If you’re just starting to explore surrogacy, you’re likely wondering what the timeline looks like.
Maybe you’re trying to figure out if surrogacy fits with your current life situation, or you’re curious about when you might be helping someone welcome their baby. Having realistic expectations about how long it takes to become a surrogate in New Mexico can help you make the best decision for your family.
Below, we’ll walk you through each phase of the surrogacy process. You’ll learn about what influences timing, potential delays and how to set yourself up for success. If you’d like personalized information about becoming a surrogate, reach out more for information.
Surrogacy Process Timeline in New Mexico: How Long It Really Takes
You can expect the surrogacy process to take about 14 to 20 months. The surrogacy steps in New Mexico follow a similar pattern regardless of which agency you choose.
The key thing to remember is that some steps require patience. The matching process, for instance, can vary significantly. Some surrogates connect with intended parents within weeks, while others may wait several months for the right match.
Here are the steps to become a surrogate and what you can expect at each stage:
Step 1: Getting Started
The first surrogacy process step in New Mexico involves reaching out to a surrogacy agency and completing your initial application. This typically takes one to two weeks, depending on how quickly you can gather the required information and documentation.
During this phase, you’ll provide basic information about yourself, your pregnancy history and your motivation for becoming a surrogate. Most agencies will also conduct a preliminary phone screening to ensure you meet their basic requirements. You’ll learn about their specific programs, compensation structure and what support they provide throughout the process.
Step 2: Screening and Approval
The screening and approval phase typically takes two to four months. You’ll undergo medical screenings to ensure you’re physically healthy for pregnancy, psychological evaluations to assess your emotional readiness and background checks to verify your stability and safety.
The medical screening usually includes blood work, physical exams and reviews of your previous pregnancy records. The psychological evaluation helps ensure you’re emotionally prepared for the unique aspects of surrogacy, including navigating the relationship with intended parents. Background checks typically look at your criminal history, driving record and financial stability.
Step 3: Matching
The surrogacy matching timeline phase is like getting to know potential friends. You’ll look at profiles of intended parents and get a sense of who they are and what they’re looking for. When there’s mutual interest, you’ll have a video call or meet in person to see how you connect.
Don’t feel pressured to say yes to the first match presented to you. Taking time to find the right intended parents makes the whole experience better for everyone, and most agencies understand that good matches are worth waiting for.
Step 4: Legal Preparation
Once you’ve found intended parents, the legal preparation phase typically takes three to four months. This involves contract negotiations, legal reviews and ensuring everyone understands their rights and responsibilities.
You’ll work with your own attorney (separate from the intended parents’ lawyer) to review the surrogacy contract. They will sit down with you and go through the surrogacy contract. You’ll cover how medical decisions get made, what your compensation includes, how often you’ll communicate and what happens in different scenarios.
Step 5: The Medical Process
The medical process typically takes one to two months before embryo transfer. You’ll begin taking medications to prepare your body for pregnancy, go to monitoring appointments to track your cycle and work closely with the fertility clinic handling the transfer.
This phase does require some organization on your part. You’ll need to stay on top of medication schedules and make time for several appointments. The good news? The embryo transfer itself is actually pretty quick and straightforward. It feels similar to a routine gynecological exam. After the transfer, you’ll keep taking medications and have regular check-ins to see if the pregnancy took.
Step 6: Pregnancy and Beyond
If the embryo transfer is successful, your pregnancy will last about nine months. You’ll keep receiving compensation and agency support throughout the gestational surrogacy timeline. Most of your prenatal appointments will include the intended parents, and you’ll stay in touch about how things are going. It’s pretty special watching them get ready for their baby’s arrival.
After delivery, you’ll have time to recover. Many surrogates stay in touch with the families they’ve helped. Some become close friends while others prefer to step back once the baby arrives.
What Could Affect Your Surrogacy Journey Timeline in New Mexico?
A few things can influence your surrogate pregnancy timeline in New Mexico. If any medical issues come up during screening, you might need extra time to get those sorted out. Sometimes matches don’t work out and you need to find different intended parents. And fertility treatments don’t always work on the first try, which means the medical part might take longer.
Your own schedule matters, too. If you have limited time for appointments or can’t travel easily, some phases might move more slowly. Working with intended parents who live far away or have complicated legal situations can also shift timelines around.
Here’s the thing: Good agencies expect these kinds of delays and know how to work with them. They’ll keep you updated if anything changes and help you handle whatever comes up. Delays are frustrating, but your agency can ensure that everything goes smoothly in the end.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
Now you know what the timeline is for becoming a surrogate in New Mexico, you might be wondering about your next steps.
We work with American Surrogacy to provide you with the answers and resources you need. Their staff members can give you personalized information to help you figure out if surrogacy makes sense for your family.
Every woman’s experience is different, and having good support from the start really helps. Whether you’re just thinking about surrogacy or ready to move forward, talking with people who understand the New Mexico surrogate process can help you feel more confident about your decision.