Become A Surrogate Mother With These 4 Essential Steps In The Process
Are you considering becoming a surrogate mother? If so, you may be wondering what the process entails. Below is a summary of the steps involved in becoming a surrogate, though the experience is unique to each individual and family!
Taking a closer look at how surrogacy agencies work with Surrogate Candidates and Intended Parents, and what you can expect from the matching process, will hopefully answer yoru questions or ease anxiety.
If you have deep questions or require more support, remember… we’re just a friendly phone call away at 888-328-8883.
Let's explore 4 basic steps that act as the backbone of the surrogate mother process.
Step 1: Find out if you meet the Basic Requirements as a surrogate mother.
Agencies often look to particular issues within the screening process, starting with the Basic Surrogacy Requirements.
A few requirements we always like to highlight are:
- Age
- Positive Medical History
- The ability to commit long-term to a contractual agreement.
- Having a history of at least one healthy full-term pregnancy with no complications and documented medical records.
- Must be between the ages of 21 and 38.
- Have a healthy height-weight ratio with a BMI no higher than 31.
- Must reside in the United States in a state that is surrogacy friendly (at this time, we are not accepting surrogates who reside in Michigan, Louisiana, Nebraska, or outside of the United States).
The pre-screening for Basic Requirements can feel like a lot but it is important so candidates understand what is involved. Surrogacy is beautiful; however, it is also a medical procedure, which brings us to our next step.
Step 2: Medical screenings, psychological screenings, and interviews with Surrogacy Agency Staff to ensure a proper fit.
Surrogate Consultants will ask you questions about your pregnancy history and your reasons for wanting to become a surrogate mother. This is done to determine if you can handle the emotional responsibility of being a gestational carrier.
You'll be asked about your current emotional state and how you felt during and after your past pregnancies.
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A History of Chronic Depression May Be An Issue
If you are currently on antidepressants or diagnosed with depression, you may not pass the psychological screening.
People suffering from depression need love and support; however, with pregnancy very real changes occur to the human body as well as brain chemistry.
Many hormonal changes, which may impact people with depression in a more severe way, could occur:
● Before pregnancy while in the fertility medication phase.
● During pregnancy while in the child's growing phase.
● After birth when hormones change again which may lead to post-partum depression (PPD), or in rare cases, Post-Partum Psychosis.
Women may become a risk to themselves if they are not supported and monitored throughout the entire process, and we take these issues very seriously. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, whether a pregnancy is an issue or not, please get help. Do not wait.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, operated by the FCC, is completely free.
Simply dial: 988
Or contact:suicidepreventionlifeline.org
You and the people you care about are worthy of so much love.
If you feel you may be disqualified, please call us to talk about your options, such as Egg Donation! Click here for Egg Donor Requirements to see if that may be right for you.
Step 3: Matching With Intended Parents & Signing the GSA
Intended Parents truly want someone to help build their family, in a way that is compatible with their lifestyle. They look for caring people who will be good to their bodies while carrying a baby and are surrounded by support. Surrogate Candidates who are eager to help them finally realize their dreams of becoming parents are perfect!
Because of various legal issues, many Surrogates or Intended Parents move their physical location for the duration of their contract. This can be stressful and costly; so, it is an important part of the screening and legal process when deciding what fit is best for your lifestyle as well.
The Gestational Surrogacy Agreement (GSA) is one of the most important components of every surrogacy process. The GSA guides the entire surrogacy journey, clearly outlining each party's rights, roles, and responsibilities before, during, and after the pregnancy.
For basic legal issues on Surrogacy Laws By State, start here to for your research.
For help with funding, please see our Surrogacy Grants & Scholarships page.
Step 4: Payment & Delivery (Literally!)
Compensation for surrogates will vary, but on average, a surrogate’s compensation is up to $85,000.
Giving Tree offers one of the most generous base compensation and benefits packages in the industry. Monthly compensation installments will begin after the confirmation of the fetus’ heartbeat, which occurs around weeks 6-8.
If carrying multiple children, a multiples fee will be paid at week 20 of the pregnancy.
All Giving Tree Surrogacy & Egg Donation Surrogates will enjoy allowances and bonuses, which can add up to an additional $20,000. No surrogate is excluded from the benefits we offer.
After legal is taken care of the fun stuff starts: Pregnancy & Delivery!
Surrogates will start the process of preparing for embryo transfer. After the embryo transfer is successful and the fetal heartbeat is confirmed, the surrogate will go to routine OBGYN prenatal care appointments to ensure her health is taken care of as well as the healthy growth of the baby.
Every surrogate and intended parent relationship is different, some are tight-knit while others prefer more distantly cordial.
Normally, surrogates share weekly updates with pictures of her progress.
Welcome, little one!
Once the surrogate is in labor, she will normally be accompanied by her support person: whether it is her case manager, spouse, intended parents, or all of them!
It is indeed a very exciting time and all parties involved would love to support and be there but it is also a personal decision between the surrogate and Intended Parents.
Once the baby is born, the Intended Parents will happily welcome this new addition to their family.
What happens to a Surrogate Mother after the delivery of a baby?
Some surrogates participate in breastfeeding for the baby they carried (compensated), though this is not required. In each case, Intended Parents will have different requests which are discussed during the contract negotiation phase.
Furthermore, just as the journey during pregnancy is unique to every case, so will the parting of ways post-delivery.
Sometimes intended parents invite their surrogates to the child’s birthday parties, while others choose a more gradual and natural close of that chapter where both parties do not keep in touch.
To get even more motivated to become a Surrogate Mother, read reading top 5 reasons for becoming a surrogate.
Final Thoughts On The Process of Becoming A Surrogate Mother
If you are someone who meets the Basic Requirements and loves to help others, you should feel positive that an Intended Parent will accept you. Overall, Surrogates and Intended Parents are happy, healthy, and fully involved in the process from start to finish.
It takes a village to grow love! Contact Us to schedule your free, no-obligation exploratory consultation today. For media inquiries, please call 888-328-8883.
The Giving Tree Surrogacy & Egg Donation blog is a space to connect and communicate with intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors with multiple locations in the domestic U.S. and Internationally.
*Giving Tree Surrogacy & Egg Donation Agency does not receive affiliate commissions from any of the organizations linked above. We value knowledge sharing and benchmarking for best practices and services.