STEPS TO BECOME A SURROGATE
Your desire to become a gestational surrogate is a thought and desire of which you should be proud. It’s you making a statement that you have an interest in helping another woman, man, or couple fulfill their dream of having a family. These are people who might not otherwise be able to have a family if not for the consideration of people like you.
As you contemplate getting involved in the surrogate mother process, you need to know what all is involved in the surrogate process. As you might imagine, the surrogate mother process requires a lot of time and effort on the part of a lot of interested parties. We have the responsibility of finding good surrogate candidates, and we take that responsibility very seriously. After all, we are in the business of matching surrogates with intended parents for the purpose of providing a child for the intended parents to raise.
Below, we are offering you a step-by-step guide about how to become a surrogate including compensation info in Q&A. We strongly recommend that you read this information before making your final decision about being a surrogate mother.
“BECOMING A SURROGATE MOTHER WAS THE BEST DECISION OF MY LIFE!”
As one of our surrogate mothers, your comfort and well-being is our top priority. We work hard to make sure you’re paired with the perfect couple or individual for you.
STEP 1: RESEARCH THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A PROSPECTIVE GESTATIONAL SURROGATE
Before you head too far down the path towards becoming a gestational carrier, you might be able to save some time and effort by understanding our requirements. Please keep in mind that these requirements exist for the protection of the intended parents, yourself, the future unborn child, and our agency/fertility clinic. Here is a basic list of requirements:
- Must be between the ages of 21 and 42
- Must be of sound mind and body (no serious medical or mental health issues)
- Have already given birth to one child, with least six months since your last pregnancy
- Must have gotten through pregnancy without any complications
- Living in a stable home environment
- No criminal history
- Have a reliable source of transportation
- Financially stable
If you meet these requirements, you should proceed to the next step.
STEP 2: COMPLETE OUR ONLINE APPLICATION
STEP 3: SEARCH FOR INTENDED PARENT MATCH
STEP 4: MEETING BETWEEN YOU AND INTENDED PARENTS
STEP 5: THE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SCREENING
Assuming we have a match and full agreement between both parties, we can proceed with the medical screening. You would need to work with one of our fertility doctors as they take you through a series of diagnostic tests. The testing would include blood tests, urine analysis and an ultrasound. We will also conduct a further interview regarding any medical issues that you have had in the past.
As we indicated above, your history of mental issues will also be of interest to us. In the interview process, we may seek more information about psychological issues that a pertinent to this entire process. Also, we’ll be able to inform you as to whether or not you can continue the use of any psych meds you might be taking.
After gathering all of your medical/psychological information, we will assess your fitness as a surrogate candidate. The entire process could take up to a couple of weeks. Assuming everything is in good order, we will approve you for the surrogate mother process.
STEP 6: LETTING OF THE SURROGATE CONTRACT
STEP 7: COORDINATION OF THE SURROGATE PREGNANCY
A big part of the pregnancy will center on you working with a fertility doctor on the actual IVF cycle. This will require a lot of coordination between you and the clinic in order to meet important deadlines. The doctor will take you through the entire process, which starts with syncing up your body to receive the donor egg. This might require multiple iterations until we can confirm a viable pregnancy.
During the pregnancy, you will need to report for checkups and keep your doctor informed about your health and progress. As the delivery date nears, additional coordination will take place between all parties in preparation for the delivery of the child.
FINAL STEP: THE DELIVERY
Prior to and up to the delivery of the baby, communication between all parties is vital. That will especially be true as the delivery date nears. This is the time when emotions could be running high as the excitement builds. Hopefully, you will be able to successfully manage your emotions prior to giving birth and giving your gift to the intended parents. Should you need to speak with anyone regarding your feelings, we will always be available to you.
As you can see, the question of how to become a surrogate is very complicated. It should be because it centers on the birth of a beautiful baby. If you have any questions about the process or compensation, please contact us as soon as possible.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY IS THE AGE REQUIREMENT BETWEEN 21 AND 42?
We want to make sure our surrogates are mentally and physically mature enough to endure the surrogate process. At the same time, we want to ensure that our surrogates aren’t exposed to any undue health risks due to advanced maternal age.
CAN I USE MY OWN OB/GYN?
Initially, you would remain under the care of a fertility clinic doctor. Once the pregnancy is stable, you can begin seeing your own doctor.
HOW MUCH DOES A SURROGATE MAKE?
Compensation and reimbursements after completing surrogate mother process can vary based on circumstances. The entire package is negotiated as part of the contract development process. First time surrogates make $40,000 in base compensation and experienced surrogates make over $45,000+. You also receive additional allowances on top of your base, so your total compensation is closer to $60,000.