Ask a Case Manager: Simple Surrogacy’s Michelle Magers

One of the biggest ways that people interested in alternative family planning can set themselves up for success is by using a reputable agency such as Simple Surrogacy to find their Egg Donor or Surrogate. One of the primary reasons for this is because using a reputable agency means having access to a team of experienced professionals there to walk you through every step of your journey. Among these professionals is your case manager, who will be your go-to person throughout the process. 

We sat down with one of our case managers, Michelle Magers, to ask about her advice for Intended Parents exploring surrogacy for the first time. 

• What do you like about being a case manager for parents going through surrogacy?

As both a five-time Surrogate and medical professional with 10+ years of experience in reproductive endocrinology, I’ve come to appreciate the overall joy it brings me to help Intended Parents fulfill their dreams of becoming parents. In some cases, parenthood for our clients can be seen as an intangible dream, so being able to help them fulfill their goals of starting a family is something that I have come to love. As a case manager, you can become very close to the Intended Parents, creating friendships and close bonds throughout their journey. I’ve had the pleasure to form close bonds with the most amazing people all over the world, which is something that I wouldn’t be able to experience with another industry.  

• What do you think are important qualities and skills for a good case manager? Intended Parents rely on case managers greatly during this process to guide them smoothly into the next steps of their journey. 

Communication is a large part of being an efficient case manager. Most of our clients are new parents, therefore, need guidance during all steps of the process, from choosing a Surrogate in the very beginning, to what items they will need for childcare after their baby is home. Patience and versatility are also quite useful skills for a case manager, as not all journeys are free of complications during the process. Being able to provide guidance in a multitude of situations is vital for the clients for a stress-free process.

• What are two or three pieces of advice you would give to Intended Parents to make their surrogacy journey an easier and happier process?

While it may be difficult at times, patience is key during this process. Rushing through any particular part of a surrogacy journey doesn’t always mean that a baby will come sooner than later. We have helped hundreds of clients become parents over the years and while our efficiency with streamlining the surrogacy process grows, the timeline to complete all the necessary tasks and actions correctly has not greatly changed.

Trust is one of the most difficult tasks for IP’s, however, I feel it is very important to have during any Surrogate journey. I strongly urge our clients to fully trust the medical professionals, their Surrogate/Donor, our team, and the legal team, to guide them in the best way possible. Having reservations with anyone that is a vital part in the process can create difficulties and further tension during an already anxiety-ridden time in their life.

My last piece of advice would be to relinquish control and have an open mind. Control seems to be something that comes naturally with this process given all the decisions that lie in the hands of the Intended Parents. Clients typically gain a false sense of control given the advances in science and the ability to make specific choices on the overall outcome of their IVF cycle, which is something parents conceiving naturally aren’t privy to. From choosing an Egg Donor with specific qualities to pass onto their children to be able to choose the number of babies likely to be born after an embryo transfer or even the gender of their child(ren), a sense of being able to control the outcomes seems natural. When parents come in with specific expectations, I try to guide them toward having more of an open mind when their plans for their future family seem to be unrealistically laid out. We do our best to provide the preferred outcomes for all clients, however, there are times when the end results are outside our realm of control. 

If you would like to know more about surrogacy or are interested in learning more about what Simple Surrogacy can do for your family, please contact us today. Our experienced team is ready and waiting to help you embark on your family’s next great journey.