So you’re considering building or growing your family via surrogacy. Great! But you have no idea how to find the right Surrogate for you. The good news is, Family Source Consultants has been helping people build and grow their families via surrogacy since 2007. For more than a decade now, we have worked to develop a finely honed process for matching our surrogates to you, the intended parent(s).
How Do We Find the Perfect Match?
Matching surrogates and intended parents is both a science and an art. It takes skill, knowledge and no small amount of intuition. The surrogacy journey is an intense experience; it is intimate and emotional for both surrogates and intended parents. We have made nearly a thousand successful matches, and that is no accident—that is a testament to our process. Our Client Match Specialists take special care in matchmaking. If you are married or unmarried, if you are a gay couple, if you live outside the United States—whatever your identity or situation, we will find the right surrogate for you.
What Happens During the Matching Process?
Why can you trust FSC to find the right surrogate for you? Because our surrogates go through a thorough vetting process before we even introduce them to you. We screen all potential surrogates via an in-depth application and detailed interview process. Our surrogates must pass a criminal background check, health screen, and psychological evaluation. TeamFSC surrogates are required to be U.S. residents in stable living situations who have experienced a full-term pregnancy and delivery and are raising or have raised at least one child. We do not accept surrogates who live in legally, unfriendly surrogacy states. And, we ask that all our surrogates legitimately enjoy being pregnant, and are primarily motivated by the desire to help others build and add to their families, not compensation or any other reason.
Once a surrogate has passed evaluations and screenings, our team carefully matches them with intended parents, based on compatibility in a multitude of critical areas such as: whether the surrogate would like to be matched with parents in the United States or abroad, whether they want to work with same sex parents, what their stance on termination is, and whether or not they are willing to transfer two embryos. And you will get to meet your matched surrogate before you decide—our specialists will schedule and facilitate a “match meeting” either in-person or via video, depending on where you are located.
Surrogacy is a major commitment, and is not to be entered into lightly. We make sure TeamFSC surrogates are ready for the journey, and we support them and you from start to finish. You’ll never be alone along the way—we’re here to help at every step.
What Will Our Relationship Be Like With Our Surrogate?
What your relationship looks like will largely be up to you. Some intended parents want to stay in close contact with their surrogate, to be included in the pregnancy by getting regular updates from their surrogate, attending doctor visits, and so on. Some intended parents don’t want this much contact, and want only occasional updates, or may not be able to meet their surrogate until delivery.
FSC’s proud parents ‘J & P’ stated, “All this experience that we lived during this journey has been pleasantly satisfying and very exciting, we managed to cross and overcome all the obstacles that had presented to us. Our TeamFSC surrogate, Joanna, is wonderful! Yesterday we were with her and part of her family, we cannot imagine having done this with someone other than her. We built a beautiful relationship where we talk every day. She is a great woman that is always predisposed to everything, she never lost her smile and always told us that the baby she is carrying is our daughter and how happy she was to make it possible.”
There is a spectrum of intended parent/surrogate relationships, just as there is a spectrum of people. Your relationship will be unique to you. The main thing is that you agree on the type of relationship you want during the matching process, so that expectations are clear, and so that both you and your surrogate are completely comfortable with things. Be totally honest when asked what you want—do you want to stay in close contact? Do you need to feel included? Or, do you not want that much contact? The type of relationship you want will help determine the best match for you. Consider these things and share them with us. We will always listen.
What If Our Surrogate Backs Out?
This can be a common concern for intended parents—what if we find a surrogate who we think is perfect for us, but they back out? No one ever wants this to happen, but as with anything in life, sometimes circumstances beyond a person’s control can change a decision. First things first—because of our pre-screening process, this scenario is highly unlikely. But if that happens, don’t worry—we will rematch you with a new surrogate. Our mission is to help you build your family—and we will do what it takes to make that happen.
We’re Ready to Find a Surrogate—How Do We Begin?
For those interested in learning more about surrogacy and/or the intended parent process we provide no-cost consultations in person, or online via video conference. Our team members are fluent in English, Spanish, Chinese, French and German, and are delighted to have the opportunity to address any concerns you may have about building your family using third party reproduction.
Click here to request a consultation and one of our Case Managers will be eager and ready to assist you.