Surrogacy
In a surrogacy process, the steps are defined, and the goal is always the same – for you to become a parent – but the path to the goal is unique for each process. The surrogacy process has many dependencies and relies on the voluntary participation of individuals. We will be by your side and guide you with the next step, no matter how your surrogacy process looks.
Surrogacy – How the process works
- Surrogacy, also known as gestational surrogacy, means that a woman carries and gives birth to a child for someone else. At Nordic Surrogacy, we work with what is called full surrogacy. This means that the woman carrying the child never has a genetic link to the child. The child is either the biological child of the parents or the egg or sperm is donated by a third party.
- Surrogacy is the most amazing, challenging, and tumultuous journey you will ever undertake. Many of us working at Nordic Surrogacy have completed this journey. With great experience and dedication, we have guided hundreds of intended parents through their surrogacy journey.
- Together with our international partner clinics, we can offer a range of surrogacy options that suit every intended parent, regardless of sexual orientation or civil status.
Do you want to become a parent?
We offer free consultation. Together, we look at the possibilities based on your specific circumstances to create the family you dream of. We will help you. Contact us today!
- Leading in the Nordics since 2016
- Hundreds of babies born
- Highly renowned clinics
Surrogacy process - Step by step
- 1
Consultation & Program selection
When you contact us, you will initially receive a free consultation where we go through your individual circumstances step by step to determine which program and destination suit you. A contract is then signed for the chosen program.
- 2
Tests & Documentation
Medical test results and documents are submitted. Exactly what is needed depends on the destination and program, but you will be guided through it by your coordinator.
For the intendent mother, it may involve a simple fertility investigation to see if her own eggs can be used in the process, and for the man, it may be a sperm analysis.
Regarding documentation, it may involve passport copies or proving cohabitation through a population registration extract. To carry out a process with Nordic Surrogacy, a criminal record extract is required regardless of the destination.
- 3
Trip to the destination
An initial trip to the destination and the clinic is made to provide biological material. Medical test results are performed at the clinic and documentation is collected. If own eggs are used, hormone stimulation and egg retrieval are performed during the first trip to the destination.
- 4
Choosing an egg donor and egg retrieval
If an egg donor is needed in the process, a suitable donor is selected in consultation with the clinic. The egg donor undergoes hormone stimulation. The clinic monitors the cycle, and at the right time, the eggs are retrieved and fertilized. The surrogate’s eggs are never used in the process.
- 5
Creation of embryos
After fertilization, the embryos develop for 5-6 days until they reach a stage called blastocyst. Embryos that reach this stage can, in some cases, also undergo genetic screening for chromosomal abnormalities. The embryos are then frozen, awaiting the surrogate’s treatment for embryo transfer.
- 6
Surrogate match
The surrogate is at the core of our operation, playing a vital role in the entire process. We place the highest priority on her health and well-being, partnering with carefully selected clinics to support this essential aspect of our work.
Every surrogate matched with intended parents meets the standards set by the destination country, having undergone comprehensive psychological and medical screenings, as well as meeting all relevant legal requirements. The specific steps of the matching process may vary depending on the chosen destination.
- 7
Embryo transfer
The surrogate begins her treatment to prepare for the embryo transfer. The treatment lasts around a month, and when the doctor deems the uterine lining thick enough, an embryo transfer is performed.
About two weeks after the transfer, the surrogate takes a blood test to see if there is an increase in the hormone HCG in the blood. If the value has increased, a first ultrasound is planned. If a pregnancy has not occurred, the process is repeated with another transfer or the creation of new embryos.
- 8
Pregnancy
Once the pregnancy is confirmed, a care plan for the surrogate is activated, and she then undergoes regular check-ups at the clinic. A pregnancy overview is made that serves as a shared guide through the pregnancy for all parties. The plan includes scheduled health checks, ultrasounds, prenatal diagnostics, and other milestones.
During the pregnancy, the intended parents receive ongoing images and reports from the surrogate’s check-ups. In some cases, it is also possible to travel to the destination and be present at the clinic’s check-up. There is sometimes also the option to participate digitally.
We offer all intended parents digital contact with a English speaking child health nurse during pregnancy and as new parents.
- 9
Birth
With a few weeks left before the birth, you, as the intended parent, travel to the destination to be present when your baby is born. We will guide you through the final steps of the surrogacy process through close follow-up, a delivery meeting, and a delivery guide that will be provided at the end of the pregnancy. The guide will contain everything to prepare you for the most important journey of your life.
- 10
Citizenship & returning home
As soon as the child is born, the legal process to return home begins. The child’s citizenship depends on the regulations concerning surrogacy in the country where the surrogacy process is carried out. In some countries, the child is born without any citizenship (stateless), and in other countries, the child is born with the citizenship of the birth country.
Ultimately, after the legal process, the child will always receive the citizenship of the parent’s home country. Once the child has citizenship, the embassy/consulate associated with that citizenship will assist with issuing travel documents for the child.
Our surrogacy programs
- We collaborate with clinics at several different destinations, allowing us to offer many the opportunity to fulfill their dream of having a child. Common to all destinations is that surrogacy is regulated for all parties involved in the process.
- Nordic Surrogacy operates with high confidentiality, high integrity, and respect for all involved. Which destination and program suit you depend on your individual circumstances.
FAQ about surrogacy
If I need to choose an egg donor, how do I proceed?
The process of choosing an egg donor is different depending on the destination you choose for the surrogacy process. Most commonly, you choose an egg donor from a database or the clinic selects a small number of donors who fit your requirements.
For most intended parents, choosing an egg donor is an emotional step, and it is not uncommon to become attached to the selected donor. To facilitate this part of the process, it is good to remember that the programme is both voluntary and medically demanding for the donor.
In some cases, the egg donor may decide to drop out of the programme for personal or medical reasons, such as not responding to hormone therapy. In such an event, a new egg donor will be selected.
What check-ups do the surrogate undergo during pregnancy?
Careful and frequent check-ups are carried out during a pregnancy in the surrogacy process in order to ensure the health of both the child and the surrogate.
The check-ups carried out depend on the destination of the surrogacy process and are determined by the treating physician, but you as intended parents will be informed of the plan for scheduled check-ups.
In all our destinations, the surrogate mother has access to medical care as well as psychological support both during and after pregnancy, if needed.
What happens when you are ready to return home with your child after birth?
When the child has a given nationality, the embassy/consulate associated with this nationality will usually assist in issuing travel documents for the child.
