06 Nov Surrogate Mothers – Let’s Talk Surrogacy: Terms & Definitions to Improve Your Surrogacy Journey
Whether you are planning your surrogacy journey alone or with a partner, as a surrogate mother or intended parent(s), understanding surrogacy terminology is a great start in the education process.
While not an exhaustive list, to follow are some of the most used surrogacy terms, and quick definitions to keep you in the know.
Remember, if you ever have questions about the surrogacy journey, we are here to help.
Surrogacy Terms for Individuals Partnering to Build Families
Carrier, Surrogate, or Surrogate Mother: A woman carrying a child for intended parents who are unable to build a family on their own.
Intended Parent(s): The individual or people who become the legal parent(s) of a child born through surrogacy.
Matching Process: The evaluation and screening process where a surrogate mother or egg/sperm donor is matched with the intended parents.
Surrogacy Contract: A legally binding contract between the surrogate mother and intended parents negotiated through attorneys, which will dictate the surrogacy journey interactions.
Terms for the Different Types of Surrogacy
Gestational Surrogacy: The culmination of embryos using eggs and sperm – either from the intended parents, donors, or a combination of the two. The surrogate mother is NOT genetically related to the baby.
Traditional Surrogacy: The surrogate mother becomes pregnant through artificial insemination and is genetically related to the baby.
Terms for the Surrogacy Impregnation Process
Egg Donor: A woman who donates eggs for assisted reproduction via IVF.
Egg Retrieval: The process by which eggs are removed from the egg donor for fertilization.
Blastocyst: The final stage of embryo development before it is implanted in the uterine wall.
Cycle Schedule: A timeline that lists important monitoring appointment dates leading up to the transfer.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A process by which eggs are fertilized by sperm outside the womb in a controlled environment.
Frozen Embryo Transfer: The process of thawing and transferring an already fertilized and frozen egg into a surrogate mother.
Exciting Surrogacy Testing Terms
Beta Testing: A blood test used to help indicate whether a surrogate mother is pregnant approximately ten days after an embryo transfer.
Amniocentesis: A test that examines the cells in the amniotic fluid around the baby to detect any chromosomal problems.
Nearing the End of Your Surrogacy Journey Terms
Pre-Birth Order: Allows the intended parent(s) to be legally declared the parent(s) BEFORE the birth of their child. Many states allow this option.
Post-Birth Order: Allows the intended parent(s) to be legally declared the parent(s) AFTER the birth of their child.
Are You Ready to Begin Your Unique Surrogacy Journey?
At Same Love Surrogacy, we are passionately committed to helping our intended parents match with surrogacy mothers or egg donors who share their commitment to starting or growing their family.
Contact us today to discuss your critical role in the surrogacy journey, so we can match you to the solutions you deserve.
