For hopeful intended parents, surrogacy requires a significant investment, not only of time, effort, and financial resources, but also of trust in their gestational carrier.
We understand that the choice of surrogate is one of the most important aspects of a successful surrogacy, and we are committed to helping you find a surrogate who is the best possible match for you. Here, learn more about how to find a surrogate and the services Southern Surrogacy provides to help you develop a strong, trusting relationship with her.
Determine Your Surrogacy Goals
Surrogacy is a personal process, and every intended parent has their own personal hopes and dreams for their surrogacy journey. At Southern Surrogacy, we take the time to get to know you, your expectations and priorities before beginning the matching process.
As you begin your surrogacy journey, we will gather detailed information about:
- your reasons for choosing surrogacy
- the type of surrogate you want to work with
- your expectations of the surrogate during the pregnancy
- the type of relationship you want to have with your surrogate
- your maximum surrogacy budget
- and more
Using this information, Southern Surrogacy will assess our current available surrogates and begin looking for a surrogate whose expectations and preferences are a good match for yours.
Review Surrogate Profiles
When you are ready to begin the process of finding a surrogate, Southern Surrogacy will work with you to create an intended parent profile. Your profile will include a brief introduction of your family and your surrogacy goals, as well as some photographs to help prospective surrogates get to know you better.
Each of our gestational carriers creates a profile as well, and when we have found a surrogate that we believe may be a good fit for you, we will forward her profile for your review.
When you find a surrogate you are interested in working with, we will provide her with your intended parent profile. If she expresses mutual interest in moving forward with you, we will set up a meeting to introduce you to one another.
Meet the Surrogate
After finding a surrogate you would like to learn more about, Southern Surrogacy can coordinate the initial contact for you, whether you prefer to exchange emails, text messages, or a phone call. We will also help you schedule an in-person meeting with the surrogate. Depending on both parties’ preferences and locations, this meeting can take place at one of our convenient office locations or offsite. You may choose to have a Southern Surrogacy representative present to help facilitate this introductory meeting.
Southern Surrogacy will help prepare you for your first meeting with the prospective surrogate. As you get to know one another, you may want to discuss the following topics:
- Interests, values and lifestyles
- Hopes and goals for the surrogacy experience, including your desired level of contact and involvement during the pregnancy
- Family members and support systems
- And more
If you and the surrogate both feel comfortable following the in-person meeting, Southern Surrogacy will arrange for the surrogate to complete the medical and psychological screening process with your selected health professionals.
At this point, you will officially be in a “match.” Neither you nor the surrogate will be notified of additional surrogacy situations, and you can begin the legal and medical surrogacy processes.
Continue Your Relationship
Throughout the remainder of the pregnancy and surrogacy process, your relationship with the gestational carrier will naturally grow and evolve. Some intended parents choose to be very involved during the pregnancy, while others exchange less frequent updates and choose to attend a few key appointments.
Every surrogacy relationship is different, and during the matching process, Southern Surrogacy will help you find a surrogate whose preferences for contact and expectations are similar to yours. You will also discuss these expectations during a group meeting with your mental health professional. In addition, the Southern Surrogacy staff is always available during the surrogacy process to provide management of expectations between parties and support as you need it.
Your relationship with your surrogate is an important component of a successful and enjoyable surrogacy experience. Southern Surrogacy focuses on regional matches within the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee to help facilitate strong bonds between our surrogates and intended parents. Because your surrogate will likely be located within driving distance from your hometown, you will be able to remain as involved as you’d like throughout the pregnancy.
About Gestational Surrogates
Gestational surrogates are generous and altruistic women who want to help prospective parents add to their families. While these women can come from many different backgrounds, they must meet certain requirements and complete an intensive screening process to work with Southern Surrogacy. These screening requirements include:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Abstain from smoking and drug use
- Insurance review
- Have at least one previous pregnancy with no major complications
- Complete background checks and an in-home assessment
- Complete psychological and medical screenings
We spend a significant amount of time with each prospective surrogate throughout the screening process to ensure she is mentally and physically healthy enough to commit to the surrogacy process. While you are looking for a surrogate who will meet your family’s needs, you will also have the opportunity to ask her questions and get to know her personally before signing the legal surrogacy contract.
If you are an individual or couple looking for a surrogate, Southern Surrogacy can provide all of the services and support you need to find a surrogate who is right for you. Contact us today to learn how to find a surrogate in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Tennessee.
