Category: Children Born Via Surrogacy

Are you raising a child born through surrogacy? Find special parenting tips, tricks and advice for raising a surrogate-born or donor-conceived child.

Flying with a Newborn after Surrogacy: What New Parents Need to Know

Ready to head home? Navigate flying with a newborn after surrogacy with our guide to airline rules, infant safety, and legal travel docs.

Holding your baby for the first time is a significant milestone, but it is quickly followed by the logistics of getting home.

This guide covers the practical steps for navigating your baby’s first flight.

Navigating air travel with a newborn and want guidance? Contact us today for expert advice from specialists who understand every step of the journey.

Is it Safe to Fly With a Newborn?

Yes, most airlines and pediatric professionals advise that healthy, full-term newborns can safely travel by air once they are seven to fourteen days old. This two-week milestone allows the baby’s body to stabilize after birth.

Consult your pediatrician to confirm your baby is healthy enough to fly. While flying is medically possible early on, many doctors recommend waiting until the two-month checkup when infants receive their first major vaccinations, especially during cold and flu season.

To minimize risk, parents should:

  • Use a stroller cover in terminals.
  • Wipe down all cabin surfaces with disinfectant.
  • Feed the baby during takeoff to help with ear pressure.

Choosing the Best Time to Fly With a Newborn

Choosing the right flight time helps you manage your baby’s sleep and feeding schedule. The goal is to align your travel with your newborn’s natural rhythms as much as possible, maximizing the chances of a calm, comfortable journey.

Daytime vs. Red-Eye Flights

The decision between a daytime and an overnight (red-eye) flight depends heavily on your comfort level and your baby’s emerging sleep patterns. Here’s a comparison of the two:

  • Red-Eye (Overnight) Flights: These can be highly beneficial if your baby has already established a long, predictable sleeping stretch. The cabin is typically darker, quieter, and generally less stimulating.
  • Daytime Flights: These may be easier for the parents to manage, as you are better rested and more alert. A mid-day flight (departing 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) can often avoid early morning airport crowds and late-night travel fatigue. Daylight also makes navigating security and the airport terminal simpler.

For babies under two months, shorter, direct flights are always preferable. A short-haul flight of two to four hours minimizes the disruption to their fragile routine and limits exposure time.

If a long-haul flight is unavoidable, book a layover that allows for a full stretch, diaper change, and feeding in a quiet family room.

Leveraging Sleep and Feeding Patterns

Successful travel with a newborn starts with anticipating their needs, especially hunger and fatigue. Plan to feed and change your baby right before boarding: a full, dry, comfortable infant is the best foundation for an easier flight.

Rather than sitting at the gate, take a gentle walk before boarding. The movement of the stroller or carrier and a change of scenery can help your baby settle intro a final pre-flight nap. 

Travel Essentials for Newborns: What to Pack

Preparation is your best defense against in-flight challenges. Having the right tools packed efficiently will make security and the flight itself much smoother.

The Newborn Travel Checklist

  • Diapers and wipes: Pack one diaper for every hour of travel, plus five to seven extra.
  • Clothing: Bring at least two zip-up outfits for the baby and a spare shirt for each parent to handle spills or blowouts.
  • Feeding and soothing: Include bottles, formula, burp cloths, and multiple pacifiers.
  • Health items: Keep a thermometer, nasal aspirator, and doctor-approved infant Tylenol in your carry-on.

Navigating TSA with Liquids and Gear

Dealing with security is often the most stressful part of flying with a baby, but knowing the rules helps streamline the process.

Navigating TSA with Formula and Breastmilk

Liquids for infants, such as formula and breast milk, are considered medically necessary by the TSA.

These items are exempt from the standard 3-1-1 liquids rule, meaning you can carry quantities greater than 3.4 ounces. You must inform the TSA officer of these items at the start of screening.

For the most efficient process, we recommend traveling with powdered formula and buying bottled water inside the terminal to minimize additional X-ray inspections.

Baby Wearing Through Security

Using a soft-structured baby carrier or a wrap is highly recommended. In many instances, you can wear your baby through the metal detector, which keeps your hands free for managing baggage and ensures your baby stays close and calm.

Feeding a Baby on a Plane: What to Know

Feeding your baby during critical flight moments is key to a comfortable and painless experience, primarily by managing the change in air pressure.

Managing Ear Pressure

The primary function of feeding during ascent and descent is to promote swallowing, which opens the Eustachian tubes and helps equalize the pressure in your baby’s middle ear. Here are some things you can do to aid the pressure:

  • Timing is Essential: Start feeding right before the plane pushes back for takeoff and again as the plane begins its final descent (usually 20–30 minutes before landing).
  • Sucking Comfort: If your baby is not hungry, a pacifier or even a clean finger for them to suck on will also activate the swallowing reflex.

If your baby is sleeping soundly during ascent or descent, you generally do not need to wake them solely for feeding. A baby sleeping peacefully is often coping well with the pressure change without assistance.

Bottle and Formula Preparation Logistics

Preparing bottles in a contained space requires planning to ensure hygiene and temperature. While flight attendants can often provide hot water to warm bottles or formula, traveling with a thermos of hot water is a more reliable approach.

This gives you control over the temperature and eliminates waiting time. To minimize the risk of spoilage and simplify TSA screening, we recommend traveling with powdered formula and bottled water rather than pre-mixed bottles.

Managing Stress and Anxiety During Baby’s First Flight

It’s completely normal to feel stressed when navigating air travel with a newborn, especially after the emotional intensity of the surrogacy journey. New parents need to take care of themselves, too.

Acknowledging the Emotional Transition

The trip home is the final, celebratory sprint of a long, emotional journey. It’s a transition period where your focus shifts entirely from the legal/logistical elements of surrogacy to the physical reality of new parenthood. Be kind to yourself as you manage this intense phase.

For many new parents, the anxiety stems from fear of judgment from other passengers or the lack of control in an enclosed space.

Remind yourself that you are doing your best, and your primary responsibility is to your child’s comfort, not the approval of strangers.

You have invested immense time, resources, and heart into this journey. This flight is merely a temporary logistical hurdle. Focus on the joy of holding your baby and the destination.

Practical Support Tips for Parents

To make the flight as comfortable as possible for everyone involved, consider implementing these strategies:

  • Tag-Team Parenting: If two parents are traveling, agree on a clear schedule for who handles which task (feeding, diaper changes, comforting). Take 30-minute shifts where one parent is completely “off” duty to rest, read, or simply stare out the window.
  • Pack Snacks for Yourself: Parent fatigue is real. Pack healthy snacks and water for yourself. Maintaining your energy is crucial for maintaining a calm environment for your baby.
  • Move Your Body: Stand up and gently sway in the galley when the seatbelt sign is off. The movement can often soothe a fussy newborn and helps relieve your own muscle tension.

Airline Policies on Flying With a Newborn

Every airline has different policies regarding age restrictions, ID requirements, and seating. To avoid last-minute stress, confirm your carrier’s rules well in advance of your flight. The typical requirements include:

  • Most major U.S. carriers permit infants as young as 7 days old, but for babies under 14 days, they typically require a doctor’s note confirming fitness to fly.
  • For domestic U.S. flights, a “lap infant” (a baby who flies on a parent’s lap and does not require a ticket) needs official documentation to confirm they are under two years old. A simple copy of the birth certificate is almost always sufficient.

Choosing Between a Lap Infant or Ticketed Seat

When booking your flight, you must decide how your baby will be seated. Most major U.S. carriers permit infants as young as seven days to fly as a “lap infant” for free or a small tax fee.

For increased safety, pediatric experts recommend purchasing a ticketed seat and using an FAA-approved car seat.

  • Lap Infant: Cost-effective; requires a “boarding verification document” from the airline.
  • Ticketed Seat: Provides a familiar, safe space and protects the baby during turbulence.
  • Gate Checking: Strollers and car seats can typically be checked at the gate for no additional charge.

What Documents Do You Need to Fly With a Newborn?

You must have specific legal documents to pass through security and check-in without delays. Keep these three items in your carry-on:

  • Certified Birth Certificate: Listing the intended parents as the legal parents.
  • Pre-Birth or Post-Birth Order (PBO): A court order validating your legal relationship to the child, which is vital if officials are unfamiliar with surrogacy.
  • Parental ID: Government-issued photo identification that matches the names on the baby’s documentation.

American Surrogacy works with surrogacy law attorneys to ensure your PBO is filed correctly and your names are placed on the original birth certificate. This preparation is designed to get you home as quickly as possible.

How American Surrogacy Supports You After Birth

Navigating air travel with a newborn, especially as a new parent through surrogacy, requires not just practical tips but emotional reassurance and trusted guidance from experts who understand every step of the parenting journey.

Fill out our form if you have questions about the legal documentation required for your trip home to get free information today.

Inducing Lactation for Surrogacy: How Intended Mothers Can Breastfeed

Learn how inducing lactation for surrogacy helps intended mothers breastfeed, bond, and plan feeding arrangements with confidence.

Breastfeeding your baby after surrogacy may seem out of reach—but it’s more possible than you think.

Many intended mothers have successfully induced lactation for surrogacy, giving them the chance to nourish their baby and experience the same intimate bond as parents who carried their child.

If you’re considering inducing lactation for surrogacy, our specialists at American Surrogacy can help you explore feeding arrangements with your surrogate during the contract stage. Fill out our form today to get quick support.

With the right preparation, medical guidance, and support, your body can produce milk—even without pregnancy.

What Is Inducing Lactation for Surrogacy?

Inducing lactation for surrogacy is the process of stimulating your body to make breast milk without having been pregnant.

By combining hormonal treatments, pumping, and ongoing support, you can prepare your body to provide milk for your baby once they arrive.

This process isn’t just about nutrition—it’s also about bonding. For many intended parents, breastfeeding is a powerful way to feel fully involved in their child’s earliest days.

How to Induce Lactation for Surrogacy: The Newman-Goldfarb Protocol

The most widely used method for inducing lactation for surrogacy is called the Newman-Goldfarb protocol. It was designed specifically for mothers who want to breastfeed but did not carry the pregnancy. Most lactation consultants are familiar with it.

The protocol includes two stages:

  • Hormonal preparation: Birth control pills mimic pregnancy, while a medication like metoclopramide boosts prolactin (the hormone responsible for milk production). This stage usually lasts several months to prepare breast tissue.
  • Pumping phase: About 6–8 weeks before your baby’s birth, you’ll begin pumping 8–12 times per day. This frequent stimulation signals to your body that it’s time to produce milk.

Note: In some countries, domperidone is used to support lactation, but it is not approved for use in the U.S. American parents typically use metoclopramide.

For more detailed guidance, La Leche League provides resources that can help you understand how this process works.

Is Induced Lactation Breastmilk as Good as Natural Breastmilk?

Yes—milk produced through induced lactation contains the same nutrients, antibodies, and growth factors that help protect and nourish your baby.

According to Folx Health, while it may take some time to reach full composition, induced breast milk provides the same essential benefits as traditional breastfeeding.

Benefits of Induced Lactation for Intended Parents

Wanting to breastfeed after surrogacy isn’t really about the nutrition (though that’s great too). It’s about so much more than that.

After watching someone else carry your baby for nine months, breastfeeding can feel like finally getting to be the mom in a really tangible way.

There’s something really special about that skin-to-skin contact and the bonding that happens during nursing. Your body releases oxytocin – the love hormone – which helps you and your baby connect.

After a surrogacy journey where you might have felt a bit on the sidelines, breastfeeding is something that’s just between you and your baby.

Considering the Cost of Medications for Inducing Lactation

The cost of inducing lactation for surrogacy varies depending on treatment length and insurance coverage. On average, families should consider:

  • Metoclopramide: $20–$60/month
  • Birth control pills: $15–$50/month (often covered by insurance)
  • Lactation consultant visits: Varies by provider
  • Breast pump rental or purchase: Hospital-grade pumps are most effective

While these expenses add to overall surrogacy costs, many families find them manageable with advance planning.

How Long Does it Take to Induce Lactation for Surrogacy?

The process usually takes 4–6 months:

  • Hormonal prep: 2–4 months
  • Pumping: 6–8 weeks before the baby’s arrival

Some parents notice milk production within days of pumping, while others take several weeks. Factors like age, medical history, and consistency with the protocol all play a role.

Challenges and Limitations to Consider

Inducing lactation for surrogacy can be amazing, but it’s not always smooth sailing. Not every mom ends up with a full milk supply, and some only make small amounts even when they do everything perfectly.

The medications can make you feel pretty crummy sometimes, nausea, tiredness, mood swings, stomach issues.

And honestly, it can be emotionally tough if things don’t go as planned. Some moms feel really disappointed or stressed if their milk supply doesn’t develop like they hoped.

How to Increase Breastmilk Supply When Inducing Lactation for Surrogacy

If your milk supply is lower than expected, try:

  • Pumping every 2–3 hours (including overnight)
  • Using “power pumping” sessions (10 minutes pumping, 10 minutes rest, repeated for an hour)
  • Ensuring your pump fits properly; hospital-grade pumps are most effective
  • Exploring natural supply boosters like oats or fenugreek—with your doctor’s approval

The Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation emphasizes consistency and equipment quality as keys to better results

Professional Guidance: Who Can Help?

You need expert professional support for inducing lactation for surrogacy.

Your can find a lactation specialist for surrogacy who’s an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) – that’s the gold standard.

These specialists really know their stuff and can give you personalized advice for your situation.

They’ll help you navigate the whole process and troubleshoot any issues that come up.

When you’re looking for a lactation specialist for surrogacy, make sure they’re IBCLC certified and have experience with induced lactation specifically.

Many of them do virtual appointments too, which is super convenient when you’re still in the preparation phase.

Alternatives if Inducing Lactation Isn’t Possible

If inducing lactation for surrogacy doesn’t work or doesn’t feel right, you still have other nourishing options:

  • Surrogate-provided milk: Some surrogates are willing to pump and supply breast milk.
  • Donor milk: Certified milk banks offer screened donor milk, though it can be costly.
  • Formula: A safe, reliable feeding option used by many families.

Many parents use a combination of these methods to meet their baby’s needs.

How American Surrogacy Supports Your Feeding Journey

At American Surrogacy, we understand that feeding choices are deeply personal. Our team helps you:

  • Discuss breast milk arrangements during your surrogacy contract (including whether your surrogate may pump after birth)
  • Connect with trusted lactation consultants experienced in inducing lactation for surrogacy
  • Explore all feeding options—induced lactation, surrogate-provided milk, donor milk, or formula—so you feel empowered to make the best choice for your family

Our specialists can answer your questions about breastfeeding and help ensure your feeding preferences are included in your surrogacy contract.

Reach out today to begin planning for the feeding journey that feels right for your family.


Do Surrogate Mothers Share DNA With The Baby?

Do surrogates share DNA with the baby? We answer our most asked questions about genetics and surrogacy.

As you go through the surrogacy process you, and maybe even family members and friends, may have questions about the DNA of your child. Many people may choose surrogacy due to the genetic factor. But people still have questions about DNA and the genetic process. Common questions we get asked include:

  • Does the surrogate mother share DNA with the child?
  • Will the baby look like the surrogate mother?
  • Do surrogates share blood with the baby?
  • Does a gestational surrogate have a right to the baby?

To get answers to these questions and more, you can contact a surrogacy specialist today by filling out our online form or call 1-800-875-BABY.

You can also hear directly from surrogates and intended parents alike by following us on Instagram.

Use this easy guide to understand the difference between traditional surrogacy vs. gestational surrogacy, and help those with questions understand your surrogacy process as well.

Traditional Surrogacy

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate contributes her own egg to the in-vitro process. Once her egg is artificially inseminated by the intended father’s or donor’s sperm, an embryo is created which she will then carry to term in her uterus. In this form of surrogacy, the surrogate mother is the biological mother of the child. This genetic relationship can come with unique challenges. Due to the higher level of legal risk with traditional surrogacy, it is rarely done today.

Gestational Surrogacy

In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate and baby do not share any genetics. An embryo is created from the intended parents’ and/or donor’s egg and sperm. Once the embryo is created, it is transferred to the surrogate’s womb and she then carries the baby to term. This process is the most common form of surrogacy today, and the only form of surrogacy American Surrogacy completes.

Now, let’s answer those questions from above. We understand that many of the questions may be from well-meaning family members and friends who have a ton of thoughts on the process. However, we are here to offer you the information to make it clear that your child will not be genetically related to the surrogate.

Does the surrogate mother share DNA with the child?

Many people may think of traditional surrogacy when it comes to the surrogate process. They assume it’s her egg being used. This, of course, is not the case. You will use your egg or a donor’s egg to create the embryo that will be carried by the surrogate. The DNA will come from the egg that was used in the embryo. It will have nothing to do with the surrogate.

Will the baby look like the surrogate mother?

Again, the appearance of the baby comes down to who provided the sperm and the egg to create the embryo that results in a child.

Do surrogates share blood with the baby?

When people talk about “blood relation” they may be thinking of literal blood. While yes, a surrogate’s blood is used to help grow your child, they are not of “blood relation.”

Does a gestational surrogate have a right to the baby?

No. With gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother does not have any rights to the child. There will be a legal process that will allow you the legal rights of parenthood while the baby is in the womb.

When people ask if the baby is related to the surrogate mother, the answer is simply no. You will share the genetics with your child through your egg or sperm, or you can choose to use a donor if using your own is not an option for you.

If you want more information on surrogacy, contact us today at 1-800-825-2229 (BABY) or fill out our online form.

What to Know About Egg Donor Surrogacy

If you’re interested in growing your family, working with an agency that has an egg donor and surrogacy program can help prepare you for a successful surrogacy journey.

As surrogacy gains popularity as a family-planning option, many egg donor and surrogacy programs are starting to move to the forefront of the conversation. If you’re intended parents struggling with female infertility, a same-sex couple or a hopeful single parent, utilizing an egg donor and surrogacy can help you achieve your dreams of parenthood.

If you’re trying to grow your family and have questions about egg donor surrogacy, you can get connected with our surrogacy specialists today.

Finding the right egg donor and surrogacy program is a big component of the surrogacy journey, so it’s important that everyone involved feels confident and informed. This article will break down the key points of using an egg donor and surrogacy to grow your family.

Egg Donor Surrogacy [What to Know]

Many intended parents utilize an egg donor and surrogacy to start their families. There are typically three parties involved in egg donor surrogacy:

  • The intended parents
  • The gestational carrier
  • An egg donor

To get started, intended parents will need to identify an egg donor for surrogacy. This can be done through a separate fertility clinic or an agency that has an egg donor and surrogacy program. Intended parents want to be as involved as they can in bringing their baby into the world, which is why they’ll be able to choose a donor who has qualities that align with their surrogacy goals.

Viable eggs are taken from the donor through the egg retrieval process and then fertilized through the IVF process with the sperm of the intended father or a donor. The embryo will then be transferred to the gestational carrier for her to carry to term.

Benefits of Using an Egg Donor and Surrogacy

Using an egg donor and surrogacy to grow your family is a great option if you:

  • A couple experiencing female infertility
  • A same-sex couple
  • A single hopeful father

When you work with an agency that has an egg donor and surrogacy program, you’ll have both the comfort and convenience of having almost all the necessary services and resources for your surrogacy journey in one place. Your surrogacy specialist will be able to help you find an egg donor that matches your preferences so that you can feel in control of your surrogacy journey.

Choosing Your Egg Donor and Surrogacy Program [Questions to Ask]

When it comes to finding the right egg donor and surrogacy program, you’ll want to make sure you’re adequately prepared for the egg donor and surrogacy process. Below are a few of the questions you should be asking yourself about any egg donor and surrogacy program you’re considering.

What are you Looking for in an Egg Surrogacy Donor?

You’ll want to make sure you have a clear vision of what you’re looking for in an egg donor. Think about medical history, genetics, blood type, background, etc. You’ll also need to think about whether you want an anonymous or identified egg donor.

Are You Prepared for Egg Donor Surrogacy and Cost?

You can’t put a price on family, but because egg donation is such an intricate process, egg donor surrogacy can be an expensive process. In addition to surrogacy costs, you’ll want to have enough money set aside for all necessary costs. When you work with an agency that has an egg donor and surrogacy program, you may pay a lower cost than if you went through a separate agency.

Are you Prepared to Raise a Child Conceived from an Egg Donor and Surrogacy?

We know that you’ll love your child, regardless of their genetic makeup. But it’s important that you’re prepared for the unique challenges that come with raising a donor-conceived child. At some point, your child may ask about their surrogacy story and how they came to be. They may even have questions about who their donor was. You’ll want to be prepared to have these conversations.

Next Steps

If you have questions about the intricacies of egg donor and surrogacy programs, our specialists would be happy to answer them. Get connected with our surrogacy specialist today.

Celebrating Mother’s Day On Your Surrogacy Journey

As an intended mother, celebrating Mother’s Day is a way to honor the love and determination you’ve dedicated to growing your family. But if you’re struggling with infertility or in the middle of your journey, there can be complicated emotions that surface. We’re here to help.

Mother’s Day is a day of celebration, but it can also be emotionally challenging for those who have not yet achieved their motherhood goals. Whether you’re experiencing infertility, in the middle of a surrogacy process or have had a child through surrogacy, your experience will be unique.

We celebrate mothers in all stages of their parenting journey. If you’re coping with infertility or in the middle of your journey and struggling with difficult emotions, you can contact us today for support.

 Here’s how to make Mother’s Day positive, no matter where you are:

If You’re Struggling with Infertility

Women who are not yet mothers can find Mother’s Day particularly difficult. The images of happy mothers and children can be emotionally devastating when you desperately want to be a mom. Remember that your emotional well-being is essential. Here are some approaches:

  • Take a Break: If celebrating Mother’s Day feels too painful, it’s okay to sit it out. Do an activity unrelated to the holiday that brings you joy. Use your coping mechanisms to address your emotions.
  • Focus on Loved Ones: Shift the attention away from yourself by celebrating with your own mother and other family members. Sometimes, being around loved ones can help you forget your sadness and enjoy the day.

If You’re in the Surrogacy Process

Being in the middle of a surrogacy journey on Mother’s Day can bring conflicting feelings. Here’s how to navigate them:

  • Include Your Surrogate: If your surrogate is pregnant, you’re likely excited about the little bundle of joy arriving soon. Consider including your surrogate in your Mother’s Day celebrations. A token of appreciation like flowers or a small gift can go a long way.
  • Acknowledge Your Feelings: Recognize that this Mother’s Day might be bittersweet. Allow yourself to feel both excitement and longing. It’s okay to have mixed emotions.
  • Look Ahead: Imagine next year’s Mother’s Day when you’ll finally hold your baby. Let that anticipation fill your heart with hope and joy.
  • Talk to your surrogacy specialist: Your surrogacy specialist can provide a shoulder for you to lean on, help talk you through your emotions or provide helpful resources and coping skills.

If You’ve Had a Child Through Surrogacy

Congratulations! You’ve experienced the miracle of surrogacy. Now, Mother’s Day is about celebrating your journey. Here’s how:

  • Reflect on Your Journey: Take a moment to appreciate the path that led you to motherhood. Remember the courage, patience and love it took to get here.
  • Create Keepsakes: Consider framed ultrasound images, recordings of the baby’s heartbeat, pictures of you with your surrogate. These sentimental items will remind you of this special time.
  • Call or text your surrogate: Call your surrogate and catch up. Update her on how the baby is doing and express your gratitude for her role in helping you have the family of your dreams.
  • Send a card: Send your surrogate a card thanking her for helping you be able to celebrate your first Mother’s Day with your baby.
  • Have Lunch Together: Share a meal with your surrogate, if possible. Celebrate the bond you’ve formed and the beautiful life you’re bringing into the world.

Remember, every stage of the surrogacy journey is significant. Whether you’re waiting, anticipating, or celebrating, Mother’s Day is a day to honor the love and commitment that make motherhood possible. 

Wherever you are in the process, you aren’t alone. Plenty of surrogates, intended mothers, and mothers through surrogacy are ready support you and share their insight. Connect with them online through our Instagram community.

If you’re considering growing your family through surrogacy, contact us today to get started.

What Is Embryo Donation?

If you’re an infertile couple, LGBT couple or a single individual, embryo donation can reduce IVF costs on your surrogacy journey.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) plays a significant role in the surrogacy medical process. You may have already attempted IVF and have no embryos left or you may be new to the process and are intimidated by the associated costs.

Through embryo donation, you can receive multiple frozen embryos for your surrogacy journey without paying for the most expensive parts of the IVF process.

Embryo donation is the process in which couples or individuals who have had success with IVF and have completed their family can choose to donate their remaining frozen embryos to other hopeful intended parents like you.

We can help you determine how embryo donation can fit into your surrogacy journey. If you want to learn more about the surrogacy medical process, contact us today.

What is Embryo Donation?

IVF and gestational surrogacy are increasingly popular family-building methods for infertile couples, LGBT couples and single individuals.

For those that do not want to cover costs of the IVF process such as egg retrieval, embryo creation, cryopreservation or an egg or sperm donor (if applicable), embryo donation allows them to receive frozen embryos donated by patients who have completed their families.

What is the Difference between Embryo Donation and Embryo Adoption?

Both embryo donation and embryo adoption are used interchangeably to refer to the same process of the donation and reception of frozen embryos. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, embryo donation is the medically and legally accurate term.

However, there may be differences in the processes used by embryo donation programs that use one term over the other.

Embryo Donation

Embryo donation is the widely accepted term for the practice of a person’s or couple’s unused frozen embryos are donated to another person or couple.

There are many fertility clinics that have an embryo donation programs, as well as embryo donation agencies. While these programs may provide matching services, embryo donation is treated as a medical process, similar to egg or sperm donation.

Embryo Adoption

Embryo adoption, sometimes referred to as “snowflake adoption” is a term coined by a Christian adoption agency to refer to the donation of frozen embryos. This term may be used by those who see the embryo as a child, or by professionals that employ similar practices used in traditional adoption in their embryo donation process, such as home studies and judicial measures.

Embryo adoption is a misnomer because state adoption laws currently apply to the post-birth placement of a living child, not an embryo. Instead, donated embryos are typically protected under property law and Food and Drug Administration regulations.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) cautions against treating embryo donation the same as adoption, as unnecessary measures like home studies and judicial intervention can lengthen the process or create restrictions.

How Much Does Embryo Donation Cost?

Receiving a frozen donor embryo costs significantly less than both the average cost of an IVF cycle.

The average cost of an IVF cycle in the U.S., according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, is $12,400-$30,000.

While the cost will depend on the program you choose, receiving a donor embryo can be as low as $2,500-$4,000.

Using Embryo Donation for Surrogacy

The embryo donation process may vary depending on the clinic or agency you work with, but must follow the guidelines set in place by the Food and Drug Administration. All donors must complete FDA screening.

Many embryo donation programs facilitate anonymous donations where you will not know the identity of the donor. Some may have the option of a known or direct donation, where you receive the embryo of someone you know.

For anonymous donation, you will not have access to identifying information about the donor, but their profile will include medical history, physical characteristics, family history and background and often a photo of the donor(s).

Once you’ve found a donor match and complete any necessary paperwork, the surrogacy medical process will proceed as normal. Once your surrogate has completed a prescribe regimen of fertility medications, the donor embryo will be transferred to her uterus through a simple and minimally invasive procedure.

If you have questions about creating or receiving donor embryos for your surrogacy journey, connect with us today. You can always find support and first-hand experiences through our Instagram page as well.

What Did the Pope Say About Surrogacy?

Pope Francis’s recent comments about surrogacy have resulted in increased interest in the modern application of this family-building method.

On Monday January 8th, Pope Francis called for a global ban on surrogacy in an annual speech to diplomats outlining what the Catholic Church considers threats to global peace and humanity.

“I deem deplorable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs,” Pope Francis said.

The Pontiff went on to condemn the commercialization of surrogacy, saying that “a child is a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.”

Pope Francis’ recent statements keep with the Vatican’s oppositional stance on in vitro fertilization. Pope Francis as well as other critics of surrogacy say that compensated surrogacy exploits impoverished women.

These statements have caused a recent surge of interest in surrogacy. Because surrogacy is a family-building method that many people are unfamiliar with, there is also a lot of confusion.

Below, we’ll go into more detail about what surrogacy really is.

What Surrogacy is, and What Surrogacy is Not [Explained]

As a surrogacy agency with our surrogates’ best interests at heart, we empathize with the Pope’s concern for the well-being of gestational carriers. That is why we want to break down some of the Pope’s statements and show how U.S. surrogacy laws protect the surrogate, the intended parents and the baby.

1. “A child is a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.”

First and foremost, we are in agreement with this sentiment. It’s for this reason that we provide this amazing service. There are so many deserving couples and individuals who want to grow their family, but for one reason or another, are not able to on their own.

Surrogacy allows these hopeful parents to have the family they’ve longed for.

The surrogates we work with have had children of their own and have made the choice to help these couples be able to experience the joy of parenthood.

The compensated surrogacy contract used in the U.S. ensures that the surrogate is able to financially support herself and her family, as well as to maintain her autonomy throughout the surrogacy process. Every surrogate has her own attorney who specializes in the surrogacy laws of her state to ensure that her rights are protected every step of the way.

2. “…based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs.”

Here, Pope Francis is most likely thinking of the well-documented stories of surrogacy being practiced in other nations in ways that are exploitative, dangerous and unethical. These stories shock the conscious. However, U.S. surrogacy practices are worlds apart from these reports.

In the U.S., surrogacy practices are designed to protect and empower surrogates, and never with the intent to exploit.  Through a combination of state laws and medical standards from the ASRM, women considering becoming surrogates in the U.S. can feel confident that their rights and best interests are considered.

Every surrogate we work with starts her surrogacy journey on her own terms. All aspects of the surrogacy journey are done only once she has consented — and no surrogate is ever exploited.

We have surrogacy requirements in place that all of our surrogates must meet before she can begin the surrogacy process, which are based on ASRM standards. Many of these qualifications require her to her already have a strong support system, financial stability, a safe home environment and a healthy lifestyle. These requirements exist to protect the health and safety of her and the child she carries.

3. “… the life of the unborn child in the mother’s womb, which cannot be suppressed or turned into an object of trafficking.”

The safeguards and practices we implement as an agency are designed around the well-being of the child just as much they are the surrogate. Many of the requirements these women must meet before they can become surrogates through our agency pertain to the health and safety of the baby they carry, from conception through delivery.

The compensation provided to the surrogate is not payment for the child. It is for the service she’s providing and so that she can prioritize herself, the hopeful parents’ baby and her own family throughout the surrogacy journey without worrying about covering additional expenses.

Through IVF and gestational surrogacy practices, surrogates are not genetically linked to the child they carry. Before the surrogate begins the medical process of their journey, they work with their attorney to draft a contract that includes acknowledgement of the parentage of the hopeful parents they partner with.  They understand that the child they’re carrying is not theirs, nor do they wish for it to be. This is also why we require that our surrogates must be currently raising a child of their own.

Surrogacy is an evolving family-building method, and not every country or organization practices or regulates it the same way. That’s why we as an agency take every measure that we can to protect and empower our surrogates on their journey of helping hopeful parents know the love and joy of building a family.

If you are considering surrogacy as a way to start or grow your family, or if you are thinking about becoming a surrogate, contact us today.

You can also learn more about surrogacy from intended parents and surrogates directly by following us on Instagram.

7 Tips for a Healthy Surrogate Pregnancy

Maintaining a healthy surrogate pregnancy helps ensure the well-being of yourself and the precious life you carry. As a surrogate, the responsibility of nurturing a developing baby requires special attention to physical, emotional and lifestyle factors to promote a safe and thriving pregnancy.

As a surrogate, you’ve been given one of the most important tasks out there: to grow and protect another person’s unborn baby. By prioritizing a healthy and safe lifestyle, you’ll provide a nurturing environment for the unborn child and will offer hope for individuals or couples who are unable to conceive naturally.

Maintaining a healthy and safe lifestyle is crucial as it directly impacts the well-being of the developing child. A commitment to good physical and mental health, regular prenatal care and proper nutrition ensures the optimal growth and development of the baby.

If you have any questions about how to live a healthy lifestyle as a surrogate, then contact us online or call 1-800-875-2229 to connect with a specialist.

In the meantime, here are seven surrogate pregnancy tips to help you have a safe, healthy experience:

1. Attend All Your OBGYN Appointments

Once your pregnancy is confirmed, you’ll need to check in with your OBGYN more frequently than you would for a standard pregnancy. Although you may be tired of going to the doctor so many times, these frequent visits help ensure that there are no complications in your surrogate pregnancy journey. Each appointment tracks your health along with your baby’s health as well.

To help make these appointments more bearable, you can invite the intended parents. Even if they’re unavailable, sending them a quick update, photo or video chatting with them after each appointment can help you feel excited as you navigate your surrogate pregnancy.

2. Stay on Top of Eating Healthy Meals and Hydrating

If you live a busier life, it can be easy to resort to fast food to satisfy your cravings. But, you’ll want to make sure that you (and the baby) have plenty of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. Your health and the baby’s health are of utmost importance, so make sure you’re thinking about ways to eat healthier.

Dehydration is one of the leading causes of premature labor and can cause harm to both you and your baby. Drinking enough water can also provide the essential vitamins and minerals the baby needs. It’s important for both you and the baby that you drink plenty of water to avoid any complications in your surrogate pregnancy.

You’ll also want sure you know what food and drinks to avoid when pregnant and check in with your doctor if you need any tips for eating healthier and staying hydrated.

3. Take your Vitamins

As a surrogate, one of the last things you want to do is add more medications to your routine. But prenatal vitamins are an integral part in your surrogate pregnancy that ensures you and the baby are both getting what you need. Even though vitamins can help contribute to a healthy surrogate pregnancy, you need to make sure to stay on top of your diet at the same time.

Setting a daily alarm to take your vitamins and any other OB-approved medication can be helpful in case you forget.

4. Get Plenty of Rest

Your body is working overtime right now, so it’s important to get at least eight hours of sleep at night and take naps when you can. After the first trimester, try to sleep on your side as sleeping on your back can limit blood supply to the baby and may leave you feeling lightheaded or dizzy.

If you have a hard time sleeping comfortably as your surrogate pregnancy progresses, you can always try a pregnancy pillow or prenatal massages (with your doctors approval) if you’re feeling sore.

5. Try Keeping Stress Levels Low

When you make the decision to pursue a surrogate pregnancy, the link between your cortisol levels and its effect on the baby is pretty strong. Your own physical health is tied to how you’re feeling emotionally, so you’ll want to focus on your emotional health to help keep you and the baby healthy.

Pregnancy often comes with many complex emotions and mood swings that are hard to control. With the added pressures of a surrogate pregnancy, you may be feeling overwhelmed. Make sure to talk with your specialist or another qualified counselor if you’re feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Remember to take plenty of time to recharge, breathe and relax.

6. Journal or Scrapbook your Surrogate Pregnancy

Someday, this child may want to learn about the time you spent together and his or her parents won’t be able to tell that part of the story. It can be fun to write about your surrogate pregnancy experience in letters or a journal. If you want to get more creative, you can create a scrapbook with pictures throughout your pregnancy.

This can be a fun way to tell the child about your time together, your time with their parents and how excited you are to meet them and see them grow up with their family.

7. Involve the Intended Parents as Much as you Can

If you’re unsure when the intended parents should be involved, you can always talk with your surrogate specialist for advice. Generally, most intended parents are eager and excited to be included in your surrogate pregnancy experience to whatever extent you’re comfortable with. Many intended parents would love to see sonograms and pictures of your growing belly.

Most communication involves text messages about how you’re feeling and can include invitations to your doctor appointments. If you live nearby the intended parents, having them stop by for a quick visit can be a nice way for you to get to know each other and build a lasting relationship. Having a strong relationship with the intended parents can make the process a beautiful journey for all involved. For help navigating this, or any other aspect of your surrogacy, you can reach out to other experienced surrogates through our social media.

If you need any more advice on how to have a healthy surrogate pregnancy, don’t hesitate to reach out to your American Surrogacy specialist. You can always contact us online or call us at 1-800-875-2229 (BABY).

Can a Surrogate Keep the Baby?

The amazing surrogates who commit to carrying a child for someone else want nothing more than to help you start or grow your family.

Surrogacy can help you fulfill your dream of becoming a parent and working with American Surrogacy means that you will have all of your questions answered.

 If you’re wondering “Can a surrogate keep the baby?” you can rest easy knowing the answer is a hard no.

In this article, we will answer this and some of the other common questions about surrogate relationships and what it is like to grow your family with American Surrogacy. You can also get help now from a surrogacy professional, and stay up to date with the world of surrogacy by following us.

Can Surrogates Keep the Baby?

No. Surrogates cannot keep the baby that they carry for another family. What is more important though, is that they don’t want to. When you work with American Surrogacy, you can rest assured that each and every gestational surrogate has been screened thoroughly and wants to be a surrogate for the right family.

As a part of our screening, we ensure that surrogates have been through pregnancy before and have their own children at home. This means they have children of their own and if they wanted to have another child of their own, they could. But the truth is that women who choose to be surrogates often feel called or passionate about helping another family have a family of their own. In other words, they want to help you and they don’t want another child of their own.

Do Surrogate Mothers Get Attached to the Child in the Womb?

Gestational surrogates certainly have a unique bond with the children they carry as well as the child’s biological parents, but surrogates know from the beginning that the child they are carrying is not theirs. So while surrogates certainly may feel protective, care for the child they carry, and want to see the child have a happy life, they do not have the same bond as they do with their own children.

Do Surrogates Get Attached to the Baby After Birth?

Gestational surrogates are called “gestational” because they are surrogates only during pregnancy and birth. Once the child is born, as a biological parent, you will be the parent, not the surrogate.

When you find a surrogate, your surrogacy professional will help you and your surrogate make agreements about communication expectations after birth. Some families and surrogates are interested in staying in contact and giving each other updates. However, in other cases, you and your surrogate may agree that you will live separate lives.

Surrogates generally do not have a significant amount of contact with the children they carry after birth as they have their own children and their own lives.

What Happens if a Surrogate Wants to Keep the Baby While Pregnant?

It is worth noting again that surrogates voluntarily choose to be surrogates and usually a big reason for choosing surrogacy is because they want to help a family like yours. Surrogates do not want to keep your baby because they have their own family and they want to help you.

In many cases, getting to know your surrogate ahead of your surrogacy agreement and building a healthy relationship may help ease your mind.

That being said, if you choose surrogacy with American Surrogacy, you will already have an agreement with your surrogate about what will happen, and even if the surrogate has strong feelings towards the baby she carried, that doesn’t change the agreement with you that the baby will be yours at birth.

What if a Surrogate Decides to Keep the Baby at Birth?

If a surrogate gives birth to a child with an established surrogacy agreement, she cannot simply “decide to keep the baby.” When the baby is born, the surrogacy agreement will still be in effect.

When Can a Surrogate Change Their Mind?

Since the surrogate is choosing to be a surrogate voluntarily, she also has opportunities to change her mind about becoming a surrogate. However, that doesn’t mean that you should be worried your surrogate will back out at the last minute. 

With American Surrogacy, your surrogate is screened thoroughly and interviewed, and has several steps to back out of the decision before she makes an agreement to be your surrogate:

  • First, in the informational stage, she can back out at any time and choose not to seek out additional information.
  • If she continues seeking information and begins screening, she can back out of the screening at any time and choose not to become a surrogate. 
  • If she completes screening and is approved to be a surrogate, she has the ability to say no to any family profile she doesn’t want to be a surrogate for.
  • If she chooses to get to know a family, she can still choose not to move forward with the family if she has any hesitations. 

Once you and your surrogate have come to an agreement and created a surrogacy contract, she is obligated to continue with surrogacy. And at this point, she has likely given much thought to the process and is fully prepared to complete the process.

With American Surrogacy, you can get added peace of mind knowing that we offer unlimited matching if you meet a surrogate match that doesn’t work out.

Get Help Now

Surrogacy can be a beautiful journey, and it is normal to have questions about the process. If you have questions like “Can surrogate mothers keep the baby?” or “Can a surrogate change her mind?” our surrogacy professionals can help you understand how we protect you and help you find a great surrogate. Click here to get help now.

Surrogacy is On the Rise, But Don’t Call it Commercial

Surrogacy is on the rise, and is often referred to as commercial surrogacy. However, it’s important to understand what surrogacy really means and how it’s far more than a transaction.

With gestational surrogacy on the rise as a family-building option, many people have taken note of the compensation that surrogates receive for the selfless service they provide. Because of the financial aspect of surrogacy, many have come to refer to this form of surrogacy as compensated surrogacy or commercial surrogacy.

While commercial surrogacy is not an inaccurate term, it can paint a blurry picture of what it truly means to be a surrogate. To get more information about what commercial surrogacy really means, get connected with a surrogacy specialist today.

Below we’ll break down why you should be wary of using terms like “commercial” surrogacy.

What is Surrogacy?

Surrogacy is an amazing family-building method where a surrogate, also known as a gestational carrier, carries a baby for intended parents who may not be able to conceive or carry a pregnancy on their own. There are many reasons why intended parents might choose surrogacy as a way to build their family:

  • Couples struggling with infertility
  • LGBTQ+ couples
  • Hopeful single parents
  • Couples who don’t want to pass on health conditions

No matter what the reason is, gestational surrogacy allows hopeful couples and individuals to become the parents they’ve always dreamed of being.

How Does Surrogacy Work?

The majority of commercial surrogacies today are gestational surrogacies. Gestational surrogacy is a type of surrogacy where the baby being carried by the surrogate is biologically related to one or both of the intended parents and/or a gamete donor.

The main three stages of the gestational surrogacy process include:

  • Finding a surrogacy match
  • Completing a legal contract
  • Transferring an embryo to the surrogate

In most cases of commercial surrogacy, intended parents will work with a full-service surrogacy agency to find a surrogacy match. Once they’ve found their perfect match, both parties complete a surrogacy contract that will outline responsibilities, risks and surrogate compensation. Once everyone is on the same page, a fertility clinic will facilitate the IVF and embryo transfer process. The IVF process usually involves:

  • The eggs and sperm of both intended parents
  • A donor egg fertilized with sperm from the intended father
  • The intended mother’s egg fertilized with the donor sperm
  • An embryo created from both donor egg and sperm

Once a pregnancy has been confirmed, the surrogate will begin receiving surrogate compensation in monthly installments. This is where commercial surrogacy gets its name. The surrogate will carry the baby to term, and the intended parents will assume full custody of their child when they are born.

What is Commercial Surrogacy?

Commercial surrogacy, more accurately known as compensated surrogacy, is when a surrogate is paid for her service as a surrogate. The alternative to this is altruistic surrogacy, where a surrogate carries a baby for intended parents without compensation. This type of gestational surrogacy is typically done between close friends and family members.

Some critics feel that commercial surrogacy is unethical because it appears exploitative in nature and commodifies pregnancy. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Every surrogate who enters into a commercial surrogacy contract does so willingly and enthusiastically.

Going through the surrogacy process and carrying a baby for someone else often means surrogates are dedicating one to two years of their time and physical and emotional energy. Proponents of commercial surrogacy argue that it’s only fair that surrogates are compensated for the incredible service they’re providing in addition to caring for themselves and their own families.

What Commercial Surrogacy Really Means [More than a Transaction]

While surrogates do get paid through commercial surrogacy, money is rarely the factor that inspires them to become gestational carriers. For many surrogates, surrogacy is an opportunity to change the lives of hopeful intended parents by helping them grow their family.

Many hopeful intended parents are not able to have a child on their own but still want to be involved in bringing their baby into the world. Surrogacy gives them that gift, which is why intended parents are not only prepared to compensate their surrogate but often happy to do so.

Creating a family is priceless, but commercial surrogacy allows intended parents to express their gratitude for all their surrogate has given them.

Get Help Now

If you have questions about commercial surrogacy, we’d be more than happy to have a conversation with you. Get connected with a surrogacy specialist or call 1-800-875-2229 today to learn more.