Surrogacy is a beautiful way to help families grow, offering hope to those who may otherwise struggle to conceive or carry a child. However, it is a significant commitment that requires careful consideration and preparation. At Surrogacy by Faith, we guide both surrogates and intended parents through this life-changing process. This article will explain the surrogate mother requirements, the steps of the surrogacy process, and why choosing a faith-based agency can make all the difference.
What Are the Basic Surrogate Mother Requirements?
Before you begin the surrogacy journey, there are specific requirements that you must meet to ensure the health and safety of both you and the baby. These requirements help ensure a smooth, successful pregnancy and protect everyone involved, including the intended parents.
Physical Health Requirements
To qualify as a surrogate with Surrogacy by Faith, candidates must meet specific physical health requirements:
- Surrogates must be between 21 and 37 years old.
At Surrogacy by Faith, we set this specific age range to ensure surrogates are physically prepared for the demands of pregnancy. Other agencies may allow surrogates up to the age of 40, but we believe this range offers the best outcomes for both surrogates and intended parents.
- Must have previously given birth to at least one child.
This requirement ensures that you have experienced pregnancy and understand the physical and emotional challenges involved. It also demonstrates that your body can safely carry a baby to term.
- Be in excellent health with a BMI of 29 or below.
Maintaining a healthy BMI is crucial for ensuring that you can safely carry the pregnancy without significant complications. Your physical health must be in a state that can support the pregnancy and the demands it places on your body.
- Must be drug-free, non-smoking, and abstain from alcohol during the surrogacy journey.
For the safety of the baby and the overall health of the pregnancy, all surrogates must commit to a healthy lifestyle, free of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol throughout the surrogacy process.
Psychological and Emotional Requirements
Beyond physical health, surrogacy requires a stable emotional and mental state. Pregnancy can be emotionally taxing, especially when carrying a child for another family. At Surrogacy by Faith, we have psychological requirements in place to ensure you are mentally prepared for this journey.
- Surrogates must be in good psychological health and should be off any antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications for at least one year.
- A stable support system at home is crucial, whether from a partner, family, or close friends. Surrogacy is a challenging process, and having emotional support will help you through the ups and downs.
- Mental and emotional resilience is essential because surrogates will need to manage not only the physical demands of pregnancy but also the emotional aspects of carrying a child for another family.
The Surrogacy Screening Process
Once you meet the basic requirements, the next step in the surrogacy journey is the screening process. This step ensures that all surrogates are fully prepared—physically, emotionally, and mentally—before moving forward.
Medical and Psychological Evaluations
The medical and psychological evaluations are a key part of the screening process.
- Medical Records Review:
A thorough review of your medical records will be conducted to ensure you are physically capable of carrying a pregnancy. This review includes assessing your previous pregnancies, any complications, and your overall health.
- Psychological Evaluation:
A psychological evaluation will assess your emotional preparedness for the surrogacy journey. Surrogacy is emotionally complex, and this step ensures that you are ready to handle the psychological aspects of carrying a child for another family. If you fail your psychological evaluation, you will no longer qualify to move forward with the surrogacy application using an agency in most cases.
Background Check and Home Visit
To ensure the safety of everyone involved, all surrogate candidates must pass a background check. This check looks for any criminal history that could affect your suitability as a surrogate.
- Background Check:
A criminal background check is completed to ensure the safety of the surrogate and the intended family.
- Home Visit or Virtual Interview:
Home visits are a specific requirement for surrogates at Surrogacy by Faith who live in Southern California. This is not necessarily a requirement across all surrogacy agencies in California. Other agencies may have different protocols. At Surrogacy by Faith, the home visit is an essential step to ensure a supportive and healthy environment for the surrogate. If you live in Southern California, you may be required to undergo a home visit. If you live outside Southern California, a virtual interview via Skype may be required .
The Surrogacy Process: What to Expect
Once you pass the screening process, the surrogacy journey officially begins. The process is exciting but can also seem overwhelming at first. At Surrogacy by Faith, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Initial Application
The first step in becoming a surrogate is completing the initial application form. This form collects basic information about your health, lifestyle, and motivations for becoming a surrogate. It is the starting point for the entire process.
Matching with Intended Parents
After passing the screening process, you will be matched with intended parents. At Surrogacy by Faith, we work carefully to match surrogates with intended parents who share similar values and expectations for the journey.
This step is critical because it ensures that the relationship between the surrogate and the intended parents is built on trust and understanding. Meeting the intended parents for the first time is an exciting and emotional step in the process.
Surrogacy Agreement
Once a match is made, a legal contract, called the surrogacy agreement, is drafted. This contract outlines the responsibilities and expectations of both the surrogate and the intended parents. It also includes details about compensation, medical procedures, and legal rights.
A surrogacy lawyer will work with both parties to ensure the contract is fair and legally binding. This agreement protects everyone involved and ensures that there are no misunderstandings as the process moves forward.
IVF Process and Embryo Transfer
After the legal agreement is signed, the medical aspect of the surrogacy journey begins. You will undergo the IVF process at a trusted IVF clinic to prepare your body for the embryo transfer.
- IVF Treatments and Medications:
You will take fertility medications to help prepare your uterus for the embryo transfer.
- Embryo Transfer:
The embryo transfer is the moment when the fertilized embryo from the intended parents is placed into your uterus. After this, you will be closely monitored to ensure a successful implantation and pregnancy.
Surrogacy Costs and Compensation
Surrogacy is a significant financial commitment, but at Surrogacy by Faith, we strive to make the process as transparent as possible. Surrogates are compensated for their time, effort, and the physical demands of pregnancy. Here’s what you can expect:
- Compensation for the surrogate mother:
This includes base compensation for carrying the child, as well as additional compensation for milestones such as the embryo transfer and the delivery.
- Medical expenses:
All medical expenses related to the surrogacy process, including IVF treatments, prenatal care, and delivery costs, are covered by the intended parents. This ensures that the surrogate has no out-of-pocket medical costs during the process.
- Legal fees:
The intended parents are also responsible for covering the legal fees involved in drafting and finalizing the surrogacy agreement. This ensures that both the surrogate and the intended parents have legal representation throughout the process.
Why Choose Surrogacy by Faith?
At Surrogacy by Faith, we believe that surrogacy is not just a process but a calling. Our faith-based approach sets us apart from other surrogacy agencies. We guide surrogates and intended parents through every step of the process, ensuring that everyone feels supported and empowered.
Here’s why Surrogacy by Faith is the right choice for your surrogacy journey:
- Personalized support:
We offer one-on-one guidance throughout the surrogacy process. Whether you’re a surrogate or an intended parent, we are here to support you emotionally, spiritually, and practically.
- Experienced team:
Our team consists of professionals who have real surrogacy experience. Many of our staff members have been surrogates themselves, so they understand the unique challenges and joys of the process.
- Faith-driven mission:
At Surrogacy by Faith, we see surrogacy as part of God’s plan to bring families together. Our mission is to provide a supportive, faith-based environment that fosters love, respect, and understanding.
- Generous compensation packages: Surrogacy by Faith offers competitive and generous compensation for surrogates, covering not only the base compensation but also additional milestones like embryo transfer, medical expenses, and other allowances throughout the surrogacy journey.
If you’d like to work with us, please fill out our Intended Parents Initial Inquiry form or our Surrogate Initial Inquiry form.