Surrogacy Glossary: Terms Every Parent and Surrogate Should Know
Learning the language of surrogacy is one of the first steps toward feeling confident in the process. While it may seem like a lot at first, these terms quickly become familiar as you move forward.
Core Terms
Surrogate / Gestational Carrier (GC): A woman who carries a pregnancy for intended parents. Gestational carrier is the more accurate term, since the surrogate does not share a genetic connection to the baby.
Intended Parents (IPs): The individuals (or individual) who will become the child’s legal parent(s) once born.
Surrogacy Agency: An organization (like Cove Family Co.) that supports intended parents and surrogates through matching, coordination, and guidance.
Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB-GYN): An OB-GYN is a medical doctor who focuses on the health and care of women's reproductive systems throughout their lives, including pregnancy, labor and delivery.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist: An OB-GYN who specializes in treating high-risk pregnancies.
Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility (REI): A specialist medical doctor trained in diagnosing and treating the root causes of infertility in order to achieve a healthy pregnancy.
Medical & Fertility Terms
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A process where eggs are fertilized with sperm in a lab to create embryos.
Embryo Transfer: The process of placing an embryo into the surrogate’s uterus.
Egg Donor: A woman who provides eggs to help create embryos for intended parents.
Sperm Donor: A man who provides sperm to help create embryos for intended parents.
One Day Workup: A comprehensive single-day medical evaluation conducted by an REI to determine suitability for a surrogacy journey.
Beta Test: A blood test measuring the hormone hCG, used to confirm pregnancy after embryo transfer.
Legal Terms
Gestational Surrogacy Agreement (GSA) / Contract: A legal document outlining responsibilities, rights, compensation, and expectations for both intended parents and surrogate.
Pre-Birth Order (PBO): A court order that allows intended parents’ names to go directly on the baby’s birth certificate.
Post-Birth Order: A legal order issued after birth that establishes intended parents’ rights, if state law does not allow a pre-birth order.
Emotional & Practical Terms
Matching Process: The stage where intended parents and a surrogate are carefully paired based on compatibility, values, and goals.
Escrow Account: A secure financial account managed by a third party to handle compensation and expenses during the surrogacy journey.
Journey: The entire surrogacy process — from screening and matching, through pregnancy and delivery, to the moment a family begins.
At Cove Family Co., we are here to guide, advocate, and celebrate with you every step of the way. Thinking about surrogacy? Contact Cove Family Co. to learn more about how we can walk this path together.
