Tag: surrogate mothers

how to become a surrogate mother

How To Become A Surrogate Mother

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How To Become A Surrogate Mother Today

When one considers how to become a surrogate mother, a number of stages come to mind. Becoming a surrogate mother is not for most women, as the process is stringent and requires a particularly meticulous set of qualifications. The process indicated here will help answer your surrogacy questions and let you know whether surrogacy is meant for you.

In any surrogacy program, there are many steps that must be completed for a woman to become a surrogate mother. The first step is to go through the application process, during which your personal information will be requested and documented. Once your application is approved, you will proceed to the next step, which will require that you submit more information and go through a screening. A thorough evaluation will be administered to review your lifestyle, work history, and medical history.  Using the results generated from this assessment, the agency can determine whether you are truly qualified to be a surrogate mother for intended parents seeking their perfect match. An in-depth profile review and match meeting follows to guarantee an ideal match.

How to Become a Surrogate Mother Guidelines

Once you are successfully matched, you will sign a contract to make the agreement legally binding. A comprehensive exam is performed to ensure that you are physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy. An in-depth physical and medical examination is done to help prevent any issues that may arise while you are pregnant. Once you are cleared medically, you will go through IVF cycles to engage your uterus to receive the embryos that the couple made. Pregnancy is expected to occur, followed by the process of childbirth.

There are many issues a potential surrogate candidate will come across in terms of the question, “how to become a surrogate.” This summary provides answers and can bring you closer to your goal of becoming a surrogate mother. We hope that this post has helped answer your question on how to become a surrogate mother today.

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Celebrities and Surrogacy

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The Best Surrogacy in Houston Texas

Surrogacy is not the simplest, quickest way to have your own child. However, there are those who are determined and resolved to put all their time, money, and effort into making this dream a reality. Surrogacy makes this possible for them. Let’s take a look at some celebrities who have solicited surrogacy services and who are pleased with the results.

In 2009, Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick decided to work with a surrogate. After Parker’s first pregnancy, she found that getting pregnant again had become a challenge. In an interview with Billy Bush, she said that she wouldn’t have opted for surrogacy if she could have gotten pregnant herself. Now they have twins, Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge.

In 2010, Chris Daughtry and wife Deanna had twins, Adalynn and Noah, through a surrogate. They opted for gestational surrogacy because Daughtry’s wife had a partial hysterectomy in 2006 and was unable to bear a child.

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban got lucky in 2008 when Nicole became pregnant with their daughter, Sunday. In 2011, they went through a series of misfortunes while trying to have a second child. Kidman had an ectopic pregnancy, experienced miscarriages, and went through fertility treatments. Both Kidman and Urban wanted to have a second baby, so when everything else failed they saw hope in surrogacy. Now they have Faith Margaret and are happy with their decision.

These are just a few of the famous people who opted for surrogacy. Even with the continuous controversy about surrogacy on its moral and legal grounds, there is no denying the fact that surrogacy has enabled many parents to find the contentment that money alone can’t buy.

Many people regard surrogacy as a preferred process to have a family. In this light, surrogacy has opened a window of hope and promise, permitting parents with fertility problems to have children of their own.

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Finding A Surrogate Agency In Texas

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Finding a Surrogate

There are many steps involved in finding a surrogate agency in Texas, so expect that it will take some time before you finally get to partner with the one who meets your requirements. This is where surrogacy agencies come into the picture—to get you started on the right foot. You will initially be matched with a couple of surrogate mothers to give you a good pool to choose from.

Choosing the Right Agency to Help in Finding A Surrogate

A single parent or couple usually has a surrogate carrier in mind. Prior to this, the initial step is to choose the right service provider. There are many agencies that deliver this service, so make sure you choose one you feel at ease with. You will be working closely with this agency for the next 12 to 24 months, so you must be very confident in your choice. Do your research; ensure that the agency is established. Pay attention to the reviews of other customers who have enlisted the agency’s services; learn about their experiences and why they picked this provider in the first place. To get the right agency for your needs, it is also best to rely on what your instinct tells you.

There are two kinds of surrogates. There is the traditional surrogate, which is much less favored because the surrogate is the child’s natural mother, who had the father’s sperm artificially inseminated. Basically, she turns over her parental rights to the soon-to-be mom. The second kind is the gestational surrogate, which is the preferred approach, since the child is genetically linked to the intended parents.

A comprehensive discussion about the chosen gestational surrogate should take place with your physician. The surrogate must be drug- and disease-free during the pre-natal and post-natal stages, and must be between the ages of 21 and 40 years old. A history of pregnancy that involves the delivery of twins should also be considered. Take note that some couples or single parents may consider a relative for a surrogate so as to preserve genetics associated with the family. The desired reproductive endocrinologist should be agreed upon once you and your partner are willing to undergo in-vitro fertilization.

Select The Right Agency

After choosing a provider to work with, finding a surrogate is the next step. The chosen candidate should have had at least one successful pregnancy, without any miscarriages, abortions, bleeding, or other medical difficulties that may be risk factors. It’s best to consult with your OB/GYN or reproductive endocrinologist about the medical background of the gestational surrogate you plan to work with. A comprehensive medical exam must be performed on the gestational surrogate to ensure that any complications are prevented. This will include, but not be limited to, a physical exam, laboratory work, ultrasounds, an in-depth medical background check, psychological examinations, and diagnostic tests to check for any diseases.

In Conclusion

As mentioned previously, the process involved in finding a surrogate will take some time. Keep in mind that utilizing the assistance of a gestational surrogate is not for everyone, given the complexity involved in the process. It is best to take this on with an open mind and a patient attitude. In the end, all of this will be worth it once you have a child to call your own. We hope that this post has helped shed some light on your questions in finding a surrogate.

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How To Be The Best Surrogate Mother In Agency Texas

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How to Be the Best Surrogate Mother Today

The process of becoming a surrogate mother in Texas can be very enjoyable, but also nerve-racking. If you are concerned about what you can do at this moment to become the best surrogate mother you can be, take a look at this guide to help you remain at ease in your wonderful surrogacy journey.

As a surrogate mother, make sure you are 100 percent comfortable with the doctor, OB/GYN, or other medical professional who will be delivering the intended parents’ child. If you are not, search for another one. Ask the questions to which you need answers. Don’t be embarrassed; there is practically nothing your doctor has not heard before.

It is also advisable to see your dentist before you become a surrogate. Your gums will likely be a bit more sensitive when you’re pregnant, thus causing discomfort when you get dental procedures done. You also will not be able to get any x-ray work done during your surrogate experience, so it’s ideal to get that out of the way beforehand.

As a surrogate mother, avoid using any item with chemicals that could impair you and the baby you are bearing. This includes a number of cleaning products that are likely lying around in plain sight, whether at home or at work. Getting a whiff of these fumes not only endangers yourself, but also the baby you are carrying. Use brands that are safe and made from 100-percent organic ingredients.

Keep extra deodorant and a small towel with you wherever you go. Surrogate mothers—and pregnant women in general—tend to sweat a bit more, so keep yourself dry and smelling fresh with these items. Think about purchasing some portable fans to help you beat the heat as well.

As a surrogate, try to exercise on a regular basis. This will keep your weight in check as well as boost your blood circulation. Exercising also helps prevent nightly leg cramps. While exercising is ideal, don’t do it at night, as it will give you difficulty falling asleep.

Continue exercising after giving birth. Remaining fit after the surrogacy journey will help you get back in shape. Pay attention to how you feel and take it slow, but keep active as much as you can.

With the tips above, the process of being a surrogate need not be intimidating. A satisfied and lively you is the best way to ensure a happy, healthy baby for the intended parents. All these things will lead to an experience as a surrogate mother that is calmer and less stressful.

Communicating with your gestational surrogate.

Intended Parents 101: Communicating with Your Gestational Surrogate

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Communicating with your gestational surrogate during the surrogacy journey is very important to its success. The surrogate agency you work with will make sure that all of your preferences are met in finding an ideal gestational surrogate to assist you. The degree of communication and relationship you want with a gestational surrogate will really depend on you and your partner’s preferences. So it is very important to be truthful with your agency when disclosing this information.

After you have disclosed your personal preferences on the type of relationship and communication you want with a gestational surrogate, your surrogate agency will match you with a gestational surrogate who shares the same preferences with you and your partner. If you would like to keep your relationship with your gestational surrogate on a more personal level – meaning you want to have a close working relationship with open communication – your surrogate agency will find you a gestational surrogate who wants the same type of relationship.

If you prefer a more “business like” relationship with your gestational surrogate, your agency will pair you up with a suitable gestational surrogate who shares the same preferences. In this scenario, your agency will be doing most of the communicating with your gestational surrogate and will be informing you of any doctor’s appointments or checkups that you may want to attend with your gestational surrogate.

Communicating with your gestational surrogate is now easier than ever thanks to the services of a reliable surrogate agency. Remember, a good surrogate agency should be able to provide excellent services and support all throughout your surrogacy journey. They should be able to assist you in any way possible to make the journey a lot easier and more stress free for you and your partner.

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The relationship between surrogates and their intended parents.

Surrogates in Texas and Their Relationship with the Intended Parents

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Surrogates in Texas and their rapport with the intended parents is exclusively unique in its own way. Mounting a rich understanding of your expectations of the relationship and allocating those specifics with your surrogacy agency and each other is important.

The prime areas to focus discussions about your surrogate relationship concerns are regularity of communication, types of communication, and the overall tone of your personal relationship. This relationship can be reflected many different ways or you may indicate that you do not wish to have a relationship. Every intended parent’s approach will be different, as will that of the surrogates in Texas.

Relationships evolve and change over time. Being aware of this creates a balance with your surrogate mother, enabling a healthy relationship to develop and grow.

Surrogates in Texas must have a balance of communication between themselves and intended parents. It can be a delicate process involving each of you. Determining the amount of communication and gaining an insight into the surrogate’s expectations should be carefully considered. Some intended parents like high levels of interaction, regular updates via e-mail or phone, and the expectancy of attending the doctor appointments.

It is extremely essential to some intended parents to be included in the pregnancy. Similarly, some surrogates in Texas also desire this close bond with their intended parents and may be disappointed if the intended parents choose not to engage in regular contact throughout the journey and beyond. Many choose to have a life-long friendship even after the birth.

A small percentage of intended parents and surrogates in Texas feel compelled to have a small dose of contact such as quick updates and texts or phone conversation. Before entering into a surrogacy agreement together, it is important that several discussions take place as to the desirable amount of communication that will take place throughout the pregnancy and beyond.

It is important to talk with your partner about what type of relationship you would like to have with your surrogate before, during and after pregnancy. There are so many advantages and disadvantages to both options. The final decision ultimately rests on your shoulders and your personal preferences.

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Surrogate Cost Insurance Questions & Answers

Surrogate Cost: The 3 Biggest Surrogacy Insurance Questions Answered

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Surrogacy is a wonderful journey that leads to the creation of families, but there are a lot of details to be worked out, and the process can be confusing. One of the biggest sources of confusion is the overall surrogate cost. The biggest factor that affects the financial aspect is the surrogacy insurance coverage. Because the surrogate insurance has such a big impact on the financial cost, it is important to understand as much as possible about how the coverage works. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about surrogacy insurance:

Question 1: What is the advantage of being covered for surrogacy over someone who has no surrogacy insurance coverage?

The intended parents face a great deal of expenses regarding the surrogacy process. They have to pay for fertility medications, the surrogate’s stipend, agency fees and legal expenses. If a surrogate already has insurance coverage for surrogacy, the intended parents would not have to purchase a separate policy for her. Because they do not have to buy an insurance policy for that surrogate, using that surrogate is more affordable for the intended parents than using a surrogate without the surrogacy insurance coverage. Because of this, the intended parents may be more inclined to choose a surrogate who already has surrogacy insurance coverage over one with no insurance coverage so that they can save money on the surrogate cost.

Question 2: Another surrogate uses the same insurance company that I do and she got paid on her claims. Since I am using the same insurance company, will my surrogacy claims get paid, too?

No, not necessarily. Insurance policies and rules change and vary from state to state, time to time, and employer to employer. It is not a good idea to assume that because you are using the same company that you have the same policy. Surrogate agencies are experienced in researching insurance benefits for surrogacy. Ask your surrogate agency for assistance with investigating your insurance benefits.

Question 4: I qualify for Medicaid. Will Medicaid cover my surrogacy?

No, not necessarily. Another common mistake surrogates make is that they make the assumption that Medicaid always covers pregnancy. Pregnancy care and surrogacy are not considered as the same thing by the insurance company. Your surrogate agency will be able to contact medicaid for you and verify your coverage for surrogacy. In all likelihood you will not be covered for surrogacy under medicaid.

These are some of the most common insurance questions frequently asked by surrogate mothers. By understanding these questions, you will get a better idea of how your insurance works and how much they will cover, if any, of the surrogate cost. As a general rule to remember, it is not wise to assume that your insurance will just cover your claims. It is better to have your surrogate agency handle surrogacy insurance concerns, because they are experts in this field. Having a surrogate agency assist you and the intended parents will help the surrogacy journey be less complicated and more stress free.

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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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