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Transitioning from your IVF Clinic to an OB Clinic
Posted on March 9, 2021 by GSHC in Blog, Surrogate Resources, Surrogacy Process for Surrogates, IP Resources, Surrogacy Process for IPs
At the start of your surrogacy, you’ll begin your journey with an IVF clinic that will prepare you to carry a baby and perform the transfer. After about 8-10 weeks of pregnancy, most surrogates will transition from their IVF clinic to an obstetrician (OB) -- typically your personal OB.
Sometimes this transition can feel quite abrupt since you’ll be cared for by a completely new team that will see you less often than your Reproductive Endocrinologist and the IVF team.
IVF treatments typically require frequent, even daily, office visits, so surrogates often develop a close bond with their fertility specialists—which may make it more difficult to move onto your OB clinic. However, GSHC Surrogacy Agency works with all of our surrogates to ensure a smooth, stress-free transition.
Communicating with Your Intended Parents After the Transition
After you’ve transferred to the OB clinic, you’ll often become the primary contact between your OB and your intended parents. GSHC Surrogacy Agency is happy to help facilitate communication but, in order to gain access to health information, it may require additional paperwork to be signed and filed by the surrogate on behalf of the agency.
Also keep in mind that your intended parents also had a close bond with your IVF team, generally working with them for months (or years) before your surrogacy match. Once you transition to your OB, your intended parents may also feel like their access to pregnancy information has been limited. You can help them to feel more secure by sharing appointment updates and news with them directly.
What to Expect from your OB
Surrogates generally see their OB once a month, sometimes more depending on what test the doctor is requesting. Once you reach 27-28 weeks of your pregnancy, the OB will most likely want you to come in every two weeks, and then once a week starting at 36 weeks of pregnancy until the baby is born.
Remember that every surrogacy journey is different, and your OB may request to see you more or less often. And, because IVF pregnancies are generally considered high-risk by nature, it’s also common for your OB to recommend visiting a high-risk doctor while continuing your appointments at the OB clinic.
What Happens at your OB Appointments?
During your appointment, surrogates have their blood pressure, weight, and baby’s heartbeat checked. Most appointments are very quick, but they may last longer if you have any questions or concerns or if your doctor wants to discuss upcoming tests or results they’ve received from prior tests.
Test results can take 2-4 weeks to come in, although every clinic and every doctor has a slightly different protocol. Your OB will likely talk to you about when they expect your results back and let you know that if you do not receive a phone call, there is nothing to worry about and the baby is doing well.
Overall, the transition from IVF to OB should be relatively quick and painless. Here at GSHC Surrogacy Agency, we want our surrogates to feel as comfortable as possible during every phase of their journey. We’re always available for questions and to help ease you into the process as much as possible.
Are you ready to begin your surrogacy journey? Complete our Surrogate Intake Form to get started.