We will arrange a phone call, video meeting or in-person appointment at your earliest convenience; we will review everything with you in detail to ensure you have a good understanding of the process with our agency and all additional related information. Our consultations are free of charge of course. We understand you will have many questions, as choosing an agency is a very important decision in which you must be comfortable.

Once you are ready to sign up with our agency, you will sign the Agency Intended Parent Agreement and submit the agency retainer. It is at this time you will be considered waiting to be matched with a Surrogate. You will simultaneously complete the Intended Parent paperwork, including your Profile that will be shared with your potential Surrogate. Also, if you have not already chosen a fertility doctor/center, we can refer you to one of the top-notch and highly reputable fertility doctors/centers with whom we work.

We will share Surrogate profiles with you based on your criteria, preferences addressed in your Intended profile and Confidential information form, and primarily, our conversations with you regarding matching. Once you profess interest in a Surrogate and she has indicated her mutual interest in your profile, our agency will arrange a match meeting so that you and she may meet to determine if you would like to move forward.

We at Shining Light Baby believe that a great Intended Parent and Surrogate match is of utmost importance. To ensure this occurs, we evaluate all aspects of a potential match rather than placing people together based only on a checklist. With our attention to each party’s preferences and our extensive matching experience, the pieces are in place for a smooth and united experience together.

Congratulations on your match! Now that you are at this point, you will need to open your escrow account. Shining Light Baby works with a reputable and efficient escrow account company with whom we will refer to you. You will also need to initially fund your account at this time.

Once you are matched, your Surrogate’s medical screening appointment will be arranged to meet with your fertility doctor/clinic. We will handle your Surrogate’s travel arrangements and we will make certain all details are taken care of as your Surrogate’s screening plans are in place.

Upon your Surrogate’s fertility medical clearance, the Direct Intended Parent Surrogate Agreement will be drafted and signed by all parties. All parties must be represented by separate attorneys. Shining Light Baby will connect you with one of the attorneys with whom we work specializing in Third Party Reproduction, including contract negotiation and any pre-birth or post work legalities. You may also come to our agency with someone of choice already, providing they are experienced in the area of Assisted Reproduction. Either way, we will make certain you are in the best legal hands and pertinent information needed from our end is handled in a timely fashion.

By the time your Direct Legal Agreement is signed by all parties, you will need to have fully funded your escrow account. This step must be taken before your Surrogate is able to begin her medication protocol in preparation for the embryo transfer.

Once you and your Surrogate have signed the Direct Agreement and your escrow account is fully funded, your Surrogate will begin the medication protocol for the embryo transfer. From the time she begins the protocol until your transfer it will typically be approximately 3.5 – 4 weeks.

If you are purchasing health insurance for your Surrogate pregnancy, it is important to know that some insurance plans require the insurance has been applied for previous to pregnancy—or it may be much more costly to purchase insurance after the pregnancy has been achieved (i.e. the embryo transfer has taken place). With this in mind, Shining Light Baby will make sure that any such health insurance is purchased before your embryo transfer.

After the Direct Agreement is signed, your Surrogate will begin the medication protocol for your upcoming embryo transfer. Such an exciting time for everyone! Intended Parents able to do so may attend the transfer in person; otherwise, you may video in via FaceTime, Whatsapp Skype, or Zoom or the like.