It is important for surrogate mothers and intended parent(s) to have a foundation of knowledge about surrogacy. This blog will provide you answers to the most significant questions about surrogacy as you consider the surrogacy process.
What is a Surrogate Mother?
This is a woman who carries a child for someone who is unable to conceive a child with his/her partner. The surrogate becomes pregnant through either the fertilization of her own egg by a sperm donor (traditional surrogacy) or the implantation of a fertilized egg from another woman (gestational surrogacy). A traditional surrogate has biological connections to the baby, while gestational surrogates do not.
How Much Does a Surrogate Make?
The amount of compensation granted to a surrogate varies depending on experience, circumstances, and the agreement made between the intended parent(s) and the surrogate. The cost could also depend on the state and the demand for surrogates in that specific state.
Why Would You Want to Be a Surrogate Mother?
Being a surrogate mother gives you the rewarding opportunity to assist the intended parent(s) in bringing a child into their lives. Any reliable surrogacy agency will ensure compensation for and health monitoring of the surrogate mother, giving a much-needed sense of relief to each surrogate.
What’s the Difference Between Gestational and Traditional Surrogacy?
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate’s own eggs are fertilized by the intended father or donor’s sperm, making the surrogate genetically related to the baby. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is the medical procedure that transfers the sperm of the intended father directly into the uterus of the surrogate mother.
In gestational surrogacy, an egg donor’s eggs will be used to create the embryo. In this situation, the surrogate doesn’t have any genetic relationship to the baby and is just considered the “birth mother.” The fertilized embryo is implanted through in-vitro fertilization.
What are the Requirements for Becoming a Surrogate Mother?
Being a surrogate mother requires that you’re in good health and have taken the necessary steps before becoming a part of the process.
Here are the requirements for surrogacy:
- Age 21-39
- BMI between 18-32
- Non-smoker living in a non-smoking home
- No criminal records
- No history of mental illness
- OB/GYN records and clearance letter
- Not currently receiving financial support from the government
- A resident of a state where surrogacy is allowed (e.g., California)
- Have had a previous, successful pregnancy and birth
- Has undergone medical examination of physical and mental health (e.g., psychological testing)
- Has a lawyer and has all legal contracts signed by the surrogate’s spouse, if applicable
- Has health insurance that covers 8 weeks post-delivery
Why Choose Joy of Life Surrogacy Agency?
Joy of Life® is a specialized surrogacy agency that helps surrogate mothers through their hospitable and professional services. Joy of Life® gives surrogate mothers every bit of knowledge they’ve gathered over the years that are significant to the surrogacy process before, during, and after pregnancy. We strive to prevent any complications and/or stressful factors, as the surrogacy process should be filled with health and happiness.
Joy of Life® is a California-based surrogacy agency and has helped many couples build families. If you have any other questions, please contact us today.
