Hope in surrogacy

Babies playing with blocks

the surrogacy co. is here to help you grow your family

Woman contemplating surrogacy

for our

intended parents

Hope is the foundation of every surrogacy journey, a guiding belief that, through collaboration and trust, something beautiful and life-changing is possible.

You may be feeling dismayed or fearful that your journey to parenthood or expanding your family is not possible. The Surrogacy Co. is here to partner with you as you embark upon an adventure to bring your baby into the world via an angel gestational carrier.

Our prayer for you is that hope sustains you through the challenges of surrogacy, from the emotional vulnerability of entrusting someone else with your dream, to the complexity of the process itself.

While the surrogacy journey may have its uncertainties, we are excited to partner with you to transform waiting into anticipation, hurdles into opportunities, and challenges into milestones to celebrate. With every step, hope fuels the unwavering belief that this journey will lead to the ultimate gift—a child to love and cherish.

The Surrogacy Co. is an agency that provides end-to-end facilitation and coordination of your surrogacy experience. You’ll be in safe hands with us.

Mother and baby cuddling
Planning meeting

surrogacy process key steps

The surrogacy process involves several key steps, each with its own emotional and logistical considerations. Throughout this journey, The Surrogacy Co. supports you at every step. It’s a deeply rewarding experience, and one that we would love to partner with you on.

Initial Decision:

  • Research: Learning about the surrogacy process, medical requirements, financial costs, and expectations.

  • Self-Reflection: The journey begins with a personal decision (in discussion with your partner) to become intended parents, considering the emotional, financial, and physical implications.

  • Initial Consultation: We conduct a discovery call, followed by an initial consultation with you in-person or via Zoom so you can get to know us, we can explain the surrogacy process, create your estimated cost sheet, and address any initial questions or concerns you may have.

Agency Registration and Onboarding:

  • Application: Share your story so we can get to know you and provide proof of funds for your surrogacy journey.

  • Screening: Criminal background check and psychological evaluation.

  • Onboarding Interview: Personalized discussion to identify your priorities and preferences as we prepare to search for your gestational carrier.

Matching with Your Surrogate Mother:

  • Profile Matching: Reviewing profiles of potential surrogates and vice versa.

  • Interviews and Meetings: Meeting potential gestational carriers to ensure a good match.

  • Agreement: Both parties agree to move forward together and sign Tentative Match Agreement.

Surrogate Medical Clearance:

  • Surrogate Medical Screening: Comprehensive health evaluations, including blood tests and physical examinations for both surrogate mother and her spouse/ partner.

  • Surrogate Psychological Evaluation: Assessing mental and emotional readiness for surrogacy.

  • Background Checks: Ensuring a safe and stable environment for the pregnancy - includes all adults living in the surrogate’s household.

Legal Clearance:

  • Contract Drafting: Your attorney will draft a detailed gestational surrogacy agreement covering all aspects of the surrogacy arrangement, taking into consideration any previously agreed-to preferences specific to the circumstances of the journey.

  • Review and Signing: Both your gestational carrier (and her partner) and you will review the contracts with their respective attorney to ensure mutual understanding and agreement.

Insurance and Funding:

  • Ensure that all necessary insurance coverage is in place for the surrogate mother and intended parents.

  • Secure the funding required and place into an escrow account for safe management.

Embryo Transfer:

  • Medical Preparations: Your surrogate mother undergoes a regimen of medications including self-administered syringe injections to prepare her body for the embryo transfer and pregnancy.

  • Embryo Transfer: Your chosen fertility doctor performs the embryo transfer procedure.

  • Pregnancy Confirmation: Waiting for confirmation of pregnancy through blood tests and ultrasounds.

Pregnancy:

  • Prenatal Care: Your surrogate mother has regular medical appointments to monitor her health and baby’s health.

  • Support Systems: Communication between you and your surrogate based on your agreed preferences, and receiving emotional and practical support.

Birth and Post-Birth:

  • Birth: Your surrogate mother gives birth, and the baby is placed into your loving arms at the hospital.

  • Post-Birth Legal Steps: Parentage orders are finalized by your attorney to ensure your parental rights are established.

  • Fourth Trimester Care: You celebrate this incredible experience with your newborn!

“My husband and I have been exploring surrogacy options, and from the very first conversation, Jenna, the founder of The Surrogacy Co., has been a wonderful support. She’s not only knowledgeable but has also taken the time to truly understand our hopes and concerns, making us feel completely comfortable and heard. We’re especially impressed by Jenna’s first-person experience as a surrogate herself, which brings a unique empathy and insight to every discussion. 
Her credibility and expertise in public health add another layer of trust, as we know she’s grounded in both professional knowledge and personal understanding of this journey. When we're ready to take this exciting next step, there's no doubt we'll be doing so with The Surrogacy Co. Knowing we're in such compassionate, trustworthy hands has made this process so much more special for us.”
— Matt (Intended Parent), San Diego, CA

kind words from families we have worked with

Meeting at an oval table

initial consultation

We conduct initial consultations with you, the intended parents, in-person (if you’re in Central Kentucky) or via Zoom so you can get to know The Surrogacy Co., we can explain the surrogacy process in detail, and to address any initial questions or concerns you may have. Typically, this meeting will cover:

Introduction and Background:

Personal Background: You’ll have an opportunity to share your personal stories, including your reason(s) for choosing surrogacy to grow your family.

Agency Overview: We will provide an overview of our services, our team, and the support we have in place at each step in the process.

Detailed Explanation of the Surrogacy Process:

Steps Involved: We will outline each step of the surrogacy journey, from initial screening to post-birth legal procedures.

Roles and Responsibilities: Clarification of the roles and responsibilities of both the intended parents and the surrogate mother.

Legal and Financial Aspects:

Legal Requirements: Discussion of the legal aspects of surrogacy, including contracts, parental rights, and any state-specific regulations.

Cost Breakdown: Detailed explanation of the costs involved, including our professional facilitation fees, surrogate mother compensation ranges, medical expenses, health insurance expenses, and any additional costs.

Screening and Matching Process:

Screening Criteria: Overview of the medical and psychological screening process for surrogates and you, the intended parents.

Matching Process: How The Surrogacy Co. matches intended parents with suitable surrogate mothers, including the criteria used and the timeline.

Support and Resources:

Emotional Support: Overview of the counseling and support services available to both intended parents and surrogate mothers and their partner.

Medical Coordination: Explanation of how the agency coordinates with medical professionals to ensure a smooth process.

Q&A Session:

Addressing Concerns: Opportunity to ask questions and address any concerns you may have.

Next Steps: Discussion of the next steps should you decide to move forward on your journey with us.

Mother with baby bump and scan

surrogate matching process

Finding a good match is one of the most important steps in the overall surrogacy process. The Surrogacy Co. dedicates a significant amount of time and energy into this effort to help ensure a successful and harmonious partnership between yourselves and your surrogate mother. It is a detailed process, but the steps below provide a general overview:

Initial Consultation:

  • In-person or Zoom Meeting: Initial meeting to discuss your goals, preferences, and any specific requirements you have for your surrogate mother.

  • Profile Creation: We will provide you with a template to create a detailed profile that we can share with potential surrogates that includes your background, reasons for choosing surrogacy, and what you are looking for in a surrogate mother.

Surrogate Screening:

  • Background Screening: We coordinate criminal background checks on potential surrogates, along with any adults living in the home.

  • Profile Review: We will provide you with profiles of pre-screened surrogates for your review.

Matching Process:

  • Compatibility Assessment: We will review the desires and needs of both the surrogate and yourselves to find a compatible match.

  • Profile Exchange: We provide an opportunity for you to review potential suitable surrogate profiles to decide if you would like to meet to learn more about each other.

  • Meet & Greet: We will facilitate an in-person or virtual meeting with the potential surrogate and her spouse / partner to further assess compatibility and establish a connection.

Mutual Agreement:

  • Decision Making: Both parties decide if they want to move forward together. This decision is based on mutual comfort and shared values. At this stage, a tentative match agreement would be signed by all parties as a commitment to proceed to medical and legal clearance.

This structured and supportive matching process helps ensure that both intended parents and surrogate mothers have a positive and successful surrogacy experience.

Budgeting for surrogacy

surrogacy cost structure

The cost structure of a surrogacy journey can vary widely based on a number of factors, but here’s a general breakdown of the typical expenses involved:

Agency Fees:

  • Fees: $25,000.

  • Details: These professional facilitation fees cover The Surrogacy Co.’s end-to-end services, including matching, screening, support, and coordination throughout the surrogacy process. Already have a surrogate mother? Fantastic! We can work with you and her to provide guidance and coordination of your journey. Inquire for a discounted agency fee.

Surrogate Mother Compensation:

  • Base Compensation: $50,000 to $60,000.

  • Monthly Allowance: $5,000 for housekeeping, massages, travel to appointments, maternity clothes, etc. ($500 per month).

  • Surrogate Mother Term Life Insurance Policy: A nominal fee typically less than $1k.

  • Mental Health Professional: Your surrogate mother will have access to monthly mental health therapist/ counsellor sessions prior to the embryo transfer, during pregnancy, and post-birth (~$150/ month).

  • Lost Wages and Childcare: Compensation for lost wages if the surrogate mother needs to take time off work for appointments and recovery from procedures and birth, and for childcare during medical appointments.

  • Invasive Procedure Fee: Compensation varies and would be outlined in surrogacy agreement. To be paid in the event of mock cycles, amniocentesis, and other invasive medical procedures.

Medical Expenses:

  • IVF and Embryo Transfer: $20,000 to $50,000. Costs vary by fertility clinic and the procedures being undertaken. Your medical insurance may cover a portion of these fees.

  • Prenatal Care and Delivery: Costs vary depending on your surrogate mother’s insurance and the specifics of the pregnancy.

  • Contingent Fees: $5,000 to $25,000 for additional expenses such as contingent insurance, newborn insurance, multiple embryo transfers, additional invasive procedures, or complications.

Legal Fees:

  • Range: $7,000 to $15,000.

  • Details: These fees cover the drafting and review of legal contracts, parentage rights, and any necessary court proceedings and are paid directly to your attorney and your surrogate mother’s attorney. 

Insurance Costs:

  • Range: Varies significantly.

  • Details: Your selected surrogate mother’s existing health insurance may or may not have surrogacy exclusions, or she may not carry a medical insurance policy. Surrogacy contracts typically ensure that surrogate mother’s health insurance premiums and any out-of-pocket medical expenses related to the pregnancy are covered by the intended parents.

Miscellaneous Expenses:

  • Surrogate Mother (and Spouse) Travel and Accommodation: Costs for travel and accommodation for surrogate mother medical appointments at your chosen fertility clinic. Surrogate mother’s spouse will usually travel with her to the embryo transfer appointment. Costs will vary depending on the location of the surrogate mother and intended parents, as well as the location of the fertility clinic being used.

  • Intended Parent Travel and Accommodation: Costs for travel and accommodation for intended parents travel to medical appointments during the pregnancy and for the delivery location, if needed. Costs will vary depending on the location of the hospital your baby will be birthed at.

Overall, the total cost of a surrogacy journey typically ranges from $125,000 to $225,000+. The exact amount can vary based on factors such as the surrogate mother’s location, fertility clinic location, the specifics of the medical procedures, and any additional services required.

Yes, the intended parents have financial responsibility for the entire surrogacy journey. Part of the agency application process requires intended parents to provide evidence of proof of funds to cover expected costs associated with your surrogacy journey.

The Surrogacy Co. will build out a specific estimated cost sheet for you, tailored to your specific circumstances, as a part of the initial consultation.

If you’d like to review potential funding options to support your journey, please click HERE.

FAQs for Intended Parents

Have questions about growing your family via surrogacy? Below are some of the more frequent questions we hear from intended parents:

Woman cradling baby's head

  • The first step is to have a discovery call with The Surrogacy Co. or your chosen fertility clinic. This meeting will help you understand the process, costs, and legal requirements.

  • Surrogacy costs can range from $125,000 to $225,000+, depending on various factors such as surrogate compensation, surrogate lost wages, medical expenses, and legal fees.

  • If you already have frozen embryos with your fertility clinic, the entire surrogacy process can take 16 to 22 months. This includes matching with a surrogate mother, legal preparations, medical procedures, and the pregnancy itself.

  • While independent surrogacy can potentially be less expensive, using an agency ensures that you have professional support and facilitation, and an intermediary, which can be crucial for a successful surrogacy journey. Most families utilize the expertise and guidance of a trusted agency.

  • Surrogates (and her spouse/ partner) undergo robust medical, psychological, and background screenings to ensure they are healthy and emotionally prepared for the surrogacy process. You'll have the opportunity to review profiles and meet potential surrogates to ensure a good match aligned with your preferences and priorities.

  • No. Legal contracts are in place to ensure that you, as the intended parents, have full parental rights. The surrogate mother and her spouse/ partner have no legal claim to the baby. Plus, surrogates know exactly why they are giving this gift to other families to grow their family.

  • Some insurance plans may cover parts of the surrogacy process, but many intended parents need to purchase additional insurance to cover the surrogate’s medical expenses. Most expenses such as surrogate mother compensation and benefits are funded by intended parents.

  • A facilitation agreement outlines the services and clarifies expectations of the relationship between the intended parents and The Surrogacy Co. In addition, legal contracts between the surrogate mother and the intended parents outline the rights and responsibilities of both parties. These contracts are reviewed and signed by each parti’s attorneys before any medical procedures begin.

  • You can be as involved as you and your surrogate mother are comfortable with. This is a point of discussion during the matching process and forms a part of the matching agreement. Ways that you can be involved often include attending medical appointments, being present at the birth, and maintaining regular communication throughout the journey.

  • After the birth, we follow best-practice guidelines for a smooth transition between surrogate mother to your loving arms. Legal steps are taken to finalize your parental rights. Your surrogate mother will enjoy a restful post-birth recovery period. Your surrogate’s family will meet the baby. Everyone will celebrate the birth of your babe.