IVF PREGNANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: WHEN & HOW TO RELAY BABY NEWS PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM The choice of when to share your IVF pregnancy announcement with those around you is a moment so many parents-to-be dream about for years. When you’re becoming a parent through surrogacy, sometimes this announcement takes on new levels of planning. Intended parents may also feel nervous or stressed about sharing their baby news because they aren't sure how others around them will react. There are a few different approaches intended parents take when sharing their big news. ANNOUNCING IVF PREGNANCY EARLY It can be hard to keep such happy news a secret, especially when the road to pregnancy for most intended parents has been such a long one. Some intended parents feel that sharing the news of a positive pregnancy test early allows friends and family to share in their initial excitement and provides them with support and empathy from those around them. WAITING UNTIL AFTER THE FIRST TRIMESTER TO MAKE YOUR IVF BABY ANNOUNCEMENT Many intended parents wait until the 12th week of pregnancy to share their pregnancy news, as the rate of miscarriage drops dramatically from this point on. Many parents-to-be may also wait until after the first-trimester screening (or further testing with amniocentesis ) is complete. Intended parents in this category generally feel as though withholding the news of a pregnancy until it appears to be viable provides them a safety net in the unfortunate event of a first-trimester miscarriage. SHARING BABY NEWS IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER OR AFTER BIRTH Finally, some parents choose to wait to share the news of their pregnancy until late in the third trimester or even until after the birth. This choice is made for a variety of personal reasons, and a late reveal is an option uniquely available to parents through surrogacy . What is important to remember is that there is no singular “right” time to share your pregnancy news. The right time for one parent may not be ideal at all for another. You’ll need to balance your desires for privacy, support, and inclusion as you decide when you want to share. This announcement is just the first of many new decisions you’ll need to make from the heart. Growing Generations is here to support you throughout your family-building journey. To get started, fill out our intended parent application or reach out to us online .

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.

ALL ABOUT PROGESTERONE IN OIL FOR IVF PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM A surrogate will frequently be prescribed intramuscular injections of progesterone. These are the injections your surrogate is most likely least looking forward to taking, and if she mentions her injections, these are the medications she is most likely talking about. The hormone is used to help aid in sustaining a pregnancy achieved through IVF and is typically given daily for the first 10 to 12 weeks. The progesterone is mixed in an oil to create an injectable compound for IVF. PROGESTERONE IN OIL INJECTION: TYPICAL OILS & POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS Several different types of oils can be used for the progesterone element of a surrogate's medical protocol . Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly used oils for this purpose. Ethyl Oleate: Ethyl oleate is a type of oil you may not be familiar with. It is created from a human fatty acid created by the body when ethanol and oleic acid combine. It is, by far, the thinnest of the oil compounds for intramuscular injection. This allows for a smaller gauge injection needle. It is also the most often prescribed oil compound. Olive Oil: Olive oil is also commonly compounded with progesterone. While it is thicker than ethyl oleate, thus requiring a thicker needle, many women report that this blend offers some of the easiest absorption into the muscle. Sesame Oil: This oil tends to be a thinner compound than the olive oil blend. Typically, the thinner the oil, the easier the compound's absorption will be. Better absorption limits the size and sensitivity of the lumps that often form at the injection sites. Allergic reactions can occur with sesame oil, and in that instance, the patient will often be switched to progesterone in a different oil base, typically ethyl oleate. Many of our surrogates tell us that sesame oil results in some of the most manageable injection site tenderness. Peanut and Cottonseed Oils: These oils are typically used the least. Peanut oil tends to be rather thick and carries the potential for severe allergic reactions at the injection site. Cottonseed oil is a thinner compound and is reported to cause less intense pain at the injection site. Doctors tend to prescribe a certain oil time and time again due to their personal preference. No one oil has been shown to produce a significant benefit across the board when compared to another. While some patients report far less pain with one type of oil versus another, a different woman may report experiencing the exact opposite reaction to the same oil compounds. More important than the oil type is ensuring that the injection sites are properly identified and that injection site tenderness is not the result of an allergic reaction. Growing Generations is honored to support our surrogates every step of the way. To learn more about the surrogacy process, including the medical protocol, contact Growing Generations .

EGG DONOR PAY & COMPENSATION BEING AN EGG DONOR IS REWARDING IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE Egg donors make family possible for people who want to be parents. Here’s how Growing Generations egg donors are compensated and what expenses are covered during the egg donation process. HOW MUCH ARE EGG DONORS COMPENSATED? Becoming an egg donor is doubly rewarding, you help intended parents build their family and receive financial compensation. Egg donors are not paid for selling their eggs, and they receive compensation for the pain and suffering involved in the egg donation process. Egg donor compensation looks like this: $12,000 or more $10,000 REPEAT EGG DONOR COMPENSATION FIRST TIME EGG DONOR COMPENSATION BECOME A DONOR $12,000 or more REPEAT EGG DONOR COMPENSATION $10,000 FIRST TIME EGG DONOR COMPENSATION HOW ARE EGG DONORS PAID? ​ ​Egg donor payments are broken into two disbursements. The first payment made to an egg donor is $750 and is paid upon the start of injectable medications. The balance of an egg donor’s compensation is paid after the completion of the egg retrieval procedure regardless of the number of eggs retrieved. Your egg donation compensation will be in the form of direct deposits or mailed checks. From reimbursements to your final compensation, our finance team will make sure you receive any payments or reimbursements in a timely manner. WHAT OTHER EXPENSES ARE COVERED? Egg donors are eligible for many benefits and expenses related to the egg donation cycle, including: LEGAL FEES As an egg donor, you will enter into a legal agreement with your intended parents prior to starting injectable cycle medications. You will be provided with an independent attorney. Your attorney will walk you through your contract with your intended parents to ensure you have a full understanding of the legal process as it relates to your egg donation cycle. 2/9 EGG DONOR INSURANCE While complications are rare, we don’t take chances. You will be provided with an egg donation cycle insurance policy. This insurance policy will be used to cover medical expenses for any complication that arises as a result of the egg donation process. 3/9 AIR FAIR If you do not live in the immediate area of your IVF clinic, you may be required to fly to the city where the clinic is located. You will be provided with one coach airfare ticket for your medical screening appointment and two coach airfare tickets for yourself and an authorized companion at the time of the egg retrieval. 4/9 GROUND TRAVEL If you use your own vehicle to drive to any medical appointments related to your egg donation you will be reimbursed for a per mile rate to cover fuel. If you do not have a car or are flown to another city you will be provided with reasonable ground transportation for required travel, including transfer to and from the airport as well as to and from doctors’ appointments and procedures. When available, you will be given access to Growing Generations’ Uber account to make ground transportation a breeze. 5/9 MEALS If you travel for your egg donation you are entitled to a per diem to cover meals while traveling for the egg donation cycle. 6/9 PARKING Reasonable and actual parking expenses are reimbursed to egg donors for medical appointments or procedures and airport stays. 7/9 LODGING If you must travel away from home (i.e., outside of reasonable driving distance) and stay overnight, reasonable hotel accommodation will be made for you near the facility where the medical appointment or procedure will occur. While traveling for egg retrieval, you and your authorized travel companion will share hotel accommodations. 8/9 COMPANION We want you to feel supported and comfortable. You will choose a companion to accompany you from the egg retrieval back home or back to the hotel. You will not be released from the IVF clinic after your egg retrieval if you are alone. If you must fly for the egg retrieval procedure, your companion’s meals and airfare will be paid for. You and your companion will share a hotel room and ground transportation whenever possible. 9/9 MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPENSES As an Egg Donor you will undergo psychological and medical screening upon being selected by Intended Parents. The costs of these services will be covered. You will enter into a legal agreement with your intended parents prior to starting injectable cycle medications. You will be provided with an independent attorney. Your attorney will walk you through your contract with your intended parents to ensure you have a full understanding of the legal process as it relates to your egg donation cycle. 1/9 BECOME A DONOR DISCLAIMER Egg donation involves a screening process. Not all potential egg donors are selected. Not all selected egg donors receive the monetary amounts or compensation advertised. As with any medical procedure, there may be risks associated with human egg donation. Before an egg donor agrees to begin the egg donation process, and signs a legally binding contract, she is required to receive specific information on the known risks of egg donation. Consultation with your doctor prior to entering into a donor contract is advised. HOW MANY TIMES CAN I DONATE MY EGGS? You can donate your eggs up to six times. After the egg retrieval is complete, one of our admissions specialists will request the medical records from your egg donation cycle. An IVF physician will review your medical records and make a recommendation as to whether you are able to return to the program to complete additional egg donation cycles.

SURROGACY TIMELINE: HOW LONG DOES SURROGACY PROCESS TAKE? PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Our surrogates are very excited to start creating families for their intended parents. We are frequently asked about the surrogacy timeline. So, just how long does the surrogacy process take, from application to transfer? The simple answer is- it depends. Each journey will progress at its own speed, with much of the pace being set by the surrogate. Surrogacy works best when you are flexible and “go with the flow.” If you attempt to pre-plan every step of your journey, you can wind up disappointed. Keeping flexibility in mind, here is a potential timeline for a gestational surrogate in the Growing Generations program. THE SURROGACY PROCESS 1. INITIAL APPLICATION Your initial online application can be completed in as few as 3 days. This application encompasses 2 online questionnaires and a telephone consultation with a member of our admissions team. This step can take much longer depending on how quickly you schedule and complete your phone consultation. 2. PAPERWORK The paperwork phase comes next. We strive to have this segment completed within 8 weeks. This phase consists not only of acquiring all necessary paperwork, but also completing local medical labs. You drive the pace of this phase. Surrogates who schedule and complete local labs quickly can quickly submit their paperwork, send medical records quickly, and move through this process in roughly 4 to 6 weeks. We consider this phase complete once you’ve been scheduled for face to face screening and your travel plans have been finalized. 3. SURROGATE MEDICAL & PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING We expect to have results of your medical and psychological screening within 2 weeks. Occasionally we see delays if a doctor’s note, follow up lab, or additional procedure is needed. Typically a surrogate will begin reviewing profiles while she waits for final clearance. 4. MATCHING & LEGAL These phases will vary greatly from case to case. Each step will be unique to your journey. That being said, we can make predictions as to how your journey will go. Matching can happen quickly in several hours or take as long as several weeks. Your matching preferences and geographic location play a big role. Matching will move much more quickly if you’re open to working with a variety of different IPs. Sometimes it’s difficult to arrange a time for a match meeting that works well for all parties. This scenario can cause a delay. Some surrogates may be matched before they are medically and psychologically screened, others will screen, then match. You can expect to spend roughly a month in the legal phase. Sometimes amendments to your legal contract can take additional time to complete. If you get your documents signed and returned quickly, you can help move this phase along. 5. IVF & MEDICAL CYCLE This final stage leading up to transfer is the hardest to place an estimated time upon. We don’t usually offer a time estimate for the IVF process and medical cycle. Bear in mind that your IPs will have a lot on their plates during this phase, including potentially choosing an egg donor and managing blackout dates. Some cases will move very quickly, while other IPs will move at a slower pace. Your case specialist will keep you up to date on the progress of your case as it moves forward. Once everything is in place, you will be contacted with a medical calendar and sent medications to prepare for transfer. This happens roughly a month before the targeted transfer date. Surrogacy is a marathon, not a sprint. While some journeys can be completed in 14 to 18 months, many others will take much longer to complete—you can learn more about some of the issues that can delay your surrogacy in our related blog post . Doing your best to remain laid back and easy going will ensure your journey is as enjoyable as possible. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS ARTICLE: The surrogacy journey timeline varies per case, with a surrogate's flexibility aiding the process. Initial application: Can be completed in about 3 days, consisting of online questionnaires and then a phone consultation. Paperwork: Usually completed within 8 weeks; involves collecting necessary paperwork and local medical labs. Screening: Medical and psychological screening results will arrive within 2 weeks. Matching & Legal: Duration varies; matching could take hours to weeks, while the legal phase could take roughly a month. IVF & Medical Cycle: Unpredictable time frame; involves preparing for transfer and managing dates, usually starting about a month before the transfer date. The entire surrogacy journey may take 14 to 18 months or longer. If you're considering becoming a surrogate, we're here to guide you through the process. Contact our surrogacy experts online today.

EGG DONATION PROGRAM STARTING YOUR FAMILY WITH AN EGG DONOR When finding and selecting an egg donor, you don’t want just anyone, you want the right one. Growing Generation is here to make your search and choice easier. We’ll guide you every step of the way to help you find the right egg donor match and tell you what to expect at every phase of this exciting journey. THE 5 STAGES OF YOUR JOUNEY 1. CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT Your search account provides exclusive access to a database of egg donors. You can view and save donor profiles as well as receive new donor notifications. We make it easy to search for specific qualities like hair color, eye color, height, location, and ethnic background. You can search on your own or work with one of our experienced matching specialists to customize your search. 2. REVIEW EGG DONOR PROFILE Each egg donor profile consists of the donor’s education, health and reproductive history, and family and genetic history. Learn more about each donor’s personality through photos, personal essay questions, and short videos 5. CONFIRM YOUR MATCH After you confirm your egg donor selection, our team will send the donor’s records to your IVF clinic for your physician’s review and approval. We’ll also reach out to the donor to confirm her upcoming availability for the donation. If your doctor approves and you’re ready to proceed, we’ll send you an agreement and an estimate of the costs. Once your signed agreement and funds are received, we’ll confirm your donor match and begin the donation process which includes your donor’s medical and psychological screenings, legal contract, and IVF cycle. 4. CHOOSE AN EGG DONOR When you find the perfect egg donor, simply click the “Reserve this Donor” button on their profile, and your donor will be placed on hold. Our team will be notified of your choice and will contact you to discuss your selection. Egg donors are selected on a first-come, first-serve basis. 3. CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS As you search for an egg donor, we’re here to help. Our team can assist with how to best adjust the filters in your search. We can also let you know about egg donors that match your preferences who are coming out of cycle or about to be added to the database. When you have a question, simply contact us at findmydonor@growinggenerations.com. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FIND AN EGG DONOR Finding the right egg donor is not something that is a personal experience for every family. Among the 1,000+ parents we’ve matched, every family’s journey has been different. Once you select a profile from the database, our team will contact the egg donor to confirm her availability and send your IVF physician her records. At the same time, we’ll begin the steps to confirm your match, including creating a customized cost estimate and retainer agreement for you to review and pay within five business days of receipt. EGG DONATION PROGRAM ONCE YOUR AGREEMENT WITH YOUR EGG DONOR IS FINAL, THE EGG RETRIEVAL CAN HAPPEN WITHIN TWO TO FIVE MONTHS. FIND A DONOR EGG DONOR SELECTION PROCESS Growing Generations makes the process of selecting your egg donor seamless. Your first step will be to sign up for a free account to begin browsing our egg donor profiles online. Once you’ve found an egg donor, leave it to Growing Generations to make sure schedules align and match your timeline to continue with the egg donation cycle. When choosing an egg donor, we recommend you consider: LOCATION While most donors can travel to your clinic, selecting an egg donor who resides closer to your IVF clinic can be economically beneficial. MEDICAL HISTORY Understanding an egg donor’s health history will provide you with insight into the future health of your child. If you select a donor who has previously donated her eggs, her medical records will be sent to your IVF physician for their review and approval. PERSONAL While some intended parents look for egg donors with specific characteristics or physical appearances, others want to feel a connection to the donor. That connection could be shared hobbies or interests. Perhaps the donor has personality traits like yours, or the donor bears a family resemblance. The connection is different for everyone.

HOW TO FIND AN EGG DONOR PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Selecting an egg donor is an intimate and personal choice. It is a major milestone in your journey toward building or growing a family. When you’re ready to begin the process, it will be important to consider what characteristics and qualities are most important to you and discuss those with your partner and/or social networks. You’ll also have to decide whether to find an egg donor through personal connections, an agency or social app. Here are a few attributes that many intended parents consider while going through egg donor profiles at Growing Generations. CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A DONOR Before creating your checklist, remember that no one is perfect. Keep in mind that it is highly unlikely you will find one donor who meets all of your specifications in every area. Just as with all things in life, choosing your ideal egg donor is a balancing act, so it’s helpful to decide what the most important attributes are in your ideal egg donor and which are more secondary or optional. WILL THE EGG DONOR BE KNOWN OR UNKNOWN? Decide whether you prefer an egg donor you know, such as a friend or family member, or someone who is unknown to you. Some intended parents prefer to choose a known donor so that the child will be able to form a relationship with her. Others prefer an unknown donor that an agency or fertility center helps them find. The latter option provides greater confidentiality and simplifies some of the legal issues. WHAT IS HER MEDICAL BACKGROUND? In order to do your part in having a child that is healthy and not at risk of hereditary diseases, make sure to have a full medical analysis and screening performed before confirming your egg donor. WHAT ARE HER PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS? For many intended parents, choosing a donor who shares their physical traits is important. When going through an agency, you will have a wide selection of women to choose from, so narrowing your preferences can save you time and stress. Factors such as ethnicity, skin tone, height and hair and eye color are common considerations. WHAT PERSONALITY TRAITS DOES SHE HAVE? It helps some intended parents to know a little bit about the kind of person their chosen egg donor is. This makes it easier to create a birth story that is empowering and interesting for their child. Your egg donor’s profile will help paint a picture of who she is, including her reasons for becoming an egg donor. This knowledge can help you decide between multiple candidates. IQ test scores are also often shared if the egg donor has taken the test. DOES SHE HAVE A HISTORY OF DONATING EGGS? Are you willing to work with a first-time donor, or do you prefer someone who has been through this process before? When working with a previous donor, you may be able to see if she produced a strong amount of viable eggs, and if they resulted in a successful pregnancy. WORKING WITH AN AGENCY When you search for an egg donor through Growing Generations , we are hard at work behind the scenes to help you find the right donor. Before an applicant can become an egg donor, she will answer many questions about herself including information on her health history, her family’s health history, if she’s on medication, and if she is a tobacco user. Growing Generations’ egg donors meet strict criteria for acceptance including: A BMI lower than 27.5 Between the ages of 21-30 No history of inherited cancers No familial history of multiple family members with heart disease or heart attack before age 55 Must pass Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Must pass drug screening No psychiatric hospitalizations

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.

SURROGATE MOTHER SCREENING PROCESS PART 1 PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Your surrogacy journey will begin with an in-depth screening process . Growing Generations is committed to thoroughly screening potential surrogate mothers, and we're proud of the process we have developed. Although richly rewarding, surrogacy should not be entered into lightly. STEP 1: THE APPLICATION The first step is to fill out our online surrogate application . Your replies will be used to help us determine if you meet the minimum qualifications to be a Growing Generations surrogate. We consider a number of specific criteria, including age, state of residence, height, and body mass index. Other determining factors include tobacco use, U.S. citizenship, green card, or visa status and if you or your partner have been convicted of a felony. We ask other questions to gather information about gastric surgery for weight loss, diabetes, and other pregnancy-related diagnoses you may have had in the past. STEP 2: FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS If you meet our minimum requirements, you will progress to several follow-up questions. These questions are asked to uncover your current relationship status, preferences on the types of intended parents you’d be willing to work with, medical history, reproductive history/preferences, as well as personal and social history. You’ll also field questions about your psychological history. Finally, we’ll need to know about your travel and child care availability and health insurance. STEP 3: ONLINE ACCOUNT & FINAL APPLICATION Once this is submitted and the application is accepted, a Growing Generations’ admissions specialist will contact you within one business day. At that time you’ll be given access to an online portal to complete the final part of your online application. You’ll also be granted access to an online account with Growing Generations where you can read answers to our most frequently asked questions. The second portion of the application will ask you more in-depth questions. Topics include birth control history, pregnancy, and birth history, your employment and insurance information, and personal health history. STEP 4: CONSULTATION Finally, after this leg of your application is approved, your Admissions Specialist will invite you to schedule a phone consultation. During this phone call, you’ll be able to ask questions and we’ll chat a bit about the process. We will talk more about the phone consultation, as well as about the second half of your surrogate application process, in our next blog post, Surrogate Screening Process: Part 2 . Key takeaways from this article: The surrogacy journey begins with a thorough screening process. The initial application includes basic info, medical history, and lifestyle habits. Criteria include age, BMI , citizenship status, felony convictions, and health diagnoses. If minimum requirements are met, follow-up questions focus on personal history, preferences, and availability. After acceptance, an admissions specialist will contact the applicant within a business day. Access to an online portal is granted to complete the final application parts. The next part of the application asks about birth control, employment, and health history. Post-approval, an admissions specialist schedules a phone consultation for further queries. To get started on your own surrogacy journey, contact us online or call us at 323.965.7500. Updated 2/29/24

COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY DURING SURROGACY: TOXEMIA VS. PREECLAMPSIA VS. HELLP SYNDROME PREVIOUS ITEM NEXT ITEM Toxemia, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, & HELLP syndrome are all very serious diagnoses that can happen to a woman in pregnancy. In general, these conditions are all varying degrees of the same problem, centered around high blood pressure in pregnancy. While we hope that you’ll never be faced with any of these complications of pregnancy during your surrogacy journey , it is helpful to understand the differences of toxemia vs. preeclampsia and similar complications. TOXEMIA Toxemia is a condition that can occur both during and after pregnancy. In the most general of terms, toxemia means pregnancy-induced hypertension or high blood pressure. Occurring in roughly 7% of pregnant women, this condition can vary in severity. The condition can begin as early as when the placenta begins to form, affecting people who are pregnant for the first time more frequently than those who have previously experienced pregnancy. Symptoms include protein in the urine and bloating in the face, hands, or feet. With proper detection and an increase in rest, this condition can generally be controlled with little risk to the carrier or fetus. However, if left untreated, it can develop into pre-eclampsia. PRE-ECLAMPSIA This is a condition that exists only during pregnancy and is generally linked to gestational hypertension, protein in the urine, and increased swelling. The only cure is delivery of the fetus. The severity of the condition can be wide ranging. Treatment will vary based on the gestational age of the fetus and severity of the pre-eclampsia. In some cases, all that may be needed is bed rest and an increase in fluid intake. In other cases, an immediate delivery may be required. If not treated, pre-eclampsia can lead to eclampsia, renal failure, or death to the carrier. Risks to the fetus included diminished oxygen and food supply from the placenta, often resulting in low birth weight. While this condition can happen to any pregnant woman, it tends to affect women who are under 20, over 40, have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or who are carrying multiples more frequently. This condition is expected to appear in roughly 5% to 8% of all pregnancies. ECLAMPSIA Eclampsia has many of the same markers as pre-eclampsia and is generally recognized as the same disorder. However, eclampsia is the more serious of the two conditions. While many of the risks to the person who is pregnant and baby remain the same, eclampsia also carries the risk of seizures. When someone is diagnosed with eclampsia, it is best to deliver all babies as soon as possible, regardless of gestational age. Generally the baby will be delivered via Cesarean section once the surrogate’s medical condition has been stabilized. HELLP SYNDROME HELLP syndrome is a life-threatening condition believed by many to be a complication of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. It can pop up before and after childbirth. The condition gets its name from the common indications of its presentation: Hemolysis (red blood cell destruction) Elevated liver enzymes Low platelet count While some patients are already being monitored for an eclamptic condition, many others will not appear to be in distress, exhibiting only minor symptoms including increased heartburn, headache, and nausea/vomiting. HELLP Syndrome is more rare than pre-eclampsia, estimated to occur in less than 1% of pregnancies. However, according to the American Pregnancy Association , 4% to 12% of women with pre-eclampsia will go on to develop HELLP. Because this syndrome is rare and often mimics pre-eclampsia, it is often misdiagnosed. Blood tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Treatment includes bed rest , blood pressure medication, magnesium medication to prevent seizures, and potential blood transfusions. Following a diagnosis of HELLP Syndrome, a swift delivery is often recommended. Growing Generations is a premier surrogacy agency providing attentive, concierge-level services to intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors. If you are interested in becoming a surrogate, contact us online or complete our surrogate application .