Emotion. Planning. Professional guidance. These are just a few things that pop into the mind when you start thinking about bringing a baby into the world through surrogacy. As an intended parent, knowing what happens at every stage of the journey can reduce a lot of the uncertainty and help you feel more confident with each step forward you take. 

The surrogate mother process involves medical, legal, and personal milestones that all work together to ensure you set out on a safe and supportive path toward parenthood.

So, if you’re just starting to explore or you are already a few steps in, we will outline what you can expect from the first consultation to delivery day. 

Step One: The Consultation and Planning Phase

The first step of the process is speaking with a reputable surrogacy agency or clinic. During your consultation, you will start a discussion that covers your family-building goals, the available surrogacy programs, legal and medical requirements, and the estimated timeline from start to finish. This is also when you can ask questions and determine the level of involvement you want throughout the surrogacy journey. 

Agencies will review your options in multiple countries and help you find a good fit based on the current laws and regulations and your budget. This is when you will go over, in detail, the surrogate mother cost and what other fees there might be. 

Step Two: Surrogate Matching Phase

The matching phase ensures that the surrogate candidate and intended parents share the same expectations and values. An agency often looks for candidates who:

Meet all of the health and psychological screening requirements

Have had at least one healthy pregnancy in the past

Fully understand the commitment involved in the process

Are willing to maintain open communication

Once the match is identified, you can meet with the surrogate virtually or in person to confirm that it feels right. Having this emotional connection is important because it makes the journey easier for everyone.

Step Three: Medical and Legal Phase

Before any kind of medical procedures can get underway, the surrogate has to undergo physical health exams, reproductive evaluations, psychological screenings, and infectious disease testing. While this is happening, the legal team prepares all the necessary contracts. These contracts clarify parental rights, surrogate compensation and financial protections, medical care guidelines, and communication expectations during the pregnancy. 

Step Four: The IVF and Embryo Transfer Phase

The next phase is preparing for the pregnancy through IVF. Some of the steps you might experience during this phase of the process include:

• The intended mother or egg donor provides the eggs
• The eggs are fertilized with sperm in the lab
• The embryos are tested and then selected
• A healthy embryo is transferred to the surrogate

The surrogates may also receive hormone treatments to better support embryo implantation. After the transfer, there is a two-week wait before a pregnancy test can confirm success.

Step Five: The Monitoring and Support Phase

Once the surrogate becomes pregnant, she must attend regular prenatal appointments to monitor her and the baby’s health. Agencies and medical teams will also help coordinate medical care schedules, provide updates for the intended parents, give emotional support, and make travel arrangements when necessary. 

You may choose to participate in the appointments virtually or in person when possible. You want to do what you can to build a close and respectful relationship with your surrogate. 

Step Six: The Birth of Your Baby

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for − your baby’s exciting arrival. The birth plan is usually arranged ahead of time so everyone involved knows who will be present in the delivery room, how the baby will transition into your care, and what travel or legal paperwork is needed while at the hospital. 

After the delivery, the surrogate will receive postpartum medical support while you start bonding with your child. Agencies ensure that the final steps, including all medical documentation, legal confirmation, and travel plans, happen smoothly. 

Your Transition and Journey Home 

Once you have all the birth certificate updates, court orders, parental recognition filings, and immigration and travel documents you need, you’re ready to make the trek back home with your family. 

However, this doesn’t mean that the surrogacy journey ends overnight. Intended parents and the surrogate can both benefit from a thoughtful transition plan that supports everyone’s emotional well-being. 

• The surrogate will continue to receive medical checkups to ensure proper recovery.
• Surrogacy professionals often offer counseling or support to help navigate the unique feelings that may arise after the delivery for both the surrogate and intended parents.
• Some surrogates appreciate meeting the baby briefly, but everyone needs to be comfortable with this.
• Before the birth, you would discuss whether there will be occasional updates, scheduled visits, or any kind of ongoing relationship. 

All of these steps reinforce compassion and respect for the role the surrogate plays while helping you confidently transition into your new parenthood role. 

Are You Ready to Start Your Surrogacy Journey?

The surrogacy journey is a great path toward parenthood when your other options may be limited. Understanding the surrogate mother process from the very beginning helps you make more informed choices and prepares you for each phase of the process. 

With trusted guidance, clear communication, and compassionate care, your professional team can help you navigate each step.