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COVID-19 has disrupted daily life for people around the world, from the loss of loved ones, to the loss of income, to closures of schools, businesses and restaurants. For expectant parents, coronavirus and pregnancy are causing concern—and when it comes to surrogacy, COVID-19 is having an impact on intended parents and surrogates, too.

However, even in the midst of this challenging time, there is hope. It takes time to grow your family, and now is a great time to start the process. Here at Newborn Advantage, we are still open and serving our clients, with virtual capabilities to help you start planning today to grow your family in the near future. Here are 6 things you can do now to move your surrogacy plans forward.

1. Create a foundation to build your family.

These days, we’ve all been spending more time at home—and despite the frustration of feeling “cooped up,” this extra family time is bringing us closer. While you’re at home with your loved ones, focus on building a strong family, enjoying the present, and planning the next steps of your surrogacy journey.

2. Identify a surrogate.

Currently, most fertility clinics are temporarily closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This means in vitro fertilization (IVF) plans will be delayed—but that doesn’t mean they must come to a halt. It can take up to four months to reach the embryo transfer phase of surrogacy, even without interruptions. So, it makes sense to start the process now. The first step is to identify a surrogate.

Newborn Advantage selects top quality surrogates, drawing from connections built over our 15 years of experience. Using videoconferencing, we can conduct a virtual meeting to determine your needs and personal preferences. Then, we will present you multiple surrogate options, selecting candidates based on factors like personality, medical decisions, like-mindedness, and relationship preferences after birth. Now is a perfect time to begin reviewing surrogate profiles, and choosing your ideal surrogate match.

3. Get to know your surrogate.

Once you choose a surrogate, Newborn Advantage can arrange an introduction and facilitate virtual meetings to introduce all parties, discuss goals, and talk about important surrogacy decisions. Because intended parents are often matched with surrogates in other states or countries, we are accustomed to setting up meetings via videoconference, making this step in the process no different than it was before COVID-19.

4. Draft a legal contract.

The next step in the surrogacy process is to draft a legal surrogacy contract. Newborn Advantage has access to experienced surrogacy attorneys who will work with you to create a contract that protects your interests and follows the surrogacy laws where your surrogate resides. Legal discussions and signing can be conducted virtually, and in full compliance with social distancing measures.

5. Start early screening.

As we wait for fertility centers to re-open, there are a few medical processes that can be conducted now, remotely. One is a psychological screening for the surrogate you select. This can be done via telemedicine visit. Your doctor can also begin reviewing your surrogate’s medical records, to ensure she is healthy enough for surrogacy.

6. Decorate the nursery.

From picking out baby names, to picking out colors and patterns for the baby room, to buying diapers and bottles, there are many aspects of family planning that don’t require a single doctor visit. Use your time now to start thinking about all the fun aspects of welcoming a new child into your family.

 

Make plans today to grow your family.

Today, COVID-19 is on everyone’s mind—and we are all exercising caution and following recommendations to prevent its spread. While the pandemic may temporarily interrupt medical procedures, it doesn’t mean we should stop planning for the future. The sooner you begin the surrogacy process, the more prepared you will be when fertility clinics re-open, and IVF can begin. One thing is for sure: at Newborn Advantage, we will be with you every step of the way.

Gestational surrogacy is filled with joys and surprises—and one of the most exciting moments is when you find out whether you’re having a boy or a girl. If you’re an intended parent, you are probably anxiously awaiting this news. Or, if you already know, you may be wondering what it will be like to raise a child of that gender—especially if it is different from your own. In this blog, we’ll talk about gender hopes and disappointments, gender expectations vs. reality, and how to prepare for a boy or a girl.

 

Gender Hopes (and Disappointments)

No one wants to admit they are secretly hoping for a boy or a girl. But let’s face it—most of us are. You may dream of shopping for sweet little dresses trimmed with ruffles and lace, taking your daughter to ballet classes, or getting mani-pedis with your mini-me as she grows older. Or, you may hope for a baby boy, and imagine a future filled with fishing trips, baseball games, frogs and dirt. Many parents would be happy to have a boy and a girl, and are disappointed if their second child is the same gender as the first.

As much as you know you’ll love your new baby, gender disappointment is a real thing, and it’s normal to feel let down if you learn that you’re having a boy when you wanted a girl, or vice versa. The good news? You’re likely to be so thrilled with your new baby (or so tired from lack of sleep) that any disappointment over gender will quickly fall by the wayside after he or she is born. What’s more, you may be surprised to discover your child’s unique personality and individual interests are far more interesting than what society expects from his or her gender.

 

Gender Expectations vs. Reality
Many girls refuse to wear pink and would rather play in the dirt or kick a ball, than play with a doll. Plenty of boys aren’t interested in sports, and prefer video games, art, music or dance to football and roughhousing. Keep an open mind and let your child explore their own interests as they learn and grow. It can be fun to find out what talents your child may have. You may also find that supporting your child’s interests helps you develop new ones. For example, you may have never enjoyed live theater—but when you’re watching your own child onstage, it’s suddenly a lot more interesting.

 

Are Boys Really All That Different from Girls?

As mentioned above, it really depends on the boy or girl. You may have heard that boys are more noisy, rowdy, and difficult to manage. Or that girls are quieter, more well-behaved and easier to potty train. However, if you talk to parents with two or more children, you are more likely to hear about differences between one child and another, than one gender and another. It’s common for one child to be an “easy baby” while another is more challenging. Or, one child will be outgoing and bubbly, while another is more quiet and reserved. Ask your friends who have children what they think. Then, prepare to be surprised by your own child’s behavior.

 

How to Prepare for a Boy or a Girl

In the not-so-distant past, parents had no idea whether they were having a boy or a girl until the day their child was born. So, they bought gender-neutral baby clothes, made predictions based on the shape and size of a woman’s stomach, and generally waited to buy pink or blue accessories until the big day. Now, we can find out a baby’s gender months in advance—but whether it’s a boy or a girl, a newborn’s needs are the same. Your baby needs love, acceptance, nutrition, shelter, and of course, lots and lots of diapers.

Go ahead and shop for the things you’ll need right away, register for the things you want, and spend the energy you have leftover on yourself and your partner, if you have one. Read books about caring for a newborn, buy a journal to write your thoughts if you’re so inclined, and spend as much time as you can doing activities you enjoy. It’s impossible to know whether your baby will grow up to be the kind of person who loves a day at the museum, a night out at a nice restaurant, or a professional basketball game, but one thing is for sure. It’s a lot easier to do those things before you have a baby. So soak them in while you can, and get ready for an amazing adventure after your child is born. You’re going to love it.

 

Ready to welcome your baby boy or girl into the world?

Newborn Advantage can help you find the right gestational surrogate for your new baby. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions.

When you begin the process of starting a relationship with a surrogate, you are setting out on one of the most significant, powerful, and important encounters you’ll ever have in life. This will be an encounter that will eventually evoke the little one you’ve always longed for; a priceless gift.

At Newborn Advantage, we invest wholeheartedly in helping you to understand your child rearing dream. In doing so, we lay out the surrogacy cost subtleties that each expected parent must know from the very first moment. Here is a breakdown of our surrogacy cost data, which will assist you with planning your excursion all the more successfully.

The holidays are over, and we hope you’ve enjoyed sharing gifts and time with friends and family. As we prepare to begin a new year, we thought it might be fun to reflect on the best gifts surrogates and intended parents (IPs) received from one another during the holidays, and beyond.

Surrogates and IPs have a special relationship that starts before pregnancy, and often continues after the child is born—so it makes sense that they would want to give one another something memorable for the holidays. However, these surrogate and IP gift ideas aren’t just for holidays. You may want to give a gift at the birth, on a birthday, or during the pregnancy. Of course, gift giving is by no means required. It’s just one more way for surrogates and IPs to strengthen their relationship, and say “Thanks” for the experience of a lifetime.

Surrogate Gift Ideas:

Surrogates give IPs something truly priceless: the ability to grow their family through the birth of a child. Here are a few of the gifts surrogates say they love receiving most:

Personalized Jewelry

Charm bracelets and necklaces with birthstones for a surrogate’s own children, along with the birthstone for an IP child, are a treasured memento of your shared journey.

Gift Baskets

Personal care items like scented lotion, comfortable socks, prenatal vitamins and herbal tea are a warm way to show a surrogate you care about her health, happiness and comfort.

Massage

Pregnancy massages can help surrogates de-stress and relax. A massage is also a welcome gift after pregnancy, soothing tired muscles.

Manicure or Pedicure

A little self-care can go a long way. Gift certificates for manicures and pedicures are always favorite surrogate gifts.

Housecleaning and/or Meal Delivery Services

Who wouldn’t love free house cleaning and a fresh-cooked meal? Housework can be a struggle when you’re pregnant, making this an outstanding gift.

Gifts for Children

Surrogates’ children are sharing their mother with another family for more than nine months—so some IPs choose to give them gifts, like, books, games, toys or snacks. The gesture is definitely appreciated.

Souvenir Gifts

IPs and surrogates may live many miles away from one another, in different cities, states, or even different countries. Surrogates say they enjoy receiving gifts from the places IPs call home—such as unique cookies or candies made only in your hometown.

Vacation

While this is certainly not a typical gift, it’s definitely an incredible one: One surrogate said her IPs sent her entire family to Disneyland, all expenses paid. Wow!

Family Photos

IPs often send photos of their family to their surrogates, showing how it has grown over the years. This is an easy way to show your surrogate what a big difference she has made, for a small cost.

Birthday Gifts

Many surrogates say they appreciate getting an annual birthday card or small gift from their IPs. Some IPs continue to remember surrogate birthdays, long after the baby’s birth.

Mother’s Day Gifts

Some IPs send flowers on Mother’s Day, to thank surrogates for helping become mothers, too.

Note of Thanks

A handwritten note or letter costs next to nothing, but is worth so much to the recipient, who will carry your words of gratitude with them forever.

 

IP Gift ideas:

Surrogates are very generous people—so they may want to give a special gift to their IPs as well. Many of the above ideas, like birthstone jewelry or meal services (great for new parents), could also make excellent gifts for IPs. Here are a few of the best IP gift ideas we found online:

Personalized Christmas Ornaments

An ornament engraved with the new baby’s name is a sweet seasonal gift that will be enjoyed every year.

Baby Clothing, Nursery Décor and Gifts

Cute baby clothing, toys, bottles, blankets and other new-parent gifts are always appropriate and appreciated.

Ultrasound Gifts

Today, you can get many gifts items personalized with ultrasound images or recordings of a baby’s heartbeat—from framed photos, to jewelry, to keychains and more.

Photo Album

Share photos from your pregnancy and the baby’s birth in a special album or photo book.

Restaurant Gift Cards

New parents are often overwhelmed with the responsibilities of caring for a baby. A restaurant gift card could give IPs a much-needed date night—or just a night off from cooking.

Movie Night at Home

Fill a popcorn bucket or bowl with a bag of popcorn, movie snacks and a DVD or Redbox gift card to help new parents relax and enjoy a night in.

Unique “Birthday” Gifts

Years after the baby’s birth, it can be fun to hold a memento from the day they were born. IPs (and children) may enjoy looking back on a newspaper from this day, a book of famous birthdays, or a photo of the night sky the day the child was born.

 

Interested in surrogacy?

Surrogacy is a special gift that continues to benefit both giver and recipient for years to come. If you’re an IP or surrogate interested in beginning a new surrogacy journey, feel free to reach out to Newborn Advantage with any questions you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.

 

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Our team has listed the top five blog posts for 2019 from Newborn Advantage. Each post has a great meaning and value to each aspect of surrogacy with Newborn Advantage, from different tips for helping men out in their surrogacy journey to the legalities involving surrogacy in your area. Our founder Mindy Berkson strives to create a comfortable experience for both the family and the surrogate. We included a blog about how much our surrogates love to work with us and the families they bring a child to.  

 

Fertility for Men: 3 Ways to Help You Become a Dad, Faster

Dads teach us so many life lessons starting from birth; from the typical dad joke to exploring the world and encouraging us to grow and learn. We are very happy to help a man become a father when he otherwise could not. In this post our team addresses different reasoning behind most male infertility and why surrogacy is a great way for single aspiring dads, and gay couples to become fathers.

Link to Full Blog Post

Fertility Planning for Men and Women

Fertility Planning for Men and Women

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are very special holidays to most but can be very sad and heart wrenching to those families that cannot have a child or have continuously tried and were unsuccessful. For families of the same sex we understand it can be a tough experience not being able to conceive a child and we love to help bring that possibility to life. In this blog we discuss infertility for men and women, and this post addresses different reasons behind infertility. Our team hopes to build a family for those who have almost lost hope.

Link to Full Blog Post

Understanding Surrogacy Laws

This post is all about the legalities and different laws involved in surrogacy. Surrogacy has many different laws in different states and countries. Couples of the same sex go through many more different legal issues throughout the process, Newborn Advantage is here to make this a simple stress-free process. Our team is here to address certain questions and how we can make it work for everyone’s circumstances. Our founder Mindy Berkson spoke with Richard B. Vaughn, Esq., Founding Partner of the International Fertility Law Group about the different laws involving surrogacy. He answers some very valuable questions pertaining to our specific audience. Mindy wants you to be completely knowledgeable on the process and this post has successfully hit on major legal issues. 

Link to Full Blog Post

The Safer Way to Conceive Twins

Tips on using two surrogates.

Having twins is a goal for most same sex families to expand their family at once. This is a main goal for most using surrogacy, IVF, and ART. Newborn Advantage recommends using two surrogates versus a multiple pregnancy because it reduces the risks for low birth rate, and developmental issues. Using two surrogates also lowers the cost of insurance versus a multiple pregnancy. Our team strives to match each family with a match of a surrogate in a very timely manner. Our founder, Mindy Berkson understands the struggle of wanting a family fast and not being able to conceive on your own, our team is here to address all your concerns and help build your family.  

Link to Full Blog Post

What is it like to be a surrogate mother?

Testimonials from surrogates at Newborn Advantage, and how they love what they do. 

In this blog post our team showcases some testimonials from our surrogates. Each one has an amazing story expressing how much they enjoyed their experience working with Newborn and how much they loved being able to help out our families. They all expressed how comfortable the process was for them and majority became lifelong friends with the families they helped. Our surrogates all have a love for helping people and enjoyed the experience of bringing a child to a family of the same sex who without help can otherwise not conceive on their own.

Link to Full Blog Post

It’s almost Thanksgiving—and here at Newborn Advantage, we have a lot to be grateful for, including our wonderful clients and the incredible surrogates who work with us. If you’re looking for ways to show appreciation to your surrogate for making parenthood possible, we have some great ideas. Why thank your surrogate? Expressing gratitude and support can strengthen the relationship and show her you appreciate all she has done to help you achieve your dream of parenthood. Of course, intended parents are under no obligation to buy gifts, as you have already invested a lot into the surrogacy arrangement. However, there are many ways to show appreciation that don’t cost a thing—like writing a card, making a phone call, or just saying, “thank you.”

Here are 10 ways to say “Thanks for being our Surrogate.”

1. Be present during the process.
If you live in another city, state or country than your surrogate, you may not be able to travel often for meetings or appointments. However, if your surrogate is nearby, make it a point to be there for major appointments, like the embryo transfer and heartbeat ultrasound. Being present shows your surrogate that you care, and makes the relationship more personal.

2. Give empathy.
Medications and pregnancy can take a toll on the body. Be understanding and empathetic, and
check in on your surrogate from time to time to see how she’s doing. Surrogates should also be empathetic toward intended parents, understanding that the surrogacy journey can be stressful and emotional.

3. Say thanks.
Sometimes a simple “thank you” goes a long way. Surrogates give so much of their time and their bodies, and gratitude is always appreciated.

4. Send a card.
Handwritten cards can be very meaningful—and in today’s digital age, they are more rare than ever. When you have a few moments, send a Thank You card, whether it’s before, during, or after the surrogacy process is complete. If you have other children, ask them to sign the card, or even draw a picture. It just might make your surrogate’s day.

5. Remember birthdays and holidays.
Birthday cards and holiday cards are always well received. Sending a holiday card to your surrogate is a kind gesture—and a birthday card is an even more personal one.

6. Send a Surrogate Care Package.
Everyone sends gifts for the baby—but what about the surrogate? Fill a gift basket or box with maternity items like lotion or oil, a cute maternity top, and healthy snacks. You can also add fun and unique items like books, CDs or DVDs, warm socks, foot soak, or a massager.

7. Give a Gift Card.
If you really want to make her smile, tuck a gift card inside a Thank You card. A nice dinners, healthy salad, cup of decaf coffee, or frozen yogurt is a welcome treat that can make pregnancy more pleasant.

8. Share a Quote.
Do you have a favorite mantra? Ever share inspiring quotes on social media? Every now and then, send an uplifting quote or a funny meme with your surrogate, to brighten her day.

9. Remember the Partners.
Is there a partner in your surrogate’s Life? Remember to recognize and acknowledge the man or woman who stands by her. Although they don’t play a direct role in bringing your new baby into the world, they do provide invaluable support for the woman who will.

10. Give Yourself Grace.
Remember to be kind to yourself throughout this journey as well. As an intended parent, you’re about to have the most rewarding (and challenging) job of your life—so recognize your own commitment and courage, and give yourself a little “me time,” while you still can. You’ll thank yourself later!

Interested in learning more about surrogacy?

At Newborn Advantage, we are grateful to each and every one of our clients—and we look forward to the opportunity to serve you. Give us a call or email us with any questions you may have.

You’ve survived breast cancer—that’s amazing! As you get ready for the next chapter of your life, you may be wondering about pregnancy after breast cancer. Here’s the good news: you can have a baby after breast cancer, and there are many options available to do so. You may be able to get pregnant naturally, with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, or via gestational surrogacy. Adoption is also an option. Here are a few common questions we hear from women who have had breast cancer, and are curious about pregnancy after cancer treatment.

Can I get pregnant after breast cancer?

Many women who have had breast cancer are able to get pregnant naturally, and recent studies have shown that having a child after breast cancer treatment does not seem to lower your chances for long-term survival. In fact, it may even increase survival rates.

Fertility after chemotherapy depends on your age, as well as the types and dosages of chemo medicine you received.

Generally, the younger you are, the greater your chances of becoming pregnant without IVF. Women who are under 30 have the highest fertility rates after breast cancer, and those who are closer to menopause, which usually starts around age 51, have the lowest fertility rates after cancer.

Women with lower doses of chemotherapy are also more likely to get pregnant after cancer treatment than those who received higher doses. Certain chemotherapy drugs, like Cytoxan, Platinol, and Adriamycin can increase risk of losing fertility. Other drugs, like methotrexate, fluorouracil and vincristine are less likely to cause infertility. For some newer drugs, like Taxol, Taxotere, and Abraxane, the effects on fertility are unknown.

I haven’t started cancer treatment yet. Is there anything I can do now to preserve my fertility?

For women who want to have children after breast cancer, there are several ways to preserve fertility before your treatments begin. Talk with your doctor, as well as a fertility specialist, before making treatment plans. Ask what your options are to increase fertility. You may choose to freeze an egg, store embryos before cancer treatment begins, or take medication to protect your ovaries from damage. The sooner you speak with a fertility specialist, the greater your chances are of preserving your fertility after cancer.

How long should I wait to get pregnant after cancer treatment?

If you get pregnant during your cancer treatment, or too soon afterward, the drugs in your system could harm the fetus. Chemotherapy patients are advised to wait at least six months before attempting to get pregnant. Depending on your treatment and the drugs you are taking, your doctor’s recommendations may vary, so it’s best to check with your doctor first.

Should I use IVF to increase my chances of getting pregnant?

IFV is an option for many women after breast cancer, but check with your doctor to make sure it is safe for you to take fertility medicine. If you have had hormone-sensitive cancer, there are medications you can take to reduce the amount of estrogen in your body during your fertility treatment. The costs of IVF should be considered, too. Your health insurance provider may be able to cover some of these expenses.

What if I can’t get pregnant after cancer treatment?

Women who are unable to get pregnant after cancer may wish to consider gestational surrogacy. With gestational surrogacy, an embryo is created via IVF, using the eggs and sperm of the intended parents or donors, and then transferred to a surrogate. The surrogate mother is not biologically related to the child she carries—but you, and/or your partner, may be, if you choose to donate your own eggs and/or sperm.

With gestational surrogacy, you may use your own eggs, or donor eggs, which can be fertilized with your partner’s sperm, or donor sperm. Gestational surrogacy is a great option for women who have frozen an egg or an embryo prior to their cancer treatment, or women who are able to get pregnant, but unable to carry the baby to term.

Interested in learning more about surrogacy for women with breast cancer?

At Newborn Advantage, we’re committed to helping clients achieve success in pregnancy after cancer treatment. We recognize and respect that your journey to motherhood may be different than someone else’s. But that doesn’t make it any less beautiful. If you’re interested in learning more about gestational surgery, give us a call or email us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.

While 47 states allow for surrogacy, New York continues to ban the practice. New York law currently forces infertile heterosexual couples and singles, and LGBTQ couples and singles to leave the state in order to enter into legal contracts that support surrogacy.

This current issue inspired our founder, Mindy Berkson, to elaborate on the surrogacy ban in New York. In Newborn Advantage’s latest podcast, Mindy dives into those affected by the ban, those who would benefit from the ban being lifted, and the actions she believes New York should take in light of the growing field of Assisted Reproduction and evolving family expectations.

If you’re considering surrogacy, you’ve probably spent a lot of time thinking about how to find the right surrogate—someone with good health, a great personality, and a heart for helping others. One of the best ways to find a high-quality surrogate is to work with a surrogacy agency, and that makes choosing a surrogacy agency as important as choosing a surrogate. The best surrogacy agencies are experienced, professional, friendly, quality-focused and well-connected. They should be willing to answer your questions and happy to guide you through the surrogacy process. Here are a few things look for when choosing a surrogacy agency:

How are surrogates selected and screened?

You want to give your newborn an advantage in life—so it’s important to choose a surrogate with the best genetics available. When interviewing agencies, ask about their surrogate selection and screening process. Surrogates should be screened for physical and psychological health—and they should also have a personality that meshes well with yours.

How long does it take to be matched with a surrogate?

The sooner you are matched with a surrogate, the sooner you will be able to welcome a new baby into your home. While some surrogacy agencies can take up to eight months to match you with a qualified surrogate, the best surrogacy agencies are well-connected to a large group of surrogates—which means they can match you much faster. Newborn Advantage can place you with an ideal gestational surrogate within just two weeks.

Does the agency offer a surrogate guarantee?

What happens if you’re matched with a surrogate, but she is not able to go through with the pregnancy? Look for surrogacy agencies that provide a surrogate guarantee. With Newborn Advantage, if your candidate does not pass your doctor’s medical clearance, you will be re-matched with another qualified candidate, at no additional cost.

Will the agency guide you through the surrogacy process?

The surrogacy process is about more than pregnancy and birth. There are legal, financial and health-related aspects to surrogacy as well. Look for a surrogacy agency that will guide you through the surrogacy process and provide you with professional referrals to

physicians, attorneys, financial and estate planners, and mental health professionals, if needed.

How much experience does the surrogacy agency have?

The best surrogacy agencies earn their reputations through experience. Look for surrogacy agencies who have been in business for ten or more years, if possible. People who have worked in surrogacy for many years will understand the nuances of the surrogacy process, and can help you avoid problems they may have seen in the past. Experienced surrogacy agencies are also more likely to have professional relationships with doctors, attorneys, financial service providers, and of course, surrogates.

What is the surrogacy cost?

Surrogacy is expensive, but as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. Surrogacy costs include surrogate compensation, medical costs, surrogacy insurance, surrogacy agency fees, and other expenses. Ask for a detailed breakdown of surrogacy costs, or a sample gestational surrogacy contract. If the surrogacy agency is not transparent about pricing, this may be a cause for concern.

How are their people skills?

When choosing a surrogacy agency, look for one with friendly and helpful people. When you call the agency, is the phone answered by someone who is kind? When you ask questions, do they help you find the answers you need? If a surrogacy agency isn’t easy to work with at the beginning, you may run into more problems down the line.

What is your confidence level with the surrogacy agency?
After you evaluate a potential surrogacy agency considering the factors above, consider your feelings. If your confidence level is high, it’s a good sign that you may have found the right surrogacy agency for you. If not, you may want to keep looking.

Ready to take the next step?

At Newborn Advantage, we understand how important it is to evaluate surrogacy agencies and choose the one that works best for your family. If you’re interested in learning more about how our surrogacy process works, give us a call or email us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.

The cost of surrogacy is high — but you won’t find a better ROI.

Most parents would agree that children are priceless—but no one would argue that having children is expensive. If you’re considering surrogacy, you may be wondering about the average cost of surrogacy, which includes surrogate compensation, surrogate health insurance and surrogacy medical expenses. In this blog, we’ll discuss the cost of surrogacy, as well as its benefits. At Newborn Advantage, we believe that while the cost of surrogacy is high, the return on your investment can be even higher.

“What you invest in surrogacy will yield a great return: a healthy pregnancy, live birth, and happy, healthy life for your child,” says Mindy Berkson, Surrogacy Consultant at Newborn Advantage. “Surrogacy is an investment in your family and your future. It is rewarding, and you will reap the value over time.”

What is the average cost of surrogacy?

The average cost of surrogacy is about $120,000 to 130,000. Below is a breakdown of some of the biggest expenses covered in that total, and what you will receive in return.

Medical expenses:

$25,000 to $30,000

Surrogate medical expenses include medical screenings, creation of the embryos through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer fees. If your end family building goal is to have more than one child, this expense can be amortized over time, as you will control the disposition of all embryos created through IVF. Identifying a fertility center with above national average success rates is paramount to maximizing your IVF cycle and results.

Surrogacy Insurance Coverage:

$12,000 premium | $16,000 deductible per baby

The cost of surrogacy insurance coverage is high—but it is certainly worth the investment. The cost of a surrogate insurance policy includes a policy premium, and an additional charge per baby. Instead of transferring more than on embryo to a single surrogate, many parents choose to work with two surrogates and have two singleton pregnancies, which is healthier for the babies, as well as the surrogates. While you will pay more for insurance coverage with two surrogates, you will be paying for a reduced risk and healthier outcomes.

Surrogate Compensation:

$30,000 and up

Surrogate compensation starts at $30,000, and experienced surrogates will earn more. This does not include medical or other costs—this is purely surrogate compensation for the woman who will be devoting nearly a year of her life to carrying your child. When you think about it, it is a pretty unbelievable deal! At Newborn Advantage, we only work with the best surrogates, who have passed medical and psychological screenings, helping to give you the greatest advantage in conceiving a healthy child.

Legal Expenses:

$11,000 and up

Because surrogacy is a contractual arrangement, surrogacy legal expenses are important to consider. Attorney fees for intended parents start at $11,000 and vary greatly per state. Working with a surrogacy attorney ensures that your legal rights are protected while working with a surrogate. Your surrogacy attorney will also help navigate the legal processes in the state where your surrogate resides. Newborn Advantage specializes in gay surrogacy, and we partner with attorneys who understand legal issues for gay and lesbian parents. Legal expenses for surrogacy may seem steep, but if you don’t enlist the services of a surrogacy attorney, you may encounter legal issues that are much more expensive.

Surrogacy Agency Fees:

Agency fees start at $25,000. Why work with a surrogacy agency? Surrogacy agencies act as your advocate, protecting you from many of the risks of surrogacy. Given the costs of surrogacy, some intended parents may be curious about independent surrogacy cost. Potential clients often ask, “How much does surrogacy cost with a family member?” or, “What is the surrogacy cost with a friend?” In either of these scenarios, you could deduct the agency fees and the surrogate’s compensation, saving yourself approximately $55,000. If you’re feeling very risky, you might elect not to pay a surrogacy attorney, saving an additional $11,000 in surrogacy legal expenses.

But what happens if things don’t go as planned? Without a legal surrogacy agreement, who protects your rights in the surrogacy arrangement? And what about personal matters? What happens if the surrogate is unable to conceive, if you can’t agree on surrogate compensation, or if personal problems arise? While a surrogacy attorney handles legal arrangements, it is the role of the surrogacy agency to match you with a healthy surrogate who has an excellent chance of having a healthy child. It’s also our role to act as an intermediary between intended parents and surrogates, protecting your interests and helping navigate sensitive issues. If an intended match does not work out, we will re-match you at no additional charge. Think of the surrogacy agency fee as a price you pay for peace of mind, to help the surrogacy process go smoothly, and to avoid potential problems.

Invest in your Family

The cost of surrogacy gives many intended parents pause, but when you consider surrogacy as an investment, it is worth the cost. The joy of starting a family, creating an incredible bond with your children, and carrying on your legacy can’t be measured in dollars and cents. If you’re ready to become a parent and interested in gestational surrogacy, we can help. We look forward to hearing from you!