Becoming A Surrogate Mother

Posted on June 19th, 2009 in Women's Health

Surrogacy is a wonderful opportunity for women to share the gift of fertility with couples who are unable to achieve pregnancy on their own. There are many things to learn about surrogacy before deciding whether this is the path that’s right for you. There are many valuable resources available on the internet, but I encourage you to consult an attorney who is familiar with surrogacy laws in your state, before entering into any contract. There are also many surrogacy agencies that can help you along the way. Although many agencies are excellent resources and can help answer your questions, they can be very expensive. Everything that can be done by an agency can also be done independently, with proper research and guidance from a qualified attorney.

Once you decide to become a surrogate mother, you’ll need to consider what type of surrogate you are willing to be. There are two types of surrogacy – traditional and gestational. In a traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother uses her own eggs to conceive a child with the intended father’s sperm. In a gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother is not biologically related to the child she’s carrying. The child is conceived using eggs are either from the intended mother or an egg donor and the intended father’s sperm.?

Many factors contribute to the decision of using a traditional or gestational surrogate. The health and fertility of the intended mother play a big role in this decision. When the intended mother has been unable to achieve pregnancy on her own, doctors may perform many tests to determine the cause of infertility. If it is determined that the intended mother has viable eggs, but is unable to carry her baby to term, she may choose to use a gestational surrogate. This method would allow the intended mother to be biologically connected to the child. Typically, the medical expenses associated with gestational surrogacy are higher than traditional surrogacy because of additional services such as egg retrieval and in-vitro fertilization. On the other hand, if it is determined that the intended mother’s eggs are poor quality (sometimes due to advanced age or illness), the intended parents may choose to use a traditional surrogate. In traditional surrogacy, the intended father’s sperm are used to artificially inseminate the surrogate mother. The expenses using this method are typically significantly less than gestational surrogacy.

Once you’ve decided which type of surrogacy is right for you, it’s time to begin searching for the right couple or person for you. A surrogacy attorney can help you match with a couple looking for a surrogate mother. You may also find a couple through internet message boards and classified ads. There are many quality websites; however, I encourage you to use caution when placing and responding to online ads. There are many wonderful couples looking for surrogates to carry their babies so you will probably find a couple that suits your needs very quickly.

Next, you’ll need to find a qualified attorney to help draft a legal contract. It may seem unnecessary to have a legal contract, especially if you have a close relationship with your intended parents. However, a contract is highly important in order to obtain a legal birth certificate and ensure parental rights of the child(ren). Since laws vary by state, it is very important to contact an attorney near you to be sure your rights are protected.

When the legal documents are finalized, it will be time to begin the exciting journey to get pregnant. You will undergo countless tests to ensure your body is in great condition to have a healthy pregnancy. Once testing is complete, you may begin a mock cycle or you may dive right into the real thing. Cycles are different depending on each type of surrogacy and each doctor. The ultimate goal, of course, is the same – a healthy and happy surrogate pregnancy experience.

Becoming a surrogate mother can be an amazing journey and a selfless act of giving. A surrogate needs plenty of support from her friends and family to help ensure a very memorable adventure.

Averi Thomley is the publisher of Surrogacy Info website. The site offers information on surrogacy, including sample contracts and detailed medical cycles.

Averi Thomley is the publisher of Surrogacy Info website. The site offers information on surrogacy, including sample contracts and detailed medical cycles. Averi is an experienced gestational surrogate mother.

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