After the baby is born, the intended parents begin caring for their child while the gestational carrier starts her physical and emotional recovery. Although the pregnancy has ended, there are still a few important steps for everyone involved.
Depending on the state where the baby is born, legal documents such as a pre-birth or post-birth parentage order help establish the intended parents as the baby’s legal parents. The hospital follows the birth plan created before delivery to ensure everyone understands their roles and expectations.
The gestational carrier receives postpartum medical care and attends follow-up appointments with her healthcare provider. Some gestational carriers choose to pump breast milk or provide colostrum for the baby if it was discussed and agreed upon in advance, while others do not. Every journey is different, and these decisions are made together before delivery.
The relationship between the intended parents and gestational carrier also varies. Some stay in close contact for years, while others exchange occasional updates or choose to remain connected through the agency. There is no right or wrong approach, as long as everyone’s expectations are respected.
For many families, the birth marks the end of the surrogacy journey and the beginning of a lifelong chapter as parents.