The MOST important thing that any prospective parent can do is research on everything and everyone – the internet provides so much information that enables you to make informed decisions and hopefully the ability to ask any of the people who are offering to “help” you the right questions.
If you ever feel pressured into doing something that does not feel right then walk away, have a think and finally make an informed decision. Never do anything that you do not want to do – this is your family and you should be doing what is right for you.
So, very high level, the majority of the steps that you will have to go through (and think very hard about) are set out below. Obviously every step has an incredible amount more of information that is needed to be thought through but to get you started on your surrogacy journey here we go:
1 – Adoption vs. surrogacy – which is the right option for you
2 – Where to do surrogacy – UK or abroad? There are different rules for different countries (i.e. Mexico in 2016 banned international surrogacy)
3 –Which IVF clinic to use – you want the best IVF doctor available in the best location. Do they offer egg donor services, what plans do they offer, what are their pregnancy rates like, do they do fresh and frozen transfers?
4 – Which surrogacy agency to use – there are numerous agencies to use – once again do your research.
At this point I would advise you to have a doctor do the medical part (screenings, egg donor choice etc) and the agency to do the legal part (contracts, expenses, travel arrangements etc) but that is my opinion!!
5 – Choose a surrogate & egg donor – for UK couples it is bureaucratically easier to have an unmarried surrogate. Do you want an East or West Coast surrogate – factor in travel costs, time-zone changes and most importantly if the state that the surrogate is in allows pre or post birth orders (more later on that).
6 – Insurance – the most complicated part. There are many types required before the babies are born! All of this should be explained by an insurance broker that your agency will pass you through to BUT for non-Americans 4 & 5 are the most expensive parts!
1 – cover the egg donor during the egg retrieval;
2 – cover the surrogate during the embryo transfer;
3 – life cover for the surrogate during the pregnancy;
4 – surrogate health-care cover during the pregnancy; and
5 – newborn coverage for once the babies are born.
7 – OB-GYN – your surrogate should have a doctor that she has delivered her babies so try to meet them and ascertain if the hospital in where you would like your babies to be born.
8 – find a DNA company that will be able to undertake the tests that is a 'nice-to-have' for birth certificates and for all of the UK court paperwork.
9 – US court process. Do you want a pre- or post- birth order?
10 – US passport application and then start the immigration process for UK entry
Once you are back in the UK:
11 - Parental Order process - MUST be started within 6 months of the child/children’s birth.
12 – Apply for UK passports and re-registered birth certificates
13 – all done…
If you ever feel pressured into doing something that does not feel right then walk away, have a think and finally make an informed decision. Never do anything that you do not want to do – this is your family and you should be doing what is right for you.
So, very high level, the majority of the steps that you will have to go through (and think very hard about) are set out below. Obviously every step has an incredible amount more of information that is needed to be thought through but to get you started on your surrogacy journey here we go:
1 – Adoption vs. surrogacy – which is the right option for you
2 – Where to do surrogacy – UK or abroad? There are different rules for different countries (i.e. Mexico in 2016 banned international surrogacy)
3 –Which IVF clinic to use – you want the best IVF doctor available in the best location. Do they offer egg donor services, what plans do they offer, what are their pregnancy rates like, do they do fresh and frozen transfers?
4 – Which surrogacy agency to use – there are numerous agencies to use – once again do your research.
At this point I would advise you to have a doctor do the medical part (screenings, egg donor choice etc) and the agency to do the legal part (contracts, expenses, travel arrangements etc) but that is my opinion!!
5 – Choose a surrogate & egg donor – for UK couples it is bureaucratically easier to have an unmarried surrogate. Do you want an East or West Coast surrogate – factor in travel costs, time-zone changes and most importantly if the state that the surrogate is in allows pre or post birth orders (more later on that).
6 – Insurance – the most complicated part. There are many types required before the babies are born! All of this should be explained by an insurance broker that your agency will pass you through to BUT for non-Americans 4 & 5 are the most expensive parts!
1 – cover the egg donor during the egg retrieval;
2 – cover the surrogate during the embryo transfer;
3 – life cover for the surrogate during the pregnancy;
4 – surrogate health-care cover during the pregnancy; and
5 – newborn coverage for once the babies are born.
7 – OB-GYN – your surrogate should have a doctor that she has delivered her babies so try to meet them and ascertain if the hospital in where you would like your babies to be born.
8 – find a DNA company that will be able to undertake the tests that is a 'nice-to-have' for birth certificates and for all of the UK court paperwork.
9 – US court process. Do you want a pre- or post- birth order?
10 – US passport application and then start the immigration process for UK entry
Once you are back in the UK:
11 - Parental Order process - MUST be started within 6 months of the child/children’s birth.
12 – Apply for UK passports and re-registered birth certificates
13 – all done…
