There is no doubt that gestational surrogacy has benefits for all involved in one way or another. Some may be pretty obvious at first. There are others, though, that you may not have thought of or that surprise you. This week, Adoption Choices of Nevada will be exploring the top 5 benefits of gestational surrogacy for intended parents and delve a bit further into what makes each of them so noteworthy.

Benefits for Intended Parents

The main advantage for intended parents is obvious: the end of the journey. When their dreams finally come to fruition, and they’re able to raise the family they’ve always wanted. As we discussed in our previous blog post, there are quite a few factors to take into consideration if you’re on the fence as to whether or not it’s time to start the gestational journey. Once you’ve made the decision to continue on, you’ll start to see many of the hidden benefits of gestational surrogacy.

1) Parental Rights

For same-sex couples, you can now put both names on your child’s birth certificate. Unfortunately, there are still a few hoops you’ll have to jump through in order for this to happen. Your gestational carrier – and her partner or spouse, if she has one – will have to fill out a Pre-Birth Order. This is a document drawn up by your surrogacy attorney where your gestational carrier declares that you, the intended parent, is the child’s legal mother or father.

In other words, not only will you be able to put both your names on your child’s birth certificate, but you’ll also be able to take your child home directly from the hospital!

2) More Control

While adoption is certainly not a lesser choice in building your family, there is a little less control over the situation than with gestational surrogacy. When you choose the gestational surrogacy path as an intended parent, you’ll go through a matching process. Essentially, this will help you match with an agency, and, through them, you will meet potential carriers.

3) Genetic Link

Another one of the benefits of gestational surrogacy is the biological connection you’ll share with your child. For many intended parents, this is the only way they will be comfortable becoming a parent. Since gestational surrogacy is done through IVF, you will provide your egg and/or sperm to be used by the gestational carrier.

4) Peace of Mind

With all the great benefits of gestational surrogacy in mind, something often overlooked during the process is relaxation. That’s right. With a traditional pregnancy, you and your partner or spouse would likely adhere to all the restrictions that come with it. The general discomfort – morning sickness, physical changes, mood swings, etc. – can be more than stressful for even the most level-headed person. This can be especially true if it’s your first pregnancy. With gestational surrogacy, however, the gestational carrier goes through the physical aspect of the pregnancy, and you share in the emotional aspects.

It is a basic requirement that the gestational carrier you are matched up with has given birth successfully at least once before. Not only can this help ease the worries that come with pregnancy, but there is also less risk of anything unexpected occurring.

5) Gender Selection

It may seem a little unorthodox, but it is possible for you to choose the gender of your child. There are, of course, circumstances that must be met in order for this to happen. For instance, your gestational carrier must have already started the IVF process.

The embryos transferred in vitro will sometimes be screened in order to assess which are healthy enough to implant into the gestational carrier’s womb. This is called “Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis” or PGD. During this process, two healthy embryos of different genders can be revealed. As the child’s intended parent, you then have the opportunity to choose whether you want a son or daughter.

Extra Support

For both gestational carriers and intended parents, you can rest assured that support is offered on both sides. As Virginia Frank mentioned in her interview, once the gestational carrier and intended parents have been matched, both parties will have their own attorney to help guide them through a gestational agreement.

Also discussed in our interview with Virginia was the success rate of gestational surrogacy. While she couldn’t give us an exact number, she did refer us to CCRM’s website for some insight. Upon more research, we were able to find an estimate of what a general success rate looks like. You’re looking at, roughly, a 75%-95% success rate.

So, there you have it! Next week, we’ll discuss the benefits gestational carriers can expect during their gestational journey. Until then, were there any details we missed? Do you have questions that are still left unanswered? Feel free to leave feedback in the form of a comment or by getting in touch with us. We always enjoy hearing from you.

Be well, friends!

Adoption Choices of Nevada

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 Choices of Nevada. You may visit the website here or contact us by 775-825-4673 (Reno Office) or 702-474-4673 (Las Vegas Office). Our hours are Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm PST.

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:

AmericanPregnancy.org: “Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) Benefits & Concerns” https://americanpregnancy.org/getting-pregnant/preimplantation-genetic-diagnosis/

CCRMIVF.com: “IVF and Gender Selection: What You Need to Know” https://www.ccrmivf.com/news-events/gender-selection/

Conceivabilities.com: “Understanding Surrogacy Success Rates” https://www.conceiveabilities.com/about/blog/understanding-surrogacy-success-rates

Growinggenerations.com: “Understanding Gestational Surrogacy and Its Benefits” https://www.growinggenerations.com/surrogacy-program/intended-parents/gestational-surrogacy/

Surrogate.com: “Intended Parents: How Do You Protect Your Parental Rights In LGBT Surrogacy?” https://surrogate.com/intended-parents/surrogacy-for-lgbt-parents/parental-rights-in-lgbt-surrogacy/