An Overview Of The Matching Process			Frequently Asked Questions
	Financial Overview Gestational Carrier Program

S.E.E.D.S., Surrogacy, Embryo and Egg Donor Services, Inc., offers a comprehensive program of Gestational Surrogacy and Egg Donation. S.E.E.D.S. assists couples, single individuals, and gay/lesbian couples. Our staff has experience working with infertile couples and individuals all across the United States and abroad. We have staff fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Having a child with the help of a Gestational Carrier or Egg Donor can be an exciting and fulfilling experience. Unlike some alternative methods of creating a family, the surrogacy process allows a child to be biologically related to one or both parents. Surrogacy gives the Intended Parent/s the opportunity to become involved in the pregnancy itself.

A Gestational Carrier is a woman who acts as a “host carrier” for a couple or individual that is unable to achieve or maintain a pregnancy that will result in a successful birth. The Gestational Carrier is not genetically related to the baby, the Intended Parent/s will use their own eggs or an Egg Donor.

We understand how emotionally, physically and financially demanding it can be to choose to be a participant in the Gestational Carrier program in order to achieve a pregnancy. Advances in reproductive medicine give couples and individuals many choices in creating their own family. During the S.E.E.D.S. initial consultation, available options will be explored and compared so that you can select and understand a program before starting.

Our staff believes it is important for you to be as informed as you can be about the Gestational Carrier Program and we will help you to navigate and coordinate this unique relationship.

S.E.E.D.S. believes it is important for you to be as informed as you can be about the Gestational Carrier you choose to work with.

S.E.E.D.S. is here to guide you, but you will make the final decision when being matched with the Gestational Carrier, The match is a two way process between both parties, IP’s and the Gestational Carrier.

We can provide you with a Social Background Report on the Gestational Carrier done by the S.E.E.D.S. coordinator. The Social Background Report process involves a series of interviews designed to help a Gestational Carrier educate herself about surrogate motherhood and to determine if surrogate motherhood is right for her. This report includes all of her basic information, vital statistics, family background, health and psychological information, fertility testing, present life situation, personality and goals.

S.E.E.D.S. maintains a small select group of Gestational Carrier candidates, who have been recruited and gone through a lengthy acceptance process following the guidelines from ASRM, SART and the FDA regulations.

All of our Gestational Carriers are medically and psychologically screened after their initial application is accepted; we then have a long interview with the Gestational Carrier candidate at the S.E.E.D.S. office. Following the interview a criminal background check is conducted. Before she is accepted into our program, we schedule a second meeting with the Gestational Carrier candidate and her husband or significant other, including a professional Counselor in order to cover how the program works and to discuss and explore all the different issues which might arise in an IP / Gestational Carrier relationship.

The Gestational Carrier should be between the ages of 21 and 39, with a healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery history. Gestational Carriers will be medically screened at the appointed Fertility Clinic following the FDA regulations requiring testing for HIV, Hepatitis, infectious diseases, medical disorders (such as diabetes), illicit drugs and alcohol.

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• Introduction meeting of the Intended Parent/s and Gestational Carrier candidate will take place at the S.E.E.D.S. office or a convenient location for all parties involved. The S.E.E.D.S. Surrogacy Coordinator and the Counselor will facilitate the meeting. Each meeting is individually tailored to the needs and requirements of all parties. This meeting is one of the most important steps in the Gestational Carrier process. You will be familiarized with the meeting protocol and our Surrogacy Coordinator and the Counselor will be available to you before and after the meeting.
  
  
• Confirmation of the match by both the recipient couple or individual and the Gestational Carrier is expected within 48 hours of the meeting.
  
  
• The parties, IP’s and Gestational Carrier, are required to be represented by separate legal counsel.
  
  
• The legal contracts are drafted. All parties need to be fully informed of their legal obligations as spelled out in the agreement. Once the contract is executed, a trust account is established. All expenses and payments relating to the Surrogate Carrier’s needs are paid out of the trust account.
  
  
• The medical procedures to achieve parenthood begin. Couples or individuals can expect to have the Gestational Carrier begin the medical procedures within two months of completing the contracts.
  
  
• Gestational Carriers and Intended Parents or Parent can expect to be in the program 12 to 20 months until a baby is born. The sooner you start, the sooner it will happen.
  
  
• The matching process may take from 2 to 6 months, or longer, depending on the couple's need.

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• A trust account is opened to pay all the legal, medical, and other expenses that arise from the surrogacy agreement. This eliminates the need for the individual or couple and Gestational Carrier to discuss finances, and allows everyone to enjoy the entire experience. The surrogate mother is never left with any unpaid bills related to her pregnancy and expenses.
  
  
• Anticipated expenses for the Gestational Carrier program are approximately $38,000 to $40,000. This includes: application, coordination fee, Gestational Carrier screening and support, medical history, psychologist fee for Gestational Carrier and couple or individual's initial evaluation and counseling, legal fees for Gestational Carrier, life insurance, maternity clothes, and the Gestational Carrier allowance to accomplish pregnancy, embryo transfer and monthly allowance during the pregnancy.
  
  
• Health insurance expenses are not included in the estimate. If the Gestational Carrier needs health insurance S.E.E.D.S. will assist to secure it.
  
  
• Please note that some of these costs will be higher if a multiple pregnancy results. The anticipated total is approximate and may vary due to each case's specific circumstances.
  
  
• Medical expenses and reproductive medicine costs are not included.

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What is S.E.E.D.S.’ role?

S.E.E.D.S. is your liaison and coordinator throughout the entire Gestational Carrier process from the time of the first meeting, through the Matching and until the time of the Gestational Carrier’s delivery.

OUR responsibilities can include but are not limited to:

• Providing a very personalized service to each IP and Gestational Carrier
  
• Finding and matching with a suitable Gestational Carrier
  
• Coordinating and assisting with all Legal procedures, Psychological, Medical, Transportation and Counseling.
  
• Assisting both parties in obtaining independent legal counsel
  
• Collection and disbursement of all funds to the Gestational Carrier, as indicated by the contract
  
• Locating suitable Health Insurance and Life Insurance for the Carrier
  
• Supporting and Counseling both parties, IPs and Gestational Carrier throughout every step required on this journey to create your family

How Much does it cost?

S.E.E.D.S. will provide you with a Fee Schedule and a Fee Payment Schedule.

The S.E.E.D.S. coordination fee and the Gestational Carrier compensation are set and non-negotiable

The Gestational carrier program cost includes many variables such as:

• Legal counsel Fee for IPs and Gestational Carrier for the contract
  
• Legal counsel for the birth order
  
• Gestational Carrier’s Medical Insurance
  
• The need to have more than one Embryo transfer

How long will I wait to be matched with a Gestational Carrier?

The matching process between a Gestational Carrier and IP’s is a highly personalized process; it is not a quick and easy match. We make every effort to respect both parties’ needs and desires.

S.E.E.D.S. relies on the information supplied by the various participants in suggesting potential matches. In every case, the ultimate decision for a successful match is solely up to the participants involved, the IPs and Gestational Carrier candidate.

S.E.E.D.S. will seek to match all participants with other available participants; however S.E.E.D.S. can not guarantee that every participant will ultimately be matched.

S.E.E.D.S. will use its best efforts to match IPs with Gestational Carriers who meet their designated criteria.

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