GSHC Surrogacy School

4. Pre-Birth Order (Legal Process)

When to initiate: 12–20 weeks
Deadline: By 30 weeks
The pre-birth order (PBO) is a legal document that names the intended parents as the baby’s legal guardians. Your legal team starts this process early to make sure everything is in place well before delivery.

5. Second Trimester Testing

When: 16–24 weeks
Key second trimester tests include an anatomy scan (typically at 18-22 weeks), a glucose screening for gestational diabetes, and fetal echocardiograms or follow-up ultrasounds, if medically indicated.

6. Third Trimester Testing & Monitoring

When: 24–37+ weeks
As delivery approaches, third-trimester care may include:

• TDAP vaccine
• Group B strep test
• Growth scans (if needed)
• Non-stress tests (NSTs) or biophysical profiles (BPPs) – These are commonly ordered in surrogacy pregnancies to monitor the baby’s heart rate, movements, and amniotic fluid. Even in healthy pregnancies, doctors may schedule weekly or twice-weekly NSTs during the final weeks to ensure the baby remains well until delivery.

7. Additional Testing (As Needed)

When: Throughout the pregnancy
Every surrogacy is unique. GSHC may coordinate NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing), Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) consultations, and additional imaging if risk factors arise.

8. Communication & Updates

When: Ongoing
At GSHC, communication is key. We expect every surrogate mother to share OB visit summaries, notify us of any changes (insurance, providers, complications), confirm in-network status at each medical appointment and keep intended parents updated with important milestones.

9. Postpartum Care & Delivery

When: After delivery
Post-delivery, the surrogate mother will attend a 6-week OB follow-up. GSHC will help process and submit any final medical bills and close out the escrow account, as well as support emotional and logistical closure for both surrogate and parents

Why This Timeline Matters

This timeline isn’t just a checklist. It’s a shared map—for surrogates, intended parents, doctors, and case managers. It helps everyone move forward together, one step at a time.

At GSHC, we’re here to guide you through it all—with clear communication, expert care, and a team that truly understands how much this journey means.

GSHC: Your Trusted Surrogacy & Egg Donation Agency in the U.S.

GSHC U.S. Surrogacy & Egg Donation Agency is a highly recommended U.S.-based surrogacy and egg donation agency, led by Dr. Jia Shen, with over 10 years of professional experience. GSHC has helped welcome 800+ babies through ethically managed U.S. surrogacy and egg donation programs.

Recognized for rigorous surrogate screening, elite egg donor programs, and highly personalized intended parent care, GSHC brings deep expertise in complex, international, and LGBTQ+ surrogacy cases and is widely recommended by families worldwide.