What Happens Next

Posted on May 19, 2008 by Theresa Erickson

It seems as though the same question keeps getting posed to me by both Intended Parents and Surrogates alike.  Once the match is made what happens? 

When the initial call to a surrogate is made to let them know that there are Intended Parents interested in working with them, the time to meet is usually made within a weeks time.  Before they know it the meeting takes place, the next day (sometimes two) the match is made and then what?  This is when patience plays a big part.  While on the management end of the case, we are busy getting the proper paperwork to the Intended Parents, the surrogate is not seeing any action.

It usually takes about a week before we have the right paperwork returned from the Intended Parents in order to send the surrogate the "Match Agreement".  Once the Match Agreement is signed and returned by the surrogate we will provide her with the Referrals to all the professionals she will need to contact.  It is the surrogate's responsibility to contact the Psychologist and the IVF Center to schedule screening appointments that fit their schedule.  While the surrogate is the person making these appointments, it is also very important for us to know these dates as well. 

Once the screening is complete, it is time for the contracts.  The contract phase can take up to four weeks to complete.  Most surrogates get anxious and begin to worry that something went wrong or did the Intended Parents back out, etc....  This is not the case.  It takes time to draft the contract, then the intended parents need to have contract review with their attorney, then it gets forwarded to the surrogate.  At this point it's the surrogate's turn.  She needs to have contract review with her attorney and then any changes are submitted to the intended parent's attorney and the negotiation goes on until all parties are happy with the contract.  Once the contract is in it's final form, this is when it is signed by each party.

Now that contracts are final, the surrogate may start medication.  Now things feel like they're moving again!  The surrogate will be going to the doctor's regularly for blood labs and ultrasound appointments.  Before you know it the Transfer Day will be here. 

Now that the embryo(s) have been transferred, it's time to wait again.  Most doctor's will perform the blood pregnancy test 10 to 14 days after the transfer of the embryos.  And you thought it felt like forever for the contracts to be complete!!!

This of course is just the start. 

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Holidays with Family

Posted on March 23, 2008 by Theresa Erickson

Today is Easter Sunday which typically is a day spent with family.  We usually have a quiet morning and then family starts to arrive for brunch and an afternoon together.  While everyone is at our house, the house is loud and the kids are running from one end of the house to the other.  By the evening everyone is ready to relax and sit quietly.

As a surrogate the holidays have an extra special benefit.  All four (4) families I have helped to have children call me on holidays.  All our lives get busy and the surrogate children, just like my own, grow bigger and have busier schedules.  Through out our day to day lives we don't always make the time to call each other.  So when we do get an opportunity to talk for 10 or 15 minutes it is always appreciated. 

Today when I was on the phone it was amazing to me that all but one of the children could wish me a Happy Easter on their own.  This was extra special.  I was able to talk with five (5) of the six (6) kids I had a hand in bringing into the world.  The sixth is too young, but I did get some baby talk out of her as well.  This makes my heart grow. 

It is moments like today that truly make me appreciate all I have. 

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