Gearing Up For Surrogacy: A Guide For Intended Parents
Surrogacy can be one way of becoming a parent when you can’t conceive or carry a child on your own. This procedure involves having an arrangement with another woman, called a surrogate, to carry and give birth to a child for you. This practice has seemingly helped numerous couples have a child of their own against the odds and is incredibly feasible and practical.
This guide offers insight into gearing up for surrogacy for intended parents to make the procedure relatively seamless:
- Research Surrogacy Laws And Regulations
It helps to research surrogacy laws within your state, country, or region to ensure that the practice doesn’t infringe on them. Some countries may ban or restrict exercise, and it’s best to consult your lawyer for insight. You can also scour your government website for information, look through legal databases, or join online forums. You can also join intended parents programs and support groups within your area to be well-informed about the procedure.
Researching can help you comply with regulations and protect your rights as an intended parent. Moreover, it should aid you in managing risks and inform you about choosing a more suitable surrogacy agreement.
- Understand The Matching Process And Costs
The surrogacy matching process can be rigorous; therefore, it’s best that you’re well-acquainted. However, it’s more comforting to understand that the process isn’t one-fits-all, and another person’s intensive matching routine may not be similar to yours. Generally, you may have to complete applications with medical and personal histories before undergoing medical and psychological evaluations.
Moreover, it’s best to understand how much the process will cost to plan for it better. It’s also good to know if your health or life insurance can cover the costs or if you’ll need to foot the expenses single-handedly. Having this information can be handy and makes the entire process more manageable.
- Choose A Fertility Clinic Or Surrogacy Agency
Fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies all chip in to help you through the journey. Therefore, it helps to meticulously research the best picks to make the process more seamless and rewarding. An ideal surrogate agency should guide you on the best surrogacy preference and agreement, whether traditional or gestational surrogacy.
Moreover, an excellent surrogacy agency or clinic should have the following attributes:
- Expertise and experience: Working with a surrogacy clinic with qualified and experienced personnel is best for a safer and more rewarding procedure. Your surrogacy clinic should have a proven track record of success for your peace of mind.
- Communication and transparency: Surrogacy is a more sensitive and intense procedure involving an emotional journey requiring prompt and clear communication. That said, it’s best if your agency is more transparent about any developments, risks, and mishaps throughout the process.
- Legal expertise and support: Your selected surrogacy clinic or agency should help you through the complex legal processes that surrogacy involves. Moreover, they should offer support, such as medical care and counseling.
Working with a well-versed surrogacy agency can offer you peace of mind knowing that the procedure happens correctly and seamlessly.
- Develop A Surrogacy Agreement
Finding the right surrogacy can be quite a task, but your agency or clinic should streamline the process by matching you with an ideal surrogate. After all medical assessments conclude, you should decide on the surrogacy agreement, ensuring that it fits you. A surrogacy agreement is a legal contract between intended parents and their surrogate, outlining the terms and conditions.
Therefore, involve legal experts in this process to ensure that the procedure and process happen within the confines of the surrogacy laws. It’s also best to discuss expectations and responsibilities openly and honestly with your surrogate to remove doubt and uncertainty. If needed, revise and review the agreement and then sign it to confirm both parties’ commitment.
- Prepare For The Pregnancy And Birth
The journey through pregnancy and birth is usually the most involving part that you should duly prepare for. That includes arranging for the ups and downs of pregnancy, including planning for your surrogate’s medical and prenatal care, appointments with physicians, and appropriate diets that facilitate the pregnancy.
It’d be best to also plan for your child’s birth, including creating a detailed birth plan outlining labor and delivery preferences. Moreover, arranging the necessary legal procedures to establish parentage after birth would be prudent.
Conclusion
Becoming a parent is a rewarding journey, even if having a child on your own isn’t possible. Surrogacy can come to your aid, but it’s a process that you must adequately prepare for. Before settling into surrogacy, it’s best that you consult with a legal expert and work with a qualified clinic or agency to ensure a seamless process and procedure.
