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  • Surrogacy Costs & Options | Growing Generations

    HOW MUCH DOES SURROGACY COST? SURROGACY COSTS INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE & YOUR FAMILY We offer three programs to suit the various needs of our clients: Legacy, Legacy+ and Heritage. For each program you can choose whether you want a fixed or variable pricing option. Both options are designed to provide you with an exceptional customer experience, high level of care, and concierge services tailored to your unique needs. When evaluating the actual costs of our surrogacy processes, the average total costs for each program range as follows: Legacy: $197,000 to $235,000+ Legacy+: $266,000 to $300,000+ Heritage: $464,000 to $500,000+ GROWING GENERATIONS SECURE PROGRAM Every successful surrogacy process contains the same elements: a great surrogate, a pregnancy, and a baby. Each case, however, will have variations that influence the total costs. Your final budget will be shaped by the surrogate’s location, her compensation package and wages, the number of attempts it takes to get pregnant, as well as several other potential expenses that cannot be predicted ahead of time. To help you control costs from the very beginning of your process, we developed the Growing Generations Secure Program, or GG Secure. With GG Secure, a fixed-pricing alternative, you pay one amount, and we cover the actual expenses below from the beginning of your process to the moment your baby is released from the hospital: Surrogate’s base compensation and expenses such as lost wages, home help, and childcare. Legal expenses, including paternity legal work. Non-medical expenses related to surrogate re-matches, miscarriages, and additional embryo transfer attempts. Unlimited surrogate medications for ERA cycles, frozen embryo transfer attempts, and pregnancy. Payment of our service fees. Surrogate related insurance expenses. In our Secure Program, your additional surrogacy process expenses are limited to: IVF medical expenses: medical screening and any other medical services performed by your IVF clinic. Twins: we will collect an additional $40,000 to cover the additional compensation and expenses for your surrogate upon confirmation of a twin pregnancy. Breast milk: we can assist in negotiating a compensation and expense allotment to your surrogate for her providing you breast milk. Newborn expenses: for clients without US health coverage. Selection of a surrogate with compensation that exceeds the base compensation of $62,000. Elective Procedures. Your personal expenses along the way (i.e. travel to the delivery). We have offered variable pricing programs for years, and they still provide you with the same quality of service Growing Generations is known for. The variable pricing program could be your best option if there is the possibility you need to discontinue your process early, or if you just prefer to pay actual expenses. ​ In the variable pricing program, you will receive funding requests based on actual and estimated expenses to complete your process. Along the way, you will refresh your account whenever expenses exceed what has been collected. The only expenses that will be fixed are insurance for your surrogate and our service fees, though many legal professionals offer fixed-price options too. VARIABLE PROGRAMS HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO CREATE EMBRYOS? If you do not already have embryos created, you will also need to factor in the expenses of creating embryos using your own or donated eggs. Families using their own eggs should expect to spend $26,000-$35,000. If you will be pursuing surrogacy with donor eggs, you can expect costs to range from $50,000-$80,000. WHY ARE THE COST RANGES SO LARGE The largest ranges have to do with how much your gestational surrogate receives in compensation, the state in which they live, and which Growing Generations program you select. WHY CHOOSE THE GROWING GENERATIONS SURROGACY PROGRAM? One of our Growing Generations finance team experts will gladly work with you to review cost estimates you have received from other sources and offer advice and guidance. We can also create a tailor-made budget that fits your desires for the surrogacy process, as well as for different cost scenarios. Growing Generations is dedicated to helping you start your family through surrogacy with a clear understanding of costs. The Growing Generations surrogacy program helps hundreds of people each year become parents. Our goal is to prepare you for the journey that lies ahead. Knowing and understanding surrogacy costs and creating a budget at the beginning of your process can help reduce stress and delays. We have been providing surrogacy services for more than 25 years and have an expert understanding of the financial process. BECOME A PARENT LEGACY LEGACY+ HERITAGE LEGACY COST: $197,000 to $235,000+ Our Legacy package covers all the essentials for your surrogate journey. It includes: Customized surrogate match. Case management. Client expense account management. Waived fee for additional surrogate matches if needed. Facilitation of unlimited embryo transfers. Insurance facilitation services. Credit of up to $5,000 for failed surrogate screening expenses. LEGACY LEGACY+ COST: $266,000 to $300,000+ In addition to all the items in the Legacy package, the Legacy+ package also includes: Expedited surrogate matching time. Up to two (2) days of companionship travel by one of our staff members for Obstetrician/Gynecological appointments, delivery, and/or court proceedings as requested. (Travel costs are not included.) Concierge services tailored to your specific needs through mutual agreement. This package provides extra support and customization for your surrogacy journey while enjoying the same unparalleled customer experience. LEGACY+ HERITAGE COST: $464,000 to $500,000+ Our Heritage package allows for the most customization for your surrogacy journey. In addition to all the benefits from the Legacy+ package, the Heritage package also includes: Two additional days of companionship travel by one of our staff members for Obstetrician/Gynecological appointments, delivery, and/or court proceedings as requested. Assignment of an Executive to oversee your journey. Personal contact information and after-hours access to Executive. HERITAGE LEGACY LEGACY COST: $193,000 to $230,000 Our Legacy package covers all the essentials for your surrogate journey. It includes: Customized surrogate match. Case management. Client expense account management. Waived fee for additional surrogate matches if needed. Facilitation of unlimited embryo transfers. Insurance facilitation services. Credit of up to $5,000 for failed surrogate screening expenses. LEGACY LEGACY+ LEGACY+ COST: $262,000 to $300,000 In addition to all the items in the Legacy package, the Legacy+ package also includes: Expedited surrogate matching time. Up to two (2) days of companionship travel by one of our staff members for Obstetrician/Gynecological appointments, delivery, and/or court proceedings as requested. (Travel costs are not included.) Concierge services tailored to your specific needs through mutual agreement. This package provides extra support and customization for your surrogacy journey while enjoying the same unparalleled customer experience. LEGACY+ HERITAGE HERITAGE COST: $460,000 to $500,000 Our Heritage package allows for the most customization for your surrogacy journey. In addition to all the benefits from the Legacy+ package, the Heritage package also includes: Two additional days of companionship travel by one of our staff members for Obstetrician/Gynecological appointments, delivery, and/or court proceedings as requested. Assignment of an Executive to oversee your journey. Personal contact information and after-hours access to Executive. HERITAGE

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    MY TUBES ARE TIED. CAN I DONATE? PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Occasionally, a woman will come to our egg donation program with the desire to donate her eggs after completing her family. If the potential donor has had her “tubes tied,” she might feel that she is unable to donate as a result, but this is a myth. Following a tubal ligation, women are still able to donate eggs because the process of egg retrieval removes the eggs directly from follicles, before they are released into the body. Cut fallopian tubes do not have an impact on the body’s ability to produce mature, fertile eggs. In fact, the egg donor process will be no different for a donor that has undergone a tubal ligation than it will be for any other donor. You will still be required to take injectable medications and attend several monitoring appointments leading up to the retrieval. The medical process for retrieval will be completed the same way it would if your tubes remained intact. Recovery will also be similar, and side effects will still consist of mild cramping and bloating. Interestingly enough, a woman who has had a tubal ligation is also able to be a surrogate. With the help of science, it is entirely possible for a child to be born without the use of fallopian tubes. Click here to apply to be an egg donor with Growing Generations.

  • How Is Altruistic Surrogacy Different From Commercial Surrogacy? - Growing Generations

    HOW IS ALTRUISTIC SURROGACY DIFFERENT FROM COMMERCIAL SURROGACY? PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM At Growing Generations, we guide surrogates and intended parents through ethical surrogacy to ensure healthy outcomes for our surrogates, intended parents, and their families. The idea that surrogates are uneducated and financially unstable women who are being led into an arrangement that they would not otherwise choose is common. When surrogacy is done properly these things are objectively not true, and these ideas can be deeply offensive to a woman who is motivated to help change lives. When entering the world of surrogacy, you’ll hear about two main types: altruistic surrogacy and commercial surrogacy. The main distinguishing factor of altruistic surrogacy is that no monetary compensation is offered to the surrogate. Other than that, there are no significant differences between the two types of surrogacy. ALTRUISTIC MOTIVES FOR COMMERCIAL SURROGACY Commercial surrogacy includes monetary compensation and a contract between surrogates and intended parents who don’t usually have a prior relationship. While many people believe commercial surrogacy commoditizes women, we believe that surrogacy can be both altruistic and commercial at the same time. We deeply respect all of our surrogates at Growing Generations and believe they are some of the most incredible women we’ve ever met . So, it’s important that we dispel the misconception that surrogacy is about commoditization. COMMERCIAL SURROGACY WITH ETHICS In reality, surrogacy is a partnership between several parties of educated, informed, and stable adults working together toward a common goal. This level of informed consent and ethical standards is paramount to surrogacy done well. Our gestational surrogates are women who have become mothers themselves and have enjoyed the process of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood so much that they wish to give this gift to others. SURROGATE PAY While surrogates in our program receive compensation, the majority of them tell us they would have chosen this journey even if money was not exchanged. It’s important to note that we only work in surrogate-friendly states to avoid legal problems. Motivated by altruistic measures, these women are not only seeking fiscal gain. and this is something we investigate during our in-depth screening process . We screen our surrogates thoroughly, including a review of their income to ensure that financial gains are not a motive for their choice. Our surrogates are women who are financially stable without the added compensation of surrogacy. They do not need this additional income to survive. Additionally, we offer a surrogate compensation package that is competitive but not excessive. SURROGATE SCREENING & CONSENT Beyond simple financial matters, these women are vetted and counseled long before signing any binding paperwork or starting any medications. Our surrogates undergo extensive interviews and psychological evaluations, and they are given the opportunity to ask as many questions as they want before they’re approved to join our program. Surrogates can back out of an agreement at any time before becoming pregnant. We don’t force women to follow through with becoming pregnant if they change their mind. While this rarely happens, thanks in large part to proper screening, it eliminates any concerns over coercion. SURROGATE AGREEMENT CONTRACTS All parties receive their own legal representative to ensure that everyone’s needs can be addressed and considered before moving forward with a binding contract. This ensures that, even if the surrogate is not fluent in legal jargon, she understands what she is agreeing to and has the opportunity to have those requests amended or even removed from her contract before moving forward. You can learn more about the legal aspects of surrogacy in our related blog post . SURROGATE TESTIMONIALS A growing family and the gift of a child are always worth celebrating – whether formed through altruistic or commercial surrogacy. When surrogate applicants are properly screened and vetted, the outcome is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Ethical surrogacy is a shining example of the mountains that can be moved when adults are informed, respectful, and working together toward a common goal. Each Growing Generations surrogate shares a goal of building families, but no two surrogates are the same. Here’s a look into the lives and experiences of these extraordinary people . "Thank you for this incredible opportunity you’ve given me! Being a surrogate has been one of the most fulfilling things in my life and I cannot imagine doing any of this without you. Your support has been incredible and it means the world to me. I could never thank you enough!" - Christina S. "Thank you seems like such a small thing to say for how much I feel. How do you thank people for helping me with one of the GREATEST experiences of my life! You each treated me like I was the most important person in your care." -Jennifer BECOME A SURROGATE If you're thinking about becoming a surrogate, know that Growing Generations is here to support you. You can get in touch with us online to learn more or complete an application to get started.

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    EGG DONORS & TOBACCO USE PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Becoming an egg donor means donating your DNA in order to help create a family for someone else. This huge responsibility motivates us to ensure that our egg donors are genetically sound as well as physically healthy. This means our potential egg donors need to be tobacco free. Research has shown time and time again that using tobacco products can have an adverse effect on fertility. Specifically, studies have shown that female smokers will produce fewer follicles, fewer usable eggs, and fewer eggs capable of fertilization when stimulated for IVF treatments. There is also a link between miscarriage and tobacco users that could be the result of poor egg quality. That research, compounded with the negative effects of tobacco on the overall health of the user, serve as the basis for our tobacco free requirement. As part of our responsibility to our intended parents, we require our egg donors to pass a tobacco screening during their application process. Apart from helping to make you healthier, the absence of tobacco and other additives found in cigarettes will make your eggs a better quality as well. Within six months of stopping smoking your lungs will begin to repair themselves and your body will be free of nicotine and other harmful additives found in cigarettes. If you are a current smoker and wish to donate your eggs with us, we encourage you to look into stopping smoking. Once you have been tobacco free for a minimum of six months, we invite you to apply with us and move through the screening process. Do note that a failed tobacco screening will disqualify you from moving forward. If you are interested in becoming a donor with Growing Generations apply today.

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    WHEN TO ARRIVE FOR THE BIRTH: DOMESTIC IPS PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Being present for the birth of your child is something most intended parents will want to strive to achieve. The reality is that sometimes birth can happen with little or no warning, and it may not always be possible to guarantee your presence at the birth. Even so, many intended parents spend a lot of time considering exactly when they should be heading to the surrogate’s hometown for the big day. Understand that due dates are not an exact science. In fact, research shows that only about 5% of women will actually deliver on their due date. In most cases birth occurs two or three weeks to either side of the actual due date. Of course, this makes the question of, “When should I arrive?” even trickier. Generally, we advise domestic intended parents expecting a singleton to plan to arrive in the surrogate’s hometown as close to 38 weeks gestation as possible. If this is not feasible, you should, at a minimum, arrange your life so that you’re able to jump on a plane at any moment from 38 weeks forward. For twin pregnancies we recommend arriving or being prepared and able to travel as soon as possible from 36 weeks gestation. Over the coming days and weeks your surrogate and her OB will be paying very careful attention to her body as it prepares for labor and child birth. Her OB will be monitoring her swelling, blood pressure, and the heart rate of the baby to ensure that no one is in distress. Elevated levels could lead to a medical induction. The OB will also be performing internal exams on your surrogate’s cervical opening to check for softening, thinning, or dilation, as these can mean labor is approaching. Our surrogates are experienced mothers, and often have a hunch when labor is nearing. A woman who has experienced childbirth multiple times will notice slight changes in her body and may be able to have an idea of when labor is nearing. Try to relax and enjoy the last weeks and days of your journey as much as possible. Being prepared for travel, or in town with no hard set plans, is the best thing you can do to be prepared for the upcoming birth of your new baby.

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    GROWING A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SURROGATE PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM The types of relationships that can come out of a surrogacy relationship are as varied as the people who turn to surrogacy in the first place. While some parties desire an intimate relationship that will last well beyond the birth of your child, others prefer a more subtle relationship with clear boundaries. Most relationships tend to fall somewhere in the middle of this ongoing spectrum. Growing Generations works hard to match parties based on a variety of factors including the type of relationship each party desires. What is key to remember is that, just as with your real life relationships, surrogate relationships grow best when they’re given room to grow organically. A good rule of thumb for the first several weeks is to proceed slowly. Sending a quick Email asking how your surrogate is feeling goes a long way in establishing the foundation of a strong relationship. Remembering to send timely replies to her Emails or messages sends a strong message of support as well. What may seem fleeting and inconsequential in the moment is always warmer than silence. As time moves forward and the relationship begins to strengthen you can start to explore other areas of conversation as well. If you’re comfortable doing so, ask her open ended questions that invite conversation without feeling too personal. You can also share parts of your life with her. Sharing a funny story about something that may have happened to you during the previous month begins to create trust. When she sees that you trust her with parts of your life and that you care about her life in return, a real relationship can begin to grow. Again, precede with only what feels natural. It is always easier to slowly let your walls down than it is to build them back up later. You’re embarking on a lengthy journey with this woman and her family, it’s important to make sure you’re all comfortable within the confines of your relationship. No matter how close you do or do not become with your surrogate, there will likely always be moments where you may feel a bit confused. That is completely normal and chances are your surrogate has experienced similar emotions. When you have questions about contact or building relationships, call your case specialist. She deals with all sorts of relationships and probably knows how best to proceed forward.

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    WHY VITAMIN D MATTERS FOR SURROGACY & PREGNANCY PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM One of the tests that you’ll have completed during your journey is a Vitamin D screening. This screening, completed by a simple blood test, is something that you’ll do in your own hometown (or at least close by) prior to being flown to California for your in-person screenings. If your results come back low, you may be asked to add a supplement to your diet. Vitamin D, more commonly known as the sunshine vitamin, is essential in pregnancy and critical to IVF success. Studies show a link between proper Vitamin D levels and IVF success. Not only will egg donors with proper Vitamin D levels produce better quality embryos, but surrogates who have ideal Vitamin D levels are more likely to have a transfer result in an implanted embryo (positive pregnancy result) than those with a Vitamin D deficiency. In fact, studies have shown that women attempting to become pregnant through IVF who maintain ideal Vitamin D levels are twice as likely to become pregnant than women who are Vitamin D deficient. Once pregnant, having adequate levels of vitamin D will benefit the developing fetus and help you maintain your bone density during the pregnancy. It also helps ensure that your immune system is performing at top notch to keep you feeling as good as possible throughout the pregnancy. Studies have shown several scary potential side effects of pregnancies completed when Vitamin D levels are not adequate. Infants can be born with low birth weights, occasionally leading to poor skeletal development and immune system problems throughout their lives. For you, a pregnancy completed without proper Vitamin D levels could mean poor calcium absorption and a greater stress on your own bone reserves. You could be more prone to break a bone both during and after the pregnancy. Some women are more prone to low vitamin D levels than others. Women with darker skin tones and those who are more likely to have their skin covered while outside (due either to style choices or inclement weather) tend to have lower Vitamin D levels. In general, most doctors consider a Vitamin D level of 20 ng/ml to be sufficient for daily life but recommend a level no lower than 30 ng/ml for optimal IVF and pregnancy benefits. If your levels fall below the minimum requirement of 30 ng/ml, you will likely be asked to introduce a supplement to your diet, wait a period of time, and then complete a second Vitamin D screening before moving forward towards an embryo transfer. If your levels are significantly too low, you may be asked to follow-up with your family doctor to try and pinpoint the low levels and correct any underlying issues. Occasionally this comes with an injection of Vitamin D. Once a repeat blood test indicates that you’ve hit the minimum barrier for IVF success, we can prepare your in-person screening.

  • Surrogate Glucose Test During Pregnancy - Growing Generations

    SURROGATE GLUCOSE TEST DURING PREGNANCY PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM All pregnant women are tested for gestational diabetes during their pregnancy, and it is no cause for alarm. Even if they’ve had no prior issues with blood sugar levels in their day-to-day life or in previous pregnancies, they will still have a glucose test during pregnancy as a surrogate. While being a surrogate does not raise the odds of developing gestational diabetes, factors such as excessive weight, age, and carrying multiples may contribute to a more significant insulin resistance and the development of this condition. GESTATIONAL DIABETES TEST Glucose tolerance tests monitor the body’s ability to turn sugar into energy. During pregnancy, the additional hormones can confuse the pancreas, rendering it unable to break down glucose properly. When this happens, blood glucose rises and, on occasion, the woman will develop gestational diabetes. Unlike type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes is purely hormonal. If a diagnosis of gestational diabetes is given, it is not the result of your surrogate’s food and exercise choices. This is not a diagnosis that could have been avoided with different behaviors. GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST RESULTS Learning that your surrogate’s initial glucose tolerance test came back elevated is a conversation that no intended parent hopes to have during their journey. Your initial reaction will likely be surprise, which then ignites questions and concerns: “ She’s never had THAT in her history ! What does this mean for the pregnancy? What did she do to ‘fail’ this test when she’s never failed it before?” Let’s start by establishing a baseline. Having an elevated one-hour glucose test result is not a “failure.” If the test result is elevated (a “fail”), then there is nothing that could have been done differently by your surrogate to “pass.”. Also, many women will have elevated levels in a one-hour standard test and go on to pass a three-hour screening and have no problems. However, an elevated result on a one-hour glucose screening can also be the first indicator that your surrogate has developed gestational diabetes. In either event, it’s important to note that this test result is not the result of any action or inaction on the part of your surrogate. Understand that your surrogate is likely having an emotional reaction to these results as well. Despite not being able to control the results, she likely feels guilty and perhaps even a bit scared. The kindest thing that you can do for her is to reassure her that she hasn’t lost your trust and that you’re in this together . WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE BABY? If left unidentified or untreated, gestational diabetes can affect the baby. Here's how: With a buildup of sugar in the bloodstream, a pancreas will work harder than it should, often to no avail. This means that the glucose buildup can, and often will, cross the placenta and work its way into the developing baby’s blood. That will cause the newborn’s pancreas to work overtime and create more energy than it needs. As a result, that fetus will store the extra energy as fat. This can lead to a variety of complications, including high birth weight, damage to the shoulders as they exit the birth canal, and an increased risk of obesity or type 2 diabetes later in life. GESTATIONAL DIABETES TREATMENT In most cases, gestational diabetes can be managed by closely monitoring diet and adding a bit of additional exercise. Your surrogate will be asked to monitor her glucose levels with a home testing kit and keep a strict log of her food intake and sugar levels, but she may not need to change much about her lifestyle. Women who are unable to control their blood sugar levels, even with strict adherence to diet and exercise, may be asked to begin taking oral medication or injected insulin. For most women, gestational diabetes will go away once the child is born. The American Diabetes Association advises women who develop gestational diabetes to have a 2-hour glucose tolerance test at 6 weeks postpartum in order to ensure that the diabetes has cleared up. UNDERSTANDING GESTATIONAL DIABETES DURING SURROGACY It’s important to understand what gestational diabetes is (a hormone-driven resistance to insulin) and what it is not (poor dietary choices or the inability to follow a diet). Your surrogate will likely feel some level of guilt in the case of a gestational diabetes diagnosis, even though it was induced by pregnancy. This is a great time to show her that you support her and will stand by her side moving forward. Growing Generations is always here to answer your questions as intended parents and support you throughout your family-building journey.

  • PCOS: PREGNANCY, INFERTILITY, AND SURROGACY - Growing Generations

    PCOS: PREGNANCY, INFERTILITY, AND SURROGACY PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Many surrogates find themselves wondering why their intended mother needs their help. One potential cause stems from prolonged or advanced polycystic ovary syndrome, PCOS for short. PCOS is often associated with pregnancy difficulties and infertility, leading many women to turn to surrogacy to build their families. WHO GETS PCOS AND WHY? PCOS is actually quite common. Doctors estimate that as many as 8% to 13% of all women in childbearing years suffer from PCOS, and suggest that as many as half of those women may not even know they have it. Women suffering with PCOS produce too much of a typically male hormone called androgen. When it is too abundant, androgen prohibits the body from allowing a healthy egg to be released from the ovary into the fallopian tubes, sometimes leaving the woman unable to conceive a child. Instead, the immature eggs turn into small cysts and are retained inside of the ovaries. These retained cysts will continue to contribute to steadily elevated levels of androgen in the body, serving only to fuel the cycle of PCOS further. PCOS Symptoms PCOS is often characterized by missed or irregular periods, excess body hair, weight gain, and acne. Given that these are symptoms that are incredibly common for most women, many don’t mention them to their doctors for many years. The diagnosis itself can often take quite a while to attain, given that PCOS is only diagnosed as an “exclusionary diagnosis,” meaning it is only diagnosed after every other possible diagnosis has been ruled out. PCOS: PREGNANCY, MISCARRIAGE & SOLUTIONS For women living with a PCOS diagnosis, the answers to their fertility can run the line from very hopeful to very grim. While some women may need minor hormone therapy to regulate their cycles and work to correct the abundance of androgen, others may experience infertility or miscarriage. Often, this latter group of women is left considering reproductive technologies and even surrogacy as the best way to create their families. Helping these women build their families through surrogacy is deeply rewarding. (You can learn about other reasons to become a surrogate in our related blog post.) Reach out to us online to learn more.

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    WHAT IS A PRE-BIRTH ORDER PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Pre and post-birth orders are items of extreme interest in gestational surrogacy. Both assign parentage to the intended parents and remove any rights or obligations from the surrogate. These birth orders can also cause a great deal of stress for both intended parents and surrogates when they’re not properly understood. In the simplest of terms, a birth order is a legal document assigning parentage to a child. Depending on the state in which your surrogate lives, these documents can be started in the fourth month of pregnancy and are often signed by the seventh month in pre-birth order states. In post-birth order states, intended parents are usually seen in court within three to five days following birth. The most important thing to understand about the pre-birth order is that while it may be issued by the court prior to the birth, it is not effective until the birth occurs. So, while having this court order signed two to three months prior to the birth may offer you some peace of mind, it is not an absolute necessity and should not cause you distress if early labor occurs before your pre-birth order is finalized. Parentage will be protected by other guardianship documents even if the pre-birth order is not in place at the time of the birth. Some states do not offer the option of a pre-birth order. These states, post-birth states, do not allow the filing of parentage documents until after the birth of the baby to file parentage documents. In these post-birth order states, there will typically be a court hearing held after the birth, and the intended parents may be required to attend. Even if a hearing is required, know that these hearings are typically a formality and agreed upon easily by the courts as all parties are in agreement over the desired parentage of the child in question. Court hearings can just as easily be required in states offering pre-birth orders. This reality, paired with the fact that pre-birth orders aren’t considered active until the birth of your child, makes the real-life difference between pre-birth and post-birth order states insignificant. In general, don’t let fear of working with a post-birth state scare you away from someone who could be your ideal surrogate. If you do choose a pre-birth state, everything will work out with or without your pre-birth order in hand at the time of the delivery. Additional questions about birth orders should be directed to the attorney's office helping you establish your parental rights.

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