Surrogacy Process for Intended Parents Step-by-Step
Growing Generations has been helping people become parents for 30 years. Once you choose to pursue surrogacy with us, we make sure your journey is tailored to you and your needs. We understand the path you are about to embark on, and we are there for you at every turn, supporting you as you take that very first step to finally realizing your dreams of parenthood.
Step 1
Consultation
Your journey begins with a complimentary consultation. This is an opportunity to learn about our surrogacy program, costs, while we get to know you, your expectations, and your needs. We'll discuss your family-building goals, review your options, and answer any early questions. There's no pressure to commit right away. This conversation is about making sure you feel informed and confident before moving forward.
Step 2
Admissions
When you are ready to begin, you will sign a retainer agreement and pay a retainer fee, giving us permission to start your surrogacy journey. This can be completed at any time, including during your initial consultation if you feel prepared.
At this stage, we will also discuss whether you need an egg donor or sperm donor during your parenthood journey. If donor matching is part of your journey, we will coordinate that process alongside your surrogate search.
Step 3
Matching you with an Ideal Surrogate
Finding the right surrogate is one of the most important steps in your journey. We take a personalized approach to matching, built around your preferences, expectations, and comfort level.
In the rare case that a surrogate does not pass her in-person medical screening, our Surrogate Match Guarantee covers up to $5,000 of screening expenses, and we provide a second match at no additional agency fee.
For intended parents in our Heritage programs, we also offer a Match Timeline Guarantee with a full refund of the program fee deposit if we don't meet our commitment.
Step 4
Preparing You and Your Surrogate for Pregnancy
Once matched, we coordinate the medical, legal, and financial preparation needed before the embryo transfer.
Medical Preparation: Your surrogate will complete additional testing and follow her clinic's protocol to prepare for the transfer. Your fertility clinic coordinates the timing and procedure, and we stay in close communication throughout.
Legal Agreements: Before the transfer, we connect you with experienced reproductive law attorneys to draft your gestational carrier agreement. Your surrogate will also have independent legal counsel. This agreement outlines expectations, responsibilities, compensation, and parental rights.
Insurance & Escrow: At this point, you'll begin funding your Growing Generations expense account. We collect a flat-rate fee for insurance regardless of your surrogate's policy type, so you pay one fixed cost with no surprises.
This is an exciting time. When your dreams of growing a family start to feel very real, many intended parents begin preparing their home for their new baby. The next step brings you even closer to that moment.
Step 5
Embryo Transfer & Pregnancy
Once all preparations are complete, your surrogate will undergo the embryo transfer. While the transfer itself is brief, it marks the moment your journey moves from preparation to possibility.
The Transfer: The embryo transfer is performed by your fertility clinic and involves your surrogate only. Depending on your situation—whether you are using your own eggs, a donor's eggs, or embryos you have already created—the path to this moment may look different, but the transfer procedure itself follows the same process.
Confirming Pregnancy: After the transfer, your surrogate will have follow-up appointments with the fertility clinic to confirm the pregnancy. We will be with you through every update.
Throughout the Pregnancy: We support you and your surrogate through the entire pregnancy, keeping communication open and making sure you feel connected to the journey as it unfolds.
Step 6
Preparing for theDelivery & Your New Baby
As the pregnancy enters its second trimester, we begin preparing you, your surrogate, and the hospital for the arrival of your child.
Birth Planning: We work with you and your surrogate to create a birth plan that reflects your preferences, including who will be present at delivery and how you would like the first moments with your baby to unfold.
Legal Preparation: Depending on your state, you may be able to obtain a pre-birth order establishing your parental rights before delivery. We coordinate with your legal team to ensure all paperwork is filed correctly and on time.
Hospital Coordination: We communicate with the hospital in advance so the staff understands your surrogacy arrangement and can support a smooth delivery experience.
Coming Home: For intended parents traveling from another state or country, we help you arrange travel and obtain the necessary documents for your newborn. Our team is with you throughout delivery and beyond, until your baby is safely in your arms.
Surrogacy Process FAQs
Independent or private surrogacy requires intended parents to manage the journey on their own. This means finding and screening a surrogate, sperm donor, and egg donor (if needed), choosing an IVF clinic, securing legal support, and coordinating many other moving pieces throughout the process.
Agencies like Growing Generations provide intended parents, as well as surrogates, sperm donors, and egg donors, with support and guidance throughout their journeys. With 30 years of experience helping families grow through surrogacy, sperm donation, and egg donation, we coordinate each stage of the process and are there to navigate each journey seamlessly.
The average surrogacy journey takes 2.5 to 3 years from initial consultation to birth. Factors like surrogate availability, embryo creation, and your clinic's timeline can influence the overall duration.
Payments are structured throughout the journey, with major milestones including your retainer fee at admissions, funding your escrow account before medical preparation, and surrogate compensation disbursed at different stages. Your Financial Specialist will walk you through the complete payment schedule during your consultation.
You have very meaningful input in the matching process. We present surrogate profiles based on your preferences, and you will have a match meeting via video conference before confirming. If the match does not feel right, we continue the search until you find the right fit for your family building needs.
Yes. We have worked with intended parents from over 20 countries and have extensive experience navigating international surrogacy. Our team helps coordinate legal requirements, travel logistics, and the documentation needed to bring your baby home.
If a transfer does not result in pregnancy, your medical team will review the cycle and discuss next steps. Depending on your situation, this may involve additional transfers with your current surrogate or exploring other options. We support you through every outcome.
We connect you with experienced reproductive law attorneys who specialize in surrogacy. They draft your gestational carrier agreement, guide you through pre-birth or post-birth orders, and ensure your parental rights are protected. Your surrogate also receives independent legal counsel.
