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BABY MIRACLES, INC.
Office
2173 Salk Avenue, Suite 250
Carlsbad, CA 92008-7383
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 2772
San Marcos, CA 92079
Phone
(760) 743.0601
Facsimile
(760) 743.0695
E-mail
Surrogacy:
Egg Donation:
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The following questions represent the most frequently asked questions by potential Donors, Surrogates, and Prospective Parents pursuing egg donation, surrogacy, or both.
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Q: What is the advantage of using an agency?
A: Agencies can vary with regard to the services they provide, but using an agency is recommended to ensure all aspects of your egg donation arrangement are handled and all parties receive the personal care and support they need. Baby Miracles will assist you in selecting a Donor that meets your criteria, facilitate your Donor’s medical and psychological screening, set up a trust account for payment of donation-related expenses, prepare the Egg Donation Contract (if California jurisdiction criteria is met and you request this service) and review with the parties, monitor your Donor’s cycle calendar and progress and provide you with reports each step of the way. If the Donor must travel, we will make all travel and hotel arrangements and ensure your Donor receives travel-related expenses.
Q: Do you charge a consultation or registration fee?
A: No, you will not be charged a consultation fee or a registration fee; the agency fee is the only fee you will pay and that is not payable until you have secured a Donor. You may speak with our Egg Donation Program Administrator as many times as you wish and receive program information without paying any fees.
Q: Do we have to qualify for your egg donation program?
A: Couples who contact Baby Miracles must meet certain program guidelines to be accepted into our program. In the initial contact with the agency, it will be determined whether a couple meets this criteria, specifically, they must be a married, heterosexual couple (or in a long-term committed relationship), have a stable relationship, both partners must be committed to the egg donation process, and at least one partner must be under 55 years of age.
Q: Can we use a Donor in your Program if we have our own surrogate mother?
A: Absolutely!
Q: If we use both a Donor and Surrogate in your program, is there a discount on the agency fee?
A: Yes, we will give you a $500 discount on the agency fee for the Egg Donation Program.
Q: Where do you find your Donors?
A: Through a variety of advertising at colleges and universities, magazine and newspaper publications, internet, as well as clinic and personal referrals.
Back to Prospective Parents Pursuing Egg Donation
Q: What are the criteria for Donors in your program?
A: Women who are considered to be Donors in Baby Miracles’ program
are between the ages of 20 and 31 (29 is the cut-off age for registration)
are healthy and free of sexually-transmitted diseases
are height/weight proportionate
do not smoke or take illegal drugs
are not alcohol-dependent
are not currently on public assistance
have never been convicted of a crime
have not gotten a tattoo or body piercing within 12 months of a donation
have completed high school or have a GED equivalent
have reliable transportation
reside in the United States
exhibit a cooperative attitude and sincere desire to help others
Q: What type of screening to the Donors undergo?
A: Once a potential Donor has been selected by a couple she undergoes medical screening which includes a careful medical history, a pelvic examination (including a pelvic ultrasound), blood tests to look for infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis and HTLV-I), cervical cultures for gonorrhea and chlamydia and hormone blood tests to predict ovarian response to the fertility drugs. She will also undergo a psychological evaluation which will generally include an MMPI (personality inventory).
Q: What fee do your Donors receive?
A: That depends upon the particular Donor.First-time Donors receive a fee of $5,000. Repeat Donors and "Exceptional" Donors (high demand Donors) may request a higher fee. You will be notified of a particular Donor’s fee at the time the Donor’s profile is provided to you.
Q: What is an “Exceptional Donor”?
A: An Exceptional Donor is one who meets the following criteria: (a) they have completed two or more successful donations resulting in pregnancies, or (b) are of a high demand ethnic background, i.e. Jewish, Asian, etc., or (c) have outstanding academic achievements/IQ, i.e. SAT score of 1250 or over, or (d) have professional achievements based upon physical appearance, i.e. modeling.
Q: What information will we receive on your Donors?
A. You will receive a comprehensive profile that includes statistical information such as location, age, height, weight, race, ethnicity, educational background, medical history of the Donor and biological relatives, as well as the Donor’s responses to a variety of questions about her interests and abilities. You will also receive a copy of all photos of the Donor that she has provided to us.
Q: What commitment do we make to your agency to see Donor profiles?
A: None. We will send you as many Donor profiles via e-mail as you wish to see without charge (and a limited number via U.S. mail, if necessary). You do not pay our agency a fee until you have secured a Donor.
Back to Prospective Parents Pursuing Egg Donation
Q: How can we view your Donors and receive Donor profiles?
A: You may view our on-line Donor database by going to our Inquiry page to obtain a password. Click here to go to our Inquiry page. Our Donor database contains a full page of face shots of our Donors; each photo is linked to a page containing a biography and additional photos of the Donor. Once you have the ID. number of the Donors in whom you are interested, e-mail us with those names and ID numbers and they will be sent to you within 48 hours via e-mail.
Q: Are all your Donors available now?
A: Not necessarily. Donors that are students may have restrictions due to their examination schedules. Some Donors may be currently donating for another couple, but may become available later for a future donation. Upon request we will give you a status on each Donor's report
Q: How are the Donor's compensation and expenses paid?
A: Upon selection of a Donor you will receive a process letter that will itemize all expenses to be paid to or on behalf of your Donor. You will send us a check for those expenses, which will be deposited into Baby Miracles' Fund Management Account ("FMA"). The Case Coordinator will requisition payments to pay the Donor’s compensation and expenses.
Q: Who handles the money to pay our Donor's expenses?
A: The Fund Management Account ("FMA") is administered by the agency's Director. The Case Coordinator will requisition payments for the Donor’s compensation and expenses, which are reviewed by the Director, who is responsible for issuing payment. All payments to and from your FMA are entered on a Report, which you will receive upon conclusion of your egg donation arrangement or at any time you request during your egg donation arrangement.
Q: If we choose an Egg Donor from your program, can we still work with our own doctor?
A: Yes, we are not a medical facility. We will coordinate arrangements between your chosen Egg Donor and your doctor.
Q: If we do not have a fertility clinic, can you recommend one?
A: Absolutely. We work with many clinics throughout the U.S. and can either recommend one with which we have worked previously or will locate one for you.
Back to Prospective Parents Pursuing Egg Donation
Q: What if we choose a Donor that does not live near out clinic?
A: Most Donors are willing to travel to complete a donation. The clinic at which the egg retrieval is to take place is known as the “primary clinic”. Generally, the Donor will be seen at a “monitoring clinic” located near her for ultrasounds and hormone level and travel to the primary clinic approximately 5-6 days prior to the anticipated date of the egg retrieval. Oftentimes, a one-day screening trip will be required by the primary clinic to establish your Donor as a patient and to conduct any necessary screening.
Q: Can we meet the Donor?
A: That depends upon whether your Donor wishes to remain anonymous. Each Donor’s on-line profile indicates whether she wishes to have a “semi-open” or “anonymous” donation. While most Donors wish to remain anonymous, some are willing to meet the couple to whom she will donate. Rarely will a Donor require that she meet the couple.
Q: What is the difference between an "anonymous" and "semi-open" donation?
A: Anonymous Donation: Most Egg Donors and Recipients prefer to remain anonymous, and we certainly respect their wishes. If that is your choice, you will have no contact with the Donor and all communications will be through the agency.
Semi-Open Donation: You may speak with or meet the Donor, but no contact or identifying information will be exchanged.
Q: What are our chances of having a baby using a Donor?
A: While that depends upon a number of factors, including the quality of the sperm, the history of the gestational carrier, and the fertility clinic’s IVF lab and embryologist, the success rate of IVF when Donor eggs are used can be as high as 75%.
Q: What if the Donor we select doesn't work out?
A: Occasionally, for personal or medical reasons, the original egg donor selected does not work out. For example, the cycle can be cancelled by the fertility clinic. In all such cases, the Prospective Parents will pay no additional fee to Baby Miracles to choose another egg donor. Baby Miracles guarantees that an egg retrieval will take place.
Q. What if our Donor does not produce eggs even after being on ovarian stimulation medications?
A. On occasion a Donor does not respond to the medication that is given to stimulate the ovaries. Typically a doctor will cancel the cycle if a Donor produces fewer than four good-sized follicles. In such an event the Donor will receive a $500.00 thank you gift in appreciation of her time and efforts.
Back to Prospective Parents Pursuing Egg Donation
Q: What if we do not get pregnant with our Egg Donor?
A: On occasion a couple does not achieve a pregnancy on their first attempt. There are four options available:
1) Use any frozen embryos;
2) Be re-matched with another Egg Donor. No one knows why a particular match does not result in a pregnancy. Sometimes we rematch the couple with another Egg Donor and their first Egg Donor with another couple, and all achieve a pregnancy;
3) Participate in a surrogacy program if your fertility specialist determines the cause of the failed cycle may be related to issues with respect to the Prospective Mother;
4) End our working relationship. Not every couple retaining our services will fulfill their dream of having a child.
Q: Should we be concerned that the Donor might try to assert a legal right to our baby?
A: The main fear that recipient couples have is that their Donor might turn up on their doorstep some day demanding maternal rights. This has not yet happened and, for several reasons, we believe is very unlikely to occur in the future. The anonymity of the process is one layer of protection while the consent forms and legal contracts used for this process is another.
Q: What happens to the eggs we do not use?
A: All eggs retrieved from one cycle are fertilized with sperm. A certain number of embryos are implanted into the uterus of the Prospective Mother or gestational carrier. Any remaining embryos are cryopreserved (frozen) for future use. If at some point you decide you do not want to use the remaining embryos, your Egg Donation Contract with the Donor will determine to some extent the disposition. Some Donors require that the eggs from the donation be used only by the couple for whom she donated or otherwise be destroyed while others leave it up to the couple who may donate them to research or to another infertile couple.
Q: Do we need an attorney to draft the Contract between us and our Donor?
A: That depends. The language in Baby Miracles' standard form of Contract is specifically designed for an egg donation arrangement entered into or carried out in California. This means that one of the parties must reside in California or the fertility clinic where the egg retrieval is to take place is located in California. We are happy to provide the Contract (and review it with you) at a modest charge as long as that criteria is met. If Baby Miracles' standard form Contract is used, the Donor has the option of having an independent attorney represent her (in which case you would be responsible for the cost, which is a "capped" amount), however, most Donors waive this right and are comfortable reviewing the terms of the Contract with the Case Coordinator, particularly repeat Donors.
Back to Prospective Parents Pursuing Egg Donation
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Q: Is an "ovum" Donor the same as an "Egg" Donor?
A: Yes. Ovum is the plural of “ova”, which means “egg”.
Q: It seems like a lot of couples need an Egg Donor, why is that?
A: The most common reason for egg donation is age factor infertility. A woman's egg supply is fixed before birth and every day a number of eggs is lost. Ultimately the egg supply reaches zero and menopause occurs, typically at age 51 (plus or minus 10-12 years). Long before menopause the egg supply and quality of remaining eggs decreases to such a level that pregnancy becomes unlikely. Thus women experience significantly reduced fertility 10-15 years before menopause. This is not a well known fact and hence many women have planned their lives and careers based on the mistaken belief that their fertility will remain normal well into their forties. As a result, a majority of women seeking egg donation are over forty and have found their egg supply to be too low to allow a reasonable chance of pregnancy. Some women have run out of eggs much earlier than usual, a form of premature menopause (or premature ovarian failure). Still others may have had their ovaries surgically removed (for ovarian tumors of various kinds) or were born without functional ovaries.
Q: who can become an Egg Donor?
A: Women who
are between the ages of 20 and 31 (29 is the cut-off age for registration)
are healthy and free of sexually-transmitted diseases
are height/weight proportionate
do not smoke or take illegal drugs
are not alcohol-dependent
are not currently on public assistance
have never been convicted of a crime
have not gotten a tattoo or body piercing within 12 months of a donation
have completed high school or have a GED equivalent
have reliable transportation
reside in the United States
exhibit a cooperative attitude and a sincere desire to help others
Q: Is there a cost to me to become an Egg Donor?
A: No. Baby Miracles does not charge a registration fee, and the couple to whom you donate will pay all medical, legal, and screening expenses.
Q: How many times can I donate?
A: The American Society of Reproductive Medicine recommends that any one woman donate eggs six times or less. You must allow at least a month between donations for your body to go back to a normal cycle; many clinics require two cycles between donations.
Q: What is the compensation that I will receive for each donation?
A: First time Egg Donors receive $5,000 for a donation cycle resulting in retrieval. After a successful donation (particularly if a pregnancy is achieved and/or there are good quality embryos to cryopreserve), many Donors go on to do subsequent donations and receive a higher fee. “Exceptional" Donors may receive a higher fee.
Back to Egg Donors
Q: What is an "Exceptional" Donor?
A: An Exceptional Donor is one who meets the following criteria: (a) they have completed two or more successful donations resulting in pregnancies, or (b) are of a high demand ethnic background, i.e. Jewish, Asian, etc., or (c) have outstanding academic achievements/IQ, i.e. SAT score of 1250 or over, or (d) have professional achievements based upon physical appearance, i.e. modeling.
Q: What is involved in the screening process?
A: Once you have been selected by a Recipient couple, you will undergo medical and psychological screening tests which include an in-depth medical history, a pelvic examination (including a pelvic ultrasound), blood tests to look for infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis and HTLV-I and II), cervical cultures for gonorrhea and chlamydia and hormone blood tests to predict ovarian response to the fertility drugs. The psychological screening generally includes an interview with a therapist experienced in this area and a specialized personality inventory test called the MMPI.
Q: Will being a Donor affect my everyday life?
A: Egg donation requires a time commitment. During the donation cycle, you will be given medications for about three weeks, and you will make several visits to the program for blood tests and ultrasounds. You will be responsible for arranging your work or school schedule to fit the demands of egg donation. You will be required to refrain from drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and using illegal drugs. You will not be able to use any prescription or non-prescription drugs without permission. If you are in a sexual relationship, you must abstain from unprotected intercourse during specific weeks of the treatment cycle.
Q: Will I have to travel for the donation and, if so, how long would I be away from home?
A: That depends upon what clinic the Recipients are working with and whether it is local to you. Most clinics require a Donor be at the clinic 5-6 days prior to the anticipated retrieval date and recommend remaining 24 hours prior to returning home. Occasionally, if the ovarian stimulation is a bit slower than anticipated, your trip may need to be extended by a day or two. You may also be required to make a one-day trip for screening. Monitoring appointments done throughout your cycle can be arranged with a clinic and/or lab local to you.
Q: Can I take someone with me if I have to travel?
A: Absolutely! We prefer that our Donors not travel alone. The Recipient couple will pay all travel, hotel, and food expenses for you and a companion.
Q: Will I be able to travel to another country for a donation?
A: That depends upon the location of the Recipient couple and whether they are working with a clinic in the U.S. or abroad. Occasionally, we will have a couple request a Donor travel to their country, however, we would only allow our Donors to travel to certain countries that are considered “safe”. The safety of our Donors is of paramount importance.
Back to Egg Donors
Q: Will I need to make the travel arrangements?
A: No, your Egg Donation Coordinator will make all travel and hotel arrangements for you and will assist with the rental car. She will also ensure that you receive food and expense allowances prior to departure.
Q: What is the difference between an open donation and an anonymous donation?
A: Open Donation: If you choose open donation, you will have an opportunity to meet the Recipients provided they are in agreement. Your first contact with the couple may be by telephone or an "in person" meeting, depending upon where the parties are located. Occasionally, the parties will choose to meet briefly at the clinic on the day of the retrieval. In most cases, no identifying or contact information is exchanged.
Anonymous Donation: Some Egg Donors and Recipients prefer to remain anonymous, and we certainly respect their wishes. If that is your choice, you will have no contact with the couple for whom you donate.
Q: How many eggs do they retrieve and will I still have eggs left if I donate several times?
A: The number of eggs retrieved varies, but typically ranges from 10 to 20 eggs. Upon reaching puberty, there are approximately 300,000 immature egg cells, so you will have plenty of eggs even if you do multiple donations.
Q: How long does the donation take from the time I am selected as a Donor?
A: That depends upon the clinic, screening, etc. On average, it takes 3-4 months from start to finish.
Q: What medications I will take, how are they given, and for how long?
A: The medication protocol will require the use of several medications given by injections over an approximate 3-week period, including Lupron to manipulate ovarian function, then FSH (follicular stimulating hormones) to encourage the development of multiple follicles (the eggs are located in the follicles), then one shot of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to trigger ovulation. All injections will be subcutaneous (given just under the skin) using a very small needle, except for the hCG trigger, which is generally intramuscular.
Q: What are the potential side effects from the medications I will take?
A: Although the vast majority of Donors report no symptoms, potential side effects include:
Breast tenderness
Rash at injection site
Hot flashes
Vaginal dryness
Fatigue
Sleep problems
Body aches
Mood swings
Headaches
Hyperstimulation Syndrome, which includes enlarged ovaries, abdominal pain and bloating
Back to Egg Donors
Q: Can I donate eggs if I am on birth control?
A: Yes, however, if you are taking Depo Provera, you will need to stop this method of birth control in order to become an Egg Donor. If you have been on the pill for a long period of time, once you are selected as a Donor, the Recipients’ clinic may require you to go off the pill for one to two months to avoid over-suppression of your ovaries. If so, you will need to use two alternate reliable means of birth control.
Q: I had a tubal ligation, can I still be a Donor?
A: Yes, the aspiration of your eggs occurs before the eggs are released by your ovaries, therefore, it is irrelevant whether you have had a tubal ligation.
Q: What is involved during the Egg Retrieval?
A: At the appropriate time, you will be told when to administer an hCG intramuscular injection to trigger ovulation. Precisely 36 hours later, the egg retrieval procedure will take place. For the retrieval, you will be given anesthesia so that you will be very comfortable during the procedure, and the eggs will be removed through aspiration (gentle suction). No surgical incision is necessary. The procedure involves the insertion of a flexible catheter through your vagina into your ovaries. This procedure usually takes about twenty minutes to accomplish and requires approximately one hour of recovery time at the clinic. It is required that someone accompanies you to the retrieval in order to assist you in getting home as you cannot drive due to having had anesthesia. You should be able to resume normal activities the following day.
Q: What happens to the eggs after they are retrieved?
A: The eggs are fertilized in the IVF lab with the sperm of the Recipient father and a specified number of resulting embryos are transferred into the uterus of the Recipient mother or surrogate mother approximately 3-5 days later.
Q: What kind of complications can occur from the egg donation procedure?
A: There are four important actual or potential risks. anesthesia complications, risk of infection after the egg retrieval, risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, and potential health hazards from long-term use of the fertility drugs. The latter risk is a theoretical one as thus far no increased risks of any type of cancer (including breast, ovary and uterine) have been reported. It is nevertheless clear that we don't yet know all there is to know about long range health problems from the egg Donor process and won't for many years to come. In recognition of this fact we have a policy that young women should serve as egg Donors a maximum of 6 times during their lifetime.
Back to Egg Donors
Q: Will I have a legal relationship to the baby?
A: No. You will sign an Egg Donation Contract giving up parental rights and obligations to the baby(ies) that result from your donation.
Q: What happens to the embryos created with my eggs if they are not all used?
A: That depends upon your agreement with the Recipient couple. You may stipulate that the couple will use the embryos for their own use only and any unused embryos are destroyed or you may agree that any unused embryos can be donated to research or to another couple.
Q: Will I be able to know whether there was a pregnancy as a result of my donation?
A: We do our best to obtain this information for you and for our records, however, some clinics will not provide any information with regard to the eggs once they are retrieved, citing reasons relating to confidentiality (HIPPA laws). Generally, we are able to get this information from the Recipient couple.
Q: Do I have any say-so as to what couple I donate to?
A: Yes. You will be provided with a profile of the couple who have requested you be their Donor and given an opportunity to tell us whether they are a couple for whom you would be interested in donating.
Q: What happens if the baby has a medical condition and the parents need to find me?
A: We request you keep a current address on file with Baby Miracles so that if additional medical information is needed in the future, we can contact you. Your contact information will never be released to the Recipients nor anyone other than medical professionals associated with your egg donation arrangement.
Q: Why should I work with an agency?
A: Working with an agency will offer you insurance and guidance, as well as years of experience. We can offer you access to recipient couples whom you would otherwise not have access to, increasing your chances of being selected as a Donor. You will work with a Coordinator, who will facilitate all legal and medical appointments, as well as provide ongoing support. Prior to starting medications, all expenses to be paid on your behalf as well as your compensation will be deposited into Baby Miracles’ Client Trust Account by the recipient couple for disbursement by Baby Miracles, to ensure that you will receive your full compensation at the end of your cycle and that all bills are paid.
Q: How do I become a Donor?
A: Click on the “Contact Us” button or click here to complete an on-line preliminary application. Once your preliminary application has been reviewed and a determination has been made that you meet Baby Miracles’ requirements, you will be contacted by our Egg Donation Program Administrator and will be sent application documents via e-mail or U.S. mail, at your option.
Back to Egg Donors
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Q: Do we pick the Surrogate or does she pick us?
A: Both. You will be provided with the profiles of Surrogates who most closely match with your stated preferences. Once you select a potential Surrogate, we will send her your profile (no confidential information is included in either profile) and give her an opportunity to decide whether she would be interested in meeting you.
Q: Where will the initial meeting with the Surrogate take place?
A: If possible, in our office. This is "familiar territory" where both parties have, in most cases, already met with the Director and both parties are more likely to feel comfortable. We have a meeting area much like your own livingroom that puts everyone at ease. If this is not geographically feasible and the parties agree, the initial meeting can be telephonic.
Q: Will we meet the Surrogate's husband?
A: If the Surrogate you select is married or has a live-in partner, yes, unless there is a very good reason why he cannot be present, i.e. he is in the military and on deployment. We feel it is important for both husbands and wives to participate in this decision that will be the starting point of a journey that will take about a year of their lives. We will cover all aspects of the anticipated surrogacy arrangement and many important issues and it is important to ensure everyone is "on the same page".
Q: How do we know the Surrogate Mother will take care of herself?
A: Our Surrogate Mothers are carefully screened. They are all mothers with stable living situations who typically feel heightened sense of responsibility when pregnant with a child not their own. We hold monthly Surrogate Support Group meetings in order to discuss any issues or concerns she may have and keep close contact before, during and after her pregnancy.
Q: How much contact will we have with the Surrogate Mother?
A: As much as you and your Surrogate desire. In your interview with Baby Miracles' Director, she will explore how much involvement you wish to have before, during, and after the pregnancy to ensure the Surrogate candidate(s) you are presented have the same desires and expectations. This will also be thoroughly discussed during your meeting with a potential Surrogate.
Back to Prospective Parents Pursuing Surrogacy
Q: Do you work with International couples?
A: Yes. Because we work very closely in monitoring all aspects of a surrogacy arrangement, the location of the couple is not a significant factor in ensuring the arrangement proceeds smoothly and successfully. We will facilitate all of your arrangements via telephone, email and fax. Our staff members will be available for your surrogate mother and all of her needs. Our comprehensive surrogate support program is a great source of support and encouragement for all surrogates, and especially those whose "couple" cannot be here personally to participate in the pregnancy. Additionally, we are willing to assist you in your travel and accommodations as well and provide you with a map of the local area and information you may need for your stay.
Q: How will the Surrogate's compensation be paid?
A: We will open an Escrow account with an independent, bonded escrow company from which compensation and expenses payable to or on behalf of your Surrogate will be timely paid. You will receive escrow instructions setting forth various disbursements that will not require your signature, but that are "capped". Once your surrogate is confirmed pregnant, escrow disbursement requests for her compensation will be submitted to you for review and signature.
Q: What if the Surrogate changes her mind and wants to keep the baby?
A: First, this cannot happen in California, where our Surrogates are required to reside during the entire term of the pregnancy and deliver. California is a surrogate-friendly state with solid case law in these matters. We take many steps to ensure the woman who carries your baby is psychologically sound and prepared to relinquish the baby upon birth. In fact, that is the moment they are anxious for - to see your faces when you hold your baby for the first time. This is what being a Surrogate is all about for her. Your Surrogate knows that she can go home and get a good night's sleep and you will be the one to get up throughout the night to feed your newborn.
Q: Will our insurance cover the surrogacy?
A: Although your policy may provide coverage for some fertility-related expenses (you will need to review your policy or check with your employer's benefits administrator), insurance policies do not cover third parties. Therefore, your policy will not cover your Surrogate's obstetrical care once she is not longer under the care of the fertility specialist.
Q: Do most Surrogates have health insurance to cover the pregnancy?
A: Unfortunately, although most Surrogates have health care coverage, most health insurance companies exclude a surrogacy-related pregnancy. We review the Surrogate's policy to determine if there is exclusionary language. If so, we will assist her in applying for coverage through an insurance company that has no written exclusion for which you will be responsible for payment of premiums, co-pays and deductibles associated with maternity care and delivery. These expenses are paid out of your escrow account by your Baby Miracles Case Coordinator.
Back to Prospective Parents Pursuing Surrogacy
Q: Is there a fee for the initial consultation?
A: No, Baby Miracles does not charge a fee for consultations or for providing profiles of Surrogate candidates.
Q: What are some of the expected fees involved with surrogacy?
A: Click here to review an itemization of the estimated fees and expenses associated with surrogacy.
Q: Where is your office located?
A: We operate our agency in a professional office suite, as opposed to a home office, providing clients with the security of longevity and stability. Baby Miracles is located in North San Diego County, California. We encourage prospective clients to come to our office for a consultation, if geographically feasible. Our offices hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:30am to 5:30pm, Pacific Standard Time. We are flexible in scheduling your consultation to accommodate your needs.
Q: I am still trying to decide whether surrogacy or adoption is the better option, do you have any insight that could help?
A: The benefits of surrogacy (and surrogacy with egg donation, when appropriate) are extraordinary; it affords you the ability to have one or both parents genetically related to your child. Unlike adoption, you have knowledge and control over the prenatal environment before conception and throughout the pregnancy. You know that the womb in which your precious little one will grow is a healthy environment. You experience the pregnancy from conception through childbirth - not always an option through adoption. Importantly, there is no opportunity for the Surrogate to chance her mind - the baby she carries is yours so you can relax and enjoy the pregnancy.
Q: How much communication can we expect to have with Baby Miracles?
A: We believe that good communication is the cornerstone to a smooth and enjoyable experience for everyone. We provide our clients with process letters throughout their surrogacy arrangement, setting forth what to expect each step of the way. We will closely monitor your Surrogate's medication protocol, appointments, and status and report back to you (as will the clinic and your Surrogate). There are many steps in the process, but our job is to make is as carefree as possible for you and your Surrogate.
Back to Prospective Parents Pursuing Surrogacy
Q: What if we do not have a fertility physician or attorney?
A: Our years of experience with various professionals affiliated with third-party assisted reproduction allows us to make recommendations to professionals that will allow our clients the very best chance of success. We take the team approach -- everyone is on the same team and working toward the same goal - a baby. We believe a successful surrogacy arrangement is not only having a baby, but having a wonderful journey in the process.
Q: Where do we begin?
A: You may either contact us via the contact page (click here) or call our office directly to provide us with information about yourselves so that we may evaluate whether we can be of assistance to you. The next step is a short telephonic "mutual" interview followed by a consultation in our office or telephonically with you and your spouse/partner, depending upon your location. Does this sound like a lot? It is. We thoroughly screen both Prospective Parents and Surrogates in this fashion to ensure the very best surrogacy arrangement and experience for all.
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Q: What are the qualifications to be a Surrogate Mother?
A: In order to be considered to become a Surrogate Mother in Baby Miracles’ program, you must
currently reside in California and reside here during the entire pregnancy and delivery (no exceptions)
be between the ages of 23 and 38 (31 for Traditional Surrogates); exceptions made for repeat Surrogates have borne at least one child that you are currently raising
have easy, uncomplicated pregnancies and enjoy being pregnant
be healthy and free of sexually-transmitted diseases
not have smoked for at least 2 years and never have taken illegal drugs
not be alcohol-dependent and willing not to drink alcoholic beverages while pregnant
meet fertility clinic recommended guidelines for height/weight for gestational carriers
not be receiving welfare
have a good support system, the full support of your husband (if any), and stable living environment
exhibit a pleasant, cooperative attitude
be willing to self-administer hormone injections (or have someone assist you) on a daily basis
have a sincere desire to be a Surrogate for reasons other than financial compensation
Q: What is the difference between a Gestational Surrogate and a Traditional Surrogate?
A: In gestational surrogacy, pregnancy is achieved by transferring embryos created with the Prospective Mother’s eggs or eggs from an Egg Donor and the Prospective Father’s sperm or donor sperm through the process of In Vitro Fertilization into the uterus of the gestational carrier, a quick and painless procedure. With this type of surrogacy, the Surrogate is not biologically related to the baby she will carry. In traditional surrogacy, pregnancy is achieved through Artificial Insemination (“AI”) whereby semen of the Prospective Father or a sperm donor is introduced into the uterus of the Surrogate (intrauterine insemination) in a doctor's office. In this instance, the Surrogate is the biological mother of the baby and, for this reason, most women choose not to be traditional surrogates. The advantage of traditional surrogacy is that, unlike gestational surrogacy, there are no injections.
Q: I'm single and live alone with my children, can I still be a Surrogate in your program?
A: We do not require our Surrogates be married as long as they have a stable home environment and a good independent support system. We require that our Surrogates be of good moral character and have a healthy lifestyle.
Q: I'm married but my husband doesn't want me to be a Surrogate. Do I need his consent?
A: You absolutely DO need his approval and support to be a Surrogate in Baby Miracles' program. We require that the Surrogate's husband/partner accompany her to/participate in the interview with Baby Miracles' Director (an approximately two-hour meeting). He will be required to undergo STD screening, sign the Surrogacy Contract with the couple, and provide ongoing support and encouragement to you.
Q: Can I be a Surrogate if I haven't completed my own family?
A: Yes, although you need to be very sure that you and your husband/partner are in complete agreement to postponing adding to your family.
Back to FAQ’s for Surrogates
Q: I don't live in California but am willing to relocate during pregnancy. Can I be considered for your program?
A: No. We require our Surrogates be residents of California at the time they register with us, without exception.
Q: I've had a tubal ligation, can I still be a Surrogate?
A: Yes. As a gestational surrogate, your ovaries are not involved. You could not, however, be considered for traditional surrogacy.
Q: Can I choose the couple that I will be a Surrogate for?
A: Yes. We will provide your profile to couples who most closely match your preferences and, when we have a couple who are interested in you, we will provide you with their profile and give you an opportunity to decide whether they might be a good couple for you.
Q: How much contact will I have with the couple?
A: As much as you and your couple desire. In your interview with Baby Miracles' we explore how much involvement you wish to have before, during, and after the pregnancy to ensure the couple to whom we provide your profile have the same desires and expectations. This will also be thoroughly discussed during your meeting with the couple.
Q: Will I have to travel?
A: Not if you don't want to. The majority of couples we represent live in California and choose to work with a Surrogate who lives within one to two hours of them. However, in some cases the fertility clinic the Prospective Parents are working with is not geographically close to the Surrogate, in which case the Surrogate must travel to the primary clinic for 3-4 appointments and be seen at a monitoring clinic local to her for others.
Back to FAQ’s for Surrogates
Q: Do I have to take medications and, if so, for how long?
A: Yes, if you are a Gestational Surrogate. The most effective way to maintain your hormonal levels is through shots, however, there are other methods such as patches, pills and suppositories. The means of administration is determined by the clinic, not the agency. The duration depends upon the clinic's protocol, but typically you will take Lupron injections (subcutaneous shots) for approximately two weeks prior to pregnancy, Estrogen injections (an intramuscular shot) twice a week for approximately 9-10 weeks, and progesterone injections (an intramuscular shot) daily for approximately 8-9 weeks. Many clinics have a protocol that call for non-injectable estrogen.
Q: What will I have to pay for?
A: Nothing whatsoever. The Prospective Parents are responsible for all expenses such as medical fees, doctor fees, medications, attorney fees, etc.
Q: What if I don't have insurance?
A: The couple you are a Surrogate for will pay for a policy for you and will pay all premiums, co-pays and deductibles relating to maternity care and delivery through their escrow account.
Q: Will I be able to use my own obstetrician?
A: Possibly. This is dependent upon a number of factors. If you have insurance but it excludes surrogacy and a policy is purchased for you, your obstetrician may not be a provider under that policy. Additionally, some couples wish to participate in the selection of an obstetrician. These issues will be addressed up front when you meet a prospective couple.
Q: Is it likely that I would carry more than one baby?
A: Likely, no, but it is certainly possible. Our goal is to have one healthy baby, however, in gestational surrogacy, generally more than one embryo is transferred, thereby increasing the possibility of a multiple pregnancy. This issue is explored thoroughly during your meeting with the Director as well as your meeting with the Prospective Parents. Whether a Surrogate is willing to carry more than one baby is a significant factor we look at when making a potential match. Your desires in this regard are extremely important as this could potentially impact you and your family more than a singleton pregancy.
Back to FAQ’s for Surrogates
Q: How will I be compensated?
A: The Prospective Parents will fund an escrow account prior to the embryo transfer in an amount sufficient to pay all compensation and expenses contemplated during your surrogacy arrangement (for a singleton, uncomplicated pregnancy). See Information for Surrogates-Compensation for specifics regarding compensation amounts and when they are payable.
Q: How much contact will I have with Baby Miracles?
A: You will have a lot of contact with the agency, both your Case Coordinator and the Support Coordinator. You will deal directly with the agency Director, a four-time gestational surrogate herself, who will be your Case Coordinator from the time you are accepted as a Surrogate in our program until after you deliver the baby. She will provide ongoing information and support, providing guidance each step of the way.
Q: Will I be able to meet other Surrogates?
A: Absolutely! Baby Miracles has a comprehensive Surrogate Support Program, including monthly support group meetings at a local restaurant (dessert and beverages on us!), a monthly newsletter, an on-line support forum just for Baby Miracles' Surrogates, as well as periodic special events. It is our goal for you to have the very best surrogacy experience and sharing your experience with other Surrogates is a wonderful way to give and receive support. In addition, we have a Surrogate Support Coordinator, herself a four-time Gestational Surrogate, who will call you periodically and "be there for you" in addition to your Case Coordinator.
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