What to Expect is a blog series compiled by Heartland Surrogacy. In these posts, we hope to shed some light on some of the parts of a surrogacy journey that may not be typical in a traditional pregnancy. Below, we discuss the home study that is part of the prescreening process for a surrogate with our agency.
After applying to be a surrogate with our agency, you will go through a series of prescreening steps before you’re ready to match with intended parents. We will review your application, conduct a phone interview, review medical records, complete a background check, and, finally, do a home study. While we get questions about every step of the journey, surrogate applicants are often curious about what to expect in the home study.
What is a home study?
Our home studies are an opportunity to meet everyone living in your house, if we haven’t already, as well as to check the safety of your home. We will be checking on things like fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and gun safes (if applicable.) If you have pets, we will want copies of their vaccination records.
Why is it necessary?
Our home studies are basically an extension of your background check. We want to be sure that you live somewhere safe and will have the resources to stay safe and healthy during a pregnancy.
Is there anything special I need to do to prepare for the home study?
Possibly. We don’t expect every room to be picture-perfect clean, as we know how busy family life can be! However, we do require a smoke detector near the sleeping area(s) of your home, as well as a carbon monoxide detector on each floor of the house. If you don’t already have these items, you will need to purchase and install them before the home study.
What if I don’t live near a Heartland Surrogacy office?
If we are unable to make it to your house due to location, we will complete the home study virtually. Using real-time video conferencing, we will check on all of the things we would if we were there in person.