Growing Your Family with Surrogate Steps

  • A Personal Coach at Every Step

    You’ll have an experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate coach every step of the way.

  • Peace of Mind

    Sleep easy knowing you’re working with a licensed surrogacy agency directed by a practicing reproductive attorney with an excellent reputation amongst parents, surrogates, and fertility clinics alike.

  • Oh Baby!

    Surrogate Steps has an amazing success rate, with 99.5% of our parents bringing home a happy baby.

Fast Facts

What is Surrogacy

  • Gestational Surrogacy

    A process where one person (the surrogate/gestational carrier), who did not provide the egg used in the creation of the embryo, carries a fetus through pregnancy for another person or couple.

    We do this.

  • Traditional Surrogacy

    In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate uses her own eggs and is thus genetically related to the child.

    We do NOT do this.

  • The Choice is Yours

    We start by working with you to define some preferences for your carrier and then get hard to work finding you the perfect surrogate. Of course, you’ll have the opportunity to meet any potential surrogate before deciding if they’re indeed the perfect match.

  • A Priceless Investment

    Surrogacy is a significant financial investment, and we want to be upfront about that. Our agency fee is $25,000; most spend around $80,000 after factoring in surrogacy compensation and expenses. In the end, it’ll be worth every penny and more!

  • Always Yours

    As an attorney-directed agency, we know the laws around surrogacy and parentage. We ensure your surrogate resides and gives birth in the necessary states, that all legal hoops are jumped through, and that all paperwork is complete to ensure your baby is always yours and can be taken home directly from the hospital – every time.

Who we Help

No matter your reason, we’re here to help.

  • Infertility

  • Pregnancy Loss

  • Hysterectomy & Ablations

  • LGBTQ+

  • Single Dads

  • Other Medical Conditions

  • Single Moms

  • Unique Living Situations

  • Personal Reasons

 

Meet Some Real Surrogate Step Parents

  • The Surrogate Steps team is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. They’ve been right there beside me through every step of this journey.

    Parent Caroline

    I want to personally thank Surrogate Steps for everything they have done for me. Everyone there were my angels throughout this process!

    Parent Serena
  • I want to personally thank Surrogate Steps for everything they have done for me. Everyone there were my angels throughout this process!

    Parent Serena
  • Thank you for my two amazing miracles and for helping me achieve my dream to be a dad! Your dedicated team made all the difference, and I will forever be grateful to you!

    Parent William

    Yifat listened to our concerns, and her and her team worked diligently to find us a match. Although it took some time, our ultimate match was perfect for our family and we are forever grateful for our carrier and the support Yifat and the team provided at all points along our journey. We highly recommend the Surrogate Steps family.

  • Yifat listened to our concerns, and her and her team worked diligently to find us a match. Although it took some time, our ultimate match was perfect for our family and we are forever grateful for our carrier and the support Yifat and the team provided at all points along our journey. We highly recommend the Surrogate Steps family.

  • Working with Surrogate Steps was straightforward, easy, and professional. They facilitated key elements of the process, and perhaps most importantly, connected us to an amazing GC with whom we remain good friends.

Estimated

Cost of Surrogacy

The cost of surrogacy varies widely and depends largely on how experienced the surrogate you choose to work with is, the distance your surrogate lives from your fertility clinic, and more. Most surrogacy journeys cost between $80,000-120,000.

The Surrogacy Process

  • Step 1
    The Consultation

    The very first step is a simple one but an important one for us. During the consultation, we’ll learn about the hopes and desires for your journey as well as what makes an ideal surrogate for you.

  • Step 2
    Sign Agency Agreement

    After deciding you’d like to work with us, you’ll need to sign our agency agreement and pay the initial agence fee deposit. Once these basics are in place, we will work on finding the best surrogate for you.

  • Step 3
    Pre-Matching (surrogate screening)

    A lot of work is done behind the scenes to find the perfect surrogate for your growing family. We pre-screen all potential surrogates, ensuring they have met the mandatory requirements set by our agency, completed an interview, and obtained medical clearance from their OBGYN. We also review all surrogates’ medical records and insurance policies before qualifying them as pre-screened.

    Once a surrogate is pre-screened, we look to see if they match your requirements and preferences. If we think there is a potential match, we begin working on the next step.

  • Step 4
    The Match

    The match begins by sharing the surrogate’s profile with you and vice versa. If both parties agree there is potential and would like to continue, the surrogate’s medical records are sent to your fertility clinic for review. Because we pre-screen our surrogates and review their medical records ourselves, it is exceedingly rare that a surrogate is denied by your clinic.

    Once we receive initial approval from your clinic to proceed, we schedule a match meeting.

    The match meeting is facilitated by one of our Journey Coordinators with the intention of making introductions, ensuring that everyone has the same values, and building the foundation for a potentially life-changing relationship. After the match meeting, each party is independently asked if they would like to proceed with the match.

    These meetings, depending on the location of the intended parents in relation to the surrogate, are sometimes done in person, by video conference, or by phone conference. More often than not, they are done by a video conference call.

  • Step 5
    Clinic Medical Screening

    After confirming the match, the surrogate and her intimate partner will undergo medical testing at your fertility clinic so that the clinic can perform one final evaluation and confirm that the surrogate is indeed a good candidate to act as your gestational surrogate. This screening includes a uterine evaluation and blood tests.

  • Step 6
    Final Agency Screening

    After passing the medical examination, the surrogate will undergo a three-pronged psycho-social evaluation which will act as the final step of the surrogate’s evaluation and confirm that every aspect of their life is suitable to take on your pregnancy.

    Psychological Evaluation: The evaluation is conducted by a licensed social worker and ensures the surrogate has adequate emotional and physical support for the surrogacy journey. Sometimes, this is done at the fertility clinic during the medical exam, and sometimes it is coordinated by our agency after the fact.

    Home Study: The surrogate will undergo a home study evaluation coordinated by our agency and conducted by a licensed social worker. This ensures that the surrogate’s residence is a safe environment for your baby and to maintain a healthy pregnancy.

    Criminal Background Check: The surrogate, her partner, and any adult living in their household will sign a consent form which will allow us to obtain your criminal background and discover any yet-to-be-uncovered red flags.

    Again, because of our surrogates are rigorously pre-screened, it is rare that something comes up at this stage that prevents the surrogacy from going through.

  • Step 7
    Legal Contracts & Escrow

    All surrogacy arrangements require legal planning. One of the greatest benefits of our agency is that our director is an attorney specializing in reproductive law. Prior to providing you with a surrogate profile, we will conduct a legal evaluation to ensure that the surrogate resides in a state with favorable laws that accommodate your family’s needs.

    When the time comes for your contracts, our director will draft your gestational carrier agreement and assist you with obtaining an attorney to represent you and a separate independent attorney to represent the surrogate for the review of the gestational carrier agreement.

    Before the initial embryo transfer, we will assist you in establishing an escrow account for the benefit of the surrogate, which will be funded to compensate the surrogate’s base fees and estimated surrogacy journey expenses.

  • Step 8
    Establishing Pregnancy

    The surrogate will begin taking their embryo transfer medications, have monitoring appointments, and go for the embryo transfer.

    The surrogate may need to travel for the embryo transfer with a companion if the clinic is not in close proximity to the surrogate’s residence (which is quite common). If such travel is required, then the surrogate will need to rest in a hotel approximately 24-48 hours after the embryo transfer before traveling back home. We will coordinate all travel arrangements, including flights and car rentals, and we will reimburse the surrogate per the surrogate’s compensation package from your funds in the escrow account.

    Approximately 10 days after the embryo transfer, the surrogate will undergo blood tests to confirm a pregnancy. After pregnancy is confirmed and approximately four weeks after the embryo transfer, it will be time for the baby’s first ultrasound and confirmation of the baby’s heartbeat.

  • Step 9
    The Pregnancy & Recognizing the Intended Parents as the Legal Parents

    During your gestational surrogate’s pregnancy, you will be in regular contact with the surrogate. Most of our parents facetime their surrogates one to a few times per week.

    We will ensure the surrogate is properly reimbursed and compensated by the Escrow per the Compensation Package and the Gestational Carrier Agreement (GCA). In order to receive payment for reimbursements that are not in fixed amounts (examples include pharmacy bills, medical bills, etc), the surrogate will need to inform Surrogate Steps and the Escrow; your approval will be needed to make the payment.

    Once the surrogate enters the second trimester of pregnancy, you will work with your attorney to commence and ensure your paternity rights. This will ensure that you are recognized as legal parents of your child and that you are able to make all medical and legal decisions on behalf of your child commencing at birth.

    Around the 17-18th week of pregnancy, we will work to ensure that you, the surrogate, and the hospital have certified copies of the parentage order.

    Around the 26-30th week of pregnancy, we will begin to discuss the birth plan with the hospital social worker to secure a plan for the hospital stay. This includes ensuring your access to the delivery room (if applicable), the baby (post-delivery), and your own room in the hospital (if possible).

    Around the 26-34 weeks of pregnancy, we will work with you and confirm travel plans are in place for your child’s birth.

  • Step 10
    The Birth of Your Child

    The most amazing moment that you have been waiting for is finally here, the arrival of your baby!

    We work together with the hospital at which your baby will be delivered to provide you with a separate room to spend time with your baby. Once the baby is ready to be discharged from the hospital, you will take your baby to his or her new home!

Who are Our Surrogates

Surrogate, gestational surrogate, carrier, and gestational carrier all terms mean the same thing, and we use them interchangeably. Surrogates can be married or single, have varying education levels, come from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, and more. That said, some basic things unite all our surrogates.

  • Proven Birth Record

    Surrogates must have a minimum of one child born without pregnancy or delivery complications. Experienced surrogates get compensated an additional 5k per successful surrogacy for further demonstrating their reliability.

  • Good Health

    Surrogates must be in good health. They must pass a medical records review by our medical team, receive clearance for pregnancy from their OBGYN, and pass a medical record review and physical exam by your fertility clinic.

  • Excellent Communicators

    Surrogates must demonstrate timely and effective communication throughout the screening process so that we know they are reliable and will communicate empathetically and professionally with you throughout the journey.

  • Mature

    Surrogates must be between the ages of 23 and 41 and demonstrate a high level of maturity.

  • Non Drug, Alcohol, or Tobacco Use

    Surrogates may not have any history of drug or alcohol abuse and must be smoke-free for a minimum of 6 months before joining our program.

  • Strong & Supportive Home Life

    Surrogates must have the support of their family and live in a stable, loving home. They must be able to pass a psychological evaluation, a home study, and a background check with flying colors.

  • No Criminal Record

    Surrogates may not have any criminal history record.

  • Surrogate Friendly State

    A basic, but crucially important criterion; surrogates must reside in a surrogate-friendly state to ensure your parental rights are never jeopardized.

  • Valid State ID or Drivers License

    Another basic but still an important measure in ensuring your parental rights. All gestational carriers must have an active driver’s license or government ID that proves their legal status within the United States.

 

 

Meet Some Real Surrogate Step Surrogates

  • My surrogacy journey was amazing and I am so grateful to have helped such a wonderful family. Thank you!

    Surrogate Emily

    I appreciate all the Surrogate Steps team has done to help me through this journey. I have never once felt alone or out of place.

    Surrogate Lourdes

    Working with Surrogate Steps has been such an amazing experience; they make everything so easy. I am so appreciative of every single person that has helped me at Surrogate Steps, and I am forever grateful for them and this experience.

    Surrogate Diamonique

    I have been working with surrogate steps for the past few years now. They are all so wonderful and have helped me every step of the way.

    Surrogate Harlea
  • I appreciate all the Surrogate Steps team has done to help me through this journey. I have never once felt alone or out of place.

    Surrogate Lourdes
  • Working with Surrogate Steps has been such an amazing experience; they make everything so easy. I am so appreciative of every single person that has helped me at Surrogate Steps, and I am forever grateful for them and this experience.

    Surrogate Diamonique
  • I have been working with surrogate steps for the past few years now. They are all so wonderful and have helped me every step of the way.

    Surrogate Harlea

Tips from our Team

  • You’re amazing too, and we really appreciate how emotional this is. We know how difficult it is to give up control and are here to make this a beautiful process for you despite all the challenges you have faced in getting here.

    Four Time Surrogate Rachel Salazar Surrogate Journey Coordinator

    Please don’t hurry and match with just anybody. Please make sure you truly match with someone that has the same likes and wishes. Never create a shortcut. Especially in legal.

    Three Time Surrogate Michelle Valero Intended Parent Coordinator

    Your surrogate wants to connect with you! Be honest and open, and know that it is okay to be emotional. We are in this together as a team. Just as a surrogate has a vision for their journey, you must have one too. What do you want that to look like? Find a surrogate that matches that, and enjoy the journey!

    Two Time Surrogate Katy Brown Surrogate Intake Coordinator

    This can be a difficult journey, but you are so so so close; never give up hope!

    Two Time Surrogate Kadie Huffman Surrogate Intake and Journey Coordinator
  • Please don’t hurry and match with just anybody. Please make sure you truly match with someone that has the same likes and wishes. Never create a shortcut. Especially in legal.

    Three Time Surrogate Michelle Valero Intended Parent Coordinator
  • Your surrogate wants to connect with you! Be honest and open, and know that it is okay to be emotional. We are in this together as a team. Just as a surrogate has a vision for their journey, you must have one too. What do you want that to look like? Find a surrogate that matches that, and enjoy the journey!

    Two Time Surrogate Katy Brown Surrogate Intake Coordinator
  • This can be a difficult journey, but you are so so so close; never give up hope!

    Two Time Surrogate Kadie Huffman Surrogate Intake and Journey Coordinator

Frequently Asked Questions

+ Explore all Intended Parent FAQs

Have Questions or Ready to Get Started

Surrogacy is a beautiful but often intimidating process. No matter where you are in exploring the possibility of growing your family or becoming a surrogate, we are here to help!


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