Change Lives and Give Life: The Transforming Journey of Becoming a Surrogate
Bringing a child into the world is truly an extraordinary experience. After all, a new member is coming to the family, and suddenly, everything starts revolving around them. However, not everyone has the privilege to experience the journey to parenthood. Multiple reasons, such as infertility, medical conditions, or same-sex couples being unable to conceive make pregnancy unsafe or impossible. And this is where the selfless act of surrogacy comes in, which has benefitted many families around the globe to have children naturally. Surrogate mothers bring joy, hope, and an opportunity to create families for those who find themselves in a tough spot!
In this blog, we will delve into the transforming journey of becoming a surrogate mother.
Understanding Surrogacy
Surrogacy empowers parenthood. The dream of having a child or experiencing the joy of parenthood firsthand, surrogacy means stepping forward to help the intended parents. While surrogacy is an act of compassion in its purest form, it comes with certain challenges. The journey of surrogacy is a multi-faceted process that requires careful consideration, commitment, and support. Therefore, it is vital to have a clear understanding of what surrogacy entails before you embark on this journey.
Surrogacy is the process of carrying someone else’s baby. In medical terms, it is a method of assisted reproduction where a woman, known as a surrogate, gives birth to a child on behalf of another person or couple (intended parents).
Though surrogacy is a remarkable solution for individuals wishing to become a complete family, it also comes with emotional, legal, and ethical complexities. And due to its challenging process, many women are compelled to wonder: Is this the right thing to do? Am I ready for surrogacy? How do I become a surrogate mother?
To get the answer to all these questions, keep reading.
Screening Requirements For Surrogates
Becoming a surrogate is a long process, and before making the decision, you must know that it involves various requirements to ensure the safety and security of both the surrogate and intended parents. Firstly, the surrogates have to pass the screening requirements. Though the requirements differ from agency to agency, according to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the general qualifications include:
- Optimum BMI.
- No government assistance.
- No drug or smoking addiction.
- Have no major complications from the previous pregnancy.
- Be within a certain age (21 to 45).
- Have no history of postpartum depression.
- Have at least one previous successful pregnancy.
- No sexually transmitted diseases to be found.
- Be able to travel for regular check-ups.
- Have a stable lifestyle and support system.
- Discontinue the use of antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications.
- Have no felony convictions.
If these criteria are met, the surrogates can proceed with the screening process. The surrogacy screening process depends on the agency to which you applied; however, it often includes filling out an initial application to know general details about the surrogate, the reasons for pursuing surrogacy, and social and medical history followed by a physical examination. A social worker also carries out an in-home assessment to know the surrogate better and provides an opportunity to ask questions, if any. The surrogates will also need to give consent for background checks and standard criminal records. Due to the emotional impact of the surrogacy process, some agencies also conduct mental health evaluations to determine that the surrogate is psychologically ready for the challenges of motherhood. Nonetheless, the intended parents also go through the screening process to ensure they are ready for surrogacy.
Medical Requirements For Surrogates
For a successful surrogacy, health is a central element. Therefore, surrogates’ physical and mental health will be closely monitored throughout the process, from the time of screening until the surrogate delivers the baby. Some of the medical requirements for surrogates include:
Medical Screening: In the medical screening, several physical and laboratory tests will take place in order to know if the surrogate is free from sexually transmitted diseases, any viruses or infections that may impact the fertility quotient, and an ultrasound to determine the health of the uterus. Drug use tests may also take place for the surrogate and their spouse or partner.
Fertility Treatments: After signing the legal contract to be the surrogate mother, the hospital or nursing home will prepare the surrogate for the process by doing multiple fertility tests, blood tests, injections, and ultrasounds until the insemination is done.
Embryo Transfer: A little complicated but quick and painless, embryo transfer is carried out after fertilizing the intended father’s sperm with the intended mother’s egg through IVF. The embryo is incubated first and then transferred to the surrogate’s uterus for implantation. Also, it doesn’t require any medication or anesthesia.
Prenatal Care: Once the implantation is done and the surrogate becomes pregnant, frequent medical visits need to be done. The surrogate has to visit the fertility clinic for regular ultrasounds and blood tests to ensure the growth and development of the baby.
Throughout the medical process, the surrogate will maintain the communication with intended parents (if both parties are comfortable), and they can visit the clinic with the surrogate to experience the excitement of the birth.
Legal Requirements For Surrogates
The most important of all is the legal contract in a surrogacy arrangement. Though every surrogacy differs based on circumstances and the relationship of the surrogate with the intended parents, specific legal rights and obligations will be outlined in the contract for a better understanding of the future.
The legal contract is signed before beginning any medical procedures of the surrogate. The legal aspects of surrogacy generally include detailed information about the:
- Compensation
- Possible risks
- Relinquishment of the child
- Responsibilities as the surrogate, and more.
In most cases, the legal contract is drafted by the attorney of the intended parents and sent to the surrogate for review. However, the surrogate mother can verify the contract with their legal personnel. Once both parties agree with all the clauses in the contract, they sign the paperwork, and the contract is bound legally. Also, surrogacy laws vary by state and can be complex. Therefore, signing up with the right surrogacy agency like Happy Future Surrogacy in California is crucial for a seamless surrogacy process.
On a Concluding Note…
Changing lives and giving life is what makes surrogacy a remarkable journey. Surrogacy gives a platform to the amount of love, generosity, and selflessness that lies within each of us by bringing joy into people’s lives. Though making the decision to become a surrogate mother is a tough call, those who choose to embark on the transformative path experience immeasurable rewards. Whether it is the happiness of completing a family, bringing a smile to a couple’s face struggling with infertility, or most importantly, bringing a child into this world, surrogacy is a journey towards parenthood and beyond. If you finally decided to become a surrogate and do something purely out of empathy and compassion, choose Happy Future Surrogacy to start this beautiful journey. And we promise, you won’t regret it!
