Things to Expect as a Surrogate Mother in Oklahoma

The beginning of your surrogacy journey is an exciting time as you look forward to helping a couple become parents. While giving the gift of life is rewarding in itself, your surrogacy experience will be even more rewarding if you know what to expect going into it. When you have a better understanding of what the surrogacy process entails, you will be able to anticipate all the joyous moments while being prepared to take on any challenges that may come your way. Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma wants you to get the most out of your surrogacy journey, which is why we’re providing this overview of what to expect as a surrogate mother in Oklahoma.

Surrogacy in Oklahoma is a Long Process

If you are considering becoming a surrogate mother or are in the early stages of the surrogacy process, it’s important to understand that there’s much more to surrogacy than being pregnant for nine months with someone else’s baby. Prior to becoming pregnant, you must go through a series of steps that can take a long time before you are ready to attempt implantation. From the screening and matching process to the legal components and fertility treatments, preparing for the actual pregnancy can take several months. If there are any snags along the way, this can delay any given step in the process or even result in having to start the process over. However, the wait is well worth it in the end once you’ve brought a new life into this world for the intended parents to nurture.

Surrogate Mothers Must Meet Strict Requirements

Before you commit to becoming a surrogate mother, you will first have to undergo very rigorous physical, mental, and social evaluations to ensure that you will be able to get through the surrogacy process with minimal complications. You can expect the following to be evaluated:

• personal and family medical history
• past and current mental health
• lifestyle choices
• BMI
• citizenship status
• drug and alcohol use history
• whether you have had any tattoos, piercings, or blood transfusions in the last year
• STD history
• pregnancy and delivery history
• criminal history
• financial situation

You Will Undergo Fertility Treatments before Becoming a Surrogate Mother

An important step you will take to prepare your body for pregnancy is by undergoing hormone treatments that often consist of birth control pills. The purpose of such treatments is to regulate your cycle to maximize the chances of a successful implantation. After about 3 to 5 weeks of fertility treatments, an embryo will be transferred to your uterus in the hope that it will implant within a couple of days.

Successful Implantation Takes Time

A few weeks after the embryo transfer, you will take a pregnancy test to confirm if you are pregnant. If the pregnancy test comes back negative, don’t be discouraged! You should not feel any shame or guilt if the implantation was unsuccessful the first time. It’s not uncommon to undergo multiple attempts before the embryo implants into the uterus, so don’t feel as though you have let the intended parents down. While it can be frustrating to have to start the IVF process over, it will be all the more rewarding once you become pregnant.

Surrogate Mothers Don’t Have to Bear a Financial Burden

When undergoing medical treatments and procedures as a surrogate, it’s understandable that you may have some concerns about covering your medical expenses. However, you won’t have to worry about affording surrogacy since you will receive a benefits package from Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma to pay for such costs. We want you to focus on being healthy during your pregnancy instead of being stressed out over affording your next doctor’s appointment.

Surrogate Mothers Experience Postpartum Like Any Other Woman Who Gives Birth

Since surrogates are required to have had at least one healthy pregnancy and delivery, you will have already experienced what the postpartum period entails. While no two pregnancies, deliveries, or recoveries are the same, you can expect that your postpartum experience as a surrogate will be similar to your previous postpartum experience in terms of recovery. However, the biggest difference between the two types of postpartum experiences is that this time, you will not bring a baby home. For some women, this can bring a sense of relief; however, other women may feel a sense of emptiness and sadness. It’s important to have a strong support system to get you through this period of recovery so that your life can get back to normal as soon as possible.

Surrogate Mothers Can Form Relationships with the Intended Parents

Early on in your surrogacy journey, you will go through a matching process with couples or individuals seeking to become intended parents. Once you find a match, you will have an opportunity to get to know the intended parent or parents before you follow through with the pregnancy. You get to decide how much contact you would like with them both during and after the pregnancy. Many surrogates and intended parents develop a very deep bond over the course of the surrogacy process that lasts well after the child is born. Such a connection can also serve as a means of support if you encounter any challenges during the process.

What Expectations Do You Have for Your Surrogacy Journey in Oklahoma?

Having realistic expectations for your surrogacy journey will better prepare you for the process. The more prepared you are to become a surrogate mother, the more rewarding you will find the experience. If you are considering becoming a surrogate mother in Oklahoma, and you want to learn more about what you can expect from the surrogacy process, reach out to Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma to learn more. We will keep you informed during every step of the surrogacy process so that you will get the most out of your surrogacy journey and look back on it with no regrets.

Adoption and Surrogacy Choices of Oklahoma is a surrogacy and adoption agency, licensed by the state of Oklahoma and leader in the community. We assist both intended parents and gestational carriers (surrogates). Our staff members are committed to providing an ethical, empowering, and personalized experience to all involved in the surrogacy process.
Toll-free: 800-898-6028 | OKC Local: 405-755-1999 | Tulsa Local: 918-447-7777 | Text: 405-310-8790 | Email

Meet the Author: Mary DeStefano is an Ohio native currently living in northern Virginia and works in the litigation consulting industry, where she has experience in antitrust, product liability, and mass torts matters. She holds a B.A. in Economics (‘15) and an M.A. in Applied Economics (‘16) from the University of Cincinnati.

Mary finds great meaning in wielding the written word to develop impactful narratives and to help people stay informed. In her spare time, Mary can be found beachcombing and going on other adventures with her dog along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. She also has an affinity for antiquing and loves a good 80’s movie marathon.