What do I do about missing work for appointments?

Learn the answer to this week's user-submitted question about surrogacy in this week's installment of Ask a Surrogacy Expert! Have a question about surrogacy that you'd like answered? Submit it at https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ask

Surrogacy Appointment Management and Compensation

• The surrogate’s time off for medical appointments is managed through a combination of personal leave and compensation structured in the gestational carrier agreement.

• Surrogates must attend multiple appointments including medical screening, embryo transfer, monitoring, and OB visits throughout the pregnancy 

• Most use a mix of personal time, vacation days, or medical leave to cover these absences 

• Intended parents cover lost wages for early appointments like medical screening and embryo transfer 

• After signing the gestational carrier agreement, surrogates receive a monthly allowance to cover lost wages for later OB and maternal fetal medicine visits 

• The exact coverage depends on the contract wording regarding lost wages, so attorneys should review this carefully

• Clear legal review of lost wage clauses is critical to avoid surprises during the surrogacy journey 

• Surrogates concerned about lost wages should prioritize attorney review of this section 

• The monthly allowance typically covers ongoing appointment-related wage loss post-IVF clinic graduation 

• This approach balances surrogate support with contract compliance and intended parent responsibilities 

• Ensures financial clarity and reduces stress related to work absences during the process

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Transcript: Hi, this is Danielle Gage, Case Manager with Bright Futures Families, with today's Ask Question and the question is, what do I do about missing work for appointments? That is a great question. And during the surrogacy process, as a surrogate you must know that there will be a lot of appointments from medical screening to embryo transfer and monitoring appointments in between. And then later, once you are pregnant, you'll have your OB appointments and possibly maternal fetal medicine doctor appointments to attend. Most surrogates use a mix of personal time, vacation days or medical leave for these visits. Intended parents will cover any lost wages for time you miss from work because of early appointments such as the medical screening and the embryo transfer, you will get a monthly allowance after your gestational carrier agreement has been submitted, sign.

And for that, once you have graduated from your IVF clinic and you start attending local OB appointments, that monthly allowance will cover the cost of lost wages for those appointments typically. But remember, it all depends on the wording in your legal contract and how it is listed for lost wages throughout the journey. If lost wages are a particular concern for you, then you want to make sure that you have your attorney go over the lost wages portion of the gestational carrier agreement in detail at your review. Thank you for your question.