Absolutely.  Generally, we present you with surrogates one at a time. If you don’t like them, we will show you another profile. If you like them, we will schedule a time for a match meeting for you to meet your surrogate. Both you and the surrogate will have an independent, but final say as to whether you would like to work together.

Surrogates are screened based on a number of social, behavioral, socioeconomic, health, medical, and pregnancy-related factors in a multi-stage interview-like process. In addition, to form-based and phone/video-based interviews, surrogates have their medical records combed through by a trained nurse/medical professional, must obtain clearance from the OB for pregnancy/surrogacy, pass a medical exam by your fertility clinic, and undergo a background check as well as an in-person home study by a private investigator, a social worker, or a Surrogate Steps professional. Over 100 small details that could interfere with the physical aspect of pregnancy or the relationship between the surrogate and the intended parent or agency will automatically disqualify someone from becoming a surrogate.

Once we have fully screened and accepted a surrogate into our program, our matching team determines potential matching options based on a variety of factors. Some of the factors we look at include the state in which the surrogate and intended parents reside, whether the surrogate has insurance, along with various matching preferences defined by both intended parents and carriers.

Once a potential match is found, redacted profiles (profiles with no identifying information) of the intended parents and surrogates will be exchanged. Should both parties express an interest in working together, we organize a video call for parties to meet.

After the match meeting and the parties give the final approval, the surrogate goes through an intensive medical screening by the fertility clinic, a background check, and an in-person home study by private investigator, a social worker, or by a Surrogate Steps professional. Once the surrogate passes these checks, we will start preparing for the embryo transfer.

In the rare occurrence that the surrogate does not pass the fertility clinic medical screening (this is quite rare as we have already performed an intensive medical records screening and obtained clearance from the surrogate’s OB) or home study, we will present a new match free of charge.

The cost of surrogacy varies tremendously from journey to journey but is always a significant investment. You can expect your journey to cost around $75,000 for surrogacy-specific expenses, including surrogate compensation/expenses/reimbursements, agency fees, legal fees, and other necessary surrogacy-specific expenses, and between $80,000 and $120,000, including the cost of fertility treatment.

It would be impossible to define what a “normal” or “typical” surrogate looks like. Surrogates can be single, in a committed relationship, or married. They can speak English, Spanish, or a number of other languages. They can live almost anywhere in the United States and be of any ethnic or religious background. They can have varying levels of education and so much more.

But, one thing unites all carriers at Surrogate Steps. Each and every one of our surrogates is extraordinarily compassionate and giving. Without question, this is the one trait we look for when finding carriers to join our program.

Other than that, all surrogates must:

• Be between the age of 23-41
• Be in good health and receive medical clearance from their OB and your fertility clinic for pregnancy. 
• Be mature, responsible, and responsive.
• Have at least one previous successful pregnancy free of pregnancy or birth complications
• Be a non-active smoker and have no history of alcohol or substance abuse.
• Not be on section 8 housing
• Have a strong support system
• Reside in the United States (but not allowed to reside in the states of Louisiana, Nebraska, or Michigan).

All surrogates will deliver at a hospital near their home. Most of our surrogates have existing relationships with an OBGYN and will deliver at the same hospital where they gave birth to their own children or previous surrogacies. 

Intended parents, understandably so, often wish to be in the labor and delivery room for the birth. This may be possible but depends on hospital policy as well as the surrogate’s comfort. 

Following the birth of your child, the baby will join you in a room assigned to you or remain in the nursery.  Most hospital policies require that your child remains in the hospital until the surrogate has been discharged.

We work with all fertility clinics in the United States. Most of the time, intended parents choose to continue their surrogacy journey with a fertility clinic they have already worked with. That said, we have connections with many of the top fertility clinics and are happy to provide referrals for a recommended clinic.

Growing your family through surrogacy is an exciting but often overwhelming experience. Often those pursuing surrogacy have already been through so much heartache in trying to grow their family. Surrogacy can present financial, emotional, and logistical challenges. With so much on the line, it’s important to work with a team as experienced, compassionate, and hands-on as Surrogate Steps.

Top fertility clinics refer intended parents to Surrogate Steps for a number of reasons. 

• We are a Licensed Surrogacy Agency: surrogacy agencies are highly unregulated and are not required to be licensed. That means most lack the checks and balances to ensure that surrogates and intended parents are fully informed and that their rights are protected. Surrogate Steps is a fully licensed agency which means we go through additional scrutiny and run our practice to a level above and beyond the standard. 
• Attorney Directed: Surrogate Steps is directed by one of the leading legal experts in reproductive and surrogacy law, Yifat Shaltiel. As an attorney-directed agency, our ethical standards are set high so you know you’ll always be treated fairly and honestly.
• Experience: We’ve been in business since 2013, have helped hundreds of individuals and couples grow their families through surrogacy, and collectively have over 60 years of combined surrogacy experience. 
• We have top-quality surrogates: our surrogates are screened using the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s surrogacy standards by trained medical professionals before they are ever sent to your clinics for approval. 
• Compassionate and highly experienced surrogate and parent coordinators: each and every one of our staff members is a repeat surrogate, meaning they’ve successfully completed multiple surrogacy journeys. That means you’ll have a compassionate, empathetic, and highly experienced guide you can lean on every step of the way.
• Fair Pricing: We are upfront and honest about our pricing, so you always know what you’re getting into. Our agency fee is $20,000, and our surrogacy compensation starts at $40,000. After all additional bonuses and pregnancy-related expenses are paid, you can expect to pay anywhere from $80,000-120,000. That’s quite a wide range, so we encourage you to explore the cost of surrogacy here and ask us any questions you may have.

Yes, everything will be worked out with the hospital and other required entities prior to the birth of your child so that you will be able to take your baby home directly from the hospital.

Understandably, intended parents often wish to be in the labor and delivery room for the birth. This may be possible but depends on hospital policy as well as the surrogate’s comfort.

Following the birth of your child, the baby will join you in a room assigned to you or remain in the nursery. The parent is the first person to hold the child, other than medical professionals. Most hospital policies require that your child remains in the hospital until the surrogate has been discharged.

Absolutely, you will be in direct contact with your surrogate throughout the journey and encouraged to establish a strong connection with your surrogate. Establishing a bond with your surrogate is one of the most important and special aspects of you becoming a parent through surrogacy. Many intended parents are in daily contact with their surrogates, whereas others find the time to connect about once a week.

Generally, it takes approximately 15-18 months from the time that you apply with our agency to the time you hold your baby in your arms.