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Commercial Surrogacy Explained in Houston, Texas

Commercial Surrogacy Explained in Houston, Texas

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Commercial Surrogacy: The Definition

What is commercial surrogacy in Houston, Texas? It is a procedure in which a couple compensates another woman for carrying and delivering a child. At birth, the child is given to the intended parents, either confidentially or through legal adoption. Couples with fertility issues, same-sex couples, and single folks who want to be parents are the most common individuals who seek surrogate mothers. Celebrities like Robert De Niro, Kelsey Grammer, and Sarah Jessica Parker have utilized surrogacy as recently as 2009.

There is no doubt that surrogacy has emerged as the best solution for single parents or intended parents who are incapable of carrying their own children. The term “commercial surrogacy” has caused quite a stir and become a hot topic for political, social, and even religious debate.

Types of Commercial Surrogacy

There are two types of surrogacy practiced today: traditional and gestational surrogacy. With traditional surrogacy, the mother is related to the child she is carrying, a fact that has become a debatable issue and source of controversy. Consequently, an ideal form of surrogacy is gestational surrogacy because the surrogate mother is in no way related to the baby she is supporting. She simply carries and delivers the child for the intended parents.

In some countries, such as India, commercial surrogacy has been abused and transformed into human trafficking. The implementation of rules regarding surrogacy was not widely practiced. Consequently, surrogacy was used by people as a money-making scheme. However, for other surrogate mothers, this is not the case. Many surrogate mothers are genuine about helping intended parents. The good thing about commercial surrogacy in the U.S. today is that there are strict laws protecting the welfare of surrogates and intended parents.

Changing the Definition of Motherhood

The process of surrogacy has changed the way we understand the essence of motherhood. In an attempt to distance themselves from the “actual” or appointing mothers, surrogate mothers are technically defined as women who give birth to the children of others.

Still, it is worth noting that these women go through not just the physical changes associated with pregnancy, but also the emotional and psychological ones. Surrogate mothers understand the need of intended parents to have a child of their own, and thus accept the fact that they will endure these changes for the sake of someone else. Compassion and kindness are key characteristics that surrogate mothers have and that enable them to participate in this generous and life-changing experience.

In Conclusion

Some people have a negative attitude toward commercial surrogacy. Nevertheless, many intended parents turn to this procedure for the simple fact that it allows them to have their own baby to hold and love. The longing of intended parents to have their own child is innate in human beings. We live to care for others; in return, we have surrogate mothers who give to those who cannot bear their own children.

Surrogacy 101 Finding A Surrogate

Surrogacy 101: Finding A Surrogate

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Finding a Surrogate For Your Surrogacy Journey

Intended parents who cannot have their own children maintain other options. Among the most-recommended alternatives to adoption is finding a surrogate mother. When a couple or intended parents would like to have their own genetically related baby, but can’t do so in a natural way, surrogate mothers become widely sought after for their assistance.

There are two kinds of surrogates. The first kind is the traditional surrogate. This is the less preferred of the two, considering that the surrogate is the child’s biological mother, having been artificially inseminated with the father’s sperm. The second kind, a gestational surrogate, is much more preferred because the surrogate mother is in no way genetically connected to the intended parents’ child.

The Agency’s Role

Depending on the state, there are many agencies that offer surrogate services. Going through an agency is more practical than looking for a surrogate yourself, as the latter will take more of your time.

Most agencies have a matching process that allows you to find a surrogate who meets your requirements. Through an agency, the amount of time you invest in acquiring a surrogate is reduced by half because agencies have profiles of surrogate mothers readily available.

Most couples or intended parents already have a suitable surrogate mother in mind. What the agency does is, essentially, all the groundwork, from finding a surrogate to delivering the child. These surrogate agencies are well equipped with knowledge of the process and should give you a checklist of things you can do to ensure a smooth surrogacy experience.

In Conclusion

The process of locating a surrogate may be challenging at first, but it’ll be worth it in the end. Ultimately, the best method for finding a surrogate is to select the agency that can provide assistance to you as the intended parents while simultaneously looking after the welfare of the surrogate mother. Through an agency, you will acquire all the information you need to feel more at ease than you would had you found a surrogate on your own.

Surrogate Mother Pay in Houston, Texas

Surrogate Mother Pay in Houston, Texas

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Surrogate Mother Pay in Houston Today

Surrogate mother pay in Houston, Texas varies according to a number of factors—whether or not you have experience and insurance coverage, and whether the surrogacy involves a private agreement or is conducted through a surrogate agency.

The average surrogate mother pay ranges from $30,000 to $50,000. Note that this amount may be higher or lower depending on the previously mentioned factors. Aside from the surrogate mother pay, other allowances must be taken into consideration. These include (but certainly are not limited to) the following:

  • Monthly expense allocation
  • Maternity clothing
  • Embryo transfer (meant to include lost wages, child care, and other expenses lost as a result of bed rest after transfer)
  • Multiples (added payment per additional baby)
  • Cesarean section (as recommended by attending physician)
  • Cancelled cycles
  • Health and medical insurance
  • Travel costs (for surrogate mothers who must travel; this includes airfare for the surrogate and a traveling companion, as well as hotel accommodation and transportation)

These allowances ensure that the intended parents cover all costs associated with their surrogate mother’s pregnancy. These benefits make the surrogacy process very appealing to many women hoping to become surrogates.

Surrogate mother pay ensures financial stability for a surrogate as she undergoes this life-changing experience. Aside from the financial reward, there are other advantages that a surrogate enjoys. For example, a surrogate mother gives the miracle of life to a couple or family yearning to have a genetically related baby. This gift can turn into a lasting friendship with the intended parents.

In conclusion, surrogate mother pay truly provides outstanding monetary compensation to surrogate mothers, guaranteeing that the surrogate mother remains worry-free in terms of expenses related to the surrogacy.

Gestational Surrogate

Nutrition 101 For Gestational Surrogate Mothers

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Gestational Surrogate Nutrition Tips

As a gestational surrogate, ensure that both you and the intended parents’ baby remain in good health by taking in the appropriate nutrition. Consider the tips and advice in this article to easily integrate nutrition into your daily life.

Eating smaller sized meals on a regular basis is ideal. About five or six small portions spaced out over the course of a day will render better digestion and keep weight down. Managing your weight as a gestational surrogate mom can help prevent hypertension, diabetes, and other maladies. Eating smaller meals frequently also cuts your appetite and lessens the urge to overeat.

When establishing a diet plan for optimal nutrition as a gestational surrogate mother, consider the first meal of the day—breakfast. After your body has gone without food for the entire night, it needs a hearty breakfast to provide both you and the baby with energy for the day. It also helps to follow the prescribed ratio regarding the nutrients you consume. About half of what you eat should be carbs, then one-quarter protein and one-quarter fat. Remember that as a surrogate mother you are no longer eating for just yourself, but also for the baby you are carrying.

Food cravings are part of a gestational surrogate mother’s life. To avoid the temptation of eating unhealthy treats, familiarize yourself with the various nutritional profiles of the foods you crave. From there, determine healthier substitutes for unhealthy foods. If you happen to go out with friends for dinner, don’t worry, as you can ask for a menu that shows the nutritional information for the foods you like to eat. This will make it easier for you to eat healthy.

As a gestational surrogate mom, be sure to include fiber in your diet. Fiber is great for managing your weight, keeping you full, and regulating your bowel movements. There are also some ailments with which fiber helps, such as diabetes, heart problems, and some forms of cancer.

You must learn simple tricks to balance your diet and enjoy the best in nutrition. By following these tips, you can be assured of a healthier and happier surrogacy journey that will also benefit the baby you are carrying.

How to Tell Your Family You Are a Surrogate

How to Tell Your Family You Are a Surrogate

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When you want to become a surrogate mother, it is not an easy task. Along with the numerous responsibilities before, during, and after the surrogacy journey, you will be left with the dilemma of letting your family, children and friends know of your decision to become a surrogate mother for others. Getting all the moral support you can from your family, children, and friends is very important for your surrogacy journey. The moral support your family can give you will help you cope with all the emotions you might feel during pregnancy.

It is important to remember that any pregnancy usually affects those people who are near and dear to you. Your immediate family should be the first ones to find out about your decision to become a surrogate mother. Your husband, parents, and children should be well educated on the surrogacy process. The best time to tell your immediate family about your decision to become a surrogate mother is when you have firmly decided on being a surrogate. Letting your immediate family know the reasons why you decided on being a surrogate will greatly help them understand your purpose and goals. Being truthful with them will help them understand and accept your decision.

Letting your children understand your situation as a surrogate will take a bit of time and patience. Remember that the reaction of your children will depend mainly on what you have told them. Explaining this sort of thing to your children will always call for sensitivity, and most importantly, the truth. You should also consider introducing the concepts and ideas of surrogacy to your children over a period of time, rather than all at once. For example, as you arrange a meeting with the intended parents, you can take the opportunity to bring up these ideas with your children. You can begin talking about families and what makes a family between television shows or after social gatherings with other children so that they can get the importance of family.

For your friends and other relatives, it is highly advisable to not let them know about your situation as a surrogate immediately. The best approach would be to let the pregnancy come up naturally in conversation. The more natural, confident, and happy you are about it, the more accepting they will be to you being a surrogate. If you are nervous and scared of their reaction, they may question your decision. Just remember that they won’t all accept or agree with your decision to become a surrogate mother and this should not affect you.

You should not fool yourself into believing that your pregnancy will not affect the people who are closest to you. It is vital for your family to be well prepared and supportive, and this is a very important aspect for your pregnancy to be a success. They need to fully understand that the baby is not going to be a member of your family. If you have children, you need to make them realize that they are not getting another brother or sister. They need to understand that you are merely providing a service for some couple who were not able to have a baby on their own. Surrogacy can be a very educational and socially expanding experience, not only for yourself and your family, but also your community.

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7 Critical Personality Traits A Surrogate Should Possess

7 Critical Personality Traits A Surrogate Should Possess

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As intended parents, you want to find the best surrogate mother for your surrogacy needs. Due to the growing number of people experiencing infertility in the United States, surrogacy has become more widely recognized, and more women today understand the concept of surrogacy and want to help others by choosing to be a surrogate. But with the increasing number of surrogates, it gets difficult to choose the right one for you. To help you get started on this wonderful surrogacy journey, here are a few characteristics you need to look for in a surrogate mother:

  • Honesty. Intended parents need to be able to trust their surrogate completely. A surrogate mother should be honest with the intended parents that chose her to work with them. All questions intended parents might have should be answered truthfully. Honesty is the most important part in any surrogacy relationship and greatly helps with its success.
  • Reliable. A good surrogate should be reliable with the intended parents. The surrogate mother should always make herself available for her intended parents or surrogate agency. Since the surrogate plays an important role, intended parents need to know that they can depend on their surrogate. To be a surrogate means being both reliable as well as professional.
  • Healthy. A good surrogate mother should not just be healthy enough to carry a child to term. She should have a good medical history meaning she has no chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. In order to be a surrogate, she should have a good mental history meaning she has no history of mental illnesses such as depression, chronic anxiety and bipolar disorder. She should also maintain a healthy lifestyle by not smoking, drinking or using drugs.
  • Good Communicator. Surrogate mothers should be very vocal when communicating with all involved parties including intended parents, the surrogate agency and the medical personnel. She should provide regular medical updates to the surrogate agency and to the intended parents. She should also alert them if she has concerns about her health or the status of her pregnancy. The surrogate should be able to respond honestly and promptly to both the surrogate agency and the intended parents during the process of surrogacy.
  • Intelligent. A surrogate should be smart enough to understand all the processes involved with surrogacy. She should be able to comprehend all the important legal aspects like the surrogacy contract and relinquishing of all her legal rights to the child. She should also be smart enough to understand all the medical procedures that she will undergo and follow the medical instructions precisely rather than making her own decisions. An intelligent surrogate knows all her responsibilities and understands the gravity of what she will be doing for the intended parents.
  • Nurturing. A good surrogate mother should be nurturing, which means choosing what is best for the baby over what she may want to do. Since the surrogate mother will be carrying the intended parent’s child she should give it the same care as they would during the pregnancy. She should know how to take care of herself and the child she is carrying for the intended parents. A nurturing surrogate mother should be eating healthy, getting enough sleep and making choices that are best for the baby.
  • Responsible. A good surrogate mother should be responsible in her actions. She should follow through with instructions that she is given and be able to complete any tasks that are assigned to her by the intended parents, the surrogate agency or the doctor’s office. A responsible surrogate does what she is told without needing to be reminded. She should act responsibly in informing everyone involved if she has medical concerns.

Knowing for yourself these 7 important characteristics to look for in a surrogate will greatly increase your chance for a successful surrogacy journey. To be a surrogate mother, they should be professional and have the integrity that is embodied by these 7 characteristics. It is vital to identify them in a potential candidate prior to selecting her as your surrogate. A surrogate who possesses these qualities will not only give the intended parents a healthy baby but also a wonderful surrogacy journey.

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Your Top 5 Surrogacy Questions Answered

Your Top 5 Surrogacy Questions Answered

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Surrogacy can be a challenging process to comprehend. There are many aspects to this process that need to be understood. As intended parents, you need to know as much information as possible to ensure a hassle free surrogacy. If you happen to be new to surrogacy, here are the top questions and answers:

Top Question 1: What are the types of women that become surrogates?
Generally, surrogate mothers would have to be between 18 to 38 years old. This is one of the most important requirements surrogacy agencies and intended parents look for in a surrogate mother. Another important characteristic is that the surrogate mother should have at least conceived one child to ensure that the surrogate mother can carry pregnancy to term. Finally, the surrogate mother’s top goal should be helping others rather than the monetary compensation involved with surrogacy. In most cases, surrogacy agencies conduct a screening process on surrogate mothers to assure intended parents that they are getting a well-suited surrogate mother. Surrogacy agencies check medical records, financial history and criminal records of surrogate mothers.

Top Question 2: What do Intended Parents look for in a surrogate?
Intended parents normally base their decision on several factors like location of the surrogate mother, level of responsibility, intelligence, health and ability to carry a healthy pregnancy. These are some of the main characteristics that intended parents look for in a surrogate mother. Then there are those intended parents that are very meticulous when choosing a surrogate mother. These intended parents need a surrogate who is in agreement with the level of communication they prefer and someone who agrees to their type and style of relationship during and after the surrogacy. They prefer a surrogate who is not only physically and mentally in line with their expectations but also emotionally.

Top Question 3: Is the surrogate mother properly screened?
It depends. If the referral is coming from an IVF clinic then maybe not, as they generally do not perform the same amount of screening as surrogacy agencies will. If the referral for a surrogate mother comes from a reliable surrogacy agency then the surrogate has passed several mental, emotional and physical screening processes. Surrogacy agencies check medical records from previous pregnancies and conduct psychological and emotional tests on the surrogate mother. If the surrogate is married, her husband will also undergo psychological and medical screening

Top Question 4: Will the Intended Parents and surrogate meet?
It depends on the preference of the intended parents. There are intended parents that prefer not to get emotionally involved with their surrogate. The majority of intended parents however, prefer the “open surrogacy” policy, which means that the intended parents would meet and get to know the surrogate. Meeting the surrogate reassures intended parents that the surrogate’s primary motivation is not the money she earns but rather her desire to help. If the surrogate and the intended parents meet, they can get to know each other and get a better idea if the arrangement will work out.

Top Question 5: As Intended Parents, what are the chances of a successful surrogacy?
In medical terms, a “successful” surrogacy simply means that intended parents end up with a biological child. Since surrogacy involves a complex process like In Vitro Fertilization, the success rate will greatly depend on several factors like the health of the intended parents’ sperm and eggs, ability of the surrogate mother to carry a child to term and health of the surrogate. With these factors taken into consideration, the overall success rate of surrogacy in the US ranges from 70 to 80 percent. Your fertility doctor can give you the rate of success on your surrogacy.

Getting a better understanding of surrogacy before you begin your journey will definitely help you have a successful surrogacy, and understanding these top 5 questions on surrogacy will help you decide on the right thing to do before you start on this very important process. Surrogacy agencies can stand by your side and make the journey a lot easier because they can give you a better idea of what to expect and guide you throughout the whole process.

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Should Pregnant Surrogates Eat Organic Foods?

Should Pregnant Surrogates Eat Organic Foods?

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The goal shared by all intended parents and surrogate mothers is to produce a healthy baby. To ensure that the baby develops properly, it’s very important for the surrogate to eat healthily while she is pregnant. More and more, intended parents are going a step further by asking their surrogates to eat only organic foods. While some surrogates are reluctant to do this, others are entirely willing – after all, it may improve their own health.

As with any significant decision, though, there are pros and cons to be considered.

The downsides include that organic foods can be much more expensive than the same type of non-organically-produced foods. This is due to their higher cost of production. A surrogate may be more willing to eat organic foods if the intended parents offered to pay for the organic foods she eats.

A related issue to that is the fact that organic foods can also be harder to obtain; not every grocery store or supermarket has such a wide selection of organics. They’re a specialty item, after all, and surrogates with fewer options for food-shopping (in rural areas or small towns, for instance) may have trouble shopping for organic foods.

And of course, not every food is available organically. There’s a real possibility that a surrogate eating only organically may have to miss out on some of her favorite foods for the duration of her pregnancy.

There are convenience issues, too. Organics, due to their lack of preservatives, can spoil more easily – shorter shelf-lives, which require more regular shopping.

But there are a lot of good reasons that intended parents ask their surrogates to eat organic foods. Insecticides and additives are potentially harmful if they are passed though to the baby during pregnancy. Organic foods lack insecticides and additives – those things won’t be carried through into the baby.

Health concerns have, from time to time, been raised over genetically modified crops, or meat from animals that have been fed those crops. Organic food, by definition, is not genetically modified, which removes those concerns.

Research has shown, additionally, that organic foods contain more healthy vitamins and minerals, possibly due to the lack of preservatives involved.

And as a side-benefit, if you’re concerned about how animals are treated, organic food is a much better idea. Organic farming requires that animals be fed a natural diet, and are kept (unlike mass-produced ‘factory farm’ meat) in much more humane free-range conditions.

So while organic food can be inconvenient at times and more expensive, it also does provide a much healthier choice for the surrogate and the baby. It’s a big decision that should be weighed seriously from both sides, but there are solid reasons behind why a lot of intended parents do want their surrogate mothers to eat organically during their pregnancy.

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Intended Parents 101

Intended Parents 101: Common Questions Answered

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Understandably, intended parents tend to have a lot of questions. Here are three (and their answers!) to get you started:

Why do I need a legal surrogacy agreement?
A legal surrogacy agreement – your surrogacy contract, that is, drafted by a specialized surrogacy attorney – attempts to cover all the “what ifs” in the process, addressing every issue that may arise.

For example, what if the surrogate changes her mind and wants to keep the baby? What if the intended parents split up while the surrogate is pregnant? What if the surrogate is pregnant with multiple fetuses? A well-drafted surrogacy agreement will answer all these questions (and many more), and be clear as to each party’s intent. The agreement should not only cover the important details of the arrangement but also establish each party’s legal rights and address their responsibilities too.

Can I use a ready-made contract I found on the Internet, or create my own?
This is very heavily not-recommended. A surrogacy agreement or contract is more complicated than you may think. The costs you anticipate saving by preparing the agreement yourself do not begin to outweigh the risks or legal consequences for a poorly drafted agreement.

Most of the agreements found on the Internet are too general in nature. Not only do they lack case law as they pertain to your specific surrogacy journey, they almost never provide enough protection for all involved parties or detail the specifics of your surrogacy arrangement.

The best and most practical way to get a well drafted surrogacy contract would be to enlist the help of a reliable surrogate agency that has years of experience and can provide a solid reliable reproductive lawyer.

What is required to ensure I am my child’s legal parent?
So, you have an agreement drafted by a legal professional, you’ve had the transfer, your surrogate is pregnant and you’re a few months away from realizing your dreams! Now what? Besides the decorating, shopping, baby shower and all-around giddiness you feel every day knowing your baby is on the way, you must again return to the legal issues and obtain a judgment of parentage which declares the Intended parent(s) the parent(s) and gives them all legal rights and adjudges that the surrogate and her husband (if any) have no legal rights.

Typically, this judgment is obtained pre-birth. There are some situations where your attorney may suggest that one parent needs to “adopt” the child. When you meet with your attorney, they will advise you on which manner you must proceed. Legally, this is your final step.

Once the judgment is obtained, your attorney will forward a certified copy to the hospital your surrogate will be delivering at and it is always best to keep an additional copy in your hospital bag and then just wait for the glorious day of your child’s birth.

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Important Things You Need to Know After IVF

Important Things You Need to Know After IVF

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After an embryo transfer, a lot of tension and anxiety can happen. For first-time surrogates and intended parents, questions begin to linger in their minds – “Should I be on bed rest for the first two or three days?”, “What foods should I eat?”, “How active can I be during the two-week wait, and “Will our surrogate get pregnant?”

These questions are all important to comprehend, and advice can vary from doctor to doctor. The really important thing to remember is that there’s no guarantee of pregnancy through IVF – there are a lot of factors involved in the process.

Some common suggestions recommended by doctors are:

1. No heavy lifting for the first 48 hours after IVF transfer.

2. No strenuous physical activities like running or aerobics.

3. No alcohol, drugs or smoking.

4. No intercourse until a fetal heartbeat is determined.

5. Bed rest for the first two days after the IVF transfer.

It’s very important to remember that these instructions do differ between doctors.

As intended parents, if you want to be more sure that these instructions are followed, it might be helpful to assist – or have someone assist – your surrogate during the first two days after the IVF transfer. Run the errands that the surrogate needs done, prepare meals for her and her family, help with laundry and so forth.
The surrogate is likely to really appreciate your help while she’s on bed-rest, while you yourself would have peace of mind that the surrogate is following her doctor’s instructions.

In most cases, the transfer’s success is known after ten days. On the tenth day after the transfer, the surrogate goes back to the IVF clinic to see if the embryo has implanted into the uterus.

On Day 12 after the embryo transfer, the fertility clinic checks to see if the HcG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) level has doubled – if it has, then the embryo is properly growing.

The In Vitro Fertilization procedure is not 100% successful; not every embryo transfer will result in a pregnancy. In the event that it doesn’t, it’s important not to make any rash decisions until the intended parents have had an opportunity to discuss the outcome with the doctor.

The doctor may have some insight about why the transfer was a failure – poor embryo quality, poor uterine lining or genetic problems are all possibilities.
Surrogacy is never a certain process, and the better you understand it, the better you’ll be able to plan your next steps. Proper medical advice will help the intended parents understand the best way to move forward.

There are a lot of important aspects of surrogacy that need to be properly understood. Knowing them will help intended parents better comprehend the process of surrogacy.

The issue of bed rest after an IVF transfer is still under debate; so far, nothing has been proven. Remember, it’s at the discretion of your doctor to give all the necessary instructions to your surrogate – first and foremost, pay attention to your doctor’s advice.

Your Next Step

To find the surrogate mother that’s right for you and your family, simply fill out our easy free online application and a Surrogacy Agency Texas caseworker will contact you within 24 hours (during the business week) to discuss your application, answer any questions you might have, and outline the next steps. And in the meantime, you can also download our free reports to get even more information on surrogacy and the surrogate experience.