8 Signs You Would Make A Good Surrogate
If you’re like many women considering becoming a surrogate, you’ve known for a long time that this is something you want to do. But every woman who considers surrogacy asks herself the same questions: Would I make a good surrogate? Is surrogacy right for me?
Choosing to carry a pregnancy for someone else is a big, life-changing decision, and there are many factors to consider before becoming a surrogate mother. Here are eight things to consider to help determine whether surrogacy is right for you.
You’re Becoming A Surrogate Mother For The Right Reasons
While being a surrogate has its financial benefits, money can’t be your biggest motivation. A surrogate should be someone who is primarily focused on giving, not receiving. Women who make amazing surrogates are those who hope to give an incredible gift and make a real impact on another person’s life.
You Are Healthy
One of the most important qualifications for a surrogate is a healthy lifestyle and medical history. This helps ensure a healthy pregnancy for both you as the surrogate, and the child you carry. Certain physical qualifications need to be met, such as a healthy body mass index (BMI), not being a smoker or drug user, and be within a certain age limit.
You Have Had A Healthy Pregnancy/Pregnancies
You must have had at least one healthy, complication free pregnancy and delivery. You cannot have had more than 5 pregnancies however, or more than 2 C-section deliveries.
You Enjoy Being Pregnant
Some women simply glow throughout their pregnancies. While many women couldn’t imagine being pregnant because they love being pregnant, surrogates have a special connection to pregnancy and often feel their best when carrying a child, whether that be for their own family or someone else’s.
You Are Organized
Surrogacy doesn’t just come together — it takes months of planning, interviews, meetings, and more before you even begin the pregnancy process. Throughout pregnancy, it’s imperative to track important pregnancy metrics, keep up with doctor’s visits, and maintain your everyday life at home, all the while planning for your impending delivery. Because of this, surrogate mothers must have strong organizational skills to be able to balance the demands of everyday life and being a surrogate.
You Are A Good Communicator
Good Communication is key to being a surrogate. Your Intended Parent’s will want to know how you’re doing, what’s coming up, and what they can help with. They’ll also want to see photos and maybe an occasional video. It’s important to know how to be open and honest with all involved parties though the surrogacy process.
You Have A Good Support Network
No matter how strong you are, there will always be times when you need the support of other people. Friends and family are essential, and they should be on hand whether you need to celebrate, talk things over, or cry on a shoulder. They’ll also need to accompany you to certain appointments and procedures. In fact, one of the prerequisites when applying to become a surrogate is that you have a support person. This could be a partner, a family member, or a close friend: someone you love and trust. If you have more than one support person, all the better!
You Are Financially Stable
While being a surrogate does qualify you for surrogate compensation, you should be financially independent before starting the surrogacy journey. Our surrogates may not be receiving welfare, using Medicaid, or supplemental security income (SSI).
Is Surrogacy Right For You?
If you’ve decided to become a surrogate, or have questions about becoming a surrogate, Pathways to Parenthood can answer your questions and guide you through the process. We have helped surrogates and intended parents come together in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois and Arkansas, Ohio and Kentucky. We can help you too!
Patience And The Surrogacy Process
You may be a generous, giving woman that has recently decided to become a surrogate. Or you may be ready to be parents that decided to begin the surrogacy process to grow your family. Both starting points are filled with excitement and optimism of beginning something that leads to a dream come true for everyone involved.
The end of the surrogacy process for women who become surrogates and parents to be is truly a beautiful and special time. The path to get to that special time is filled with many steps, processes, procedures, requirements, and potentially delays and setbacks. That is where patience comes in. Patience is not something that most of us are very good at unless we focus our efforts to be patient. Or be more patient. In addition, most of us also do not like to hear that we need to be patient. Or be more patient. But having patience with the surrogacy process will allow you to be able to persevere through all of the steps, processes, procedures, requirements and any delays or setbacks. Because in the end, it will be worth it.
One important way to help yourself be more patient with the surrogacy process is to know what to expect during your journey. A surrogacy agency will be able to explain the surrogacy process in detail which will ensure that your expectations are realistic. Also, a surrogacy agency will be able to provide the framework for all steps in the surrogacy process, including delays and setbacks so that you have an expert working with you side by side helping you navigate as efficiently as possible.
Having a good support system will also help you be more patient during the surrogacy process. A surrogacy agency can offer you support throughout your journey; however it is important to find multiple areas of support. Take good care of yourself. Get good sleep, eat a healthy diet, and exercise. The better you feel physically and mentally, the better equipped you will be to manage the surrogacy process well by being patient with yourself and others.
Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency can help you get started today! We can answer your questions about the surrogacy process, so you know what to expect and how to get started. Contact us to schedule a consultation appointment. We can help you like we have helped many other surrogates and future parents in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas, Ohio and Kentucky. We look forward to hearing from you!
The Surrogacy Pregnancy Half-Way Point
Featuring: Surrogate Annie McCabe
Surrogate Annie McCabe is not a newcomer to the surrogacy process or the milestone 20-week appointment. Annie is now more than halfway through her second surrogacy pregnancy, and she has had two prior pregnancies for her own two children. But the anticipation and excitement of the 20-week sonogram appointment is as exciting as it ever was!
Annie shared her thoughts and feelings about her recent 20-week check-up appointment by answering a few questions about the experience.
1. Did the parents join you for the appointment?
Yes! The parents attended the appointment with me! I loved having them there and sharing the moment. I feel like the 20-week appointment is a big one and it’s the first chance to really see the baby. Makes it all very real for everyone!
2, Did you find out the gender of the baby?
We did not. The intended parents have decided to wait!! Which I love!! I found out with both my keepers, and they found out with their first, so we are all excited about finding out at delivery.
3. What was the best part of the appointment for you?
Just seeing the baby!! I loved seeing the little legs and arms move. We had trouble getting a good profile shot but the parents ended up with great pictures of the baby’s face. It’s so amazing how much change has happened between that first ultrasound and the 20-week scan.
4. What was the biggest difference between your pregnancies for your own children and your surrogacy pregnancy?
You know I was just as excited about this appointment as a surrogate as I was with my other pregnancies. There is just something about seeing life growing that is so surreal. And as surrogate, to be a part of that experience with and for another family is indescribable!
5. What did you do immediately after the appointment?
We looked at the sonogram pictures and were amazed at how great and detailed they were! The parents got some great pictures! We then said our goodbyes and headed off to work.
If you are thinking about becoming a surrogate like Annie, or are looking for the perfect surrogate to grow your family, Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency can help you get started today! We can answer your questions about the surrogacy process, so you know what to expect and how to get started. Contact us to schedule a consultation appointment. We can help you like we have helped many other surrogates and future parents in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, Arkansas, Ohio, Kentucky and New York. We look forward to hearing from you!
Why Do People Use A Surrogate To Have A Baby?
Most people do not know much about surrogacy, or why people use surrogates to have a baby. Unfortunately, much information about surrogacy that is “out there” in the news and media is not accurate or it is sensationalized to attract reader/viewers/ratings. If you or someone you know and care about is considering surrogacy to build their family, the following information will highlight the various reasons why people use surrogacy to have a baby.
There are numerous reasons why people use a surrogate to expand their family. Some couples opt for surrogacy when facing difficulties to conceive a child on their own. However, it’s not just couples struggling with infertility who decide to use a surrogate mother. Below are some of the many reasons people choose surrogacy:
Infertility: Infertility is the most common reason heterosexual couples consider surrogacy to complete their families. Oftentimes multiple miscarriages lead people to utilize a surrogate mother to have a baby. Sometimes unexplained infertility with multiple failed treatment attempts will lead people to surrogacy to build their family.
Medical Conditions: A woman may be advised to forgo pregnancy because of medical conditions such as heart disease, infectious diseases transmitted to babies via pregnancy, kidney failure, autoimmune disorders and other diagnoses that could make pregnancy or childbirth dangerous for either the mother, baby or both. Some women may experience serious health issues in a prior pregnancy that make future pregnancies extremely risky.
Hysterectomy or Lack of Uterus: Women who have undergone a hysterectomy for medical reasons, or who were born without a uterus cannot carry a pregnancy may still be able to produce eggs for in vitro fertilization. If they are not able to utilize their own eggs, these women will use donated eggs to create embryos.
Advanced Maternal Age: Women in their forties and older are often at a higher risk of pregnancy complications. For these patients, using a surrogate reduces risk of miscarriage or unsuccessful treatment to conceive.
Same-Sex Couples: Surrogacy can be the answer for same-sex couples who want to add a baby to their family. Gay surrogacy gives men the option to have a genetic connection to their child(ren), and also to be a part of the pregnancy throughout the entire journey. Also, since the baby the surrogate is carrying is legally their child, there is no risk of a birth mother changing her mind as with famiy-building through adoption.
Single Individuals: Men who are single but want to pursue parenthood can choose a surrogate and an egg donor to become a father. Likewise, A single woman with an inability to conceive or carry a baby to full-term will require the help of a surrogate mother.
We have discussed the different reasons people use a surrogate, let’s discuss the types of surrogacy. The term surrogacy is general used to describe one of two types of surrogacy:
A gestational surrogate is 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.
A traditional surrogate both donates her own egg and carries a pregnancy for an individual or couple. The pregnancy is usually achieved through intrauterine insemination (IUI) with sperm from the intended father. Donor sperm may also be used.
At Pathways To Parenthood Surrogacy Agency we know every family has different needs, and we will take the time to understand your unique situation and individual desires to help you start your family. If you’re considering building your family through surrogacy, the team at Pathways To Parenthood can guide you through the process.