Have you had at least one smooth, healthy pregnancy and delivery? Did you enjoy being pregnant? Do you have an unexplainable longing to make a difference in someone’s life? If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, consider learning how to become a surrogate mother.
Gestational surrogacy is when a woman carries a baby for a couple or individual (the intended parent/s) who can’t have a baby on their own. In this type of surrogacy, the surrogate has no genetic ties to the baby. That means the egg didn’t come from the surrogate herself — it came from either the baby’s intended mother or an egg donor.
It takes a special kind of person to carry a baby for someone else. You must be selfless and compassionate to give such an important gift to other people. In fact, many of our surrogates describe it as a calling. Is it a calling for you?
7 Steps to Become a Surrogate Mother
#1: Meet the Eligibility Criteria
Even if you have a big heart and a giving nature, and you want to be a gestational surrogate for all of the right reasons, you still must meet certain eligibility criteria. Some of these qualifications include:
- Where you live
- The medical components that clinics look for
- Things the psychologist will evaluate
- Background check qualifications
- And more
The best way to find out if you qualify is to fill out a short application. After we receive your application, one of our surrogate coordinators will contact you.
#2: Talk to Us
We want to get to know you better, so the next step is to set up a call with us. You can ask questions about us and your journey. We want to know more things about you, including your pregnancy and medical history and your support system. This intake process helps to make sure that a surrogacy journey can be healthy and successful for you and your family.
#3: Gather Important Materials
Compile your medical records and hospital birth records from your past pregnancies, and fill out a final profile. Our talks and the profile will help us gain a deeper understanding of you, and this helps us match you with a family that shares the same values and expectations. Here’s what you should gather:
- Your previous pregnancy and delivery records
- A pap smear if you haven’t had one in over a year
- A medical clearance note by your OB saying you are allowed to move forward with a surrogacy pregnancy.
#4: Get Matched with Intended Parents
Now the journey truly begins! Once you’re accepted as a surrogate with our agency and your profile is created, we can match you to the right intended parent(s). Matching is a delicate process that needs a skilled hand. We use TrueMatch™, which is a unique and complimentary service developed by our agency through the years that goes beyond our intuitive sense of what makes an excellent match and provides a more successful fit – and we have thousands of babies to show for it.
#5: Evaluation by the Intended Parent’s Fertility Doctor
The fertility clinic that the intended parent(s) choose will conduct their own review of your qualifications as a surrogate, including your medical history as well as your current physical health. Our years of experience and careful screening process help to ensure this step goes smoothly since we will know the specific requirements of this clinic before suggesting the match.
#6: Prepare for the Embryo Transfer
Your body needs to be hormonally prepared to make it ready for the fertilized embryo to be transferred to your uterus. That means you’ll have to take certain medications, usually progesterone and estrogen, that help thicken the lining of the uterus.
During this phase, you’ll also have a few monitoring appointments at a local clinic for bloodwork to make sure your body is absorbing the hormones properly. Ultrasounds will check that your uterine lining is getting thick before the embryo transfer (ET).
#7: Get Pregnant and Grow a Baby
The embryo transfer is when the egg that’s fertilized by the sperm (embryo) is placed inside your uterus. You will travel to the intended parent(s)’ clinic for the embryo transfer.
Pregnancy as a surrogate is similar to a traditional pregnancy in terms of physical changes. What makes it unique is that surrogates can share their belly pictures, cravings, and ups and downs with the intended parent(s) if they wish. Just as a surrogate nurtures the baby in her belly, she can also grow a relationship with the baby’s soon-to-be parent(s).
If you’re reading this, we already know your heart is big, but you need to be sure you are ready for this major step. Start by filling out an application with no obligation to become a surrogate. After we receive it, one of our surrogate coordinators will call you and answer all of your questions.
We can’t wait to embark on this life-changing journey with you.
Surrogacy and Egg Donor Services
Since 2004, The Fertility Agency has helped bring over 1100+ babies into the world. We work with all intended parents, surrogates, and egg donors no matter their sexual preference, relationship status, ethnicity, location, etc. Our personal experiences and years of expertise provide us with the perfect balance of business and passion. Contact us for more information.
