If you’ve thought about becoming a surrogate mother, you probably have a few questions about how the process works. One of the most common areas of concern for women considering surrogacy is what goes into the surrogacy medical process in Alabama.

It’s totally natural to have questions about the medical process of surrogacy in AL, and you can get the answers you need by speaking with a surrogacy professional. We can help with that. Simply complete our free online form, and we’ll connect you with a surrogacy specialist today.

For now, you may find the FAQ below helpful. We cover many aspects of the surrogacy medical process in Alabama in greater detail, so keep reading to learn more.   

1. What Is the Medical Process for Surrogacy in Alabama?

There are seven steps in the medical process of surrogacy in Alabama. These provide detailed screening of surrogate candidates and individualized medical care intended to increase the chance that the surrogate will be able to safely carry and deliver a child. The steps in the surrogacy medical process in Alabama are as follows:

• Medical screening: This step ensures that the surrogate is physically ready for pregnancy and will be able to carry the pregnancy to term. It involves a variety of tests and procedures and is the first step in the process of becoming a surrogate.
• Mock cycle: The mock cycle is a trial run for the embryo transfer to give the reproductive endocrinologist a chance to see how the surrogate’s body responds to the medications that will be given prior to the transfer.
• Preparations for embryo transfer: The surrogate’s body is prepared for the transfer of the embryo to increase the chance of implantation using a variety of drugs and hormones.
• Embryo transfer: Once the fertilized embryos are fertilized, they are ready for the transfer process. A syringe will be used to insert the embryos into the uterus, and an ultrasound will ensure they’re properly implanted.
• Confirmation of pregnancy: Around nine days after implantation, the surrogate mother will return to the fertility clinic for hormone tests that will be used to confirm the pregnancy.
• 6-week ultrasound: After six weeks of pregnancy, an ultrasound will be performed to confirm the heartbeat. If the heartbeat is detected, the surrogate is released to her OB/GYN to move forward with prenatal care.
• Prenatal care: As a pregnant woman, the surrogate undergoes the same prenatal care that would be provided to any expectant mother.

2. Does a Surrogate Mother Share Blood with the Baby in Alabama?

If you’re wondering, “Do surrogates share blood with the baby in Alabama?” you should know the answer is yes. With any kind of surrogacy, the baby in the womb will be supplied with blood, oxygen, and nutrients from the mother’s body through the umbilical cord. However, there’s no need to worry, as the surrogate screening is thorough and is intended to ensure there are no bloodborne pathogens or communicable diseases that could later cause problems.

3. Does a Surrogate Mother Share DNA with the Baby in Alabama?

You may have also asked, “Does the baby get any DNA from a surrogate mother in Alabama?” The answer to this question, at least in the context of gestational surrogacy, is no. The DNA comes from the intended parents who provide the fertilized egg. 

4. Will the Baby Look Like the Surrogate Mother?

That’s a great question. Again, because the implanted embryo in gestational surrogacy includes only the genetic material of the two intended parents who contributed to its fertilization, any common features between the surrogate mother and the child would be strictly coincidental and not based on shared DNA.

5. Do Surrogate Babies Look Like the Parents in Alabama?

The answer is yes. The parents who provide the genetic material for the fertilized egg will share their DNA with the child. The surrogate simply provides the womb for the child, while the intended parents offer their genetic material. Therefore, the child will share the features of the parents.

6. Can a Surrogate Carry Twins in Alabama?

Another common question about surrogacy is, “Can a surrogate have twins in Alabama?” The answer is yes.  A surrogate can become pregnant with twins due to a natural split in the uterus (identical twins) or transferring two separate embryos that implant (fraternal twins). Having twins during the surrogacy process is a distinct possibility.

7. How Does a Surrogate Mother Get Pregnant in Alabama?

Many women considering surrogacy ask, “How does a surrogate get pregnant in Alabama?” In brief, the surrogate mother becomes pregnant through the transfer of a fertilized embryo provided by the intended parents. Once the egg from the mother is fertilized, it is incubated for five days, then implanted in the womb of the surrogate mother and closely monitored for six months to ensure viability.

8. Can A Surrogate Have an Abortion in Alabama?

It’s natural to have complex questions about the surrogacy journey, such as, “Can a surrogate get an abortion in Alabama?” or, “Can a surrogate be forced to have an abortion in AL?” 

Because the intended parents will be responsible for raising the child born through surrogacy, the decision to terminate the pregnancy often resides with them. For example, if there’s an issue with the development of a fetus or some other health complication, the intended parents may wish to terminate the pregnancy. After all, surrogacy may represent their last shot at building their family, and they want everything to be perfect.

Surrogate abortion in Alabama may also be an option if more than one embryo implants, resulting in multiple viable fetuses. In that case, abortion may be selected by the intended parents if they only want one child. If you have any concerns about surrogate abortion in Alabama, it’s a good idea to discuss it with a surrogacy professional.  

9. Do Surrogates Use Their Own Eggs in Alabama?

Can surrogates use their own eggs in Alabama? That’s a great question, and the answer depends on the type of surrogacy you’ve chosen.

If you’ve selected a traditional surrogacy, then the eggs of the mother are used. However, this is an uncommon practice due to the advancement of fertility practices. In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate’s eggs are not used. The eggs of the intended mother are fertilized to create an embryo, which is transferred to the surrogate.

10. What Kinds of Surrogate Medications in Alabama May Be Required?

Throughout your surrogacy experience, you will likely be prescribed a variety of medications to coordinate and control your cycle and ensure your uterus is ready for the embryo transfer at the perfect time. Some of the medications you’ll be prescribed include:

• Doxycycline
• Lupron
• Estrogen
• Progesterone
• Aspirin
• Tetracycline
• Medrol
• Prenatal vitamins

11. What’s the Gestational Surrogate IVF Process in Alabama?

We’ve already covered the IVF surrogate process in Alabama in a previous answer. IVF, or in vitro fertilization, is when an egg from the intended mother is fertilized by the sperm of the intended father in a laboratory setting. Once a viable embryo is incubated, it can be implanted in the surrogate’s womb to initiate pregnancy.

12. What is Surrogate Embryo Transfer in Alabama?

Again, though there’s more detail above on the embryo transfer process in Alabama, it is simply the process through which the surrogate mother becomes pregnant. When the intended viable parents have provided egg and sperm, an embryo is cultivated in a fertility lab. Once the embryo is deemed viable, it is implanted into the surrogate’s womb after she is prepared medically for the procedure.

13. How Long After IVF Transfer Does the Embryo Implant in Alabama?

If you’re wondering about the embryo transfer to a surrogate mother in AL and how long it can take, you should know it’s usually a quick process. If everything goes as planned, the embryo should only take a few days to become implanted. The fertility clinic will confirm implantation, and an ultrasound six months later will be used to confirm the heartbeat of the child.

14. What Are the Chances of First Embryo Transfer Success in Alabama?

The CDC reports a 52% success rate for in vitro fertilization as a whole. However, private fertility centers claim a success rate of around 75%, and that rate can increase as high as 95% once the gestational surrogate is pregnant.

15. Who Pays Medical Bills for Surrogate in Alabama?

For women who choose to serve as surrogate mothers, the medical costs of surrogacy are 100% covered by the intended parents. In fact, in many surrogacies, the surrogate mother is compensated for the commitment and sacrifice she is making, which goes well above the cost of her medical care.

16. Where Can You Get More Info on the Surrogacy Medical Process in Alabama?

If you have additional questions regarding the medical process of surrogacy, there’s good news. We can help with that. Simply complete our online form when you’re ready, and we’ll connect you with a specialist.