Begin Your Journey as a Surrogate: The Pre-Surrogate Phase with Delivering Hope

Empower Dreams, Change Lives – Join us in the incredible journey of bringing joy and hope to families.

Why Become a Surrogate with Delivering Hope?

At Delivering Hope, we believe surrogacy is one of the most selfless and empowering choices a woman can make. But before the incredible journey of carrying a baby for intended parents begins, there is a foundational phase that sets the tone for a successful and supported experience: the Pre-Surrogate Phase.

This phase is all about you—your motivations, your health, your values, and your readiness. It’s where you learn about the process, build trust with our agency, and start forming a life-changing connection with the intended parents. Whether you’ve just begun exploring the idea of becoming a surrogate or you’re ready to take the first step, this page will guide you through everything that happens before pregnancy begins.

Contact Delivering Hope

What Is the Pre-Surrogate Phase?

The Pre-Surrogate Phase refers to all the steps that take place between the moment a woman first applies to be a surrogate and the moment she officially signs a legal contract with matched intended parents. It is a thoughtful, multi-step journey that ensures both surrogates and intended parents are fully aligned and ready for the path ahead.

This process includes:

Submitting an application
Completing a comprehensive screening
Undergoing a full medical and psychological evaluation
Attending an orientation and education session
Being matched with intended parents
Finalizing the legal agreement

Let’s walk through each step in detail.

1. Submitting Your Application: The First Step to Giving Hope

Your journey starts with a simple yet important step: the surrogate application. This is your opportunity to introduce yourself—your lifestyle, your health history, your family background, and your reasons for choosing surrogacy.

What we look for:

Delivering Hope is proud to have one of the most rigorous application processes in the industry. This ensures that every surrogate we accept is physically, emotionally, and ethically aligned with the responsibilities of surrogacy. To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria, including:

Age range between 21–40 years old
A history of at least one healthy, full-term pregnancy and delivery
Non-smoker and drug-free lifestyle
Stable home environment
No major health issues
Strong emotional support system

This is not just about ticking boxes—it’s about setting you and your future intended parents up for success.

2. Screening Process: Learning About You, Protecting Everyone Involved

Once your application is reviewed and pre-approved, the next phase is a detailed surrogate screening process. This is where we take the time to get to know you on a deeper level.

What the screening includes:

Background check: Ensures a safe, secure match for all parties.
Medical records review: We’ll request and review your OB/GYN records to verify pregnancy history and reproductive health.
Lifestyle and environment evaluation: We’ll ask about your day-to-day habits, home environment, and emotional readiness.
Insurance review: We’ll help assess your current health insurance to understand if a surrogacy-friendly policy is in place (or if a new one will be needed).

We value transparency and trust—everything we learn during screening is used to match you with the right intended parents and prepare for a safe, supported journey.

3. Orientation & Education: Building Knowledge, Setting Expectations

Delivering Hope is not just a matching agency—we’re a support system. Before moving forward, we invite all approved surrogate candidates to attend a Pre-Surrogate Orientation Session.

This session covers:

A realistic timeline of the surrogacy journey
What to expect medically, legally, and emotionally
How we support you every step of the way
Boundaries and expectations between surrogates and intended parents
How Delivering Hope ensures aligned values and communication styles

We want every surrogate to enter this journey fully informed, excited, and confident in their decision.

4. Psychological & Medical Evaluations: Clearing the Way for a Safe Journey

To protect the well-being of everyone involved, we schedule comprehensive evaluations with medical and psychological professionals.

Psychological Evaluation

A licensed mental health expert will meet with you to:

Ensure you’re emotionally prepared for surrogacy
Assess your motivations, coping skills, and support systems
Talk through potential challenges and expectations

We approach this step with compassion and care—it’s not about judgment, but about making sure you’re entering into this journey with clarity and confidence.

Medical Evaluation

You’ll also visit a fertility clinic partner to undergo:

A physical exam and uterine assessment
Bloodwork and labs
Infectious disease screening

This ensures that your body is physically ready for embryo transfer and pregnancy.

5. The Matching Process: Finding the Right Intended Parents

One of the most beautiful moments in the Pre-Surrogate Phase is the match. At Delivering Hope, we don’t just pair you with any intended parents—we connect you with a family whose values, communication style, and hopes align with yours.

How matching works:

We present you with detailed profiles of potential intended parents
You’ll have the chance to ask questions and express preferences (faith alignment, communication style, etc.)
We schedule a video or in-person meeting to explore compatibility
If all parties feel a connection, it’s a match!

This moment is emotional, exciting, and deeply personal. It’s the first step in building a meaningful relationship with the family you’ll be helping.

6. The Legal Contract Phase: Setting Boundaries and Safeguards

After a successful match, you’ll move into the contract phase—an essential step that protects you and the intended parents throughout the journey.

Each surrogate is provided with her own independent attorney (at no cost to her) who specializes in reproductive law. This contract covers:

Compensation structure
Medical and lifestyle expectations
Decision-making guidelines during pregnancy
Communication expectations
Parental rights and legal protections

Nothing proceeds medically until this contract is finalized and signed. Delivering Hope will support you in every step, ensuring you feel confident, secure, and fully informed.

Why the Pre-Surrogate Phase Matters

It’s easy to focus on the pregnancy itself, but the strength of any surrogacy journey is built during the Pre-Surrogate Phase. It lays the groundwork for trust, safety, emotional well-being, and lasting connection.

At Delivering Hope, we view this phase not as a hurdle—but as a sacred foundation.

For you: It’s a chance to reflect, prepare, and be empowered.
For intended parents: It’s a chance to meet the woman making their dreams come true.
For both: It’s the beginning of a bond that changes lives.

Begin Your Surrogacy Journey Today

If you feel called to give the gift of life through surrogacy, Delivering Hope is here to walk beside you every step of the way. We honor your courage, protect your health, and surround you with a community that values heart, honesty, and hope.

Start your application today—or reach out with your questions. This isn’t just about becoming a surrogate. It’s about becoming a part of something bigger.

Delivering Hope. Matching heart to heart.