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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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INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE PARENTS
(Surrogacy)
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Current statistics show that one in six couples have infertility issues. Not long ago, the only alternative for couples wishing to have a child was adoption; waiting lists for infants were long with no guarantee of obtaining a baby. Happily, that is no longer the case. In 1978, the first In Vitro Fertilization/Embryo Transfer case succeeded in England with the birth of Louise Brown. Over the past 30 years, exciting advances in the reproductive sciences have made it possible for couples to have a baby that is related to one or both of them through third party assisted reproduction - surrogacy and egg donation.
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Agencies are owned and staffed by individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Some are operated by women who are experienced Surrogates themselves, while others are operated by attorneys as a business venture. Knowing the experience and background of an agency's staff will help you to decide which agency is right for you.
Baby Miracles' Staff are experienced fertility assistants themselves, each having completed several egg donations or surrogacies. They have a special understanding of the heartaches of infertility and a strong desire to help others know the joy and fulfillment of bringing a new life into the world. Our experienced staff handles every aspect of the surrogacy arrangement, which includes matching and coordination of all psychological, legal, medical and financial services. We are here to guide you every step of the way and to facilitate the process so that you may focus on the pregnancy and preparing for the birth of your baby(ies).
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Clients - Qualification Requirements
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Couples who qualify for Baby Miracles program must meet certain program guidelines, as follows:
they must have a medical necessity for using a Surrogate
they must be married (or in a long-term, committed relationship)
they must be heterosexual
they must have a stable relationship
one of the couple must be 55 years of age or younger
both partners must be committed to the surrogacy process
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Surrogates - Qualification Requirements
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Baby Miracles is selective about the Surrogates invited to join our program. Women considered to become Surrogate Mothers in Baby Miracles' program must meet certain basic program guidelines; they must
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be between the ages of 23 and 38 (31 for Traditional Surrogates); exceptions made for repeat Surrogates
have borne at least one child whom they are currently raising
have easy, uncomplicated pregnancies and enjoy being pregnant
are healthy and free of sexually-transmitted diseases
do not smoke (and have not smoked for at least 2 years) and have never taken illegal drugs
are not alcohol-dependent and will not drink alcohol during pregnancy
meet fertility clinic recommended guidelines for height/weight for gestational carriers
are not on welfare
have a good support system, the full support of her spouse (if any), and stable living environment
must exhibit a cooperative attitude
must be willing to self-administer hormone injections (or have someone available to assist) on a daily basis
must have a primary motivation other than financial gain
must reside in the State of California from registration with Baby Miracles through delivery of the baby
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Surrogate Evaluation/Determination of Eligibility
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Baby Miracles has a three-step screening process for our Surrogates:
E-mail questions or on-line application to preliminarily determine eligibility
Telephonic interview (approximately one hour to obtain additional information regarding Surrogate's pregnancy and medical history, family/support system, personality, motivations, etc.)
Personal interview (approximately 2-3 hours in length) with Surrogate and her spouse/partner, if any
Only about 20-30% of women who contact Baby Miracles to become a Surrogate Mother are accepted in our program. We take very seriously our responsibility of selecting qualified and compassionate women to take on the awesome responsibility of carrying and nurturing your precious baby.
In determining whether a Surrogate is a good candidate for Baby Miracles' program, it is important that the surrogate not only has a good pregnancy and medical history and is capable of carrying a healthy pregnancy, but also that she has a positive attitude and the right motivations. We understand that surrogacy requires a couple to place an enormous amount of trust in the woman whom they choose to carry their baby, so it is important for Baby Miracles to be highly selective and choose only women who are of good character, high moral standards, and who express a strong commitment to taking the very best care of herself and the baby she will carry.
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Gestational Surrogacy (GS). 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. This is the most popular means of having a child.
Traditional Surrogacy (TS). 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 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 this type of surrogacy is that it is significantly less expensive than Gestational Surrogacy. This form of surrogacy is less common than just a few years ago.
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The Matching Process and Meeting A Surrogate
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Once you are registered with Baby Miracles, we will do our utmost to match you to a Surrogate that meets your stated preferences and requirements. Generally, we have a number of Surrogate candidates to choose from. There are important considerations when making a potential match, such as:
The Surrogate's pregnancy history
The location of your Surrogate in relation to you and your clinic, if you have one
The type of relationship you would like during the pregnancy and after
Age preferences
Religious preferences
Racial preferences
How you feel about selective reduction and pregnancy termination (if the fetus is found to have a noncorrectible genetic abnormality)
How quickly you want to begin
You will be provided with the Profiles of Surrogates who most closely match your preferences and requirements (no identifying or contact information is disclosed). When they express interest in you, we will call you to tell you about them. If you think you might be interested in the couple, you will be provided with their Profile to review. If you think they might be a good potential couple for you, you will either have a conference call with them or meet them in person (depending upon the location of the parties). The Baby Miracles Coordinator will participate in and facilitate the initial conference call or meeting to ensure all parties are comfortable. The Coordinator will cover important aspects of the surrogacy arrangement so there is a clear understanding by all as to what to expect, but the primary purpose of the meeting is to get to know each other. The parties are encouraged to meet more than once before deciding to work together. Of course, we want you to be sure about the couple you will work with. Some Surrogates know in advance that they will want to get to know their couple over a period of time. If this is your desire, we ask that you notify us at the time you register so that we do not try to match you to a couple who want to start immediately.
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Surrogacy Contract
You and your Surrogate will sign a Surrogacy Contract that addresses all issues relating to the surrogacy relationship, including obligations of the parties before, during, and after the pregnancy, and important issues such as compensation, selective reduction, and abortion. The parties must be represented by different attorneys to avoid potential conflicts of interest. If the parties do not already have an attorney experienced in surrogacy law and contracts, we will recommend attorneys to you. Baby Miracles' program is designed to leave few matters open to negotiation in order to keep financial issues from becoming points of contention between the parties. In this way, the relationship of the couple and their Surrogate starts off on a positive note, setting the tone for the balance of the relationship.
Birth Certificate
For surrogacy arrangements in states where a pre-birth order can be obtained, mid-pregnancy we will provide the necessary information to your attorney for preparation of the court documents necessary to obtain a Judgment of Maternity and Paternity, authorizing the hospital to place your names on the Birth Certificate. We will forward the Judgment to the appropriate hospital personnel.
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Financial Aspects; Escrow Account
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See "Financial" for a complete itemization of the costs associated with surrogacy.
Included in the program information that will be provided to you is a Schedule of Fees & Estimated Expenses that will set forth the various actual and potential costs associated with surrogacy. This is a realistic itemization of costs designed to provide you with accurate information so that there are no surprises down the road. Once you select a Surrogate, you will be provided with a process letter that will specifically set forth the expenses associated with your particular arrangement and will be broken down into two deposits:
Initial Deposit: Once you have selected your Surrogate, an Initial Deposit into the Escrow Account must be made in an amount sufficient to pay screening and other preliminary expenses. Your Surrogate cannot commence screening until this deposit is made and the funds are available.
Second Escrow Deposit: A Second Escrow Deposit will be required, to be received by escrow not later than 14 calendar days prior to an Embryo Transfer or Insemination procedure, in an amount sufficient to meet your estimated financial obligations as set forth in the Surrogacy Contract.
Mid-Pregnancy Review: At approximately 20 weeks of your Surrogate's pregnancy, your Case Coordinator will review your escrow account to determine whether sufficient funds are in your Escrow Account to pay all anticipated remaining expenses. You will be provided with a written itemization of those expenses.
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Payment Of Medical Expenses
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All expenses relating to the Surrogate's medical screening, IVF and fertility specialist fees, and any other charges by your clinic or the monitoring clinic, if any, are paid by you directly, with the exception of some screening labs, cycle labs, and medications, which are paid out of the Escrow Account (if not included in the clinic's cycle fee paid by you). Once your Surrogate is pregnant and released from the care of the fertility clinic, her health insurance policy will be utilized. You will pay any charges not covered by the Surrogate's insurance through the Escrow Account, such as co-payments and deductibles, as well as health insurance premiums if a policy is procured to cover the Surrogate's pregnancy. The Case Coordinator will monitor these expenses to ensure their timely payment. Any expenses paid directly by the Surrogate, i.e. doctor visit or prescription co-pays, will be reimbursed to her upon presentation of receipts, and will generally be included with her monthly allowance check.
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Your Surrogate must have a policy of health insurance that will cover the anticipated pregnancy and delivery in place prior to commencing the IVF/Embryo Transfer or IUI cycle. Some Surrogates have a policy through their employer (or their husband's) that will cover the pregnancy while others either have a policy that specifically excludes surrogacy or do not have a policy. If the ents will pay for an individual policy on you for the pregnancy and delivery and for a period of time following delivery. The health insurance policy must in place prior to an Embryo Transfer or Artificial Insemination procedure. Your Surrogacy Coordinator will assist you in obtaining insurance, if applicable.
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The Role of the Surrogacy Coordinator
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The role of the Surrogacy Coordinator is an extensive one. Her responsibilities are, among other things, to:
Facilitate the meeting between the Surrogate and Prospective Parents
Set up the escrow account and requisition payments to surrogate, labs, pharmacy, health and life insurance companies, and any other expenses payable out of the escrow account
Provide the clinic with the parties' information, medical records, etc.
Arrange for medical and psychological screening
Prepare process letters to the parties throughout the surrogacy arrangement to ensure all parties know what to expect and what is required each step of the way
Communicate with the medical and legal professionals
Monitor the IVF/embryo transfer cycle or IUI cycle
Assist in obtaining a medical insurance policy, if required
Coordinate legal aspects, including providing the terms of the surrogacy arrangement to the attorney, reviewing the Contract, and ensuring timely signature by all parties
Attend specific medical appointments
Assist with travel arrangements, if necessary
Facilitate obtaining the Judgment of Maternity and Paternity
Communicate with hospital personnel and provide information relating to delivery
Communicate with all parties on a regular basis
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Surrogate Support Program
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Ensuring our Surrogates have the very best surrogacy experience possible is very important to us. Once she is registered as Surrogate in Baby Miracles' program, she is encouraged to attend monthly Surrogate support group meetings and participate in our internet support group as well as periodic special events and activities with other Surrogates. Some activities include our surrogates' spouse/partner, if any, and children. She will receive a monthly newsletter to keep her abreast of plans for future meetings, upcoming activities, birth stories, articles of interest, etc. Our Surrogate Support Coordinator as well as her fellow Surrogates (many of whom are repeat Surrogates) will be a tremendous source of support every step of the way.
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An Overview of the Surrogacy Process After You Are Matched
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The following is an overview of the surrogacy process. More specific information and instructions are given in writing each step of the way to guide you through the process.
Step One:The Agency will issue a process letter to the parties setting forth information relating to the process and professionals associated with your surrogacy arrangement from that point until pregnancy. Your couple will be asked to contact their fertility clinic and make payment arrangements for your initial appointment/screening. Concurrently, an escrow account will be established with an independent escrow company to pay all surrogacy-related expenses as well as compensation.
Step Two: You will undergo medical and psychological screening, including a physical exam, an STD panel, drug and nicotine screening, and a hysteroscopy or sonohysterogram (an internal examination of your uterus with the use of a small camera, the purpose of which is to determine whether there is anything that could affect your ability to carry a healthy pregnancy). Repeat surrogates may not need to repeat the psychological evaluation and certain tests may not need to be repeated.
Step Three: Once you have completed and passed screening, the Surrogacy Contract is drafted and entered into. An attorney experienced in surrogacy contracts will be recommended to you and your Prospective Parents. Concurrently, if an insurance policy must be obtained to cover the anticipated pregnancy and delivery, you will apply for it at this time. Your Baby Miracles Case Coordinator will assist you.
Step Four:Once the Surrogacy Contract has been signed by all parties and health insurance coverage is confirmed, the IVF/embryo transfer or Insemination cycle may commence.
Step Five:The clinic will set the cycle calendar (see "The Medical Process", below).
Step Six:Following the embryo transfer, you will have three days of mandatory bedrest. A blood test known as a beta hCG will be performed approximately 10-14 days following the date of the embryo transfer to determine whether you are pregnant. If the first beta is positive, a second beta is generally performed two days later to confirm the number is increasing appropriately.
Step Seven:Upon confirmation of pregnancy by blood test, you will be scheduled for an ultrasound which will take place approximately four weeks following the date of the embryo transfer during which the fetal heartbeat(s) can be visualized.
Step Eight:You will continue on supplemental hormone therapy until approximately 9-12 weeks of pregnancy, when you will be weaned off and "graduate" from care by the fertility clinic to the obstetrician.
Step Nine:Mid-pregnancy, the parties will complete Birth Plans, you will register with the hospital for the birth, the court Judgment will be obtained (to give the birth recorder the authority to place the Prospective Parents' names on the birth certificate), as well as other matters.
Step Ten: Delivery of the baby!
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The Surrogate will be put on birth control pills to coordinate her cycle with that of the Prospective Mother or Egg Donor. She will take a medication called Lupron, which is used to manipulate her ovaries and prevent them from releasing any eggs. The Prospective Mother/Egg Donor will generally commence the use of Lupron or equivalent medication to manipulate the timing of the release of eggs. At the appropriate time, the Surrogate will begin taking supplemental estrogen to influence the development of her endometrial lining and the Prospective Mother/Egg Donor will commence administration of ovarian stimulation medications. The clinic will monitor the development of the Surrogate's lining via internal ultrasounds and the Prospective Mother/Egg Donor's follicle development. Just prior to the embryo transfer, the Surrogate will commence taking supplemental progesterone to nourish the anticipated pregnancy. Both parties will have periodic blood tests to monitor hormone levels. At the appropriate time, the Prospective Mother/Egg Donor will be told when to administer a hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) injection, which must be given at the precise time instructed, triggering ovulation. The egg retrieval procedure will take place 35-36 hours after the hCG injection is given. The eggs are harvested under a "light" general anesthesia. The eggs will then be fertilized with the Prospective Father's sperm (of donor sperm) and generally 3-5 days later a specified number of embryos will be transferred into the Surrogate's uterus.
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How To Get Started
Step One: Fill out the online Inquiry Form (click here).
Step Two: Review mini profiles of available Surrogates on our online Surrogate Database (no password required). Full Profiles (excluding identifying and confidential information) and photos will be provided to you at no charge via e-mail.
Step Three: Request a registration packet, which will be either mailed or e-mailed to you, at your option. Once you are registered, you will be scheduled for an interview with Baby Miracles' Director, either via telephone or in person, depending upon your location. During this interview, there will be an in-depth review of the surrogacy process. Upon completion of this interview, you will be considered fully registered and ready to proceed.
Step Four: Once you are fully registered, your Profile (excluding identifying and confidential pages) will be sent to your selected Surrogate for review. Once the Surrogate indicates that she is interested in potentially being your fertility assistant, a meeting between the parties will be scheduled (either via phone or in-person, depending upon the location of the parties), in which Baby Miracles' Director will participate.
Step Five: Once you and a Surrogate agreed to work together, the Agency's Fee is due at that time and you are ready to begin.
To review FAQs (frequently asked questions) for further information, click here.
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