My Life-Changing Surrogacy Journey: From Research to Delivery

Do you ever think about one decision that changed your life? Most people have had multiple, but is there one triumph or core memory that you hold a little bit closer than others? The decision to become a surrogate was that for me.

Discovering Surrogacy and Gaining Support

I discovered surrogacy when I was in my 20s and pregnant with my second little boy. I met a surrogate in my community who loved advocating for surrogacy and sharing the details of her journey. It was while I was pregnant that I started my research on the qualifications to be a surrogate. I joined several different Facebook groups and did a lot of Google searching before deciding to pursue becoming a surrogate.

A common question I get asked is how I convinced my husband to support me to become a surrogate, and the answer is simple. I didn’t have to convince my husband of anything. I told him this had become a dream of mine and that I would like to pursue it. He conducted his own research, and together we decided this would be a great adventure for our family. I had two relatively easy pregnancies, and I truly enjoyed being pregnant. This made the decision to become a surrogate much easier!

Choosing the Right Agency for My Journey

Using an agency seemed like the safest way to approach surrogacy from a surrogate point of view. I loved knowing that there would be a mediator or surrogacy case manager involved if it was ever needed. I also liked the idea of having a claims management company handle any medical billing because who wants to or has time to deal with that?

These were just a few surrogacy services I was looking for in an agency. Another service I hoped for was case workers who were experienced surrogates themselves. These women would have valuable personal experience with their own journeys to help lead me through mine.

The Screening Process and a Perfect Match

I went through the entire screening process, which consisted of the Worldwide Surrogacy team pulling my medical records from my prior pregnancies and births, a background check, an insurance review, and a psychological evaluation for me and my spouse. The agency matched us with the perfect couple. From the moment we had our first Zoom call, I knew this was exactly what I was looking for in a match.

Before I knew it, we were doing contract negotiations and medical screening! Both these steps went relatively quickly. My husband’s and my bloodwork came back perfect, and everybody’s signature was on the contract. It was time for a transfer cycle!

The Start of My Surrogacy Journey

The day a box of medication showed up on my front porch, I was a little intimidated. I unboxed everything very carefully and made sure all my medication was there! I reviewed the clinic’s videos on how to complete the injections. The first two nights of injections, I was a bit apprehensive, but everything quickly became routine.

I found what worked best for my body in terms of comfort. I applied ice to the areas that were going to be injected about 5 minutes before performing the injection. After the injection was completed, I sat on a heating pad and massaged the area. My husband would always stare at me in complete awe and offer words of support and affirmation before and during injections. He was always my biggest cheerleader throughout the surrogacy journey.

Traveling for the Embryo Transfer

I traveled to Oregon for my embryo transfer. This was the clinic my intended parents used for their embryo creation. I personally enjoy traveling, so having the opportunity for a quick trip was wonderful for me. My husband stayed home with our children, and I was able to pick a support person to travel with.

Before the embryo transfer, I found a local bookstore and purchased some books to read in the hotel room after the transfer was completed. The transfer itself was painless. Having to have an overly full bladder for the procedure wasn’t necessarily comfortable, but there was no pain associated with the embryo transfer itself. Everybody at the clinic was kind, and the intended parents chose to attend the transfer.

I tend to think of myself as a foodie, and the intended parents met me with pastries in hand! That moment only solidified my feeling of knowing we made the right choice moving forward in this journey together.

The Joy of Pregnancy and Sharing the Experience

I began using home pregnancy tests around 4 days post-transfer. The intended parents were comfortable knowing the results of home tests, and they were able to see when I first started getting positive tests. My first HCG beta test reflected the same positive news – we were pregnant!

My surrogacy pregnancy was no exception to my easy pregnancies. During this time, I craved apples with peanut butter, something I'll always remember. I told the intended parents about it, and they said they’d coincidentally been eating a lot of apples as well! My husband joked that I probably wiped out an entire orchard during that pregnancy.

Later in the pregnancy, the intended parents sent voice recordings of themselves reading their favorite children’s book and singing lullabies. Some of the recordings were in another language, which I found very special. This baby was already so loved by her parents.

Welcoming the Baby and the Emotional Birth Experience

At the end of every OB/GYN appointment, I would have the intended parents on a call so they could ask questions and listen to the baby's heartbeat. Since my first baby was large, I delivered all my babies via C-section. My surrogacy birth was my third.

The hospital allowed me to have my husband and one other support person in the operating room. My husband and I agreed that both intended parents could be in the room, while he waited in the recovery room. I was able to watch two beautiful humans fall in love with their little girl. It was such a special moment.

A Beautiful Journey Beyond Birth

After the birth, I was asked if I’d like to breastfeed, which I agreed to, thinking it might help my milk come in. For about a week after birth, I supplied breastmilk and even breastfed her when we were together. I continued shipping breastmilk for about two months after their sweet baby girl was born.

Though our surrogacy journey ended, our friendship had just begun. We’ve stayed in touch, and my children know the family by name. I feel surrogacy has taught my boys that love can be shown in many different ways.

Do you have room in your life for one more life-changing moment? I know I do! If your journey is anything like mine was, I promise you it will be a decision you’ll never regret. Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists has a beautiful journey waiting for you!

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