How Long is a Surrogacy Journey?

A frequent question we get from both intended parents and surrogates is, “How long from the time I sign up with you until there’s a baby?” Like most things in surrogacy, there are a lot of variables that can affect the length of a journey. Typically, we see journeys take about 18-24 months. Below, we will outline the different stages of a journey and talk about what can impact the timing at each stage.

Application & Matching

For intended parents, the application process can often be completed in just a few short weeks. It often takes a bit longer for surrogates because we have to gather medical records and complete a home visit.

When the application process has been completed, we begin working to form a match between like-minded parties. This can happen almost immediately or may take a few months if we don’t already have a good match in our program. Intended parents with specific requests on items such as a surrogate’s location, age, or availability of a pre-existing insurance plan may increase the wait time for a match. Surrogates who have limitations on the types of intended parents with whom they will work or limitations on termination and reduction may also see an increased wait time before matching.

Screening

After matching, the surrogate will need to go through psychological and medical screening. This usually takes 4-6 weeks. If the surrogate is local to the fertility clinic and providers have immediate openings, this can happen sooner. However, if the surrogate must travel for the screening, it usually takes more time to plan the trip. Additionally, mental health professionals and clinics sometimes have a 1-2 month wait for appointments, which can slow the process down.

Contracts

Completion of the legal agreement between the intended parents and the surrogate largely depends on the attorney’s availability and how quickly each party is able to review the contract. This step usually takes 2-4 weeks. The strong matches we aim to create at Heartland Surrogacy usually result in less back-and forth between the parties during contract negotiation. However, there are almost always a few minor changes made in the contracts; more significant changes require several versions that must be reviewed and agreed to before contracts are signed.

Transfer

Once the legal agreement is in place, you will start preparing for the embryo transfer! If the embryos are ready to go, it is generally a minimum of 4-6 weeks before transfer can take place. The surrogate must take hormone medication to prepare her body for the embryo transfer and there are pre-transfer monitoring appointments at a fertility clinic. After transfer, there is about a 2-week wait before blood tests can confirm if the transfer was a success.

Again, the availability of the fertility clinic plays a major role in the timing of this step. While we always hope for success in the first transfer, this unfortunately doesn’t always happen. In that case, it’s usually 6-8 weeks before another transfer can take place.

Pregnancy

After the news of a successful transfer, the pregnancy will last another 35-37 weeks and progress in its unique way according to the needs of the fetus and surrogate, as well as the recommendations of your medical providers.  

Postpartum

The birth of a beautiful baby may seem like the end of the journey, but there are multiple parts that still need wrapping up. These final steps usually take 6-12 weeks.

The surrogate will have postpartum recovery and follow-up doctor’s appointments. Surrogates who have C-sections or have physically demanding jobs may have a slower recovery and may need extra time off work. The intended parents will need legal paperwork finalized, the speed of which is almost entirely dependent upon the availability of a judge in the county where the baby was delivered. All bills must be paid before the escrow account can be closed. There is unfortunately little that can be done to speed up the medical billing process, so this final step can take longer than expected.

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The team at Heartland Surrogacy does its best to help things run smoothly in every journey. Although we hope there are no hiccups along the way, it is best to remain flexible and realize that some steps may go differently or more slowly than planned. In surrogacy, there is a lot of “hurry up and wait”, so we suggest focusing on one step at a time. Look for support from your family, friends, and the professionals you’re working with (such as us!). Be mindful of what you can do to keep the ball rolling without being overwhelmed by the steps that will come about at their own pace.