Olivia’s Surrogate Story: From Embryo Transfer to Birth
Every surrogate story is its own world. Olivia, a gestational surrogate who carried with Physician’s Surrogacy, wrote this personal account during the final weeks of her pregnancy — before the baby arrived, when the emotions were still raw and the excitement hadn’t yet turned into memory. Her words are her own. We’ve only polished the telling.
Key Takeaways
The Moment It Became Real
The medical clearances were done. The contracts were signed. It was finally time — we could move forward, and the surrogacy journey could officially begin.
We started medications about a month before the embryo transfer. I’ll be honest: I have a real phobia of needles. But I knew what I’d signed up for. I’d done this before with my own pregnancies. I could do it again.
Every appointment leading up to the transfer brought good news. My body was responding well. It was ready.
We took a flight to our fertility clinic a few days before the transfer and had our final blood work and ultrasound done the day before. Fortunately, everything came back okay!
Transfer Day
My Intended Parents were very anxious, and everyone was extremely nervous. The big day finally arrived, and I couldn’t have been more nervous — I wanted things to work out, hoping it would work the first time, and wanting to have my Intended Parents there with me at the clinic. After all, we were both on this surrogacy journey together.
The doctors and nurses were very patient and kind — extremely supportive, and that helped calm our nerves. After the embryo transfer, we rested for a while and went back to our hotel room for more rest until it was time to return home.
If you’ve ever wondered what the embryo transfer feels like, Olivia’s experience is a good window: the nerves before mattered more than the procedure itself.
Blood tests to confirm pregnancy are typically done 10–14 days after the embryo transfer. Olivia’s Intended Parents asked her to hold off on a home test and wait a full week. She did — even though it took everything she had.
Everyone was hoping for the best, excited, anxious, and of course, still full of nervousness. While it is possible to do a pregnancy test before then, it is not as accurate as a blood test.
The Two-Line Moment
Exactly 7 days after the transfer, I woke up in the morning and carried out the test. Immediately I saw the double line — I went wild with excitement!
The double lines came up really, very fast. Oh! The excitement was indescribable.
I felt like calling my Intended Parents straight away. Seeing the smile on their faces is the best feeling ever and makes you want to do your best to help them reach their dreams.
Watching Little Champ Grow
We did blood tests and ultrasounds, and my Intended Parents could see each ultrasound by video. I could hear their cries of joy and laughter — so much excitement. Little Champ (the nickname my son gave the baby) was growing, and the heartbeats were so strong.
Around week 12, I was able to stop the medications. That felt like crossing a milestone. Then I started falling sick — often in the first few months and even going into the second trimester.
It was a difficult experience. I couldn’t eat or drink without vomiting. I had to visit the emergency room several times for dehydration. For first-trimester surrogate mothers, this kind of experience is more common than people realize.
Sometimes you forget the reason why you are going through all this when you are throwing up here and there — but when you receive supportive calls and messages from the Intended Parents, it all comes back. The couple were simply amazing and more supportive than I had ever imagined.
My husband also stood by me during the whole journey and allowed me to rest more while he took care of our kid. My son always cuddled me and did all he could to make me feel better. I was so lucky to be blessed with such a wonderful support team. Speaking with former surrogates and receiving advice from them also helped.
Olivia credits three things for getting through the hardest weeks: her husband, her Intended Parents, and conversations with former surrogates. If you’re considering surrogacy, read our surrogate stories and testimonials for honest, firsthand perspectives.
OB/GYN-Led Support — From Screening to Delivery
Physician’s Surrogacy is the only surrogacy agency in the U.S. managed by practicing OB/GYNs. Every surrogate’s care is overseen by physicians — not case managers — who communicate directly with your managing OB throughout the pregnancy.
Surrogates carry with physician-designed protocol support — from first medication to 3–6 months post-delivery care.
Learn what sets PS apart on the Physician’s Advantage page.
The Relationship That Made It Work
I try, as much as possible, to respect my Intended Parents’ feelings. I always want them to feel that the pregnancy is theirs and have them involved as much as they want. I let them know Little Champ is doing okay and is well taken care of.
We still talk regularly and share our feelings and concerns — even though I feel lucky to have had little to no concerns. We have kept an open and honest relationship right from the start, and my husband and I are very happy about this. Little Champ is growing and growing, and we send the couple as many photos and videos as we can.
My husband is my number one supporter through all of this. This would have been impossible without his help and support.
Then — the time for “the” ultrasound came.
Is Little Champ a boy or a girl? Everyone was so anxious. Although they don’t care whether it’s a he or she, we made guesses and had fun trying to figure that out. Seeing the baby’s health profile and heartbeats was an amazing feeling.
Although I was really eager to know, I let the couple know it was okay if they didn’t want to find out. Fortunately for me, they also wanted to know! Little Champ is a boy. Oh my God, so much joy and happiness. We were all so happy to hear the good news of a healthy baby boy!
Seeing the smile on the Intended Parents’ face is the best feeling ever and makes you want to do your best to help them reach their dreams.
The Third Trimester and the Birth Plan
He keeps growing and has started to become very active. We are now in the last trimester, which means my surrogacy journey will soon be over — but an entirely new story is about to start.
We have already decided I will have a cesarean section, and we have the date scheduled. Our Intended Parents have gotten us a place to stay near the clinic, and it’s becoming more exciting around here.
Aside from being sick a lot in the first trimester, it has been an easy pregnancy. We have already discussed what the birth plan will be with the Intended Parents — which is different from preparing for the delivery of your own baby.
This time, the discussion is not only about if or when you go into labor, but also about other important things I had not really thought about until the delivery date started to draw near.
You have to know details like who is allowed to be with you in the delivery room. That’s a huge one because I want my husband to be in there with me — he is my number one supporter, and this would have been impossible without his help. But if the hospital only allows one person, I’m okay with that being the Intended Mother. She has been extremely supportive, and I want her to feel like she’s a part of this delivery.
When I first began researching becoming a surrogate mother, my greatest concern was how I would prepare myself for the delivery. One of the first things I came across was a recommendation to have the child handed directly to the Intended Parents. I know Little Champ is not my own child, and I’m not preparing to add a new member to my family.
Although I can’t wait to cuddle this special baby boy, I also can’t wait to see the couple become parents.
I told my physician and the Intended Parents that the baby should be handed to them immediately after birth. They were very understanding — they said I could hold him as soon as he is born, but I’ve decided to wait until I get into the recovery room. Being a surrogate, you just accept whatever happens and know that you are giving the Intended Parents the best gift in the world.
I also let the couple know I would like my son to come over and meet the baby, because he is as much a part of this as we are. I always tell him the baby won’t be living with us, but that he will have a new friend in his life. He is very excited! Fortunately, our Intended Parents also want this.
I’m looking forward to spending maternity leave with my family. I’m a full-time worker, so it will be special to spend some quality time with my son and husband.
This Is Olivia’s Surrogate Story — What’s Yours?
Presently, we are working on getting the parental rights paperwork done and signing all the necessary documents, and preparing for Little Champ’s birth. This is important because we want the hospital to know I’m only giving birth — not the baby’s real mother.
We are getting closer to the baby’s arrival every day. I’m really enjoying being pregnant and helping bring Little Champ into the world.
Again, I can’t describe how lucky I feel to have been matched with such a wonderful family. There are no words to describe how I feel about this! Thank you, Physician’s Surrogacy!
— Olivia, Physician’s Surrogacy Surrogate
If her surrogate story resonated with you, read about surrogate attachment and bonding — it’s a question worth sitting with before you begin. And when you’re ready, learn about surrogate compensation at Physician’s Surrogacy and take the first step toward your own journey.
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Julianna Nikolic
Chief Strategy Officer Julianna Nikolic leads strategic initiatives, focusing on growth, innovation, and patient-centered solutions in the reproductive sciences sector. With 26+ years of management experience and a strong entrepreneurial background, she brings deep expertise to advancing reproductive healthcare.
