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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 SURROGATES
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Current statistics show that one in six couples have infertility issues. There was a time not long ago when the only options for these couples were adoption or remaining childless. Happily, that is no longer the case. 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.
Baby Miracles is selective not only with regard to the Surrogates who are invited to participate in our program, but also the couples we represent and the professionals with whom we are associated or recommend. The reasons are simple - we take seriously our responsibility of helping to bring a new life into the world and we want to be sure everyone involved in this exciting endeavor has a wonderful experience.
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In order to be considered to become a Surrogate Mother in Baby Miracles' program, you must:
currently reside in a surrogacy-friendly state and reside there 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
have not smoked for at least 2 years and never have taken illegal drugs not be alcohol-dependent
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)
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
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Couples who qualify for Baby Miracles program must meet certain program guidelines as well, as follows:
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- 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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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 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.
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Base Fee Compensation
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$20,000
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Base Fee Compensation-Experienced Surrogate
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$23,000/up
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Maternity Clothing Allowance
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$750
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Embryo Transfer Fee
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$750
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Monthly Allowance
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$200
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Multiples Fee
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$5,000 per baby
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C-Section Fee
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$1,500
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Invasive Procedure Fee (amniocentesis, CVS, reduction, termination)
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$500-1,500
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Lost Wages
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100% reimbursement as incurred less disability, if available
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Other: Housekeeping/ Child Care (capped)
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100%
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Ensuring our Surrogates have the very best surrogacy experience possible is very important to us. Once you become a Surrogate in Baby Miracles' program, you are welcome and 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. You will also receive a monthly newsletter to keep you abreast of plans for future meetings, upcoming activities, birth stories, articles of interest, etc. Our Surrogate Support Coordinator as well as your fellow Surrogates (many of whom are repeat Surrogates) will be a tremendous source of support every step of the way.
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Once you are registered with Baby Miracles, we will do our utmost to match you to a couple that meet your stated preferences. There are a number of important considerations when making a potential match, such as:
The location of your couple
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)
Whether the couple already has a child(ren)
How quickly you and the couple want to begin
Whether you wish to travel
Couples who meet your preferences and requirements will be provided a copy of your Profile (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, your husband (if you are married), and your Prospective Parents 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. You will have your own attorney, paid for by the Prospective Parents, who will be your advocate and represent only your interests Your Surrogacy Coordinator will recommend an experienced attorney to you.
Birth Certificate
Mid-pregnancy, we will provide the necessary information to your Prospective Parents' attorney for preparation of the court documents necessary to obtain a Judgment of Maternity and Paternity, authorizing the hospital to place the Prospective Parents' names on the Birth Certificate. You and your husband, if you are married, will have no legal rights or responsibilities to the baby.
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If you have a policy of health insurance, we will review the policy to determine whether it will cover a surrogate pregnancy. If it does not, or if you do not have health insurance coverage, the Prospective Parents will pay for an individual policy on you for the pregnancy and delivery and for a period of time following delivery. They will pay all premiums, co-pays and deductibles associated with the pregnancy and delivery as well a post-partum care. 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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An escrow account with an independent and bonded escrow company will be established for the payment of all compensation that will be due to you under the Surrogacy Contract, as well as any expenses to be paid on your behalf. An amount sufficient to cover all estimated expenses is deposited into the escrow account prior to the first Embryo Transfer or Artificial Insemination procedure. Your Surrogacy Coordinator will maintain a payment schedule as well as requisition and monitor all disbursements to ensure you receive payments on time and will monitor the account balance and the Prospective Parents will be required to make supplemental deposits, if necessary, to ensure there is a sufficient balance to meet all anticipated obligations.
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You will be put on birth control pills to coordinate you cycle with that of the Prospective Mother or Egg Donor. You will take a medication called Lupron, which is used to manipulate your ovaries and prevent you from ovulating. The Prospective Mother/Egg Donor will generally commence the use of Lupron or equivalent medication to prevent manipulate the timing of the release of eggs. At the appropriate time, you will begin taking supplemental estrogen to influence the development of your endometrial lining and the Prospective Mother/Egg Donor will commence administration of ovarian stimulation medications. The clinic will monitor the development of your lining via internal ultrasounds and the Prospective Mother/Egg Donor's follicle development. Just prior to the embryo transfer, you will commence taking supplemental progesterone (via intramuscular injections) 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 your uterus.
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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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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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Step One: Fill out the online Surrogate Inquiry (click here).
Step Two: If it is determined that you preliminarily meeting Baby Miracles' program requirements, we will arrange for a mutual telephonic interview between you and the Director of Baby Miracles.
Step Three: If it is determined that you qualify for our program and you would like to register, you will be sent a registration packet via e-mail or U.S. Mail, at your option.
Step Four: Upon receipt by Baby Miracles of the completed registration documents, we will contact you to arrange for a personal interview (unless you live more than 100 miles from our office, in which case it will be a telephonic interview) with you and your spouse/partner, if any.
Step Five: Once you are registered, your profile (excluding identifying and confidential pages) will be sent to couples that most closely match with your stated preferences and requirements. Once a couple indicates they are interested in meeting you, you will be sent their profile for review to decide whether they might be a good potential couple for you.
Step Six: You will meet with the couple either in person or telephonically (depending upon the parties' locations) which will be facilitated by Baby Miracles' Director. If the parties decide they would like to work together, you are matched!
To review FAQs (frequently asked questions) for further information, click here.
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