ready to Start?

Surrogacy is a life-changing, deeply personal journey, fueled by the desire to grow your family. With a supportive, transparent, and expert team like Growing Generations by your side, you don’t just move through steps; you move forward with confidence, compassion, and clarity. If you're ready to take the next step, a professional consultation can start your journey to parenthood. Contact us at 323.965.7500 or via email at family@growinggenerations.com.