In an endearingly humorous spot from Family Equality, two fathers are shown putting their adopted son to bed when their little boy asks the classic question, “Where do babies come from?” One of the dads replies with a not-so-classic answer using diagrams, video calls to their attorney, and a reenactment using their son’s toys, to demonstrate just how difficult their path was to become parents. Adoption providers can still legally reject qualified LGBTQ applicants in 11 states. “Throughout the adoption process, people in the LGBTQ+ community face state-endorsed legal obstacles, colossal financi ..read more

As an intended parent, when a gestational surrogate is carrying and gives birth to your baby, one of the most important steps you must take is to ensure that you are legally recognized as the parent(s) by the appropriate court or legal process. Pre-birth Order or Post-birth Order The appropriate court or administrative process is dictated by the laws of each state. To ensure you are taking the right steps to ensure you are legally recognized as your child’s parent, you should discuss this with your attorney prior to conception. In any case, once you have a positive pregnancy, do not delay in ..read more

Egg donors play a key role for many in their family building, and in many surrogacy journeys. They can make aspiring couples’ and individuals’ desire to build a family a reality. Single parents, same-sex couples, or infertile heterosexual couples all may avail themselves of donated eggs. A Legal Agreement Between You and the Egg Donor As with any legal arrangement, all parties in an egg donation agreement should have a written agreement among themselves. Although you may feel that the consent documents you sign with your fertility center are sufficient, keep in mind those are consents to tre ..read more

Surrogacy is a wonderful, in many ways magical, event. That said, we also should not forget it is a legal arrangement. The more clearly the specifics, the expectations, and the obligations of all parties are spelled-out up front, the less chance there will be disappointments or disagreements at any point in the journey. Setting everyone’s expectations from the start is critical to having a smooth and joyful journey together. Defining the Relationship Between Surrogates and Intended Parents Gestational Surrogacy Contracts/Agreements (GSA) are critical to any surrogacy arrangement. They set out ..read more

 Following the birth of a baby, virtually every surrogate feels a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. What comes after that? As someone who is interested in becoming a surrogate, you no doubt think about the excitement and the wonder of bringing a child into the world for someone else. It’s an incredible journey, and a generous and beautiful act to help others build a family. Many intended parents will tell you that you are making their dreams come true, and that you are “an angel.” All true! While being matched with intended parents, sharing the anticipation and rewards of pregnanc ..read more

  Meeting the requirements is important, but so is knowing your personal preferences for a surrogacy match. At ARTparenting, we know your superpower is your ability to have a baby for someone else! We also know that while there are specific requirements that you must meet to become a surrogate, relating to age, financial stability, family support, and other relevant topics, there are other considerations too. Your health history is an important factor in your eligibility. After you have reviewed those specifics, there are other, perhaps less obvious things to think about that are related ..read more

Medical issues you should be aware of when considering becoming a surrogate. As any would-be surrogate quickly learns, there are requirements that you must meet before becoming a surrogate — everything from age and financial stability to whether or not you have the support of your family. Your health and your medical history are among the most important criteria for becoming a surrogate. The need for a surrogate to be in overall good health before she can carry a child for someone else is probably a given. Beyond that, though, there are specific conditions that could make it unlikely, unwise ..read more

Valerie, Trevor, and Michael holding Griffin (with Ruby the dog). VALERIE’S STORY: a path to surrogacy beyond cancer and COVID-19 Valerie Brown and her husband Michael had their first child in 2015, an energetic and deeply loved son named Trevor. In one of life’s cruel pranks, when Trevor turned two Valerie was diagnosed with breast cancer, following a self-exam and the discovery of a lump. She had had no family history of any kind of cancer, and no genetic predisposition. For treatment, Valerie decided on a nipple-sparing mastectomy. And because the cancer was both early-stage and non-aggres ..read more

  We are acutely aware of the level of concern that our surrogates and our intended parents have due to public-health challenges relating to the coronavirus pandemic. The medical landscape is changing weekly, and sometimes daily, in terms of infection levels, surges, safety recommendations, and policies of the IVF centers — all of which vary by region and make surrogacy especially challenging as we navigate the patchwork of contradictory rules and recommendations. COVID-19 Resources for Our Surrogates & Intended Parents At ARTparenting, we are here for you, now more than ever. We will ..read more

 To Our Incredible Surrogates, We hope you are staying well where ever you live. We know these are such trying times for everyone. We are attempting to keep you as up to date as possible and are working together with other professionals every day to ensure you are all as safe as possible and supported in your needs, whether they are medical, emotional or otherwise. Never hesitate to reach out to us to ask any questions that are arising, now and always. We also know the advice changes day to day.   With respect to any upcoming anticipated appointments if you are still in the scre ..read more