How Important Is It to Have a Local Surrogate?

Your surrogate plays a starring role in helping you build your family, and you want to participate in their journey as much as possible. However, it’s important to recognize that your surrogate has their own life and family, too.

While having a surrogate who lives nearby makes it easier for intended parents (IPs) to attend prenatal appointments, it’s not absolutely necessary. The importance of having a local surrogate depends on logistics, state laws, finances, and personal wishes.

At Great Beginnings Surrogacy Services in San Diego, California, we’re known for providing the highest quality of care. Our surrogacy and fertility specialist, Dr. Samuel Wood, helps people worldwide build their families. 

Read on to learn the key factors to consider when deciding if the proximity of your surrogate is important to you.

The role of a surrogate

Many dream of having a family, but not everyone can bear children. A surrogate is a woman who carries and delivers a baby for another person, helping them have the family they desire.

There are two types of surrogates:

Traditional surrogate

A traditional surrogate uses their own eggs for pregnancy, so they’re the biological mother of the baby, giving them parental rights at birth. IPs must take additional legal steps to establish parental rights regarding the baby.

Gestational surrogate

A gestational surrogate uses eggs and sperm from the IPs or a donor and has no biological connection to the baby, simplifying the legal process for IP parental rights.

We only use gestational surrogates at our agency to minimize legal complications. Our team pre-screens all surrogates before meeting potential IPs to make a match.

Once you find your surrogate, they must complete medical and psychological evaluations before they meet with your fertility doctor for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Once pregnant, the surrogate’s personal OB/GYN provides prenatal care. 

Benefits of a local surrogate

The proximity of your surrogate may determine how involved you are during pregnancy. Using a local surrogate makes attending prenatal visits, ultrasounds, and other tests easier. It also increases opportunities for in-person visits to strengthen the relationship. 

Since state surrogacy laws differ, using a surrogate who lives in your home state may also simplify the legal process.

Making it work long-distance

Finding a surrogate who lives nearby isn’t always possible. While finding a long-distance surrogate is more challenging, with increased travel costs and additional legal hurdles, it can work.

As one of the top surrogacy agencies in the United States, we meet with families from all over the country looking for surrogates. 

Sometimes, it’s not possible to work with a local surrogate, so we bridge the gap. We help IPs and surrogates establish a plan that meets everyone’s needs and goals. The plan may include the best means of communication, frequency of check-ins, and which prenatal appointments to attend together. 

The ideal surrogate aligns with your needs, whether they live locally or far away. Thoughtful planning and open communication are essential no matter the distance.

Choosing surrogacy to grow your family is a life-changing decision, and selecting the right surrogate is critical. Let us help you find your match. Call us at 858-922-8544 today to schedule a consultation. Or send us a message online.