If you’re a woman contemplating surrogacy, it’s totally normal to have questions about the surrogacy medical process in Iowa.

Below, we’ll answer 16 common questions about the surrogacy medical process in Iowa.  If you have other questions about the medical process of surrogacy in IA, you should speak with a surrogacy professional. Simply fill out our online form, and we’ll connect you with someone when you’re ready. Meanwhile, read on to learn more.

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

The medical process of surrogacy in Iowa features seven steps intended to allow professionals to determine whether candidates are prepared to become viable surrogates. It also provides an opportunity to tailor medical care to the individual and improve the odds of a successful pregnancy and delivery are also provided. The steps in the surrogacy medical process in Iowa include:

• Medical screening to guarantee the surrogate is physically prepared for surrogacy and delivery of the child.  
• A mock cycle gives a reproductive endocrinologist a chance to assess the surrogate’s physical response to the medications administered before the transfer.
• Preparation for the embryo transfer with a variety of drugs and hormones to increase the odds of implantation.
• The transfer of the fertilized embryo to the surrogate’s womb using a syringe inserted into the uterus, with an ultrasound afterward to ensure the embryos have implanted.
• The pregnancy is confirmed about nine days after implantation with hormone tests done by a fertility clinic.
• An ultrasound is administered after six weeks to confirm a heartbeat. When a heartbeat is detected, the surrogate is released to her OB/GYN for routine prenatal care.
• Prenatal care is given to the surrogate mother during the pregnancy, just as with any expectant mother.

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

Are you asking, “Do surrogates share blood with the baby in Iowa?” With any surrogate pregnancy, the baby receives blood, oxygen, and nutrients from the mother through the umbilical cord. Therefore, surrogate health screening is thorough by design to ensure no bloodborne pathogens or communicable diseases are exchanged.

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

Have you wondered, “Does the baby get any DNA from a surrogate mother in Iowa?” In gestational surrogacy, there is no shared DNA. The baby’s DNA is contributed from its intended parents who provided the fertilized egg. The surrogate mother contributes no genetic material. 

4. Will the Baby Look Like the Surrogate Mother in Iowa?

Will a baby look like the surrogate mother in Iowa? No, because the implanted embryo in gestational surrogacy includes only genetic material from the intended parents, there should be no resemblance between the child and the surrogate. Any similarities are merely coincidental and aren’t attributed to shared DNA.

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

Some people ask, “Does a surrogate baby look like its parents in Iowa?” The answer is yes since the parents provided the fertilized egg for the process, which includes all genetic material. Therefore, the child has their DNA, while the surrogate only provides a womb for the child and shares no genetic link.

6. Can a Surrogate Carry Twins in Iowa?

Can a surrogate have twins in Iowa? Surrogate mother sometimes become pregnant with twins as the result of a natural split in the uterus (identical twins) or the transfer of two different embryos that successfully implant (fraternal twins). Becoming pregnant with twins during surrogacy is a real possibility.

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

Another common question is, “How does a surrogate get pregnant in Iowa?” Surrogate pregnancy is facilitated through the transfer of a fertilized embryo provided by the intended parents. Once fertilized, the egg is incubated for five days and then implanted in the womb of the surrogate mother. She is then monitored for six months to confirm a viable pregnancy.

8. Can A Surrogate Have an Abortion in Iowa?

Many potential surrogates wonder, “Can a surrogate get an abortion in Iowa?” or “Can a surrogate be forced to have an abortion in IA?” The intended parents will be raising a child born via surrogacy, so they can decide to terminate the pregnancy. Surrogacy may be their lone chance at building a family with their genetic material, and they want things to be perfect.

When the fetus isn’t developing as planned, or additional health issues arise, the intended parents can opt to end the pregnancy. Surrogate abortion in Iowa can also occur when several embryos implant and result in multiple viable fetuses. In those cases, abortion may be administered when the intended parents only want one child.

It’s important to consider this aspect if you’re planning to become a surrogate. If you have any concerns about surrogate abortion in Iowa,  please consult a surrogacy professional.  

9. Do Surrogates Use Their Own Eggs in Iowa?

Can surrogates use their own eggs in Iowa? It varies depending on the type of surrogacy they’ve chosen. With traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s eggs are used. In gestational surrogacy, however, the intended mother’s eggs are fertilized to create an embryo that’s transferred to the surrogate’s womb.

10. What Surrogate Medications in Iowa Will Be Administered?

Surrogate mothers are administered many medications intended to coordinate and control their cycle and get the uterus ready for embryo transfer at the optimal moment. These medications boost the chances of a successful pregnancy and include:

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

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

The IVF surrogate process in Iowa refers to IVF, or in vitro fertilization. It occurs after an egg from the intended mother is fertilized with the intended father’s sperm in a lab setting. Once the embryo has been incubated, it can be implanted in the surrogate’s womb to initiate pregnancy.

12. What is Surrogate Embryo Transfer in Iowa?

The embryo transfer process in Iowa initiates the surrogate mother’s pregnancy. Intended parents provide the egg and sperm that are used to generate a fertilized embryo in a fertility lab. Embryos that are viable are then implanted into the surrogate’s womb once she’s medically ready.

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

You may be wondering how long the embryo transfer to surrogate mother in IA usually takes. The timeline is usually short if everything goes as planned. After the transfer, the embryo is usually implanted in a matter of days. Implantation is later confirmed by the fertility clinic, and later, another ultrasound confirms the heartbeat of the child.

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

Based on information provided by the CDC, there’s a 52% success rate for in vitro fertilization generally. Private fertility centers boast success rates approaching 75%, or as high as 95%, after the gestational surrogate has become pregnant.

15. Who Pays Medical Bills for Surrogate in Iowa?

While each situation differs, the medical cost of surrogacy is completely covered by the intended parents most of the time. The surrogate mother can also get compensation for the commitment she is making to help intended parents build a family. That compensation extends beyond the medical and other surrogacy-related costs.

16. Where Can You Get More Details About the Surrogacy Medical Process in Iowa?

While we covered many topics in this guide, you may still have questions about the surrogacy medical process in IA that are unanswered. Your next step is to speak with a surrogacy professional. We can help you find one when you’re ready. Simply complete our online form and we’ll take it from there.