Becoming a surrogate is a profound and selfless journey, bringing hope and joy to those who dream of starting or expanding their families. But it’s also a decision that requires careful consideration and understanding of the surrogacy process.
In this blog, we’ll dig into what becoming a surrogate entails, from the initial decision-making to the post-birth arrangements.
The Decision to Become a Surrogate
For many women, the decision to become a surrogate arises from a desire to help others experience the joy of parenthood. It’s a decision that involves thoughtful reflection on personal values, motivations, and potential risks.
Before embarking on the surrogacy journey, it’s crucial to consider:
Your Personal Motivations
Reflect on why you want to become a surrogate. Are you motivated by altruism, empathy, or the desire to make a difference in someone’s life? Becoming a surrogate can help fund vacations, giving your family the home you’ve been dreaming or, and more.
Your Health and Lifestyle
Surrogacy involves significant physical and emotional demands. For your own wellbeing, it’s important that you’re in good physical and mental health, and that you consider how the process may impact your lifestyle and family dynamics.
Your Support System
Surrogacy can be emotionally challenging at times. It’s essential to have a strong support system of family, friends, and professionals who can provide guidance and encouragement throughout the journey.
The Surrogacy Process
Once you’ve made the decision to become a surrogate, the surrogacy process typically unfolds in several stages. This could also vary based on whether you work independently or with an agency.
In the US, most surrogates choose to work with an agency, like Reproductive Options, to navigate the complex process. The agency helps to facilitate the matching process between the surrogates and intended parents, provides support and guidance throughout the journey, and helps to handle all of the legal and financial matters.
When working with an agency, the process most often looks like this:
Initial Screening
The first step involves undergoing eligibility screenings and background checks to ensure that you are a suitable candidate for surrogacy – this is important for both your health and wellbeing, but also the baby’s.
Matching Process
Once cleared by the screening process, you’ll work with your agency to find the right match. This involves considering factors such as compatibility, legal agreements, and personal preferences. Here at Reproductive Options, this is one of the most important steps in the surrogate and intended parent’s journey. Unfortunately, it’s also one that many agencies overlook. We spend the time to ensure that you feel genuinely connected to the family that you’re helping to grow.
Medical Checks
After a match is made, it’s time for a thorough medical and psychological evaluation. These assessments evaluate your physical health, reproductive history, and emotional readiness for the journey.
Once all screenings are complete, the medical protocol begins. Here at Reproductive Options, we require all IPs to have genetically tested and frozen embryos ready to go so no synching is needed – but we will perform an ultrasound lining check to ensure you’re ready for the next step.
Pregnancy and Support
Upon successful embryo transfer, you’ll begin the beautiful journey that is pregnancy. Throughout this time, you’ll receive comprehensive medical care and support from healthcare professionals, as well as emotional support from your chosen support network.
Delivery and Post-Birth Arrangements
When the baby is born, legal agreements regarding parental rights come into effect – typically this is covered by a pre-birth agreement, but there are post birth agreements in some states.. The specifics here depend on the state that the birth took place in, but will be handled by the legal teams involved.
Becoming a surrogate is a deeply rewarding experience that requires courage, compassion, and commitment. While the surrogacy process may involve challenges and sacrifices, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve helped create a family.
If you’re considering becoming a surrogate, it’s critical that you take the time to educate yourself, seek support, and make an informed decision that aligns with your values and aspirations. Ultimately, by starting this journey, you have the power to bring incredible happiness to others, while also experiencing the transformative power of giving.
