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Worried about after the surrogate birth with the hormones and no baby. What do you do, and how do you deal with that?
Gestational carriers face unique feelings post-delivery, which can affect affecting recovery time. There are emotional and hormonal changes after the birth, but surrogates are aware ahead of time that they will not be taking the baby home. Emotional readiness and mental preparation helps surrogates manage expectations and adjust to postpartum experiences.
What happens if my job or my partner's job changes during the surrogacy process? What does that mean if health insurance changes?
Job changes during surrogacy affect insurance; maintaining surrogacy-friendly coverage is essential. Lack of proper insurance can lead to unexpected medical costs, impacting intended parents financially. Contracts must outline responsibility for lost wages, medical costs, and insurance during job changes. Surrogates should consider work health policies, ACA policies, and other options to maintain coverage. Continuous insurance prevents financial risks during surrogacy, regardless of job status. Surrogates and intended parents are encouraged to seek guidance for insurance questions.
Surrogacy and Embryos: Things to Consider
The embryo stage of a surrogacy journey can bring both excitement and uncertainty. Whether navigating the possibility of transferring an embryo that is not PGT-A tested, considering transferring a mosaic embryo, or debating how many embryos to transfer, the key is open communication between intended parents, their fertility team, and the surrogate. At the end of the day, embryos aren’t just cells in a dish—they are hope, possibility, and potential. For intended parents, they represent years of dreaming. For surrogates, they’re the beginning of a very personal, life-changing journey.
Can I move during the surrogacy journey if I’m a gestational carrier?
Surrogacy Relocation Policy
The key takeaway is that moving during surrogacy depends on the timing relative to legal filings.
Move Allowed Before Pre-Birth Order Filing
Surrogates may relocate if the pre-birth order has not yet been filed.
This flexibility recognizes life events that might require a move.
Transparency with the case manager and agency is essential to navigate the process smoothly.
Early communication helps manage legal and logistical challenges tied to relocation.
Move Restricted After Pre-Birth Order Filing
Once the pre-birth order is filed, gestational carriers generally cannot move.
This restriction is due to tighter legal conditions post-filing.
If the move involves a state with stricter surrogacy laws, the agency will attempt to find workable solutions.
What kind of families does your surrogacy agency, Bright Futures Families, help?
Our surrogacy Agency assists diverse families with empathy and expert support
Inclusive Family Assistance: Bright Futures Families supports heterosexual couples, LGBTQ couples, single parents, and those with medical issues.
Unique Paths: Every family's journey to parenthood is acknowledged and respected.
Safe Environment: BFF offers a supportive space for intended parents and surrogates to connect.
Guiding Principle: Focus on building families with heart and intention informs our approach.
5 Essential Questions You Should Ask About a Surrogacy Escrow Company
Choosing the right surrogacy escrow company is one of the most critical steps in your surrogacy journey, even if the choices are limited. Your escrow provider is responsible for holding and disbursing the funds necessary to support the surrogate throughout the process. With large sums of money, sensitive personal data, and complex legal timelines involved, it's vital to ensure you're working with a trusted, compliant, and secure partner. Before selecting an escrow provider, here are the essential questions you should ask about a surrogacy escrow company—to protect both your funds and your peace of mind.
As an intended parent, I'm not giving birth. Why do I need a doula?
Ask a Surrogacy Expert! Ashley answers “As an intended parent, I'm not giving birth. Why do I need a doula?” A doula supports everyone involved, helping you feel connected, informed and emotionally supported during this amazing journey, even if you are not the one giving birth.
Can I become a surrogate if I have a history of infertility?
Jenn with this week's Ask a Surrogacy Expert Question! “Can I be a surrogate if I have a history of infertility?” Oftentimes, yes, there is a chance that you could still become a gestational carrier. It really depends why there was infertility. You have to remember that of the causes of infertility, why one third is the woman, one third is the man, one third is unexplained. So if, for example, you had male factor infertility, you had to go through IVF in order to create embryos and to transfer to yourself carried successfully, of course, that would not be a problem. If there were things that were explainable that did not have to do with the uterus that was the cause of infertility, then there's a very good chance that you might be able to be. If it is unexplained infertility, you had recurrent pregnancy loss, things like that, and that there was no explanation, that one is a little more difficult. And we'd have to take a look at the records and have an REI look at the records to give their opinion on it. But I say always, never give up and it's always worth it. If it's on your heart to give back and give to others, please, absolutely, reach out. We're happy to have an individual conversation with every single person about what happened with them, their circumstances, and if it is possible to be a gestational carrier.
Does the embryo transfer hurt?
Individual experiences can differ during the embryo transfer procedure during the ivf process for a surrogacy journey; however, severe pain is rare. This information helps manage patient expectations and reduce anxiety during fertility treatment.
Newborn Bonding Tips for Intended Parents
Bonding with your newborn is a journey, not a single moment, and it’s filled with little everyday rituals, sweet discoveries, and the quiet magic of getting to know your baby. If you’re ready to nurture that connection and soak in all the love that’s coming your way, here are some heartfelt tips to help you bond with your newborn in a way that feels warm, authentic, and joyful.
How do you feel after the embryo transfer?
Callie Megel, Intake Coordinator at Bright Futures Families Surrogacy, here for Ask Question. And today's question is: What is the typical process during the time directly after baby is born?
Callie Megel, Intake Coordinator at Bright Futures Families Surrogacy, here for today's question. And today's question is: How do you feel after the embryo transfer?
And I can only talk off of my experiences. I've had three embryo transfers and everybody's body is different. Everybody's going to react differently. It's going to feel different for everybody. But for me, the embryo transfers was, I would say, the easiest part of the whole process. You feel a little bit crampy, but other than that, it shouldn't be too much painful, just a little bit of cramps. But again, everybody's different. Every clinic is different. If you have any more questions, let me know.
What are the side effects of the medications used during surrogacy?
Medication Side Effects in Surrogacy
The key takeaway is that side effects from surrogacy medications vary widely, requiring personalized medical consultation.
Amanda from Bright Futures Families emphasized that side effects depend on individual responses and specific medications used in IVF
She advised surrogates to consult both their OB and reproductive endocrinologist for tailored guidance
The variability in medication types and personal reactions means no one-size-fits-all answer exists
Understanding medication impact is crucial for managing health throughout the surrogacy process
This approach ensures intended parents and surrogates make informed decisions based on expert medical advice
What Can Intended Parents Do to Prepare Themselves to Become Parents via Surrogacy?
Preparing to become parents through surrogacy involves more than medical and legal steps. This guide helps intended parents understand how to prepare emotionally, financially, and practically for surrogacy—covering education, building relationships with a surrogate, managing expectations, and preparing for life after birth.
What if embryo transfer isn't successful?
Hey, everyone, this is Jennifer White, CEO of Bright Futures Families Surrogacy, with this week's Ask Question, which is: What if the embryo transfer isn't successful?
And this is such a hard question because we all, of course, this is what we built for. Everybody wants it to be successful. My first thing I would say is always everybody on both sides, intended parents and gestational carriers, allow yourself the time and the space to grieve, because this is not the outcome that anybody wanted and nobody should expect that. You just pick right back up with a chipper, happy face on either side. Right? Gestational carriers are just as disappointed in disappointing intended parents as intended parents are disappointed that this didn't work. And so both sides really need to grieve, whether it's separately or whether you want to support each other.
I think nobody should feel obligated to support each other through that though, and each person should be able to grieve in their own way. Beyond that, the actual logistical nuts and bolts, which I think is what was actually being asked, is that generally people try again, assuming that there are more embryos. Usually people try up to three times, usually within about a year to 18 month period, and they keep going and hopefully there is a success. Generally if the first one isn't successful, generally the second one is. No promises ever. But usually statistically by that second one, things really work. So. So if the first one doesn't, please, please allow yourself the space to grieve. It's normal. But pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and everybody is really excited to sprinkle that fairy dust and try again.
What kind of psychological support or support groups does BFF offer?
Psychological Support Services
Bright Futures Families provides continuous psychological support and community connection for all participants.
Bright Futures Families offers ongoing monthly psychological support and access to support groups for both intended parents and gestational carriers, ensuring sustained emotional care throughout their journey
This support helps maintain mental well-being during complex surrogacy processes
The monthly format creates consistent opportunities for participants to share and receive guidance
Ashley emphasized inclusivity, covering both intended parents and carriers equally
This approach aims to reduce isolation and foster a supportive community environment
Pumping After A Surrogacy Birth
Pumping and shipping breast milk after birth is a generous option some surrogates choose to support intended parents. This guide explains how pumping and shipping works, what to expect postpartum, tips for success, and companies that help surrogates safely ship breast milk.
Tips for THE SHOTS! Progesterone shots and other medications!
Hi, this is Danielle Gage, Case Manager at Bright Futures Families Surrogacy, with today's Ask Question. And the question is: Do you have tips for the shots I have to do as a surrogate?
That is an excellent question. And I will admit at first those shots can be very intimidating. But as someone who has done this process several times, I can give you a few tips to make them a little easier. For progesterone and oil shots, that medication is very thick, so it really helps if you warm the medication slightly before injecting it. That will help it flow more smoothly and just make it go in a lot easier. You can also apply ice to the area to help numb the spot that you're injecting beforehand. After you've done the injection, you could try massage or use a worn compress to distribute the medication.
Because it's so thick, it really helps by doing that to reduce soreness and hopefully helps prevent any lumps that you might get. You should also be rotating injection sites to help avoid bruising or tenderness. And remember that it's totally normal to ask for help. You can always reach out to your clinic or your agency case manager to ask for help. And honestly, many partners become pros at giving injections as well. If you want to ask your partner for help, you've got this. I promise. It really does get easier with time. And really after you get past that first one, it's a lot easier. Thank you for your question.
Top 3 unexpected things or things you wish you would have known about surrogacy!
Janelle Ibarra with Bright Futures Families Surrogacy. Here are the top three things I wish I had known before I became a surrogate, before I continue. Our agency, our surrogacy agency, Bright Futures Families, answers these questions a couple times per week. And so you should go follow our social media pages so that you can get the most up to date information every week.
What Can Go Wrong in the Surrogacy Journey: Risks Intended Parents and Surrogates Should Know
Surrogacy is a meaningful and rewarding path to parenthood—but it also carries real risks. This guide outlines what can go wrong during a surrogacy journey, from IVF and embryo challenges to legal, medical, emotional, and communication issues, so intended parents and surrogates can prepare, plan, and protect themselves.
What is the typical process during the time directly after the baby is born?
Callie Megel, Intake Coordinator at Bright Futures Families Surrogacy, here for Ask Question. And today's question is: What is the typical process during the time directly after baby is born?
Well, that's the end goal right? So that's celebrated. That's amazing that you've made it this far. The process is really quite simple. If delivery went great, hopefully you get to go home soon on the doctor's releases but you kind of just go home and relax and return to your daily life. It might involve some pumping and managing that but usually the case managers from the agency really take care of you and making sure that you are well supported. They do look into making sure all those bills are paid through, you know if it's coming from your OB or the hospital but that's pretty much the process.
Usually, you go home and intended parents go home with baby and hopefully it's happy, healthy everyone. But if there's any complications you reach out to your case manager directly and they will handle it all.