Surrogate Mother: What Does This Term Mean?
If you have been doing research about becoming a surrogate, or finding a surrogate through a surrogacy agency, you have likely come across the term surrogate mother. The term surrogate mother can create confusing thoughts and communicate misleading information about surrogacy. This information is offered to help you understand what it means, and why it is used.
The word surrogate originated from the Latin word surrogatus, meaning a substitute, that is, a person appointed to act in the place of another. Hence the word surrogate by definition is not related to reproduction or fertility. The term surrogate is also used in the fields of politics, law, and healthcare. The term surrogate mother was initially the term used in 1976 to describe a woman who carried a child for the intended mother (legal mother), to clarify the type of surrogate that was different from a surrogate used in other ways. Surrogacy arrangements have changed drastically since the first surrogacy arrangement in 1976, making the term surrogate mother less appropriate today. Nonetheless, the term surrogate mother is still used today.
The term surrogate is now the term most commonly known to define a woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a child she intends to give to its’ legal parents. Typically, the surrogate (carrier) is not the genetic mother of the child that she carries. There is a type of surrogacy in which the surrogate (carrier) is also the genetic mother of the child that she gives birth to. The intent is still legally for her to give the child to its’ legal parent(s). This type of surrogate is known as a traditional surrogate. In this type of arrangement, the surrogate is also the egg donor. Traditional surrogates become pregnant through insemination, usually with intended fathers’ sperm.
Most women that are surrogates are gestational surrogates. Gestational surrogates are not genetically connected to the child they carry in their uterus. Gestational surrogates get pregnant when an embryo that was previously created through in vitro fertilization is transferred into her uterus. The embryo is created with either intended mother’s egg or donor egg, and intended father’s sperm or donor sperm. Gestational surrogates are referred to as gestational carriers in the medical and legal fields of reproductive medicine.
It is helpful to learn and understand these important terms when researching surrogacy related terms. It is also helpful to know that women that help others by carrying a child so that someone else can become a parent, are wonderful and special human beings. It does not matter the title that describes their amazing and unique act of kindness. To learn how you can become a surrogate, or become a parent through surrogacy, contact Pathways To Parenthood: An Egg Donor & Surrogacy Agency at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.
COVID-19 and Your Surrogacy Process and/or Egg Donation Cycle: How To Cope With Delays
We all are facing multiple challenges and fears in our daily lives due to the coronavirus pandemic. For those that are in the midst of building their family through surrogacy and/or egg donation, the delays and obstacles due to the coronavirus are another layer of stress, disappointment, and fear.
Regardless of where you might be in your family building journey, delays are undoubtedly occurring for you. Delays are occurring with your fertility clinic, your surrogate and surrogacy agency, your egg donor and egg donor agency, or your egg bank. There may be delays due to the financial aspects of paying for your surrogacy process and/or egg donation process. This reality, although extremely difficult right now, will change and get better over time.
But until then, coping in healthy ways with all of it is essential for your well-being today, and your overall health. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, you may be better prepared than your friends and family members who have never struggled with fertility issues. Or had to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to build their family. Why? Because you have had experience coping with life challenges that threaten every area of life. And make one wonder how they will be able to get through it all.
As you have likely done before, consider and decide how to best help yourself and your partner/ spouse cope with the delays in your family building plans. Along with all the other difficult issues you are facing related to COVID-19. And maybe you can share this information and help someone else cope with all that they are facing in these difficult days we are all living. To that end, here are a few ideas to consider. Some you may have used before, and some maybe you haven’t. Either way, if you can find a way to use them, they do help reduce stress levels, especially when utilized often over time.
- Decide what you have control over, and what you don’t. There are certainly many things you cannot control in your daily life right now. But step back and notice the smaller, daily choices and decisions that you do have control over, and how they impact your overall well-being. Whatever you can do to reduce your daily overall stress and worry, even on the smallest level, will open up resources for you to cope better with the things you cannot control.
- Identify your preferred coping strategies/mechanisms. We all have them. And some are effective at reducing short-term stress (like stuffing difficult emotions), however can create long term problems if over utilized. If you are not sure what coping strategies you typically use, ask someone whose opinion you trust. A counselor is also a good resource to help in this area.
- Gather information and plan ahead. But don’t go overboard! It is helpful to understand what your options are during difficult life experiences. Understand what yours are. And come up with a plan for each option. Once you have done this, it is important to let it rest, and let time pass. Once you have a good plan in place, you need to give it time to unfold. Easier said than done! But essential for your psychological well-being!
- Analyze and reduce/expand your support system. Friends and family can be your best support, or they can be your worst. It may be best to narrow down who you discuss what with. It can also be helpful to find new and different resources for support. If you are not sure where to find them, ask around! It is likely someone you know can offer you resources that you may not have thought of.
We are here for you in these difficult times, and can offer information, support, and guidance. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you in the surrogacy process or egg donation process at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.
Surrogacy Facts You Need To Know
Surrogacy Laws Vary By State
Since there are not federal surrogacy laws, each state creates their own surrogacy laws. Although the United States is one of the most surrogacy friendly countries, there is variance state by state. Some states do not enforce legal agreements between surrogates and intended parents, and/or don’t have a clear and legally sound process to establish parentage after the birth of your baby. Pathways To Parenthood only works with surrogates that live in states where surrogates and intended parents are legally protected. Legal considerations are of the utmost importance for everyone.
Working With A Surrogacy Agency Can Save Time, Money & Stress
If you are fortunate enough to have a family member or close friend who is willing and able to be your surrogate, you are lucky and should go for it! If not, a surrogacy agency in the long run will be the most convenient, timesaving, cost-effective, and stress free way to build your family through surrogacy. With 50-100 potential steps in the process, there are many places along the way where trouble or problems can arise. An experienced and reputable agency will eliminate many of the problems before they even happen. For problems that are unexpected or unavoidable, a qualified and experienced agency will be best suited to manage them in the process.
The best overall and safest way to find a surrogate? Contact Pathways To Parenthood. We are the Surrogacy Experts.
Surrogates Are Motivated By More Than Just The Money
Surrogates are paid compensation for the time, effort and health risks involved in being a surrogate. But most surrogates are caring and compassionate women who love being pregnant and love helping others. One amazing statement that many Pathways To Parenthood surrogates state as part of their motivation is “to teach and show their children how wonderful it is to help others”
Surrogates Do Not Want To Keep Your Baby
Pathways To Parenthood’s screening process, which includes a psychological evaluation, ensures our surrogate’s motivation to help you have YOUR baby is at the very top of the list of motivating factors. Most surrogates have completed their families and want to help you complete yours.
To learn more about building your family through surrogacy, contact Pathways To Parenthood today at www.pathwaystoparenthood.com.
Why You Need A Surrogacy Attorney
When building your family through surrogacy with Pathways To Parenthood, a legal agreement is required between intended parents and the surrogate. This should be the case in any surrogacy arrangement. This requirement is set forth by the fertility clinics providing the treatment as they will not provide treatment without a completed legal agreement.
There are many other reasons that a legal agreement is essential and necessary for surrogacy arrangements. To best understand the purpose of the legal agreement, here are a few important points to consider:
- There is no national law in the United States regarding surrogacy.
- Few states have surrogacy laws in place. Most states have established procedural frameworks that allow for family building through surrogacy, including Kansas and Missouri.
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Law is a highly specialized area of law. It is imperative to work with an attorney with knowledge and experience with surrogacy contracts.
- Surrogates must be represented by a separate attorney.
- Legal services are needed to secure parental rights after the birth of a child.
There are many other important points to consider. There are many steps in the legal process as building your family through surrogacy is very complex. Working with professionals, ESPECIALLY attorneys, that have knowledge and experience in the area of surrogacy is essential. Pathways To Parenthood: An Egg Donor & Surrogacy Agency has a network of experienced ART lawyers that our clients work with.
Christina Miller of Reproductive Family Law Center is an experienced and well-respected attorney in the area of reproductive law. Christina can be reached at https://www.kcbabylaw.com. Contact us today at https://pathwaystoparenthood.com to learn more about building your family through surrogacy!