What if in the process we need to change the surrogate?

The frustration associated with changing surrogates can vary depending on the specific circumstances and individual experiences. It’s natural to feel some degree of frustration when undergoing a change, particularly if you’ve become accustomed to working with a specific surrogate or have invested time and resources in establishing a relationship with them. That said, frustration can be mitigated by keeping an open mind and approaching the change as an opportunity for improvement and better results. Effective communication, clear expectations, and a proactive approach to assisting the new surrogate in understanding your requirements can help smooth the transition process.

The need to change surrogates, in the process depends on the specific situation and context. Here are a few general steps you can take:

1. Assess the situation: Determine the reasons why it was need to change surrogates. Is it due to availability, performance, or any other factors? It’s crucial to identify the specific needs and concerns you have. In most cases the reasons why, the agency suggests changing the surrogate are medical and the intention is to have a better outcome for the Intended parents.
2. Communicate with the current surrogate: Discuss your concerns and reasons for the change with your current surrogate. Open and honest communication can help address any issues and potentially resolve the situation without needing to switch surrogates if you have such contact. However, having programs in non-English-speaking countries may be challenging as this process usually is mediated by agency coordinators. In any case, be sure that coordinators together with the medical team will try to do their best to avoid the need to change surrogates unless there is a solid medical reason, as it always needs time and effort.
3. Evaluate alternatives: Research and identify potential alternative surrogates suggested by your agency, that meet your requirements. Consider their qualifications, availability, reliability, and any other relevant factors, including those medical aspects that can be checked, at the same time, please keep in mind that some medical circumstances may emerge during the process, for example, her endometrium may not respond the medications the way you all expect and etc.
4. Transition and handover process: Once you’ve selected a new surrogate, establish a transition plan. This may involve briefing the new surrogate on your requirements, providing documentation or background information, and ensuring a smooth handover from the previous surrogate. Just be sure, no matter how many times the surrogate needs to be changed, the only intention your agency and medical team have is to make it happen for you.

Although, these steps are general guidelines, and the exact process may vary depending on your specific circumstances. It’s always essential to adapt the approach to suit your needs and seek relevant advice if necessary. While having such a situation, your agency coordinators and medical team should be always with you ensuring a smooth transition and the planning of relevant steps together.