Surrogacy "lingo"

The Surrogacy Language

There are so many terms in Surrogacy that its almost like a new language! I thought I'd  help clarify some terms abbreviations and words to help people "learn the language." 

The People in the Journey

• Surro- a shortened term for surrogate
• GS or GC- gestational carrier or gestational surrogate... used when talking about the surrogate but also noting the form of surrogacy to which the surrogate is not the biological mother of the baby-
• TS- Traditional surrogate.. also referring to the surrogate but again noting the kind of surrogacy- this is where the surrogate is both the egg donor and the carrier of the baby.
• ED-egg donor
• SD-sperm donor
• IP's- the intended parents of the baby can refer to the mother's and/or father's.
• IM-intended mother
• IF-intended father
• RE- Reproductive Endocrinologist aka the fertility doctor
• OB- the overseeing doctor after the Surro is pregnant. 
• Reproductive Lawyer- A attorney who specializes in issues related to surrogacy and egg donation

The Medical Terms

There's a lot and I'm sure I'll miss some and correct later but here goes:

• Embies or embrios- the babies that have been made already but not in a body
• Fresh - not frozen embies, freshly made. In Vitro Fertilization with Fresh Embryos where the Treatment Cycle begins with the Superovulatory Drugs administration. In case, when there is no need for the drugs application, the Treatment Cycle begins with the attempt of eggs collecting;
• Frozen- already made babies that were once. fresh but now frozen, will be thawed for the IVF
• IVF- invitro fertilization- process of putting the babies in the surro can be done for either GS or TS always done for GS and rarely but occasionally done with TS.
• IUI or Inter Uterine Insemination or AI Artificial insemination- putting the sperm into the TS.
• Cycle- is where the surro begins hormone meds to convince her body she is pregnant then receives either artificial insemination or her ivf.
• Abandoned Cycle. It is a stage of the In Vitro Fertilization, where a treatment cycle is cancelled before embryo is transferred, and after commencing the administration of drugs.
• Mock Cycle- where the surro is monitored by the RE to see how their body is "taking" the med's and how their body's lining thickens. This is done as if a transfer will occur, just without the transfer at the end. this varies depending on the RE.

• Transfer-the day the little embies are put in the surro... usually a very emotional and happy day ;)
• #dp#dt (example 10dp5dt) the dp is days past the transfer and the dt is the days old age of the embryo at the time of transfer (usually 3,4,5,6, sometimes 7 usually not much older)  making the embryo in this example 15 days old. Usually you start taking EPT tests (home pregnancy tests) around embryo age 12-15 days old. (all dependent on the age of embryo at transfer, can read earlier, may read later. 
• Beta- or beta testing- the test that confirms the pregnancy taken usually after a positive pregnancy test then taken a couple days later... it should double and sometimes triple depending on how far along in the pregnancy it is taken .. a beta test usually "confirms" pregnancy.
• US- Ultrasound- most surros have an ultrasound taken many times in the process- pre pregnancy, during testing, after a confirmed beta and looking for a yolk sac, then a few weeks later for heartbeat, at 18-20 weeks for gender ultrasound and any other time the Dr feels he needs one. More frequent for twins and multiples.
• I'm not gonna list all the meds you can be put on but there is a TON !! you can follow this link for a list of what to expect.. 
• LMP- Last menstrual period 
• BMI- body mass index- In MY OPINION an archaic way to gauge fat of a person.. it has nothing to do with fat, just with the pounds vs  height. Surro's need a BMI of lower than 35, some clinics won't take a surro under 30.  
• MMPI- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory- one of the many Psychological testing screenings
• Termination- Ending a pregnancy completely usually for medical or genetic reason.

• Reduction- A medical procedure used to reduce a multiple pregnancy with a large number of fetuses usually three or more without entirely terminating the pregnancy. This procedure is usually advised due to the risks to surrogate and baby from carrying a large number of fetuses at one time.
• BR- Bedrest- the doctor says you have to limit your movement or stay in bed. IP's usually pay for childcare and or  housekeeping for the surro being on Bedrest.  
• Congenital Malformations, Deformations, Diseases, etc. are the deformations, diseases or malformations, which are present at birth or show themselves soon after birth. These kinds of diseases are usually transmitted directly from the parents.
• Congenital Abnormalities are those diseases and development violations, which a baby has from the very birth or soon after the birth.
• Genetic Testing is the analysis, made in order to see if there is there is the presence or absence of some particular gene or chromosome, or if there is any change in some particular gene or chromosome.
• Miscarriage is complete loss of pregnancy before the 24th week of an embryo’s development.
• Natural / Unstimulated Cycle is when the egg production happens independently, without any kind of drug stimulation.
• PGD Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis  is the genetic analysis on a live embryo conduction in order to determine whether there is any change in a particular gene or in any chromosome.

Insurance terms: 

• Surrogacy Exclusion- A insurance term where the insurance company WILL NOT cover a surrogate pregnancy.
• Premium- Monthly cost of the insurance policy.
• Deductible- Money paid out that is paid before the insurance will pay out
• Max payout- the highest amount the person paying the bills has to pay. 
• Co-pays- most insurance is a 20/80 co-pay meaning the bill payer pays 20% and the insurance will pay the 80% once the deductible has been met. 

Contract Terminology: 

• Contract- The agreement between the IP's and the surro. Identifies legal, physical  and financial duties of each of the parties. The contract  will also identify the extra's and the costs of them.  Some states need the contract to be legally approved to get a PBO.  Example Contract 
• PBO- Pre- birth order- the court order allowing the IP's names to be put directly on the birth certificate, giving them full legal rights to the baby previous to the birth. 
• Base Fee- The amount of compensation a surrogate will be paid to carry the pregnancy does not include extras.
• Extras- Items a surrogate will be paid for above and beyond the base fee. Example (maternity clothing, vitamins, travel expenses, childcare, housekeeping, etc..)
• Bedrest- the doctor says you have to limit your movement or stay in bed. IP's usually pay for childcare and or  housekeeping for the surro being on Bedrest.  
• 
  

Other random terms:

• 2WW- 2 week wait, waiting to find if the baby(s) attached and confirm a pregnancy.
• TTC- Trying to conceive
• PG- PREGNANT! what everyone wants to hear! 
• Twinkies-twins
• Singleton- 1 baby
• Matched- the stage where the IP's and Surro find each other and want to work with each other to make a baby. At this stage you ask the other person if you would like to be "matched" if they accept that lets the other person know that you are not going to talk to other surrogates or IP's and that they will move to the next stage of surrogacy; which is medical testing, then contract/ legal, then cycling  and hopefully a baby :) 
• Journey- its used more of a term of referring to working together in a surrogacy matching- "we will journey together"  
• Agency- Surrogacy agency- match IP's with surro's, helps case manage during the pregnancy, where the  "money" is managed, arranges the legalities and logistics, including flights and hotel stays. 
• Indi- Independent Surrogate not attached to an agency. They are responsible for collecting all money and making sure steps are taken in the surrogacy.