A gestational surrogacy journey involves a number of people working together toward a shared goal: the birth of a child for a family who cannot carry a pregnancy themselves. Understanding who is involved, and what each person’s role entails, is a helpful starting point for anyone exploring surrogacy for the first time.
A journey built around care
Medical, legal and emotional planning work together throughout the process. When expectations are discussed early and support remains consistent, everyone involved has a stronger foundation for the journey ahead.
The intended parents are the people who will raise the child. The gestational carrier — sometimes called a surrogate — is the person who carries the pregnancy. She is not genetically related to the child in gestational surrogacy; the embryo is created from the intended parents’ genetics or from donated eggs and/or sperm.
No two stories are the same. The most important part is creating a process that protects dignity, wellbeing and the relationships at its centre.