Bringing a new child into the world is the ultimate goal of gestational surrogacy. This incredible gift, made possible by selfless surrogate mothers, allows intended parents to build the family of their dreams.
But how does the surrogate mother actually get pregnant? What does that part of the surrogacy process look like? In this article, we’ll go over everything you need to know, from egg retrieval to embryo transfer. We’ll also discuss pregnancy tests following the procedure and how to increase the surrogate’s chances of getting pregnant.
How Are Babies Born Through Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is a method of assisted reproduction where a woman, known as the surrogate, carries and delivers a baby for another person or couple. This process is often pursued by individuals or couples who are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term due to various medical reasons. There are different types of surrogacy, including traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy.
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is artificially inseminated with the sperm of the intended father or donor. This means that the surrogate is biologically related to the child she carries, as her own egg is used for conception. However, traditional surrogacy is less common nowadays due to legal and emotional complexities.
Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, is more prevalent and involves the implantation of an embryo created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) into the surrogate’s uterus. In this case, the embryo may be created using the eggs and sperm of the intended parents or donors, depending on the circumstances. The surrogate has no genetic relationship to the child she carries, making it a more straightforward legal process.
During the pregnancy, the surrogate receives prenatal care and medical support to ensure the health and well-being of both herself and the developing baby. When the baby is born, the intended parents assume legal custody, and the surrogate relinquishes any parental rights she may have had.
What Is The Surrogacy Process?
The surrogacy process typically begins with an extensive screening and evaluation of both the intended parents and the surrogate. This involves medical assessments, psychological evaluations, and legal consultations to ensure that all parties are physically, emotionally, and legally prepared for the surrogacy journey.
Once suitable matches are found, the next step involves the creation of an agreement outlining the rights, responsibilities, and expectations of all parties involved. This legal contract addresses various aspects of the surrogacy arrangement, including financial compensation, medical decisions, and the intended parents’ parental rights.
Following the legal and medical preparations, the IVF process begins if gestational surrogacy is chosen. This involves stimulating the ovaries of the intended mother or egg donor to produce multiple eggs, which are then retrieved and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory setting. The resulting embryos are cultured and monitored for several days before one or more are selected for transfer to the surrogate’s uterus.
After the embryo transfer, the surrogate undergoes careful monitoring to assess the success of the implantation and the progression of the pregnancy. Throughout the pregnancy, the surrogate receives comprehensive medical care, including prenatal check-ups, ultrasounds, and other necessary interventions to ensure a healthy gestation.
When the baby is born, the intended parents are typically present for the delivery and assume immediate custody. Depending on the legal requirements of the jurisdiction, the necessary paperwork to establish parentage may be completed either before or after the birth.
How Does IVF Work?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a fertility treatment that involves the fertilization of an egg with sperm outside the body, in a laboratory setting. This process allows for the creation of embryos that can be transferred to the uterus, either for assisted reproduction or surrogacy.
Overall, IVF offers hope to individuals and couples struggling with infertility by providing them with the opportunity to conceive and build their families through assisted reproductive technology. Advances in IVF techniques continue to improve success rates and expand access to fertility treatments for a growing number of people worldwide.
What Are The Steps To The Surrogate Pregnancy Process?
Let’s go all the way to the beginning of the assisted reproduction process, including what the intended parents have to do in order for the surrogate to become pregnant.
1. Ovulation Induction
First, the intended mother needs to go through an ovulation induction. This is the process of stimulating the development and growth multiple viable eggs that can then be used during IVF. To achieve this, either the intended mother or the egg donor takes fertility hormones as a way to induce ovulation.
2. Sperm Collection
Then sperm is collected via manual stimulation in a laboratory, either from the intended father or from a sperm donor. In order to collect a large enough sample, they’re usually instructed to abstain from sexual activity for 2 to 5 days prior to retrieval.
3. Egg Retrieval
The doctor will then collect the egg. Also known as oocyte retrieval or harvesting the eggs, this is the process of extracting multiple viable eggs from the intended mother or the egg donor. These eggs are then combined with the sperm that was collected from the intended father or sperm donor.
This is usually done via transvaginal ultrasound aspiration, an incredibly safe and effective procedure. It can be painful, however, so the physicians will control this with the use of medications.
4. Fertilization
Finally, the egg will get fertilized through an IVF procedure. The retrieved sperm sample and harvested eggs are combined and placed in an incubator to induce fertilization.
Once the egg (or multiple eggs) are fertilized, they’re left in the incubator for about 2 to 5 days to make sure they’re stable and viable for the implantation process. This period of time is also known as the embryo culture.
5. Hormone Treatment
Before the embryo transfer is performed, the surrogate mother must take hormones to prepare her womb. These medications will thicken the uterine lining and make it receptive and nourishing for the implanted eggs. For a successful embryo transfer, the ideal uterine wall thickness is at least 7 to 8 millimeters.
6. Embryo Transfer
This is the big moment, the most exciting part of the process. This is when the surrogate will hopefully get pregnant via embryo transfer.
Using a special syringe, the doctor will insert the fertilized egg or eggs into the surrogate mother’s womb. She should then rest for several hours to increase the chances of the fertilized eggs fully implanting themselves into the uterine lining. Once that implantation occurs, the embryo grows, fetal cells develop, and the body releases the hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Nine months later you have a beautiful baby!
Due to advances in assisted reproduction technology, these embryos can either be transferred directly from the incubator or after being defrosted in storage.
It’s important to note that these steps are sometimes collectively referred to as an IVF cycle. If the embryo transfer doesn’t work, it’s possible to restart this cycle and try again. In some situations, it’s necessary to do a couple cycles before the surrogate gets pregnant.
How Soon After Embryo Transfer Does The Surrogate Get Pregnant?
It usually takes anywhere from 7 to 12 days for the surrogate to actually get pregnant. Once this happens, hCG levels in the body skyrocket and it then becomes possible to detect the pregnancy.
To get the most accurate results possible, home pregnancy tests are not recommended. Instead, the fertility clinic will:
- Schedule a blood test (known as a beta pregnancy test) about 7 to 9 days after the embryo transfer.
- If the results are positive, another blood test to confirm will be scheduled 2 to 7 days later.
Unfortunately, there are certain conditions that can make it extremely difficult for the surrogate to get pregnant, some of which can even cause immediate disqualification.
During pregnancy, certain health conditions like Type 1 diabetes and gestational diabetes pose significant risks. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) also face increased chances of developing complications such as preeclampsia or endometrial cancer. Endometriosis, another condition, may lead to infertility, rendering individuals ineligible for surrogacy.
And viral infections like HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, which are incurable, can be transmitted to the baby. Surrogates must also possess a healthy uterus, making the absence of a uterus or a history of hysterectomy a disqualifying factor for participation in the embryo implantation process. These health considerations underscore the complexity and importance of selecting suitable candidates for surrogacy arrangements, prioritizing the well-being of both the surrogate and the prospective child.
Certainly, lifestyle factors can result in surrogacy disqualifications, but many of these are potentially reversible with appropriate treatment or lifestyle adjustments. Common reversible disqualifications include alcohol or drug use, necessitating complete abstinence during fertility treatments and pregnancy.
Tobacco use, including exposure to secondhand smoke, also renders individuals ineligible as surrogate mothers. Maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) within the range of approximately 19 to 30 is crucial. Surrogates must also ensure a safe and healthy lifestyle to avoid jeopardizing fetal well-being.
Addressing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prior to surrogacy is essential, with certain infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea posing risks to the baby. Age requirements typically range from 21 or 22 as the minimum to 40 or 45 as the maximum. Citizenship or legal residency is also a prerequisite for surrogate mothers.
Recent piercings or tattoos within one year are prohibited, and previous successful pregnancies are typically required for qualification. Hopeful surrogates should be mindful of these disqualifications and take steps to rectify them if possible as part of their preparation process.
RELATED ARTICLE: What Can Disqualify Me From Being A Surrogate?
What Are The Signs Of A Successful Embryo Transfer?
If the surrogate hasn’t confirmed the pregnancy yet, there are still signs that she can look out for:
- Sensitive breasts
- Cramps
- Constipation
- Mood swings
- Bloating
- Sinus congestion
- Nose bleed
- Sense of taste changes
- Spotting (also known as implantation bleeding)
If you’re not sure how to tell the difference between spotting and a regular period, it’s actually pretty easy to differentiate the two. Spotting is always shorter and less intense than menstruation; plus, the blood is lighter in color and will not clot or congeal.
How To Increase The Chances Of A Successful Embryo Transfer
There are things you can do to increase the likelihood of the surrogate getting pregnant, including:
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet. This should be the same diet that the surrogate eats during the pregnancy: plenty of fruits, vegetables, fiber, complex carbs, and protein with low levels of saturated fat.
- Maintain a good intake of vitamins and minerals. Iron, folic acid, calcium, vitamin D, DHA, and iodine are the 6 most important. If you’re vegan or have dietary restrictions, be sure to tell your doctor or dietician so they can prescribe supplements.
- Avoid high-risk foods. These are the same foods you should avoid during pregnancy, including unpasteurized cheeses and fish with high levels of metals.
- Stay hydrated. Make sure it’s at least 2 liters a day.
- Avoid strenuous activity or exercise. However, total bed rest is not recommended either.
- Watch your core temperature. Avoid very hot baths, saunas, steam rooms, or working out in the sun.
- Abstain from vaginal intercourse. This should be for about 2 weeks after the embryo transfer since it can trigger uterine contractions.
Here at Surrogacy By Faith, we offer our surrogates a 30-day body cleanse before transfer to help them be as healthy as possible before transfer.
Surrogacy is more than just a business for us – it’s a mission. We always take the time to find the right surrogate for the intended parents so that it’s a match made in heaven. We want to give people the ability to start their perfect family because we believe each child is a precious gift from God.
If you’re interested, you can fill out our Intended Parents Initial Inquiry Form or our Surrogate Initial Inquiry Form. Don’t wait another day!