As a gestational carrier, how can I be certain that my interests are legally protected? Every surrogate should and will have, when cycling through Gifted Journeys, her own attorney. We refer the gestational carriers with whom we are working to independent counsel experienced in surrogacy in the state in which she will deliver. We stay closely engaged throughout the legal process to be sure that every surrogate is getting competent and appropriate counsel.
As a surrogate, will I have a say in whom I am matched with? Can a surrogate tell the agency what she wants in a match? At Gifted Journeys we believe in mutual matching. We absolutely want to hear from the gestational carrier about what is important in the match. We understand the intimacy of the relationship surrogates have with their intended parents, we want everyone to have a fantastic journey.
What bills and expenses are the surrogate’s responsibilities? I am doing this for reasons of the heart but I cannot afford to pay any surrogacy expenses. A gestational carrier should have no out-of-pocket expenses. The intended parents are fully obligated for all expenses related to their family building effort.
How can I be sure that the intended parents will pay all of the expenses, my compensation and any other surrogacy bills? Surrogacy costs a lot of money, what if the intended parents run out? Gifted Journeys requires every intended parent with whom we work to deposit into an escrow account all of the moneys we estimate as needed to fulfill the parents’ financial obligations related to the entire surrogacy journey. What that means is, the escrow account must be fully funded consistent with the terms of the gestational carrier agreement.
What sort of support do the surrogates who work with Gifted Journeys get? Surrogacy is a long road, what if things get awkward or worse? Gifted Journeys’ monthly support meetings offer an opportunity for you to talk to other surrogates who are also going through our surrogacy program. These groups can either be done via conference call and led by a licensed MFT, or in person, where we can all have brunch together and where surrogates receive small gifts of appreciation. Your cycle coordinator will stay in close and regular contact with you so that if any issues of concern do come up, we can quickly respond and be sure to resolve any issues before they become more significant. If any surrogate with whom we work feels that it would be helpful, we can easily refer her to one of our mental health colleagues for individual support for as long as she may need. Supporting the gestational carriers with whom we work is a top priority at Gifted Journeys. In addition to our support groups and access to mental health support, we have developed a unique Surrogate Benefits Package that includes treats and excursions for the surrogate and for her family.
What is the Gifted Journeys Surrogate Benefits Package? At Gifted Journeys we are so committed to the surrogacy experience being comfortable and enjoyable not only for the surrogate but also for her family that we have created a benefits package that is offered to the surrogate, in addition to her compensation that includes a U.S. savings bond in each of the surrogate’s child’s name, tickets to family fun excursions, maternity clothing allowance, and gifts… just because.
Do surrogates have discretion in how many embryos are transferred? We will always speak with a surrogate before we match her to learn about what her preferences are in terms of number of embryos to be transferred and in her willingness to carry multiples. We also address this with the intended parents we are matching. We understand that this is an issue that is of great importance to surrogates and we certainly understand why. Every surrogate discusses her embryo transfer preference with our staff at the time she submits the surrogacy application.
How does surrogacy compensation work? Do I get paid throughout the pregnancy or do I get paid when the baby is born? While the frequency with which the surrogate will get paid is negotiated in the Gestational Carrier Agreement and agreed to through the attorneys, all of the surrogates with whom we work will get paid periodically throughout the pregnancy. Most surrogates receive monthly payments, which include a monthly allowance; all are reimbursed expenses within a reasonable time, throughout the pregnancy.
I have heard that a lot of surrogates are providing breast milk for the baby. Does Gifted Journeys support this? At Gifted Journeys, we believe that every surrogate and every intended parent should be matched based on criteria that includes very personal matters, like providing breast milk. We are hearing about more and more surrogates agreeing to provide breast milk, the surrogate is typically compensated.
Will I have contact with the family before and after the baby is born? The frequency of contact between the intended parents and the surrogate is an individualized matter and one we understand is an important part of the matching process. Of course, we encourage that a beautiful relationship will blossom from the time of the match through delivery and beyond. And we are committed to providing the resources and support to be sure that everyone is having a terrific experience. Surrogate applicants are encouraged to talk to someone on the Gifted Journeys team about the relationship she is anticipating and hoping for.