Being a surrogate, also called a gestational carrier, for a family who cannot conceive a baby on their own is a truly wonderful gift.
Surrogacy is a life-changing path that can help individuals, couples, and families to reach their dreams of having a child.
A surrogate, or gestational carrier, is a person who carries a baby for an individual or a couple that has no genetic relationship to them. The person or couple who is trying to have a baby with the help of the surrogate is known as an intended parent.
What Are the Requirements to Become a Surrogate?
In order to ensure that surrogacy can be a healthy and successful experience for you, the basic requirements have to do with your age, your experience with prior deliveries, and your medical history.
The basic requirements include:
- Have you given birth before?
- A history of at least one full-term, normal and uncomplicated pregnancy is essential to ensuring your surrogacy journey is healthy and successful.
- How old are you?
- At the time you are matched with your intended parents, you should be between 21 and 43 years of age.
- Where do you live?
- Compensated surrogacy is legal in most, but not all states. And, certain locations are highly valued by intended parents and allow you to earn a higher compensation. (Not legal in LA, NE, and MI)
- Are you a long-term US resident?
- The surrogacy journey is lengthy and is accomplished only by working with a US-based IVF clinic.
- Are you physically healthy?
- You must have an uncomplicated medical history, not be over- or under-weight, not currently smoke, and be free of certain chronic conditions.
- Are you emotionally healthy?
- Your surrogacy journey is demanding and requires a stable foundation in your life without undue stress.
What does the Surrogacy Process Include?
The surrogate is paid for their time and efforts by the intended parent(s) as part of their surrogacy program. The embryo is created from the intended father’s sperm, or donor sperm, and the intended mother’s egg, or donor egg. When the baby is born, the intended parents are listed on the birth certificate as the legal parents and assume all responsibility for the child.
The process to become a surrogate involves six basic steps.
- Research Surrogacy
- Find Out If You Qualify
- Match With Intended Parents
- Begin Pregnancy
- Carry and Deliver a Baby
- Conclude Your Surrogacy Journey
Become a Surrogate
If you are interested to learn more about becoming a surrogate, please take the two-step process to find out if you are qualified by click this link.