Parent FAQ's

Do you work with the LGBTQ community? YES! 

Do you work with single parents? YES! 

Why work with an agency? Coordinating the medical, legal, personal, and financial aspects of a surrogacy journey is overwhelming and time-consuming. Having an experienced agency oversee your journey allows you to focus on your pregnancy. 

Why choose Pitter Patter? Our experience. Our passion. Our support. We are with you ever step of the way, until your journey is complete and beyond.

What type of support will I get? Everyone's needs on this journey are unique, so we will work with YOU to support your needs. Sometimes that's a random text message letting you know we care. Sometimes that's a phone call from our founder, an experienced Intended Parent who knows how challenging this journey can be at times. Other times it's just answering your questions, updating you, and keeping you informed or chatting with you about the weather because you are more than your journey. 

How will you support my surrogate? Each surrogate will have different needs, just like you do. We work with her to determine what she needs and what makes her most comfortable, and we adjust often based on her needs while she is pregnant with your child. From sending Preggy pops or pregnancy pillows if needed to a night out if she's having a hard day, a random text or lunch with one of the Case Managers, and everything in between. This is OUR way of supporting you and your surrogate because knowing she is well cared for is priceless. 

How do I begin? We are excited to get you started; set up a consultation and let us guide you on this amazing journey. 

How long does a surrogacy journey take? Typically, your surrogacy journey will last 12-18 months. 

Do you have a database of surrogates? No, each surrogate is selected for you based on your preferences and hers. 

How much will surrogacy cost me? Each journey is different; however, our parents typically spend between $90-150K 

What services do you provide? Pitter Patter provides screening, matching, case management, and coordination for surrogacy arrangements. 

Do you charge a rematch fee? Not in most cases. 

Do you require escrow? Yes, we do require separate 3rd party escrow to protect everyone involved in your journey. 

Do you offer finance? Yes, we do; please review our Financing Your Journey page and book a call with our finance team. Pitter Patter does offer some in-house financing. 

Has Pitter Patter ever been sued? No, we have not, but we do carry a $1,000,000 insurance policy just in case. 

Where will the birth take place? Typically, the birth will occur at the hospital near your surrogate's home; however, some of our Private Clients have a preferred delivery plan, which will be handled individually. 

Why do women choose to become surrogates? Some women choose surrogacy because they love being pregnant and love parenthood. Others enjoy knowing they make a difference in the world. Surrogacy is very rewarding for the surrogates as well; knowing you changed someone's world can change yours too. 

What requirements do you have of your parents? Our parents go through an interview with a Case Manager to make sure that Pitter Patter is a good fit, answer questions, and set proper expectations for the journey ahead. We also have you complete a questionnaire so that your surrogate will learn a little more about you. Last we will request copies of your I.D. We will also complete a background check and have you meet with our psychologist to ensure that we know how to best support you on your journey. 

What requirements do you have for surrogates?

· Be between the ages of 21-38 

· Be a U.S. citizen or have a valid work permit

· Have healthy previous pregnancies and deliveries 

· Be parenting at least one child of your own 

· Be a drug-free, non-smoker 

· Have a healthy lifestyle 

· Have no felony criminal history 

· Live in a surrogacy friendly state 

· Be in a stable living situation 

· Have dependable transportation 

· Have a reliable support system

· Have a healthy weight/height ratio 

These are just the basics. Each situation is different; some clinics and parents have other criteria that we consider. With each surrogate, we ask ourselves if I would choose this woman to carry MY child. 

How are surrogates screened? Our surrogates undergo a rigorous screening process that includes an application, interviews, psychological evaluation, background check, collection and review of medical records, and much more to ensure that your surrogate will be well qualified and ready for the journey ahead. 

Do you have a mental health program? We work with a fantastic group of social workers and psychologists to ensure that everyone, from parents to surrogates, has the recourses they need to handle the surrogacy journey. 

What happens if something unexpected happens? You choose an experienced, professional agency like Pitter Patter because if something goes wrong, we have the knowledge, experience, and network to handle any situation that arises. 

Can I be a parent if my partner or I am HIV+? Yes. Intended parents who are HIV+ can grow their families with surrogacy with no risk to the baby or surrogate. 

How does the matching work? Once we have accepted a surrogate, our matching team determines which parents she could be a good match for based on many factors, including the state she lives in, whether she has insurance, personality, and the matching preferences from both intended parents and surrogates.  We will send redacted profiles to both the intended parents and the surrogate. Once the surrogate and the prospective parents express a mutual interest in working together, we will arrange a match call which will help you and the surrogate learn more about each other. 

Will I have contact with my surrogate?

Absolutely, openness, honesty, and communication are at the core of any successful surrogacy journey.  We strongly encourage building meaningful long-term relationships that will continue after the birth of your baby.

How many times will I need to come to the U.S.? This question has become more complicated since COVID began; prior, most would come to the United States 2-3 times, but since COVID started, some parents can only come 1-2 times, including the birth of their child.
 

How long should I expect to be in the United States during and after the delivery? This varies based on the legal work required in the state your child was delivered. Generally, we advise international intended parents to plan on returning home in 2-4 weeks to allow time for any DNA testing, court proceedings, the issuance of any birth certificates, and the application for any visas and/or passports