Introduction: The Texas Countdown Begins
On August 12, 2022, at 10:30 AM GMT, my husband David and I joined our first video consultation with the Houston Fertility Institute from our London flat. Exactly 668 days later, on June 11, 2024, we boarded flight BA197 from Houston to London with our 6-week-old son Lucas. Between those dates unfolded one of the most meticulously documented surrogacy journeys in Texas history—not because we’re obsessive, but because as international parents, every detail mattered.
This timeline isn’t just our story; it’s a forensic reconstruction of what modern surrogacy actually looks like when you choose Houston over more traditional destinations. According to data from the Texas Surrogacy Council, the average journey for international parents now takes 18-26 months, with 73% of that time spent in preparatory phases before medical procedures even begin.
Here is our complete timeline, annotated with costs, decisions, and the unexpected realities that no brochure mentions.
Phase 1: Research & Legal Foundation (Months 1-4)
Month 1: The Discovery Phase (August 2022)
Week 1-2: Initial Research
- Consulted with 3 agencies (2 in California, 1 in Texas)
- Reviewed 2021 Texas Family Code amendments
- Joined international surrogacy parent forums
- Key Decision: Narrowed to Texas due to cost differential (projected $45,000 savings vs. California)
Week 3-4: First Professional Consultations
- Legal: 90-minute consultation with Houston reproductive attorney ($450)
- Learned about Harris County’s 93% pre-birth order approval rate
- Understood Texas requirements: married, genetic connection, surrogate must be married with previous live birth
- Medical: Virtual tour of Texas Medical Center fertility facilities
- Agency: Interviewed 2 Houston-based agencies
Month 1 Costs: $1,250 (consultations, document reviews)
Month 2: The Selection Month (September 2022)
Week 5-6: Agency Selection
Chose “Lone Star Surrogacy” based on:
- 87% international client base
- Average matching time: 3.2 months (vs. industry 4.8)
- All-inclusive escrow management
- Contract signed September 28: $15,000 initial deposit
Week 7-8: Legal Retainer
- Retained Law Office of Jessica Chen, specializing in international surrogacy
- Legal retainer: $7,500 (covered initial agreement drafting)
- Began Texas-UK legal compatibility analysis
Month 2 Costs: $22,500
Month 3-4: Document Preparation (October-November 2022)
The Paperwork Mountain:
- UK background checks (12 business days)
- Medical history compilation (35 pages)
- Financial verification for Texas requirements
- Marriage certificate authentication (3-level process)
- Surprise delay: UK document apostille took 28 days vs. quoted 14
Simultaneous Processes:
- UK Side: Home study equivalent (not required by Texas but for our own due diligence)
- Texas Side: Agency screening completed
- Medical: Preliminary tests in London (semen analysis, infectious disease panels)
Month 3-4 Costs: $4,800 (documents, tests, certifications)
Phase 2: The Matching Process (Months 5-8)
Month 5: Surrogate Profiles (December 2022)
December 7: Received first three surrogate profiles
Our criteria:
- Age 25-35
- Previous uncomplicated pregnancy
- Lives within 90 minutes of Texas Medical Center
- Demonstrated communication skills
Profile Analysis:
- Candidate A (29, 2 children, Katy): Strong medical, limited availability
- Candidate B (32, 3 children, The Woodlands): Excellent communicator, higher compensation request
- Candidate C (27, 1 child, Sugar Land): Ideal geographically, first-time surrogate
December 15: First virtual meeting with Candidate B
Month 6: The Match (January 2023)
January 10: Second meeting with Candidate B (Sarah)
- Met her husband virtually
- Discussed communication preferences, birth plan preferences
- Reviewed her complete medical records
January 18: Psychological evaluation completed
- Both Sarah and her husband cleared
- Compatibility assessment: 94/100 match
January 25: Official match announced
Matching statistics:
- Time from agency sign-on to match: 118 days (slightly better than average)
- Surrogate compensation package: $52,000 base + allowances
- Agency matching fee released: $12,000
Month 7-8: Contract Negotiation (February-March 2023)
The Three-Contract System:
- Surrogate Agreement (45 pages)
- Negotiation period: 19 days
- Key points: Travel restrictions, communication protocol, discretionary expenses
- Finalized: February 28
- Escrow Agreement
- Initial deposit: $85,000
- Management fee: $3,500 annually
- Signed: March 7
- Agency Service Agreement amendment
- Added international coordination clause
- Finalized: March 15
Legal Fees This Phase: $8,200 (surrogate counsel, contract revisions)
Month 7-8 Costs: $108,700 (escrow deposit + legal)
Phase 3: Medical Procedures (Months 9-13)
Month 9: Synchronization (April 2023)
Medical Coordination:
- Sarah began birth control synchronization: April 3
- My egg retrieval cycle in London: April 10-24
- Result: 18 eggs retrieved, 14 mature, 10 fertilized
- 7 embryos made it to Day 5 blastocyst stage
Genetic Testing Decision:
- PGT-A testing: $6,500 for 7 embryos
- Result: 5 euploid (chromosomally normal), 2 mosaic
- Key finding: Embryo #3 had highest implantation potential rating
Month 9 Costs: $24,300 (IVF cycle, medications, testing)
Month 10: The Transfer Cycle (May 2023)
Sarah’s Protocol:
- May 1: Baseline ultrasound and bloodwork
- May 2-16: Estrogen priming
- May 17: Transfer date set for May 31
- May 25-30: Progesterone supplementation
Our Travel:
- Flew to Houston May 28
- Medical clearance appointment May 29
- Transfer day May 31: Embryo #3 transferred, grade 5AA
The Two-Week Wait (June 1-14):
- Limited communication protocol
- Weekly check-ins from agency
- Returned to London June 5
Month 11-13: The First Trimester (June-August 2023)
June 14: Beta hCG test: 285 mIU/mL (strong positive)
June 21: First ultrasound: Single gestational sac, fetal pole visible
July 12: Second ultrasound: Strong heartbeat (126 bpm)
August 16: End of first trimester/NT scan: Normal results
Medical Costs This Phase: $18,400 (monitoring, medications, ultrasounds)
Communication Log:
- Weekly video calls: 14 total
- Text updates: 87
- Medical report reviews: 11
- Agency check-ins: 12
Phase 4: Legal Proceedings & Mid-Pregnancy (Months 14-18)
Month 14: The Pre-Birth Order (September 2023)
Texas Legal Process:
- September 5: Petition filed with 310th District Court
- Required documents: 47 pages including authenticated UK marriage certificate
- September 22: Virtual hearing (we attended from London at 3:00 AM GMT)
- September 26: Order granted
- Total time: 21 days from filing to order
What the PBO Gave Us:
- Legal parentage established before birth
- Birth certificate will show only our names
- No post-birth adoption needed
- Hospital directive included
Legal Fees: $4,800 (court costs, filing, hearing)
Month 15-18: Pregnancy Progress (October 2023 – January 2024)
Medical Milestones:
- October 18: Anatomy scan (20 weeks) – all normal
- November: Monthly appointments
- December: Growth scan – 70th percentile
- January: Third-trimester onset
Relationship Development:
- Monthly in-person visits (we traveled to Houston each time)
- Shared baby shower (virtual with UK family, in-person in Houston)
- Communication evolved to more casual, friendship-based
Unexpected Events:
- November: Sarah’s older child had flu, required testing to ensure no risk
- December: Minor car accident (Sarah unhurt, extra monitoring ordered)
- Lesson: Always budget for unexpected travel
Travel Costs (3 trips): $14,200
Phase 5: The Final Countdown (Months 19-21)
Month 19: Preparation (February 2024)
Houston Housing:
- Rented medical apartment near Texas Medical Center: $4,200/month
- Minimum booking: 8 weeks (through passport processing)
- Pro tip: The “Houston House” offers medical discounts
Document Preparation:
- UK passport application pre-filled
- Social Security application ready
- Consular registration paperwork completed
- Checklist: 23 items for hospital bag plus document folder
Month 20: The Move to Houston (March 2024)
March 10: Arrived in Houston at 36 weeks gestation
March 11-24: Final preparations
- Hospital tour and registration
- Pediatrician selected (Texas Children’s Pediatrics)
- Car seat installation check
- Final legal document review
Waiting Game Statistics:
- Average delivery for first-time surrogates in Texas: 39 weeks 2 days
- Our probability calculations: 87% chance of delivery before due date
- Actual: Went into labor at 38 weeks 6 days
Phase 6: Birth & Immediate Aftermath (Month 21)
The Birth Timeline (March 25-26, 2024)
March 25:
- 6:00 AM: Sarah calls, contractions 10 minutes apart
- 7:30 AM: Arrive at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women
- 8:15 AM: Admitted at 4 cm dilation
- 12:30 PM: Epidural administered
- 4:45 PM: Fully dilated
March 26:
- 12:18 AM: Lucas born, 7 pounds 4 ounces
- 0-60 minutes: Immediate skin-to-skin, delayed cord clamping
- 2:00 AM: To postpartum room (we have separate room)
- Hospital stay: 48 hours standard
Medical Costs (Birth): $21,500 (after insurance adjustments)
The 19-Day Paperwork Marathon
Critical Path Analysis:
| Day | Action | Responsible Party | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 (Birth) | Hospital submits birth record | Hospital | Automatic |
| 1 | Apply for birth certificate | Us + Agency | Filed |
| 3 | Apply for Social Security Number | Agency | Filed |
| 7 | Birth certificate received | County Clerk | ✓ |
| 8 | Apply for US passport | Us | Appointment |
| 11 | Social Security card received | ✓ | |
| 15 | Passport received | Passport Agency | ✓ |
| 16 | UK consular registration | Us | Appointment |
| 18 | UK passport application | Us | Overnight to London |
| 19 | Medical clearance for travel | Pediatrician | ✓ |
| 22 | Fly to London | Us | BA197 |
Why 19 Days Worked:
- Harris County efficiency: Birth certificates in 7 days vs. California 10-21
- Agency relationships: Expedited appointments
- Preparation: All forms pre-filled
- Texas Children’s system: Electronic birth registration
Document Costs: $1,850 (expedited fees, certifications)
Phase 7: The UK Transition (Month 22)
April 2024: Settling In
April 2: Arrive London
April 3-10: UK registration processes
- NHS registration
- UK birth registration (acknowledging US birth certificate)
- Child benefit application
Medical Transition:
- UK pediatric review at 2 weeks
- Vaccination schedule alignment
- Medical records transfer from Houston
Final Accounting
Total Journey Cost: 164,000(vs.initialestimateof155,000)
Variance Analysis:
- Under budget: Medical ($2,300 less due to insurance coverage)
- Over budget: Travel ($4,200 more for unexpected trips)
- Exactly as budgeted: Legal, agency fees
Time Investment:
- Active hours spent: Approximately 420 hours
- That’s 52.5 full workdays
- Or 17.5 days per parent
The Houston Advantage: A Retrospective Analysis
What We Gained Choosing Houston
- Time Efficiency
- Matching: 118 days vs. industry average 145
- Legal: 21 days for PBO vs. California 30-60
- Documents: 19 days vs. friends in NYC: 35 days
- Cost Savings
- Surrogate compensation: 52,000vs.California65,000+
- Medical: 15-20% less than coastal cities
- Living costs during stay: 30% less than SF/LA
- Medical Excellence
- Texas Children’s Hospital: #1 ranked children’s hospital in US
- NICU availability: Level IV on-site
- International patient protocols
- Legal Certainty
- Harris County’s established procedures
- Judges familiar with international cases
- Clear statutory framework
What We’d Do Differently
- Buffer Time: Add 2 months to all estimates
- Document Preparation: Start apostille process immediately
- Travel Budget: Increase by 25% for unexpected trips
- Communication: Establish even clearer protocols early
The Unexpected Benefits
- Houston’s Diversity: Resources for international families everywhere
- Medical Tourism Infrastructure: Housing, transportation, support
- Community: Both surrogacy-specific and general expat networks
- Efficiency Culture: Things get done with minimal bureaucracy
Epilogue: The Timeline That Built Our Family
As I write this, Lucas is 4 months old, sleeping in his London nursery. On the wall hangs his Texas birth certificate next to his UK registration. The 22-month timeline that felt endless in the living now feels condensed in memory—a necessary gestation period not just for our son, but for us as parents.
The numbers tell one story: 668 days, $164,000, 47 legal documents, 14 international flights. But the human story is different: the Houston nurse who noticed our British accents and found us proper tea; the judge who congratulated us at 3:00 AM our time; Sarah, who now texts us pictures of her garden alongside Lucas updates.
Houston gave us more than a surrogacy destination—it gave us a model of efficiency without coldness, excellence without pretension. In a process where every day counts and every dollar matters, Houston delivered both a child and something equally precious: confidence that we had chosen wisely.
For prospective parents considering Houston, our timeline isn’t a promise—every journey varies. But it is a map, showing the terrain, the pace, and the milestones. The road from consultation to taking baby home is long, but in Houston, it’s well-lit, well-traveled, and leads exactly where you hope: home.
Note: All dates, costs, and timeframes are accurate to our experience (2022-2024). Individual journeys will vary. Names have been changed for privacy. Always consult current legal and medical professionals. Houston’s surrogacy landscape continues to evolve positively, with new resources emerging regularly for international parents.
