Surrogacy for LGBTQ+ Families: Celebrating Rainbow Families
For many LGBTQ+ couples and individuals, surrogacy is the only family-building option that allows them to have biological children. For Pride Month, we want to review the surrogacy process and highlight how compassionate surrogacy agencies like West Coast Surrogacy support and celebrate families of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds.
Finding the Ideal Surrogate
If you're considering surrogacy, the first step is to find a compatible surrogate (also known as a gestational surrogate). It’s best to work with a reputable surrogacy agency, as they hold their surrogates to strict standards to ensure they’re physically and emotionally capable of carrying and delivering a child for someone else.
There’s a misconception about surrogacy that the surrogate will have trouble “giving up” the child to the intended parents after delivery. However, women enter a surrogacy arrangement knowing they’re giving the gift of life to a couple or individual in need. Additionally, the child is conceived with the eggs of the intended mother or donor eggs via in vitro fertilization (IVF), so the gestational surrogate is not the biological mother.
LGBTQ+ families may face some challenges in establishing parenthood, depending on their state’s laws. However, your surrogacy agency will assist in making sure all legalities are taken care of and that all parties are fully informed. Your surrogate will be thrilled to give you the gift of a child.
Transferring the Embryos
After all medical evaluations have been completed and legal contracts have been signed, the next step is to transfer the embryos to the surrogate. The donor eggs and sperm from yourself, your partner, or a donor are fertilized in a lab. Then, the resulting embryos are transferred to the surrogate, hopefully resulting in a successful pregnancy.
The Pregnancy Journey
Once she's pregnant, the gestational surrogate will proceed with the pregnancy as usual. As intended parents, you'll be able to attend appointments and maintain a close relationship with your surrogate. Your surrogacy agency will continue to support you, acting as a liaison between both parties to support you and your surrogate in having a positive experience. When the surrogate gives birth, her incredible job is done. As an LGBTQ+ parent who has waited for months, years, or even decades for this moment, you will finally take your beautiful bundle of joy home.
Your Surrogacy Journey Starts Here
LGBTQ+ couples and individuals deserve the opportunity to become parents just like anyone else. Surrogacy is a beautiful yet complex journey, and you need a surrogacy agency that’s compassionate, experienced, and inclusive. At West Coast Surrogacy, we celebrate all families, helping them navigate the ins and outs of the surrogacy journey from start to finish. For more information or to schedule an appointment with our expert team, contact us today.
