Making the decision to become a surrogate is a profound and life-changing commitment. Surrogates play an essential role in helping families who are unable to conceive naturally and the journey offers incredible rewards. If you’re interested in becoming a surrogate, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, from initial qualifications to the steps involved.
What Is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is an arrangement where a woman, known as the surrogate or gestational carrier, carries and delivers a baby for another family or individual. The process typically involves In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), where an embryo created from the intended parents’ or donors’ egg and sperm is transferred to the surrogate. In modern surrogacy, gestational carriers do not share a genetic link with the child they carry, as the embryo comes from the intended parents or donors.
Gestational surrogacy is the most common type of surrogacy today. Unlike traditional surrogacy, where the surrogate’s egg is used, gestational surrogacy ensures that the surrogate has no biological connection to the baby she carries. This separation can ease some of the emotional complexities for all parties involved.
Traditional surrogacy involves the surrogate’s egg being fertilized by sperm from the intended father or a donor, resulting in a genetic link between the surrogate and the baby. Gestational surrogacy, on the other hand, uses embryos created from the intended parents’ genetic material or donors, which means the surrogate carries a child that is not biologically hers.
Why Consider Becoming a Surrogate?
Becoming a surrogate offers the chance to provide hope and joy to families struggling to have a child. This journey isn’t just about the physical process of pregnancy; it’s about making dreams come true, creating meaningful connections and experiencing profound personal growth.
Many surrogates find fulfillment in knowing they are helping others achieve something as monumental as parenthood. The experience of contributing to a family’s happiness, forming lasting bonds with intended parents, and becoming part of a supportive community can be incredibly rewarding. Additionally, surrogacy offers unique life experiences that few others can share. By choosing this path, you embark on a transformative and life-changing journey, both for yourself and the family you help create.
How to Become a Surrogate
Eligibility Criteria
To ensure the safety and well-being of both the surrogate and the baby, certain criteria must be met before becoming a surrogate. These requirements are designed to protect everyone involved and to help ensure a smooth and successful surrogacy journey.
Age Requirements and Health Considerations
Most agencies require surrogates to be between the ages of 21 and 40. At Surrogacy by Faith, surrogates must be between 21 and 37 years old. You should also be in good health, with a healthy BMI and no major medical conditions. Ensuring that you are physically capable of carrying a pregnancy is crucial.
Previous Pregnancy Experience and Lifestyle Factors
Surrogates must have successfully carried at least one pregnancy to term with no major complications. This helps demonstrate that your body is capable of a safe and healthy pregnancy. Additionally, surrogates are expected to lead a healthy lifestyle, free of smoking, drug use, and other risky behaviors.
The Surrogate Mother Application Form
Once you’ve determined that you meet the eligibility criteria, the next step is to fill out the surrogate mother application form.
What to Expect
The application form will ask for detailed information about your medical history, lifestyle, and motivations for becoming a surrogate. This information helps the agency assess your suitability for the role and begin the matching process with intended parents.
Key Information Required
You’ll need to provide medical records from previous pregnancies, as well as details about your health and lifestyle. Be prepared to share personal information that will help the agency and intended parents understand why you want to become a surrogate.
Steps to Apply to Be a Surrogate
Step 1: Initial Application Process
The first step in the surrogacy process is completing an online application and undergoing an initial screening. This application is your gateway to beginning the surrogacy journey.
You can start your surrogacy journey by filling out the initial application form. After submission, your application will be reviewed, and you’ll be contacted for further screening if you meet the initial qualifications.
Step 2: Initial Screening
After the application is reviewed, you’ll participate in an interview with Surrogacy by Faith. This step helps the agency learn more about you and allows you to ask questions about the process.
Interview with Surrogacy by Faith
During the interview, you’ll discuss your motivations for becoming a surrogate and go over the requirements in more detail. This is also your chance to meet our surrogate coordinators and begin forming a relationship with our team.
Step 3: Pre-Screening and Medical Records Pre-Approval
Once your initial screening is complete, you’ll move on to pre-screening. This step involves submitting your medical records for review and undergoing a background check.
Medical Records Approval and Background Check
Your medical records will be evaluated by the IFV clinic to ensure that you’re physically capable of carrying a pregnancy. In addition, a background check will be conducted to verify your suitability as a surrogate.
Medical, Psychological and Background Checks
Along with your medical records, you’ll undergo psychological evaluations and additional screenings to ensure that you’re mentally and emotionally prepared for the surrogacy journey.
Step 4: Psychological Evaluation
Surrogates are required to undergo psychological evaluations to ensure they are emotionally ready for the challenges of surrogacy. This step helps safeguard both you and the intended parents throughout the process.
Step 5: Matching with Intended Parents
Once all screenings are completed and you’ve been approved as a surrogate, the next step is matching with intended parents. This is an exciting phase where you’ll be paired with a family whose values and goals align with yours.
Finding the Right Match with Intended Parents
At Surrogacy by Faith, we carefully match surrogates to ensure that the relationship between surrogates and intended parents is built on trust and mutual respect. Meeting your intended parents for the first time is a significant step in the journey.
Steps After Matching with Intended Parents
After being matched with intended parents, there are several key steps that need to be completed before pregnancy can begin.
Step 1: Complete a Medical Screening at the IVF Clinic
Once matched, you’ll undergo a comprehensive medical screening at the IVF clinic to ensure that your body is ready for pregnancy.
Step 2: Legal Contract
You’ll work with a surrogacy attorney to complete a legal contract. This agreement outlines the rights and responsibilities of both the surrogate and the intended parents. Surrogacy by Faith can refer you to experienced attorneys who specialize in surrogacy contracts.
Step 3: Begin IVF Treatments and Medications
Once the legal contracts are signed, you’ll begin IVF treatments and medications to prepare your body for the embryo transfer. These treatments are essential to creating the optimal conditions for a successful pregnancy.
Step 4: Embryo Transfer
The embryo transfer is the critical moment when the fertilized embryo is placed into your uterus. This procedure is typically done at a fertility clinic and is followed by a period of rest and monitoring to ensure a successful implantation.
Step 5: Pregnancy Test
After the embryo transfer, you’ll undergo a pregnancy test to confirm whether the transfer was successful. If the pregnancy test is positive, you’ll begin attending regular prenatal appointments to monitor the health of the pregnancy.
Step 6: Attend All Routine Medical Appointments Up to Delivery Day
Throughout your pregnancy, you’ll attend regular medical appointments to ensure that both you and the baby are healthy. These appointments are essential to track the progress of the pregnancy and address any concerns that may arise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Do Surrogates Get Paid?
Compensation for surrogates can vary depending on several factors, including location, experience, and the specific agreement with the intended parents. On average, surrogates can expect to receive base compensation ranging from $30,000 to $50,000. In addition to the base compensation, surrogates often receive additional benefits such as medical coverage, travel expenses, and allowances for maternity clothing. The total compensation package can offer financial security and help surrogates and their family during the surrogacy journey.
What Medications Will I Need to Take?
Throughout the surrogacy process, you’ll be required to take various medications to prepare your body for pregnancy and support the early stages of embryo implantation. These medications typically include hormonal treatments such as estrogen and progesterone to thicken the uterine lining and maintain a supportive environment for the embryo. Some medications are taken orally, while others may involve injections. Your fertility clinic will provide detailed instructions on the timing and administration of these medications.
How Long Does the Surrogacy Process Take?
The surrogacy process, from application to delivery, typically takes 15 to 18 months. This timeline includes the time needed for application, screening, matching with intended parents, medical preparations, the embryo transfer, pregnancy and delivery. While this journey requires patience and commitment, the result—helping create a family—is well worth the time invested.
Surrogacy by Faith: Why Choose Us?
At Surrogacy by Faith, we believe that surrogacy is not just a process, but a journey guided by faith, compassion and care. Our unique faith-based philosophy ensures that every surrogate and intended parent is treated with the utmost respect, support and transparency throughout the entire surrogacy experience.
Our Unique Approach
We are more than just an agency; we are a community committed to supporting you every step of the way. Our faith-based approach creates a nurturing environment where surrogates can feel valued and appreciated for their incredible generosity. From your first inquiry to the final delivery, you will have the full support of our experienced team, many of whom have been surrogates themselves. We understand the emotional and physical demands of surrogacy and strive to make the experience as smooth and rewarding as possible for everyone involved.
Fill out either a surrogate initial inquiry or an intended parent or parents initial inquiry to start your surrogacy journey today!