Intended Parent Questions

What is the difference between a gestational surrogate and a traditional surrogate?

A gestational surrogate is a woman who carries a child conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the egg of the intended parent or of an egg donor, and the sperm of the intended parent or a sperm donor. A gestational surrogate has no biological connection to the child.  A traditional surrogate is a woman who carries a child using her own egg and is the genetic and biological mother of the child. 

Although we feel that traditional surrogacy is the right arrangement for some intended parents, because it raises complex issues in establishing parenthood, Roots limits its process to gestational surrogacy.  

How long does the surrogacy process take?

The length of the surrogacy process varies and is dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, your surrogacy plans and goals and the number of cycles required to achieve a pregnancy. Intended parents should plan on approximately 16-24 months from the time they sign on with an agency until they have a child.

Why should I/we work with an agency during my surrogacy journey? 

The agency works as a liaison between the intended parents, the surrogate, the medical professionals, and the legal professionals to help facilitate your surrogacy journey. 

The agency will address financial arrangements and expectations between you and your surrogate and, most importantly, match you with your surrogate based on the relationship you want with your surrogate as well as the needs and wants of both parties.  The agency will maintain transparency and open communication throughout the process so that the parties can have a comfortable relationship.

After finding the right match, the agency also assists in coordinating all aspects of your surrogacy journey including, but not limited to, psychological screening and medical clearance; the embryo transfer and medical procedures; insurance options for the surrogacy process; counseling support services; and referrals to other necessary professionals.   

Working with an agency reduces the risk of complications, and offers additional protection to both the surrogate and the intended parents.  It helps to ensure that the surrogate receives fair compensation, ongoing psychological support, and treatment.  It also offers the intended parents the comfort of knowing that their surrogate has been through many screening processes to ensure that she is a top quality candidate with their best interests at heart.

The agency is an invaluable trusted consultant and advisor throughout the entire surrogacy journey. 

Can I/we work with a surrogate I/we already know?

Yes. If you know someone who is willing to carry a surrogate pregnancy for you, you can work with that surrogate.  However, the surrogate will still be required to go through the agency process and screening requirements. 

How much contact will I/we have with our surrogate?

The amount and type of contact you will have with your surrogate depends upon the surrogacy plan and agreement you enter into with your surrogate.  You can have as much or as little contact as you and the surrogate are comfortable with. Relationships and communication are important parts of surrogacy and it is our hope that an organic friendship develops over time.

How much does surrogacy cost?

Surrogacy costs can vary significantly based on a number of factors. Generally, intended parents are responsible for the following costs: Agency fees; legal fees; medical expenses; health insurance; surrogate compensation and reimbursement. The cost of most surrogacy arrangements range from $175,000 to $225,000 but may vary even further depending on each given scenario. There are lots of stop-gaps that curb ballooning costs.

What are the legal requirements of surrogacy?

Every surrogacy arrangement will include a legal contract. You and your surrogate will each have your own attorney who will contribute to the contract drafting process and ensure your legal interests are represented and your rights are protected. The legal contract will outline everyone’s rights and responsibilities throughout the process.

After the first trimester, your attorney may also work to prepare and finalize a pre-birth order and establish you as the legal parent of your child. Parentage, in PRE-BIRTH order states, is granted while your baby is still in utero. Surrogate’s do not have the option to change their mind. The court order identifies you as the parents and there is no subsequent adoptive process necessary after birth. You are added as parent(s) to the birth certificate immediately.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO MATCH ME WITH MY SURROGATE?

While match times vary depending on available surrogates, other parents waiting and parent expectations, Roots Surrogacy is currently matching in 4-5 months (last updated March 2024). We also have an expedited package that can speed up the matching process.

WHAT HAPPENS, IN THE OFF CHANCE, THAT THE SURROGATE BACKS OUT?

Surrogates do not often back out of the process, but life does happen.  If your surrogate chooses not to proceed, Roots Surrogacy will rematch you with another surrogate without any additional cost. 

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A FAILED TRASFER OR MISCARRIAGE?

            This depends on what the situation.  There are three types: 

1.    Failed transfer:  If the embryo fails to implant at all, the surrogate will wait for her next cycle, start meds again and transfer again.  Failed transfers happen and the success rates vary from clinic to clinic, doctor to doctor.  The financial burden is minimal as the surrogate's base compensation will not have been touched and she will only repeat her medication bonus ($500) and her transfer bonus ($1500). 

2.    Chemical pregnancy:  If the embryo implants and then fails to grow (usually between 6-10 weeks), then the surrogate will wait for her HCG level to go back down to zero and transfer again.   Financially, it is relatively identical to the above scenario although if it is after heartbeat, there may have been one month payment of the base compensation paid ($6000)

3.    Late Term Miscarriage:  While rare, this does happen on occasion.  It will depend on why but usually an embryo issue so again, you would use the same surrogate.  Financially, it will depend on how long the pregnancy lasted.  We pay the base compensation of $60,000 over 10 monthly instalments.  Each month, she receives $6000 after confirmation of fetal heartbeat.  If the pregnancy was lost at 20 weeks, it is likely that you would have made 4 monthly payments of $6k each.

WHERE DO MOST OF YOUR SURROGATES LIVE?

The geography of the surrogate is the LEAST important matching criteria, as long as she lives in a surrogate friendly state. There is a surrogate shortage in the United States and the goal is always to find the BEST quality candidate, not necessarily the closest. There are 20 surrogate friendly states in the United States that offer pre-birth orders and legal protection for parents and surrogates alike.

 HOW CAN I BE SURE THAT MY SURROGATE IS PARTICIPATING IN A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE DURING PREGNANCY?

Surrogates are grown women with healthy lifestyles and families. From the time a surrogate partners with Roots Surrogacy, we are evaluating her lifestyle to make sure that it is in line with our culture of health, happiness and humility. In addition, she is psychologically interviewed and tested, medically screened, drug tested and we have reviewed here health history of pregnancies and deliveries. The surrogate is consistently monitored by physicians and Roots Surrogacy, throughout the process. If additional requests from the parents are asked of the surrogate, like the addition of choosing organic options when available, these will be discussed and agreed upon in the match call.

Have more questions? Contact us!