Many hopeful parents come to a point in their family-building journey where they reach a fork in the road: surrogacy or adoption. Each is an equally beautiful way to add a child to a family, but they also come with their own pros and cons.
It can be difficult to decide what is right for you. Fortunately, our surrogacy team is here to help. They can answer any questions you have about gestational surrogacy vs. adoption. Should you choose the latter, they can direct you to local professionals for assistance. Should you choose the former, Central PA Surrogacy will be here to guide you every step of the way.
Keep reading to learn more about the difference between surrogacy and adoption — and for hints on which might be the best path for you.
Adoption vs. Surrogacy: Genetic Connection
When it comes to surrogacy and adoption, the main difference is the genetic connection between the hopeful parents and their future child. Your desire for a biological connection with your child will likely play a role in your decision.
In gestational surrogacy, intended parents are able to create an embryo with their own gametes (or with a donated egg or sperm cell). This embryo is transferred to a surrogate’s uterus, where it develops until full-term. Once the surrogate gives birth, the baby is legally and genetically the intended parents’. It’s a straightforward process regulated by medical and legal professionals every step of the way.
In most adoptions, however, intended parents cannot have a genetic connection to their children. Commonly, a pregnant woman will choose to place her newborn or infant child with hopeful parents after building a relationship with them through her pregnancy. Because she is the genetic and legal mother of the child at birth, she must give her consent for the child to be adopted and her rights to be terminated.
All parents who pursue adoption must grieve the loss of a genetic relationship with their baby. For some, this is one of the reasons why surrogacy is “better” than adoption; it allows them to share a biological connection with their future child.
Adoption vs. Surrogacy: Cost
Another big factor in the decision between surrogacy and adoption is the costs associated with both. While each is expensive, it’s no secret that gestational surrogacy routinely costs intended parents thousands more dollars than a private domestic infant adoption journey would.
The cost of adoption vs. surrogacy will depend on a few factors: the professionals you choose, the type of adoption or surrogacy you pursue, and where you complete the process.
On average, a private domestic infant adoption journey can cost adoptive parents around $40,000. These fees include agency services (such as counseling, matching, contact mediation and more), legal services to terminate parental rights and finalize the adoption, living and pregnancy expenses for the prospective birth mother, and more. If you’re considering adoption, you should speak with several professionals to better understand what this process will cost you.
Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, costs on average $75,000. These costs include IVF and embryo transfer expenses, surrogate base compensation, legal fees (for intended parents and surrogate), pregnancy and medical expenses for the surrogate, and more. It’s not a journey to enter without full consideration and financial preparedness.
Fortunately, as a smaller, local surrogacy program, Central PA Surrogacy can offer the same services as larger programs — for much cheaper. For more information on our surrogacy program costs, please contact us today.
Adoption vs. Surrogacy: Involvement in Pregnancy
Another one of the benefits of surrogacy vs. adoption is the involvement that an intended parent can have in the entire process. With gestational surrogacy, an intended parent is an active participant in the journey. They can express their wants and desires for the kind of surrogacy they envision. Not all parents have that capability during the adoption process.
In surrogacy, an intended parent partners with a gestational carrier to create a journey they are both comfortable with. The intended parent is often able to choose the surrogate who will carry their baby and get to know her before and during her pregnancy. This includes attending important doctor’s appointments and being there for the birth of the child! The surrogate and intended parents will create a surrogacy plan, addressing each party’s desires and preferences for the journey.
Adoption doesn’t always allow for this kind of involvement. Some prospective birth mothers are uncomfortable including adoptive parents in the pregnancy process, while others don’t choose adoption until after they deliver their babies. Parents who choose adoption must be comfortable with a lack of control and a degree of unknown when it comes to a prospective birth mother’s pregnancy and medical history.
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Ultimately, the decision between adoption vs. surrogacy is always up to you. Neither option is the “best”; they each will hold certain pros and cons, depending on your personal situation. That’s why we encourage all prospective parents to call our surrogacy team today at 814-237-7900 or contact us online. We can answer your questions and address your concerns to help you choose the path that’s best for you.
