How Do Surrogate Mothers Get Pregnant? – Your Complete Guide
Surrogacy is a beautiful and complex process that enables intended parents to grow their families with the help of a surrogate mother. One of the most commonly asked questions in this process is: How do surrogate mothers get pregnant?
In this guide, we will break down the surrogacy process, how a surrogate mother gets pregnant, and the medical and legal procedures involved. Whether you’re considering surrogacy or just curious, this guide will give you a comprehensive understanding of how surrogacy works.
Key Takeaways
- Surrogate mothers typically get pregnant through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), which involves transferring an embryo created from the intended parents’ or donors’ egg and sperm.
- The surrogate’s body is prepared for pregnancy with hormone treatments, and a fertility specialist transfers the embryo to her uterus.
- There are two types of surrogacy: Traditional Surrogacy, where the surrogate uses her own egg, and Gestational Surrogacy, where the surrogate has no genetic link to the baby.
- Legal agreements and thorough medical screenings are crucial to ensure a safe and smooth surrogacy process.
- Working with a surrogacy agency simplifies the journey for intended parents, offering support throughout the medical, legal, and emotional aspects of surrogacy.
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What is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is a reproductive arrangement where a woman, called a surrogate mother, agrees to carry and give birth to a child for someone else. This process is typically pursued when the intended parents are unable to conceive or carry a child on their own due to medical reasons, age, or same-sex parenthood.
The surrogate mother carries the pregnancy to term, and the intended parents are recognized as the child’s legal parents.
The gestational surrogacy process means they can finally achieve the dreams they have had for so long for their intended parents. It’s a priceless gift given to them by a selfless woman — one they’re not going to be able to repay. So, exactly what is the surrogacy process?
Getting a surrogate mother pregnant is a very safe and ethically acceptable process worldwide except for some ethical controversial issues.
The process starts with the recovery of eggs from the intended mother or an egg donor and sperm from the intended father or sperm donor, fertilizing them and creating embryos.
Although all it takes for a surrogate to become pregnant is one fertilized egg, normally multiple eggs are fertilized if the one chosen does not implant into the womb of the surrogate. During the entire process, she is monitored until she is confirmed pregnant.
The medical process of fertilization outside the body is known as IVF ( In vitro fertilization) and is one of the most preferred fertility treatments.
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There are different types of surrogates
There are different types of surrogate mothers – traditional surrogates and gestational surrogates. The traditional surrogate uses her own egg to get pregnant while in the case of a gestational surrogate, the egg belongs to either the intended mother or the egg donor.
Hence, a traditional surrogate is biologically related to the child while the gestational surrogate is not. Also, there are different Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) used to impregnate the traditional surrogate and the gestational surrogate.
A gestational surrogate is impregnated by the use of in vitro fertilization ( IVF) which is carried by an infertility doctor in an IVF Clinic and in the case of a traditional surrogate, she is impregnated by using intrauterine insemination ( at home or in an IVF Clinic of her choice).
The gestational surrogate is often referred to as the birth mother while the intended mother is the biological mother of the child.
How Do Surrogate Mothers Get Pregnant?
These processes remain almost the same in every procedure of surrogacy. Here, are a few steps that follow in a typical surrogacy process.
#1. Finding a surrogate
In terms of finding a surrogate, there are two types of surrogacy – commercial surrogacy and altruistic surrogacy.
- Commercial surrogacy – In commercial surrogacy, you have to pay the surrogate base compensation apart from the expenses of the surrogacy process. You can find a commercial surrogate via surrogacy agencies or on your own as well.
- Most of the agencies maintain an advanced database that will help the intended parents find the surrogates of their involvement, goals, and preferences as soon as possible. There are many more benefits than just finding a surrogate via an agency, for example, teaching the surrogate and intended parents about the surrogacy.
- Altruistic surrogacy – In altruistic surrogacy, you do not need to pay the surrogate’s base compensation. You are only required to pay the expenses incurred during the surrogacy process. In this case, a surrogate is known to you and familiar as well. She might be a friend or a relative.
In many countries commercial surrogacy is banned like Canada, UK, and Australia, these countries only allow for altruistic surrogacy while there are some countries like the USA which allow both types of surrogacy.
In countries where commercial surrogacy is allowed, many surrogacy agencies can find and manage the full surrogacy process for the parents and surrogate mothers.
#2. Medication and monitoring of the Surrogate mother
Once a surrogate has decided to be a surrogate, she has to undergo a rigorous screening process. The screening processes are psychological, emotional, and medical.
After the successful screening of the surrogate, she has to go for many types of blood tests, ultrasound, and uterine evaluation. If the surrogate is found to fit in these tests, the next phase of the process begins. The two most common drugs used to stimulate follicles are FSH and LH.
From the second day of her natural cycle, the stimulation phase may take about two to three weeks. After the surrogate mother’s uterus is prepared with the desired endometrium lining ( at least 10 mm), the process of embryo transfer begins.
#3. Egg retrieval from the intended mother or an egg donor
So, what is the first step in the process of IVF? The first step is to collect eggs from the intended mother/egg donor.
For IVF, most women will take fertility drugs for 8-14 days; the average is 10-11 days for ovarian stimulation. For the regeneration of embryos, ovarian stimulation is used to mature multiple eggs.
Even if ovulation is natural, fertility medicines are used to produce more than one egg because, with more eggs, pregnancy rates are higher.
Usually, an average of 10–20 eggs are recovered for IVF. Not all of them can be used, however, as on average only about two-thirds are mature enough. These eggs are retrieved via a surgical procedure known as transvaginal ultrasound aspiration.
During this procedure, the doctor removes the eggs using a small suction device. The eggs are then kept in the incubator. If the mother is unable to produce eggs, the eggs of the donor are used.
#4. Fertilization of eggs
Till now you have a clear idea of how the egg is retrieved for the IVF procedure. But how are eggs further fertilized?
An egg is fertilized in two ways: conventional method of fertilization or insemination (ICSI) of each egg with sperm via IVF ICSI. Your IVF team will determine which process is used and it depends on multiple factors related to the couple going through IVF.
Both procedures have the same rate of success. ICSI is used around 70 percent of the time when conditions are less likely to cause fertilization due to poor semen content or prior IVF failure.
Sperms are put in a small petri dish containing mature eggs in the culture medium for the conventional method; the sperm and eggs are incubated together in the lab’s tank, allowing the sperm to reach the egg alone. After fertilization, it will take 3 to 5 days to develop into an embryo. These embryos are then cultured into the blastocyst stage.
#5. Transfer of embryos
Limiting the transfer of one single embryo is the safest approach if the fertility doctor is using blastocyst (day 5 embryos). The embryologist chooses the healthiest embryo to optimize the chance of success based on a grading system used to test each embryo.
For the passage of the embryo into the womb, a smooth, elastic, and thin catheter is used. The abdominal ultrasound is used to ensure that the catheter tip positions the embryo at the best place for the implant for the embryo. The surrogate is advised to rest for several hours after the transfer is complete to increase the chances of success.
#6. How to confirm pregnancy?
The first pregnancy test is performed twelve days after the embryo’s transfer. The surrogate is scheduled for the next pregnancy test if the result is positive. After two or three weeks of transmission, identical pregnancy tests are performed. If the second test is positive for the BHCG serum test, the woman is presumed pregnant.
#7. Giving Birth
After the long and tiring process of gestational surrogacy, the baby is given birth. It is a life-changing process for both the surrogate and the intended parents. The delivery might take place via c-section or vaginal. After giving birth to the child, the surrogate, as well as the parents, may leave for home or to the home country in case of international surrogacy. The legal parentage of the baby is established right after birth, but the process of pre-birth order and post-birth order varies state-wise.
Thus, the whole process of how a surrogate mother gets pregnant comes to an end. Whether you wish to do surrogacy in your home country or one of the top international surrogacy countries, we are here to assist you. Since 2010, we have been helping intended parents worldwide in finding the affordable surrogacy process.
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Conclusion
Navigating the journey of surrogate pregnancy requires a blend of scientific expertise, emotional support, and clear communication. Understanding the intricate process of IVF can dispel myths and concerns, allowing prospective surrogates and their partners to make informed decisions.
By partnering with reputable surrogacy agencies, surrogates receive a comprehensive support system that ensures their well-being throughout the process.
If you’d like to learn more about IVF, Egg Donation, or surrogacy services globally, check out the rest of our website at IVF Conceptions. We offer legally secure and affordable surrogacy consulting services for FREE.
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FAQs for How Does Surrogate Get Pregnant?
How does the surrogate mother’s pregnancy process work?
The surrogate mother’s pregnancy process involves in vitro fertilization (IVF), where an embryo is created using the intended parents’ or donors’ gametes.
The embryo is then implanted into the surrogate’s uterus, and she carries the pregnancy to term. Throughout the pregnancy, the surrogate receives medical care and support.
What are the different types of surrogacy?
There are two main types of surrogacy: traditional and gestational.
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate uses her own egg, making her genetically related to the child.
In gestational surrogacy, the embryo is created using the egg and sperm of the intended parents or donors, and the surrogate has no genetic connection to the child.
Are there any legal concerns about surrogate pregnancies?
Yes, there can be legal concerns related to surrogacy, as laws vary by location. Legal agreements outlining parental rights, responsibilities, and compensation are essential. Clear understanding and adherence to local surrogacy laws and regulations are crucial to avoid legal complications.
How are surrogate mothers selected for the process?
Surrogate mothers are typically selected through surrogacy agencies or connections. They undergo thorough screening, including medical, psychological, and background checks. Compatibility with the intended parents’ values and preferences is also considered.
What medical procedures are involved in surrogate pregnancies?
Medical procedures in surrogate pregnancies include ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval from the intended mother or egg donor, fertilization in a lab, embryo culture, and embryo transfer into the surrogate’s uterus. Hormonal medications support the pregnancy until successful delivery.
Can a surrogate mother have a genetic connection to the baby?
Yes, in traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother can have a genetic connection to the baby since her egg is used for fertilization.
However, in gestational surrogacy, the surrogate has no genetic connection to the baby as the embryo is created using the intended parents’ or donors’ genetic material. This form of surrogacy is widely used.
What are the emotional considerations for surrogate mothers?
Surrogate mothers may experience a range of emotions, including bonding with the baby during pregnancy. Clear communication, counseling, and emotional support from the intended parents, surrogacy professionals, and mental health experts are essential to address these emotional considerations.