Interested
in becoming a gestational
carrier or surrogate mother?
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Melissa and her husband are parents of twin boys and a daughter
through a gestational carrier. A gestational carrier is
a woman who carries a child conceived through the process
of in-vitro fertilization. This is different from a traditional
surrogate who supplies the egg and is the biological mother
of the child she delivers.
Intended Parents contact Melissa Brisman because a medical
reason has prevented the intended mother from carrying or
conceiving a child. The wife of the intended parents may
not be able to carry or conceive a child but she may produce
healthy eggs. In some situations, the intended parents will
also need to locate an egg donor. In either case, these
eggs will be fertilized outside of the woman's body and
the resulting embryos placed in a gestational carrier. Clients
also include gay male couples, single males and single females.
The medical procedure will take place at an IVF facility
selected by the intended parents. If a pregnancy results,
the carrier will carry the child to term for the intended
parents.
The law office of Melissa Brisman provides legal services
to intended parents and assists them in finding appropriate
gestational carriers. Attorney Brisman drafts contracts
and obtains court orders for gestational carrier arrangements,
matches couples with the carrier of their choice and is
acknowledged as a foremost expert in the legal implications
of such arrangements.
Most carriers enjoy being pregnant and are emotionally
rewarded by the experience of helping an infertile couple
realize their dreams of becoming parents. However, carriers
are compensated and a detailed sheet of compensation and
reimbursement will be sent to you with your application.
If you have specific needs financially, please include them
on the application. In addition, all legal, medical, maternity
clothes, child care (if necessary), transportation, if you
do not have medical insurance, a medical plan, as well as
other costs related to the arrangement will be paid by the
intended parents.
Potential carriers are encouraged to ask questions. The
staff is always available to talk with potential carriers.
In addition, we can put you in touch with a previous carrier
to share their experience as a carrier.
The medical procedure involves certain responsibilities
for the carrier. There are many types of embryo transfers
that may be done in order for the carrier to become pregnant
with the couple’s biological child. If the transfer
is done with fresh embryos, the carrier will need to take
a series of simple injections for a few weeks to coordinate
the menstrual cycles of the intended mother or the egg donor
and the carrier. The injections are similar to the daily
injections a diabetic administers. Most carriers say the
injections feel similar to a mosquito bite. In addition,
the carrier may be required to take pills and apply a vaginal
gel for a week prior to the transfer. If the carrier becomes
pregnant, the gel will need to be applied for up to eight
weeks and the pills will be continued. If the procedure
is done with frozen embryos, then the carrier will be monitored
to predict the date of ovulation, and when the date of ovulation
is diagnosed, the embryo transfer will be performed. Injections
and medication also may be required. The carrier must rest
in bed for approximately one or two days after the transfer.
If you become pregnant, you will then be required to go
to doctors appointments for the next nine months. You can
go to your own obstetrician in your own home state.
If you would like to become a carrier, the actual application
itself without the supplemental information is available
online as a PDF. If you would like the complete application
packet, please request it via our
request information form.
After reviewing your application, the office will contact
you. If appropriate, a telephone interview with you and
your husband or partner will be scheduled. Once completed,
your application and the results of your interview will
be shared with intended parents. If a couple approves your
application, a biography prepared by the couple will be
sent to you. If you are willing to talk with the couple,
a conference call between the couple, you and preferably
your husband/partner and a member of the staff will be scheduled.
If all parties wish to work with each other criminal background
checks will be administered to the carrier and her/husband
or partner. A home study will also be performed by a social
worker at the carrier's home.
A clinic date will then be arranged at the IVF clinic
and all parties will need to attend the first clinic visit.
Medical testing will be done on all parties at this time.
The carrier and her husband/partner, will then meet with
a psychologist to make sure they are comfortable with the
arrangement.
A contract will be drafted to protect all parties. The
carrier will have separate legal counsel. The intended parents
will pay for the carrier’s legal fees. Once this phase
is complete, all parties sign the contract and the escrow
account is funded to make sure all payments to the carrier
are promptly made.
This description represents a general description. Melissa’s
office is not rendering medical advice. This is just to
give the carrier an idea of the process of becoming a gestational
carrier. If you choose to apply to be a carrier, a medical
doctor will explain the entire procedure to you prior to
your decision to become a carrier.
Although this may seem overwhelming, the majority of these
tasks can be completed in a relatively short period of time
and the office helps organize all of these tasks. The amount
of paperwork done by the carrier is minimal. The law office
of Melissa Brisman is always available to help carriers
with any questions or concerns they may have toll free at
1-888-363-9457.
If you would like an application and are over 21, under
45, a non-smoker, live in the continental United States,
and have given birth to at least one child, you may qualify
for our program. Click here
to download our Gestational Carrier Application (PDF).
If you would like the complete application packet, please
request it via our request information
form.
Please note: due to the laws in the following states, we
cannot accept carriers who live in these states: NY, NH,
DC, MI and Washington State.
