Women around the world are stepping up to the plate to become surrogates. They may have experienced infertility themselves or may have a passion for helping other women who are infertile. It is important to understand exactly what is involved in surrogacy though if you want to become a surrogate, which you find in the information below.
What Exactly is Surrogacy?
There are many methods by which you can help women who are struggling through infertility. The traditional version involves fertilizing your own egg with the sperm of the father. A gestational surrogate, however, is implanted with the fertilized egg that was created by both parents. There is another option as well though, but it technically does not have to do with being a surrogate. This other method is just in being an egg donor in which you donate your eggs for fertilization to couples who are infertile.
Earnings of Surrogacy
You may have heard of the stories of Kim Kardashian using a surrogate and paying her thousands of dollars. If you want to become a surrogate though, this most likely will not happen to you, and you probably will not receive the money that you expect to receive. If you add up all of the hours of time that you are pregnant with the baby and that you are spending time at doctor appointments, you are earning only around $1 per hour. Surrogacy is best suited for women who genuinely have a passion for helping other families.
Requirements to Become a Surrogate
If you have decided that you want to become a surrogate, there are certain requirements that you have to meet. These do vary by the surrogacy board that you go through, but most boards require the three items in the list below.
- A Healthy BMI
- Previous Vaginal Delivery Experience
- Ample Psychological Tests
Some states do even require that you are of a certain age at which you can deliver a healthy baby. In these states, women typically have to be in their 20’s or in their 30’s.
Find a Support Team
One other thing that you need to become a surrogate is a support team who is there for you every step of the way. It can get hard throughout the process, and you will be dealing with intense emotions and hormones throughout. When it comes close to the time of delivery, you may even be feeling sadness or confusion about losing the baby you have been carrying for months. Though a support team is not an agency requirement, it is a requirement that you should have for yourself throughout this process.
Find an Agency
You can go ahead and get psychological testing and a basic physical done on your own terms before you find an agency. If you do not do this though, you will have to undergo this with whatever agency that you choose to represent you as a surrogate. Make sure that the ethics and morals of the agency align with your own personal ethics and morals. Each agency has its own contract that you will have to sign, so you do not want to sign off on something that you do not agree with such as termination agreements.
Legality of Surrogacy
It is important to understand that every state in the United States is required to come p with its own laws regarding surrogacy. Some states barely even allow surrogacy, such as New York, where you are not even paid. No matter the state, however, when you become a surrogate, you are in legal-binding contact with whoever will be the parents of the baby. The contract will detail the rights of the parents, the rights you have with the baby, the intent, the trust accounts for the baby, any medical procedures you have, and even your payment information.
Demographics of Parents
Now that you know you will be in legal contact with the future parents of the baby, you may want to know about their demographical information. In the traditional sense, many families who are struggling through infertility use a surrogate mother to bring a child into their worlds. Since 2018, gay couples, however, are becoming a more popular client for surrogate services if they want a child. In many studies, research has found that these couples are more likely to continue contact with you after birth so that you can build a relationship with the child.
How Couples Find a Surrogate
Couples do have a right to search for a surrogate until they feel that they have found the right match. It may take a while for the right couple to find you, but when they do, they will know right away. They will want to see how you are with your own family and want to see that you are able to develop an intimate relationship. The contract will define the type of relationship that you have with the parents of the baby, however, so you may not be able to be as close as you would like depending on the parents’ needs.
Rewards of Surrogacy
If you want to become a surrogate, you should first know that it is not an easy thing for anyone. The benefits far outweigh the challenges that come along with it though. Some of the benefits include:
- The Opportunity to Make a Difference
- Growth in the Ability to Learn to Be Thankful
- The Development of Trust and Relationships
These are just some of the benefits that come with surrogacy. When you become a surrogate, you will find your own benefits as well.
Final Thoughts
You can truly change the life of a couple if you choose to be a surrogate. You can help a LGBTQ couple or a couple who struggles with infertility in building the family of their dreams. You are truly a world changer in taking these steps towards surrogacy.
