From your first application to the delivery day — understand every stage of the gestational surrogacy process, what to expect, and how New Grace Fertility supports you throughout your entire journey.
The path to becoming a gestational surrogate may seem like a long one, with many steps between your initial application and the embryo transfer. At New Grace Fertility, we've guided hundreds of surrogates through the surrogacy process step by step — and we're with you at every milestone.
Whether you're considering gestational surrogacy for the first time or you're a repeat surrogate returning for another journey, this guide walks you through the complete surrogacy process — from application to delivery — so you know exactly what to expect.
Before diving into the process, it's important to understand the two types of surrogacy — and why gestational surrogacy is the standard at New Grace Fertility.
The gestational carrier has no genetic link to the child. The embryo is created through IVF using the intended parents' or donors' egg and sperm, then transferred to the surrogate's uterus.
The surrogate's own egg is fertilized with the intended father's sperm, making her the biological mother. This creates complex legal and emotional considerations.
Here's exactly what to expect when you start your surrogacy journey with New Grace Fertility — from your first application to the delivery room.
Start by completing our confidential online application — it takes about 10 minutes and asks about your health history, previous pregnancies, and basic eligibility. There's no commitment at this stage. Once we receive your application, our team schedules a video consultation to learn more about you, answer your questions, and walk you through what to expect during the surrogacy process. We discuss compensation, the surrogacy timeline, and help you decide if surrogacy is right for you. Language support is available in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Our clinical team thoroughly reviews your OB/GYN records, delivery notes, and pregnancy history to confirm you meet the surrogate requirements and are medically qualified to carry a healthy pregnancy. We look for any risk factors — such as a history of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or premature delivery — that might make you a higher-risk candidate. Most women with at least one uncomplicated, full-term delivery pass this step successfully.
We conduct a comprehensive criminal background screening to ensure the safety of all parties involved. This covers felony and misdemeanor records — we do not check credit scores and we don't care about parking tickets. We simply want to confirm a safe, stable environment for the pregnancy. A basic home assessment may also be conducted to verify that your living situation supports a healthy, stress-free pregnancy journey.
This is one of the most exciting steps in the surrogate matching process. Based on your personal profile — which includes your preferences, communication style, values, and expectations — we present your profile to intended parents we believe are a great fit. You'll have the opportunity to review their profile as well. Both parties have the right to accept or decline a match for any reason. A match must be mutually agreed upon — it's a two-way decision. We never pressure you into a match you're not comfortable with.
You'll meet with a licensed psychologist who specializes in reproductive mental health. This evaluation assesses your emotional readiness, understanding of the surrogacy commitment, and ability to cope with the physical and emotional demands of carrying a pregnancy for someone else. It's not a pass-or-fail test — it's designed to ensure you're prepared and supported. Your privacy is protected: the psychologist shares only whether you are cleared to proceed — not the details of your conversations — with the intended parents.
Next, you'll travel to the intended parents' fertility clinic for comprehensive medical screening. The reproductive endocrinologist will confirm that you're healthy enough to carry a pregnancy and that it's safe for both you and the baby. Medical screening typically includes:
Infectious disease screening (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis, and others)
Drug and alcohol testing
Hormone level assessment (FSH, LH, estrogen, progesterone)
Immunity testing (rubella, varicella)
Uterine evaluation (sonohysterogram or hysteroscopy)
Genetic carrier screening (if required by the clinic)
If you have a spouse or partner, they will also need to undergo drug and infectious disease screening. All travel and accommodation costs for medical screening are covered by the intended parents.
Congratulations — you've been approved! Now it's time to formalize the arrangement. Both you and the intended parents must have independent legal representation. Your attorney — paid for by the intended parents — represents only your interests. They'll review the surrogacy contract in detail, covering your compensation, medical decisions, communication expectations, delivery plan, and any other terms. You have the right to request changes to any clause. Once both parties agree and sign, the contract becomes legally binding. New Grace Fertility coordinates all legal timelines to keep the process moving forward smoothly.
After legal contracts are finalized, your fertility clinic will create a detailed transfer calendar specifying which medications you'll take, when, and at what dosage. This preparation phase typically lasts 2–4 weeks. You'll take fertility medications (estrogen and progesterone) to prepare your uterine lining for embryo implantation. Your coordinator and the clinic will monitor your progress through blood draws and ultrasounds to ensure your body is responding well. We'll verify your medication schedule and make sure you have everything you need during this phase.
Once your uterine lining reaches the ideal thickness and your hormone levels are on target, the fertility doctor will perform the embryo transfer. The procedure uses a thin catheter to place one (or two, depending on the contract) embryo into your uterus. It's quick — typically under 10 minutes — and minimally invasive, similar to a Pap smear. No anesthesia is required. After the transfer, you'll rest briefly at the clinic. Approximately 10–14 days later, a blood test confirms whether the embryo has implanted and you are officially pregnant. If positive, you'll remain with the fertility clinic for your first 2–3 obstetric ultrasounds before being released to your personal OB/GYN.
At around 10–12 weeks of pregnancy, you'll transition to your personal obstetrician for ongoing prenatal care. Throughout your pregnancy, you'll receive:
Monthly allowance payments deposited on a guaranteed schedule
Maternity clothing allowance ($500–$1,500)
24/7 coordinator support for any questions or concerns
Licensed counselor access for emotional wellbeing
Peer support groups with other surrogates
Life insurance coverage for your protection
As delivery approaches, we assist the intended parents with travel arrangements so they can be present for the birth. During this time, the Pre-Birth Order — a critical legal document establishing the intended parents as the legal parents — is completed through the court. We provide comprehensive support through pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum recovery to ensure you feel valued and cared for every step of the way.
Understanding the surrogacy timeline helps you plan for the journey ahead. Here's a typical breakdown of how long each phase takes.
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Request Free Consultation →Answers to the most common questions about the surrogacy process step by step, the surrogacy timeline, requirements, and more — updated for 2026.
The surrogacy process step by step includes: 1) Application and initial consultation, 2) Medical record review, 3) Background screening, 4) Matching with intended parents, 5) Psychological evaluation, 6) Medical screening at the fertility clinic, 7) Legal process and contract signing, 8) Pre-transfer medication cycle, 9) Embryo transfer, and 10) Pregnancy and delivery. At New Grace Fertility, the entire gestational surrogacy process typically takes 12–18 months from application to delivery. Contact us to start →
The surrogacy process typically takes 12–18 months from initial application to delivery. The screening and matching phase takes 2–4 months, legal contracts take 4–8 weeks, embryo transfer preparation takes 2–4 weeks, and pregnancy is approximately 9 months. Factors that affect the surrogacy timeline include how quickly a match is found, medical screening results, and legal contract negotiation. We provide personalized timeline estimates during your free consultation.
Gestational surrogacy is a family-building arrangement in which a gestational carrier carries a pregnancy created through IVF using the intended parents' or donors' genetic material. The gestational surrogate has no genetic link to the child — the embryo is created in the lab and transferred to the surrogate's uterus. This is the most common type of surrogacy in the United States and is the only type offered at New Grace Fertility. It provides the clearest legal framework and the least emotional complexity for all parties.
To become a surrogate at New Grace Fertility, you must meet these minimum surrogate requirements: healthy woman aged 21–39, prior full-term pregnancy with a healthy delivery, BMI between 18–31, U.S. citizen or permanent resident, non-smoker and drug-free, no more than 3 C-sections, no more than 5 total pregnancies, and a stable home environment. All surrogates also undergo medical record review, psychological evaluation, and comprehensive background screening before being approved for matching.
The surrogate matching process at New Grace Fertility works by reviewing both the surrogate's and intended parents' profiles to identify compatible matches based on preferences, values, and expectations. Both parties review each other's profiles and have the right to accept or decline a match for any reason — matching must be mutually agreed upon. A match meeting is then scheduled — via video call or in person — so both parties can connect on a personal level, discuss communication preferences, and confirm they're comfortable moving forward together.
Yes. Both the surrogate and the intended parents are required to have independent legal representation. The intended parents cover the cost of your attorney. Your lawyer represents only your interests — reviews the surrogacy contract, ensures your compensation and rights are fully protected, and negotiates any changes on your behalf. You should never sign a surrogacy contract without having your own attorney review it first.
During the embryo transfer, the fertility doctor places one (or two, depending on the contract) embryo into your uterus using a thin catheter. The procedure is quick — typically under 10 minutes — and minimally invasive, similar to a Pap smear. No anesthesia is required. After the transfer, you rest briefly at the clinic and then follow the clinic's post-transfer instructions. A blood pregnancy test is performed approximately 10–14 days later to confirm implantation.
Absolutely. New Grace Fertility serves international intended parents from around the world, with particular expertise helping families from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia. We assist with travel planning, document preparation for international birth certificate and passport applications, and provide bilingual support in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese throughout. California's surrogacy-friendly laws make it an ideal choice for international families building their family through gestational surrogacy. Learn about international surrogacy →
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