You’re ready to grow your family! Whether you’re going through fertility issues, looking to become a single parent or deciding to add a bit more life to your world, you’ve found yourself faced with two options: adoption and gestational surrogacy. This isn’t a decision that can be taken lightly and requires a lot of research. Each path to parenthood offers something different, so you’ll want to know what kind of parent you want to be.There are also pros and cons to each option.

What’s the difference between adoption and gestational surrogacy, you wonder? Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Reno is here to help! This week, we’ll be diving into the four main differences between the two to help you decide which course of action works best for you!

1. Biological Factors

The first major difference between adoption and gestational surrogacy is the genetic factor. With adoption, adoptive parents do not have a biological connection with their child. With gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, the intended parent(s) do.

For some hopeful parents, sharing that genetic tie with their baby is incredibly important. If you and your partner or spouse are among this line of thought, you may find you are  more comfortable with gestational surrogacy than adoption. The IVF process and use of gestational carrier assures that your child will share your DNA.

However, if the biological factor isn’t as important to you or you believe that family is more than DNA, adoption is a wonderful option.

2. The Matching Process

With adoption, the adoptive parents have to follow the birth mother’s lead, as far as the adoption process goes. Once she selects them as a prospective match, she and the adoptive parents  come to an agreement that suits everyone involved.

With gestational surrogacy, both the intended parent(s) and gestational carriers have a say in the matching process. It’s important for both sides to get along well and feel comfortable with each other before agreeing to journey through gestational surrogacy together. Whether you’re looking to become someone’s gestational carrier, or you’re looking for a gestational carrier, Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Reno  will take the time to get to know you and your needs and will use this information to find the best match possible.

3. A Change of Heart

Another major difference between adoption and gestational surrogacy is the risk of adoptions falling through. As sad as it is, sometimes an adoptive parents’ worst nightmare comes to pass. The birth mother changes her mind. She decides to keep their child, leaving the adoptive parents heartbroken. The opposite side can happen too. Last minute, the adoptive parents can back out of the agreement, leaving the birth mother in a horrible position. While these situations don’t occur often, it’s an important aspect to keep in mind.

With gestational surrogacy, an agreement is drafted between the intended parents’ and the gestational carrier’s surrogacy attorneys once the match has been made. Since the gestational carrier has no biological link to the child, she cannot change her mind and decide to parent the child herself.

4. Length of Time

It goes without saying that with family-building comes patience, regardless of how you go about it. For both adoption and gestational surrogacy, you will have to be very patient.

At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Reno, there are ultimately five steps to adoption for both birth parents and
adoptive parents.

1. Contacting Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Reno
2. Home Study (for Adoptive Family)
   1. Meet with ASCR staff (Birth Family)
3. Create a Family Snapshot (Adoptive Family)
   1. Connections to Local Resources (Birth Family)
4. Review families (both)
5. Placement (Both)

(You can have a look at our handy guide here for more detail of each step.)

At Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Reno, our adoption processes can vary depending on the situation, and whether you are placing your baby for adoption or a prospective adoptive family. There are many steps involved for each side. It can take several months to complete. To learn more about an average timeline, it’s best to contact one of our adoption professionals.

It’s similar for gestational surrogacy. From the matching process to the birth of the baby, the process also has many steps to it. Intended parents and gestational carriers both go through extensive screening processes and must wait for the results to clear before proceeding. Each party must find their own surrogacy lawyer. The intended parent(s) may have to wait after donating their egg and sperm for an embryo to become viable. One cycle of IVF could last a little over a month. So, multiple rounds would add to the overall journey. For a more specific average, it’s best to contact one of our surrogacy professionals.

Adoption and Gestational Surrogacy

The path to growing your family is a beautiful one. Adoption and gestational surrogacy offer two of the multiple ways to go about it. Be sure to think about what you want as you research and decide which path to parenthood is best for you. There is no right or wrong choice. It’s all about what feels right to you.

That said, we now turn the conversation to you, lovely readers. Were there any differences that didn’t make the list that you think should have? Do you have further questions about the specifics of these steps? Give us a call or leave a comment below! We always enjoy hearing from you and helping you in any way we can!

Be well, friends!

Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Reno

Adoption Choices, Inc. is a private, non-profit adoption agency licensed by the state and leader in the adoption community. We have been assisting birth parents, children, and adoptive parents since 2002. Our staff has a genuine commitment to providing an empathetic, empowering, and progressive experience to all involved in the adoption process.  If you are currently in the process of adopting a baby and have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Reno. You may visit the website or contact us by 775-227-5277.

Support Adoption Choices

Adoption Choices, Inc. is partnering with Crowdrise, a fundraising website for nonprofits, to help our adoptive parents and birth parents with much needed financial assistance. We understand that expenses keep clients from fulfilling their dreams. Both with birth parents making a plan for adoption, and with adoptive parents growing their family. It is our mission to provide financial assistance through grants and scholarships, awarded annually in November, in honor of National Adoption Month. Funds assist adoptive parents with matching and placements, adoption finalization and helping birth mothers improve their lives through higher education — and much more.

However, we can’t do it alone. Please read up on our programs and donate money where you are able. Your donation will make a huge impact.

Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Nevada has been providing adoption and surrogacy services across Nevada since 2012. For information specific to Las Vegas, please visit our sister site Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Las Vegas. For information specific to Reno, please visit our sister site Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Reno. You can also call us to speak to someone now.
Contact Us 24/7: 855-940-4673 (Toll-Free) | 702-474-4673 (Las Vegas) | 775-825-4673 (Reno) | 775-738-4673 (Elko) | 775-884-4673 (Carson City).

Meet the Author: Mallorey English is an aspiring proofreader and editor. She’s completed a couple of online courses through Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and has used her education to help edit her mother’s inspirational book, Monday Motivation: 52 Weeks of Inspiration to Keep Moving in 2018 and running blog Life Up and Running. She hopes to one day become a full time freelance editor. 

When she isn’t working, Mallorey can be found on a yoga mat, crafting a new project, or watching her favorite movies. She currently resides in northern Nevada with her husband and hopes to add on to their family in the near future. 

Sources:

ConsideringAdoption.com: “Adoption Disruption – How Can It Be Prevented?” https://consideringadoption.com/adopting/finding-birth-parents/adoption-disruption-how-to-prevent-it-from-happening-to-you

North American Council on Adoptable Children.org: “Adoption Disruption and Dissolution” https://www.nacac.org/advocate/nacacs-positions/adoption-disruption-and-dissolution/

Virginia Frank.com: “Adoption Resources” https://www.virginiafrank.com/adoption-resources/