What A Year of Miracles Looks Like
In 2025, surrogacy did not just grow. It evolved.
Legal discussions around birthright citizenship, shifting state-level reproductive health laws and surrogacy reforms in healthcare coverage all influenced how families approached family building. At the same time, the demand continued to rise. According to our aggregated data, there is an increased interest from both intended parents and surrogates, which then mirrors broader industry trends. Nationally, more employers expanded fertility and family building benefits and public awareness around surrogacy and IVF reached new levels this year.
According to SurrogateFirst’s 2025 Infertility Benefits in The Job Market Report, fertility benefits are becoming a deciding factor for employees at 70 percent,
while our Public Opinion Report on Surrogacy, IVF, and Family-Building Policies showed growing public support for assisted reproduction despite political and legal uncertainties.
These shifts, alongside ongoing policy conversations, reshaped how journeys planned and reinforced the importance of education, preparation and ethical guidance in surrogacy today.
Through it all, one thing remained consistent. Families were built because surrogates continued to step forward and intended parents continued to hope and trust the process.
Looking back, 2025 was not defined by policy and birthright citizenship changes. It was defined by steady progress, meaningful stories of miracles and the quiet commitment shown by surrogates, intended parents, medical partners and case managers who carried each journey forward with care and commitment.
As we reflect on 2025, we do so with gratitude. Gratitude for women who chose to carry for others. Gratitude for parents who believed in this path, and gratitude for the surrogacy community that continues to grow with purpose, integrity and heart.
The Milestones That Made Us Proud
Behind every surrogacy journey are countless milestones, achievements, and growth. In 2025, all those added up to a year of steady progress and meaningful outcomes for the SurrogateFirst community.
This year, we successfully completed 82 matches, keeping up with the goal of increasing our success rate year on year. Each match represented careful screening, alignment and communication between surrogates and intended parents. These were carefully done and were thoughtful partnerships built to support healthy journeys from start to finish. Even with growth, we remained focused on efficiency and precision without sacrificing care. The average match time in 2025 was 43 days compared to 40 days last year, reflecting a balance between thoughtful screening and timely progression. This brings the total number of new births to 353 for SurrogateFirst to date.
Interest in surrogacy continued to grow this year. In total, 6,742 new women applied to become surrogates through SurrogateFirst. While not every applicant is guaranteed to move forward with the journey, this number reflects increasing awareness and trust in ethical surrogacy and in the support systems we have built through the years.
We also strengthened our professional network as this year marked a new partnership with Carrot Fertility, expanding access and support for intended parents navigating family building benefits. At the same time, our very own SurrogateFirst Director Ashley took a new leadership role as a Board Member of SEEDS, reinforcing our commitment to advocacy and ethical standards within the surrogacy and fertility space.
Geographically, surrogacy journeys remained strongest in California, Florida and Texas where established legal frameworks and medical infrastructure continue to support safe and successful journeys.
In 2025, 90 percent of our surrogates chose to return for another journey with SurrogateFirst. We are humbled by such a return rate, reflecting confidence in the process, in the people, and in the care provided throughout each journey.
These milestones are beyond numbers. They are proof of what happens when trust, structure, continuous learning and compassion work together.
The Surrogate Stories That Made 2025 Unforgettable
Behind every surrogacy journey is a story worth telling. This year brought moments of connection, courage, joy, and deep emotional meaning. Here are the surrogacy stories that captured our hearts in 2025.
When the Intended Parents Named Their Baby After Their Surrogate
Surrogate: Shelbie Brown
Shelbie’s journey stood out for the profound bond formed between her and her intended parents. As her journey neared its final months, the intended parents chose to name their baby girl after her, a gesture that reflected gratitude, trust and connection.
Below is Shelbie’s reflection on her ongoing journey:
“I've loved the entire experience. I've learned so much along the way about surrogacy. My favorite part has just been truly assisting my IPs in finally starting a family. I couldn't be happier for them. I have loved working with my awesome case manager. She's been so helpful and encouraging throughout all of it. I loved getting to travel to the clinic. I will never forget the transfer procedure. You think you know what it will be and anticipate so many things, but it was truly fascinating to me how such intricate science, strategy & timing can go on to create a miracle. I am truly honored that they have decided to name their baby girl after me. It's such a tribute. I have enjoyed the pregnancy and all of its ups and downs; but at the end of it all, knowing that there will be a little person out in the world, sharing my name...it's such a beautiful way to remember that experience that will always stay with me. ”
A Difficult Delivery Shared Together
Surrogate: Stacy Hale
Stacy’s delivery became one of the most emotionally powerful moments of the year. It was a reminder that surrogacy journeys are built not only on preparation, but also on trust and shared resilience when things do not go as planned. In the delivery room, Stacy and her intended parents faced a challenging moment together, offering support, presence and gratitude in real time. The experience left a lasting impact on everyone involved and became a defining example of partnership during the most vulnerable moments of a journey.
Here’s how it impacted Stacy, through her own story:
“Meeting the intended mother was something that seemed so surreal, but when the day finally came it was incredible.
I made a gift basket for her that had several baby items in it; however, what I was most excited to give her was a photo album I made with all of the ultrasound photos. I knew it meant the world to her when her eyes filled up with tears and she held it to her chest.
She was so strong and supportive the entire day from holding my hand while getting an epidural to standing strong by my side during the delivery.
But the best part, the part that everyone describes to be this euphoric experience, is the moment the baby boy took that first breath and filled the room with his cries. The intended mother and I locked eyes with tears pouring out as we embraced one another in the biggest hug.
I know how much the mother and father appreciate what I have done for them. However, I could never truly show them the incredible amount of gratitude I have for trusting me… choosing me to carry and bring their child into the world. It’s crazy how much this journey has changed my life and I’d do it all over again.”
SurroTriplets and a Journey Marked by Strength
Surrogate: Rebecca Riot
Rebecca entered 2025 already deep into her surrogacy journey, carrying triplets. Her experience was filled with the anticipation, and moments she describes as unforgettable. Below is her story, told entirely through her own point of view:
“I started 2025 already almost halfway through my surrogacy journey. Those weeks were filled with weekly appointments, which meant weekly ultrasounds. I had the rare gift of watching these little babies grow in real time, seeing their tiny movements, hearing their strong heartbeats, and sharing every new photo and update with their dads. Those appointments became a rhythm in my week, something I looked forward to. The weeks went by quickly, each one bringing us closer to the moment the boys would finally be here. Delivery day! My daughter and I showed up to check in. I felt all the emotions. I remember a sense of relief came when the nurse told me the dads were in the waiting room. When they walked in, they greeted me with a mix of excitement and nervousness that instantly made me feel calmer. We hung out for a while, talking and waiting, until it was time for their fancy blue suits.
The OR was full. Three warmers, fifteen to twenty doctors and nurses, and an energy that made it feel like the whole world was waiting to meet these boys. They quickly became little celebrities in the hospital, and the anticipation in the air was unforgettable.
Before bringing the dads in, a nurse asked if I was okay with them standing near my feet by the warmers. I laughed and said, “Of course they can, just please warn them they’ll see everything (all the blood) from there.”
Challenges That Shaped Us
Surrogacy is deeply connected to legal, political and healthcare environments. This year brought several discussions that impacted how families and surrogates planned their journeys.
1. Birth Right Citizenship Changes
Questions resurfaced about the future of birthright citizenship and how policy changes could affect international intended parents. We addressed these concerns in detail through a fact-driven blog post.
2. Surrogacy Escrow Management & Ethics
In 2025, surrogacy escrow management became a rising concern within the surrogacy industry after reports resurfaced about surrogacy agencies simultaneously playing the role of escrow companies. Thereafter, these faced financial instability and in some cases, bankruptcy. These situations affected active journeys and resulted in a sense of uncertainty from some surrogates and intended parents. As Jeff Hu, Founder of SurrogateFirst, was called to give his professional read of the situation, in numerous press outlets, Jeff re-emphasized the need for separation between escrow and surrogacy journey management business entities. He also restated the ethical code of conduct surrogacy companies must abide by to make it in the long run and examples of how he applies this at SurrogateFirst every step of the journey.
3. Women’s Options on Abortion and the Effects of Abortion Laws
Ongoing changes in state laws regarding abortion and reproductive healthcare also influenced how surrogacy journeys were structured. For surrogates, access to medical care and the ability to make informed decisions about their health remained a pressing concern. These discussions on the effects of restrictive abortion laws emphasized the need to prioritize journeys in locations where medical autonomy and safety are protected, with a focus on the risks of surrogacy pregnancy complications.
4. The Future of Affordable Care Act in Surrogacy
Healthcare access became a growing concern for surrogates and intended parents as changes in administration signaled the end of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. For many surrogates who rely on this medical insurance, this created uncertainty around coverage affordability and continuity. With this, rising premiums and changing eligibility requirements will surely add another layer of planning for journeys moving into 2026, which then emphasizes the need for clear guidance and proactive healthcare support planning.
What Surrogacy Meant to Us This Year
Our ultimate goal as a surrogacy agency is for our intended parents to bring home a healthy baby, however it also means much more. We continue to help women learn about surrogacy and explore the path feeling empowered, informed, supported and confident in their choice of becoming a surrogate. Moreover, many surrogates shared that they felt empowered not only by the decision to help build families, but by having a support team that respected their preferences, their boundaries, and most importantly their well-being throughout the whole process.
The SurrogateFirst community continues to thrive as our surrogates have connected more with one another, shared experiences through our private Support Group and supported each other through celebrating milestones and navigating challenges together. At the same time, our surrogacy community expanded through stronger collaboration with partner clinics, medical professionals, legal experts and advocacy organizations. The wider and more engaged network allowed us to support journeys more comprehensively and reinforced the idea that ethical surrogacy is built through collaboration, and not isolation.
Most importantly, our commitment to support physical and mental wellness remained a core focus. Wellness being a part of our foundation, we believe that when surrogates are informed, supported, and cared for at every stage of the journey, they are better able to focus on the health of their pregnancy resulting in a more fulfilling journey. From medical guidance to emotional check-ins and post birth support, we continued to prioritize care that extends beyond delivery day. Putting surrogates first is how we protect the journey, the baby, and the families who place their dream of building their own family in our care.
Message from the SurrogateFirst Family
As we reflect on 2025, we are profoundly grateful to have the opportunity to be part of our family building community. I want to take a moment to acknowledge the people who made this year meaningful. To our surrogates, thank you for choosing to fulfill a dream for those that can’t. Your commitment is the heart of everything we do. To our intended parents, thank you for trusting us with one of the most significant decisions of your lives. To our partner clinics, physicians, and fellow surrogacy professionals who continue to hold our journeys to the highest standards, it's an honor to walk the path by your sides. And to the SurrogateFirst team, thank you for showing up consistently and doing the work that often goes unseen but never goes unappreciated. Learning from our 2025 experiences and looking ahead to 2026, our mission remains clear. We will continue strengthening our support systems, improving our processes, and raising the bar for compassionate and ethical surrogacy.
Here is to a New Year of steady progress, stronger community, and helping more families one blessing at a time.
About SurrogateFirst
SurrogateFirst is a boutique surrogate agency specializing in quickly matching intended parents around the world with our fully-vetted, exceptional surrogates.
We help individuals and couples, regardless of race or sexual orientation, build their families through the miracle of surrogacy.
Every team member at SurrogateFirst is either a former intended parent or an experienced surrogate herself. We also have first-hand knowledge of what it takes to have an incredible, successful surrogate journey.
