How surrogacy works
Surrogacy can look complicated from the outside. It is really a sequence of clear steps, and you are never expected to figure them out alone. Here is the whole path Lily Baby Surrogacy walks with you, in plain language, for intended parents and surrogates alike.
The surrogacy process, phase by phase
Apply and get to know us
The first step is a short application and a real conversation. Nothing is committed here. You are deciding whether this feels right, and we are listening to what you want before we suggest anything.
Usually a few weeks- Apply. A brief intake form, about ten minutes, covering the basics of who you are and what you are hoping for.
- Discovery call. A one-to-one conversation with our team where we answer every question and explain what your path would actually involve.
- Decide together. If it is a fit, we move forward. If the timing is wrong, we will tell you honestly, and there is no pressure either way.
Screening and matching
Screening is thorough on purpose. It protects everyone and it is the foundation a healthy match is built on. For surrogates and donors it is detailed; for intended parents it is lighter. Once screening clears, the match itself is a mutual choice, never an assignment.
Often one to six months- Medical screening. Records review and clinic evaluation to confirm a surrogate is ready for a safe pregnancy.
- Psychological and background screening. A counseling assessment and standard background checks, so expectations are clear on both sides.
- Matching. We introduce profiles chosen for values, communication style, and medical preferences. Both sides have to say yes. You can read more about becoming a surrogate if you are exploring that side.
The legal and medical steps
This phase runs on two tracks at once: the contracts that settle parentage and responsibilities, and the medical preparation that leads to embryo transfer. The legal work always finishes before any medical procedure begins.
Typically three to four months- Independent attorneys. Each side has its own reproductive lawyer, and intended parents typically cover the surrogate's legal fees, so the agreement is genuinely fair.
- The agreement. Compensation, medical decisions, communication, and the what-ifs are all written down and signed before transfer. State rules vary, which is why we point you to our surrogacy laws overview.
- Medical preparation. Cycle synchronization, any IVF protocols, and the embryo transfer at the fertility clinic, with us coordinating the schedule between everyone involved.
Pregnancy
Once a pregnancy is confirmed, care settles into a rhythm. The surrogate sees her own OB-GYN, and we stay in the background managing the details so the relationship between everyone can be about connection, not logistics.
About forty weeks- Regular prenatal care. Standard OB-GYN appointments, with the clinic and our case managers tracking each milestone.
- Communication at your pace. Intended parents and surrogates stay in touch at the cadence they agreed on, whether that is shared scans and texts or scheduled calls.
- Ongoing support. A dedicated coordinator is there for questions, scheduling, and the occasional bump along the way.
Birth and the time after
Intended parents are there for the birth whenever it is possible. The legal groundwork laid earlier is what makes the handoff calm rather than uncertain, and support does not stop when everyone goes home.
Birth, then ongoing- Parentage in place. In states that allow them, a pre-birth order puts the intended parents' names on the birth certificate from the start (more on that in our laws guide).
- Recovery. Continued care for the surrogate's postpartum recovery, which matters as much as everything that came before.
- A relationship that lasts. Many families and surrogates stay connected for years. That bond is one of the quiet, real rewards of this work.
A realistic timeline
There is no single answer, and anyone who promises one is guessing. These are typical ranges, not commitments. The two stages most likely to stretch are matching and the medical steps.
Apply and connect
Application, discovery call, and the decision to move forward.
Screening and matching
The widest range on the timeline. Screening is steady; matching depends on preferences and who is available.
Legal and medical preparation
Contracts, clinic protocols, and the embryo transfer, run in parallel.
Pregnancy
A full-term pregnancy with regular prenatal care.
First call to birth
A common end-to-end range. Yours could be shorter or longer depending on the steps above.
Why the variation? A first embryo transfer does not always lead to a pregnancy, and matching can move quickly or take patience. We would rather set an honest range than a number we cannot keep. Have a question about a specific stage? Our FAQ covers the common ones.
How matching actually works
Matching is not a database spitting out a name. It is a deliberate introduction between two parties who both have to choose each other. We look at far more than logistics, because the people in this relationship will share one of the biggest experiences of their lives.
Values and expectations
How each side feels about communication during pregnancy, the relationship afterward, and the harder medical decisions if they ever come up.
Medical preferences
Views on the number of embryos to transfer, termination and selective reduction, and other clinical choices, aligned before anyone says yes.
Personality and connection
Plenty of practical things can line up and a match can still feel wrong. We pay attention to that, because the fit between people is the part you cannot put in a contract.
It goes both ways
Intended parents review surrogate profiles and surrogates review intended parents. Either side can pass. A match only happens when both say yes, and you can start as intended parents or as a surrogate.
Who handles the legal and
medical work
Two areas need specialists rather than an agency alone: the law and the medicine. Our job is to coordinate them and keep them on schedule, not to replace them.
Parentage, in plain language
The legal side exists to make one thing certain: who the child's parents are. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate carries an embryo she is not genetically related to, and the intended parents' rights are established in writing before any medical step begins.
- Independent reproductive attorneys for each side, so no one's interests are sidelined.
- A signed agreement covering parentage, compensation, and medical decisions, completed before transfer.
- Where state law allows, a pre-birth order naming the intended parents on the birth certificate from day one.
Laws differ by state. See our surrogacy laws overview, and your attorney advises on your specifics.
The clinic, the care, the coverage
The medical work happens at a fertility clinic and, later, with the surrogate's own OB-GYN. Insurance and medical coordination is one of the more tangled parts, and it is exactly where having someone manage the moving pieces earns its keep.
- Coordination between the clinic, the surrogate, and the intended parents so nothing slips.
- A review of insurance coverage for the pregnancy, and a plan for any gaps, handled before transfer.
- Scheduling, reminders, and a coordinator who keeps every appointment and protocol on track.
We coordinate egg and sperm donation too, when a family needs it. Questions on cost and coverage go to our team directly, through our contact form.
Common questions about how surrogacy works
How does surrogacy work?
In gestational surrogacy, a surrogate carries a pregnancy for someone else using an embryo she is not genetically related to. The process moves through five phases: applying and connecting, screening and matching, the legal and medical steps, pregnancy, and birth.
An embryo is created at a fertility clinic, often from the intended parents' own egg and sperm or with the help of a donor, and transferred to the surrogate. Legal agreements signed beforehand establish that the intended parents are the child's parents. An agency like Lily Baby coordinates the screening, matching, scheduling, and support so the people involved can focus on the relationship rather than the paperwork.
How long does surrogacy take?
From a first call to birth usually takes about 15 to 24 months, though every path is different.
Screening and matching can take anywhere from one to six months, the legal and medical preparation runs roughly three to four months, and the pregnancy itself is about forty weeks. The biggest variables are how quickly a match comes together and whether the first embryo transfer leads to a pregnancy. These are typical ranges, not guarantees.
What if the surrogate changes her mind?
In gestational surrogacy the surrogate is not the child's genetic mother, and legal parentage is settled in writing before any embryo transfer, which is what protects the intended parents' rights.
Before the medical process starts, each side signs a contract with its own attorney, and in states that allow it a pre-birth order names the intended parents on the birth certificate from the start. Surrogates also go through psychological screening and counseling so everyone enters with clear, shared expectations. It is a fear worth naming, and the legal structure is built specifically to answer it. Because the details depend on your state, see our surrogacy laws overview and rely on your reproductive attorney for specifics.
Who handles the medical and legal parts?
Specialists do: a fertility clinic and OB-GYN handle the medicine, and independent reproductive attorneys handle the law. The agency coordinates them and keeps everything on schedule.
Each side has its own lawyer, and intended parents typically cover the surrogate's legal fees. The clinic manages embryo creation, transfer, and early monitoring before care moves to the surrogate's OB-GYN. Lily Baby manages the connective work, scheduling, insurance review, case management, and support, so the experts can do their jobs and nothing falls through the cracks. You can always talk to our team about how this works for your situation.
Ready to take the first step
Surrogacy begins with one conversation, no pressure and no commitment. Tell us where you are and we'll guide you.