The medical screening process ared for the physical demands of a surrogate pregnancy. This will usually be completed by the fertility clinic you and your intended parents will work with and/or by your regular doctor. The screening process will typically involve:

• A pap smear
• A physical
• Bloodwork to check you and your partner (if applicable) for infectious diseases like HIV or hepatitis
• A saline sonogram to check for uterine fibroids or anything that may interfere with pregnancy
• A hysteroscopy to check that your uterus is a healthy size and shape and that your fallopian tubes are unobstructed
• + And more

Most surrogacy professionals will also require a psychological screening process to ensure you’re emotionally prepared for the surrogacy process. Some may have additional requirements you’ll need to meet before proceeding with the medical stages of surrogacy.

In a mock cycle, the fertility specialist you and the intended parents work with will prescribe you the fertility medications that you will take in preparation for the real embryo transfer cycle. Taking these fertility medications will allow the specialist to monitor your uterine lining and hormone levels to ensure that your body is responding favorably and to make sure that there are no medical issues with surrogacy in your individual situation.

If your body responds well to the mock cycle, you’ll move on to the real version.

If you and your intended parents are using frozen embryos, transfers are planned to match your cycle. There won’t be much more preparation for you.

If you’re using fresh embryos, the intended mother or egg donor will need to sync her cycle with yours using birth control pills and Lupron injections. She will also be taking fertility hormone injections to stimulate increased production of eggs, which will be retrieved, fertilized and incubated for five days. Then, the day and time of the embryo transfer can be scheduled with you.

Following your doctor’s recommendation, you’ll cease Lupron injections and start taking progesterone (usually in the form of injections) to maintain the correct balance of hormones. You’ll also usually take estrogen replacements in the form of pills, patches or shots. You’ll continue taking both progesterone and estrogen until about 12 weeks into your pregnancy, at which point the placenta is usually able to produce those hormones on its own.

When the embryos have been incubating for five days and you’re five days past the middle of your cycle, the embryo transfer will occur at the fertility clinic. Transfers are generally quick and painless and do not typically require anesthesia. However, you’ll need to rest for a while at the clinic after the procedure, and then you’re usually asked to rest for a couple of days following transfer to encourage implantation.

You’ll return to the fertility clinic about nine days after the embryo transfer for an HCG test, which measures your hormone levels for potential pregnancy. If the count reads at 50 or higher, a positive, stable pregnancy is indicated. A count reading over 200 may mean that you’re pregnant with multiples.

You’ll return two days later for another HCG test to check that your levels are increasing. In a stable pregnancy, HCG levels should double about every couple of days.

It’s not uncommon to need multiple embryo transfers for a successful pregnancy to occur. When you’ve been confirmed as pregnant, you’ll need to be closely monitored to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Six weeks after pregnancy confirmation through positive HCG levels, you’ll receive an ultrasound to check for a fetal heartbeat. If a heartbeat is confirmed, you can usually continue seeing your regular OBGYN for the rest of your pregnancy. However,  some fertility clinics prefer that you receive another ultrasound at about 12 weeks, with regular appointments to monitor your hormone levels in an effort to keep an eye on the stability of the pregnancy.

When the fertility clinic is satisfied that your pregnancy is stable and strong, you can go about your pregnancy like you would with any other. You’ll see your OBGYN for regular prenatal care and routine checkups.

During the surrogacy contract stage, which is completed with legal representation prior to the surrogacy medical process, a plan is made for the birth and the roles of everyone involved are discussed during the surrogacy contract stage, which is completed with legal representation. That way, you’ll all know what to expect when you go into labor.

Typically, intended parents travel to support their surrogate when she’s in labor and are there to welcome their baby with her. Again, this is something you’ll discuss and decide together in advance. Today, hospitals are usually very accommodating of surrogate births. Simply let your chosen hospital know in advance.