Tag: surrogates

What You Need To Know About Being A Surrogate

What You Need To Know About Being A Surrogate

JSADev1

Being a Surrogate: Essential Info

Being a surrogate is not for every woman. The process of being a surrogate requires persistence and commitment. Despite all this, the results are fulfilling. Do you want to help others without thinking about what you’ll get in return? Have you ever thought about becoming a gestational surrogate? Being a surrogate takes time, but as soon as you have made the decision to become one, you’ll find the salary rewarding.

Being a surrogate requires inquiries into your medical history, numerous appointments to the facility, and, most importantly, patience. One criterion you must meet before the surrogacy experience is to have given birth to a child whom you are currently raising. As a surrogate mother, you will be well cared for monetarily, physically, and psychologically. Your well-being is a priority. Because you will be bearing someone else’s baby, extra precautionary measures will be taken, not only for you but for the child as well. A healthcare practitioner will perform a complete clinical assessment to ensure that you are capable of being a surrogate mother. Your health and wellness is taken care of, and you’ll also receive a life insurance policy throughout the course of your surrogacy experience to guarantee that your household will be financially stable in case something happens to you.

On top of all this, you will receive compensation after the entire program, an amount that will fall between $20,000 and $35,000. Keep in mind that the more experience you possess as a surrogate, the higher your compensation will be. Also, if fraternal twins or numerous childbirths are anticipated, additional pay will be given to you for every baby you deliver.

These are several of the benefits you’ll reap by becoming a gestational surrogate mother. Through your surrogacy journey, you will be covered by a comprehensive medical insurance plan, as your health and safety is a top priority for agencies and intended dads and moms. Out-of-pocket expenditures for travel or support groups are paid for by the intended moms and dads as well. However, be sure to view your contract or agreement with your agency and intended mom and dad to ensure that you know your rights related to being a surrogate mother.

Being a surrogate mother is not for everyone. The moment you decide to become a surrogate mother, carry out your research. Enroll now and become a gestational surrogate mom today.

Surrogacy Discussion How Much Do You Get Paid For Being A Surrogate

Surrogacy Discussion: How Much Do You Get Paid For Being A Surrogate?

JSADev1

The Surrogacy Answers You Need You To Know On How Much Do You Get Paid For Being  A Surrogate 

How much do you get paid for being a surrogate? This inquiry may at times occupy your mind. Are you enthusiastic about sincerely helping others? This must be the primary question you ask yourself when you consider becoming a gestational surrogate mother. If you can answer a sincere “yes,” becoming a gestational surrogate might be for you.

For first-time gestational surrogate mothers, the usual salary is around $20,000. This doesn’t take into account the other payments you’ll receive, including traveling expenses, IVF medications, meals while awaiting your doctor, and so on.

The agency will guarantee that you and your family are well taken care of. One of the most important factors for determining your eligibility as a surrogate mother is the fact that you currently have a child you are caring for. With this in mind, if you’ll require childcare during your surrogacy because an invasive procedure was carried out, you’ll receive compensation for it. In addition to that, if you require meals while awaiting your physician during routine check-ups, you’ll receive compensation for it from the intended parents.

Additional Information On How Much Do You Get Paid For Being A Surrogate

How much do you get paid for being a surrogate? The list continues. The most critical compensation comes in the form of a life insurance policy. As a gestational surrogate, you will receive such a policy to ensure that, if anything occurs, your family will be taken care of. In the course of your surrogacy journey, you will also receive a health insurance policy from the agency, paid for by the intended parents.

If serving others is something you yearn to do, surrogacy is for you. Not only are you supporting other people, you’re receiving payment for doing so. The pay and allowances a gestational surrogate receives protect not just her, but her entire family. You might be able to make investments using the compensation you receive for being a gestational surrogate mom. Register today and learn whether you have what it takes to become a surrogate mother as well as how much do you get paid for being a surrogate. The more you learn about the surrogacy program, the more you’ll want to become one.

becoming a surrogate

Becoming A Surrogate

JSADev1

Becoming a Surrogate Mother Today!

Becoming a surrogate is a decision that a majority of women don’t consider making. However, for a select few, becoming a surrogate—especially a gestational surrogate mother—is a blessing, enabling them to help someone who intends on becoming a parent. In becoming a surrogate, you show yourself to be caring and generous enough to help a family, couple, or individual by giving them the gift of life. However, prior to becoming a surrogate, you should consider several factors to determine whether you have what it takes to be one.

Requirements Before Becoming a Surrogate

First, you must think about your current condition of health. Ask yourself if you want to undergo pregnancy knowing the risks and changes involved in the process. Be sure that you are not overweight or that you don’t have any medical liabilities (for instance, hypertension or diabetes).

Another significant factor is that you must be a non-smoker. Intended parents prefer non-smokers because of the fact that smoking has a number of unfavorable effects on the body. Generally, you must be physically and mentally sound before becoming a surrogate mother.

You must also be financially established before becoming a surrogate. Stressing yourself with money concerns is a big no-no for surrogate mothers, which is why financial stability is a must. Becoming a surrogate mother should come from the heart and not from the pocketbook, meaning financial gain should not be one’s main motivation to become a surrogate mother.

Becoming a surrogate is definitely not for every woman. You will need to disclose information about your family and medical background openly to the intended parent or parents, as well as with everyone on the team you will collaborate with during the surrogacy journey.

Support System

When becoming a surrogate, find a support group that can appreciate and strengthen you emotionally throughout the course of the process. Be around people who are excited about and supportive of your choice to become a surrogate mother. Getting emotional support throughout the course of your surrogacy will help reduce the stress you may experience.

Having one successful pregnancy in the past is a critical requirement for becoming a surrogate. With this in mind, make sure your child understands what you will be going through. Your child, regardless of age, has the right to know about your surrogacy journey. Having your child understand and accept what you will be doing will lessen any negative feelings that he or she may experience about the process.

In Conclusion

Generally speaking, there are many requirements for becoming a surrogate mother. These reminders are just a few of the many expectations. You must have your heart, body, and mind in the right place. The nine months during which you support a son or daughter for someone else is certainly not for everyone. If you are having fears, seek advice or get more information. By doing this, you will determine whether becoming a surrogate is really for you. Don’t rush your decision to become a surrogate. Take time to think things through so that you are sure that this venture is for you.

how to become a surrogate mother

How To Become A Surrogate Mother

JSADev1

How To Become A Surrogate Mother Today

Being a surrogate mother is not a piece of cake. A potential surrogate mother must do a lot of research and adhere to a strict set of requirements. Advance research is essential for understanding complex details such as the laws per state and the different agencies that provide the services needed to get the job done correctly. Every state has its own surrogacy laws and every agency has a specific set of steps. Basically, there are many things you must check before you become a surrogate mother.

In any surrogacy plan, there are many guidelines that must be followed for a woman to become a surrogate mother. The question of how to become a surrogate mother is answered in the form of a process and set of requirements that a surrogacy agency manages. The process is lengthy, but need not be complicated so long as the agency that you have partnered with is clear about the process.

Expect that a surrogacy program will have many stages that a potential candidate must complete to become a surrogate mother. A thorough background check will be executed, consisting of, but not limited to, your style of living, medical background, and employment history. The agency you sign up with will utilize the information gathered from this check to determine whether you can proceed to the next step.

Shortly after you have passed the course of application and evaluation, you will be matched to the intended parents. This step consists of a profile review of both parties. A face-to-face meeting also takes place to lessen any anxiety or uneasiness on both sides.

When a match has been made, an agreement is reached and acknowledged. A contract is then signed to ensure that both parties are informed about their roles and responsibilities. A thorough medical test is conducted to check for physical, emotional, and mental fitness. These exams are conducted to avoid issues or problems that may occur during pregnancy.

What You Need to Know In How To Become A Surrogate Mother

Once you are cleared medically, you will undergo IVF cycles to prepare your uterus to receive the embryos that the couple produced. Pregnancy occurs, followed by the process of childbirth.

This simple guide provides answers to the most common queries about how to become a surrogate mother. With enough dedication and research, combined with your agency’s guidance, you are sure to get the assistance you need to make this goal a reality.

surrogate mothers online

Surrogate Mothers Online Guide

JSADev1

Finding The Right Surrogate Mothers Online

For females who don’t wish to bear—or who are incapable of giving birth to—their own child, surrogacy provides a different method for carrying a newborn. Many couples choose surrogacy because the method is capable of producing a biologically related offspring and is a faster process than adoption. Surrogacy involves finding a suitable surrogate, so the intended parents must agree on critical traits. Before finalizing an agreement with your surrogate, there are also crucial factors to consider to ensure that all parties can commit to their obligations. With that in mind, it is important to do online research first. This is where surrogate mothers online becomes very helpful, as it provides tons of advice and tips.

Key Elements

Make sure to review the surrogacy laws and regulations in your state. Also take a look at the posts on surrogate mothers online for more information. Note that the laws per state differ, but they all stipulate and regulate what expenditures you can pay, your rights to the baby once the child is born, and the surrogate’s rights during and after her pregnancy. The more you become acquainted with these matters, the less is the chance that you’ll encounter legal difficulties.

Determine whether you want to opt for a gestational or a genetic surrogate. You can choose to have a genetic link to your baby by using the intended mother’s egg, the intended father’s sperm, or both. You can also adopt a child whom your surrogate has already conceived. Again, refer to surrogate mothers online for more information regarding this matter.

In addition, hire an attorney who specializes in surrogacy or who is registered with a surrogacy matching agency. Agencies and attorneys can be pricey, but are worth it because they have important contacts, as well as extensive knowledge and experience.

Knowledge is Power

Look into surrogate mothers online and let it be known that you’re searching for a surrogate. Join online surrogacy, adoption, parenting, and fertility sites and post listings there. You can even post newspaper ads. Casting a wider net will help you find a surrogate more quickly or locate someone who can help you with the process.

If you ever decide to get listed with an agency and an attorney, collaborate with them to get results faster. Meet with many prospects to find the right match. You will be interviewing potential surrogates about their childbirth and surrogacy histories. Set expectations clearly and don’t forget to ask potential surrogates about their expectations.

Choosing a surrogate comes next. This is when the agency and attorney should assist you in generating a contract. Be sure to consider everything needed to protect your interests down to the smallest detail. Having a comprehensive contract created and notarized will ensure that both parties maintain a good understanding about the entire process. You can always refer to surrogate mothers online sites to learn more about the surrogacy process flow.

You will be working closely with your chosen surrogate mother. Set up an appointment with your fertility medical specialist to start the process of checking you and your designated surrogate for congenital diseases, and then—if you chose gestational surrogacy—inseminating your surrogate (i.e., embedding embryos in her womb). Your specialist will draft a complete treatment scheme that will allow you to proceed with the pregnancy as arranged in your preliminary contract.

finding a surrogate

Finding a Surrogate in Illinois

JSADev1

Basics of Finding a Surrogate

Before we talk about finding a surrogate in Illinois, let’s review the two types of surrogates: traditional and gestational. Traditional surrogates are the least preferred because, in this case, the surrogate is the child’s natural mother, who had the father’s sperm artificially inseminated. She hands over her parental rights to the soon-to-be mom. A gestational surrogate, on the other hand, acts solely as the carrier for the couple or single parent who wants to have a child but who is unable to go through the process of a normal pregnancy. Gestational surrogacy is the preferred approach because it provides more legal security, as the child is not genetically related to the carrier.

A couple or single parent often has a set of traits in mind for the surrogate they prefer. However, before that is considered, the first step is to find the right agency. Given the slew of agencies available, it is ideal to choose one that you feel comfortable with. Maintaining a high degree of ease and confidence regarding the agency will make it easier for you to collaborate with it for the next 12 to 24 months. Before you choose an agency, do your homework and determine whether the provider is well-known and established. Use your instincts to choose the one that is best for you. Refer to reviews from couples that have used the agency’s service and determine why those couples opted for the agency in the first place. Partnering with the best agency should help in your quest to finding a surrogate.

Once you have chosen an agency to work with, you’ll move on to finding a surrogate that meets your needs. The potential candidate should have had at least one successful pregnancy, with no history of abortions, miscarriages, bleeding, or other medical problems that could endanger another pregnancy. Consulting with your OB/GYN or reproductive endocrinologist concerning the medical background of the gestational surrogate is critical. An extensive medical exam must be performed on the gestational surrogate so that complications may be avoided. This exam will consist of, but not be limited to, a physical exam, a laboratory exam, ultrasounds, a comprehensive medical history check, a psychological exam, and screening for any diseases.

The ideal surrogate should 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 previous pregnancy that involves the delivery of twins should be taken into consideration. Note that there are cases in which some couples or single parents opted to have a relative serve as their gestational surrogate for the purpose of preserving genetic relations.

In Conclusion

Finding a surrogate requires time and patience. There are plenty of agencies that can help you with this tedious, time-consuming process, but remember to do your part to ensure the perfect match for your needs. Arm yourself with research, a full heart, and the hope that your child will soon be in your arms.

Your Top 5 Surrogacy Questions Answered

Your Top 5 Surrogacy Questions Answered

JSADev1 Leave a comment

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.

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 Illinois Surrogate Agency caseworker will contact you 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.

Baby Shower Ideas for Intended Parents

Baby Shower Ideas for Intended Parents

JSADev1 Leave a comment

Intended parents can find it difficult and confusing to throw a baby shower, since questions like ‘Should we invite the surrogate mother?’ and ‘How do we tell our families and friends about this occasion?’ can arise.

And since surrogacy is a relatively new process, there’s no established tradition in how to throw a baby shower. So to help get you started in planning the perfect baby shower as intended parents, here are some ideas:

If you’re planning a baby shower, consider inviting the surrogate mother – if you have a close relationship with her. If your relationship with her is more on the ‘professional’ level, it might not be so appropriate to invite her – after all, you don’t have a close or a personal relationship.

If you do have a close relationship with her, consider including her name on the invites you send out. It might read something like: “You are invited to attend a baby shower of (baby’s name), Proud parents to be (your names), proud surrogate mother (her name.)

If you invite your surrogate mother to the baby shower, it’s a good idea to suggest that your other guests bring her some small gifts, so that she doesn’t feel left out of the party. Small tokens are just fine – the important thing to remember is to credit her, to make her feel appreciated for all her efforts.

If your relationship with the surrogate mother is close, inviting her to the baby shower is a really good idea; she’ll feel touched to be recognized in this way, and the baby shower may become a treasured memory for her, a highlight of the surrogacy experience.

On the other hand, if your relationship isn’t especially close, and it would therefore be awkward to invite her, you could instead consider throwing her a surprise party after giving birth, or simply give her some presents as a token of gratitude for her contribution to your family.

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 Illinois Surrogate Agency caseworker will contact you 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.

Surrogacy Contracts: 3 Helpful Tips Every Intended Parent Should Know

Surrogacy Contracts: 3 Helpful Tips Every Intended Parent Should Know

JSADev1 Leave a comment

Intended parents can face a lot of confusion regarding the legal aspects of surrogacy, and one of the biggest sources of confusion in the surrogacy process is the surrogacy contract. The surrogacy contract refers to the legal agreement between the intended parents and the surrogate. The contract lists all legal provisions and agreements related to the process of surrogacy. Having a legal contract between a surrogate and the intended parents is very important to avoid any future legal conflicts. In the event of unforeseen circumstances, the surrogacy contract will act as a legal guide for both intended parents and the surrogate.

In order to get a better understanding of surrogacy contracts, here are 3 of the most important things every intended parent should know:

Tip 1. Surrogacy contracts differ from state to state.
Every state recognizes surrogacy as a reproductive option, but while some states have passed laws and statutes defining the surrogacy process, others do not have specific laws addressing surrogacy. In most states where surrogacy is recognized, there are laws and statutes that define the paternity of the child, the financial obligations and the rights of the intended parents and the surrogate. It is very important to know what the local laws and statutes are before getting into any legal contract with a surrogate. Reproductive specialty lawyers who specialize in surrogacy can help intended parents better understand all the different laws and statutes on surrogacy. Surrogate agencies will employ reproductive specialty lawyers for intended parents and surrogates in order to ensure that each party is legally protected.

Tip 2. The surrogacy contract is essential.
The surrogacy contract is very important to avoid any future legal conflicts that may arise during the process of surrogacy. A surrogacy contract is a binding and enforceable legal contract for the intended parents and surrogate. It pre-defines the paternity of the child and both the financial and behavioral responsibilities of each party. The surrogacy contract allows each party (meaning the intended parents and the surrogate) to state their own intentions and responsibilities to one another, and it establishes guidelines for what actions will be taken in the event of medical complications such as the number of embryos to be transferred at one time, if selective reduction is an acceptable option, and which type of delivery method will be used. All of these agreements and conditions are very important to avoid any legal conflicts that may arise during and after the surrogacy process. Surrogate agencies can provide helpful information on the different aspects included in a surrogacy contract.

Tip 3. The surrogacy contract should be reviewed by reproductive specialty lawyers representing each party.
Neither the intended parents nor the surrogate are required by law to use a reproductive specialty lawyer’s services for the surrogacy contract. However, it is highly advisable that the surrogacy contract be reviewed by a reproductive specialty lawyer in order to be certain that the child’s paternity is pre-established, and to properly identify the financial and medical obligations of each party. It is also recommended that both the surrogate and the intended parents have their own reproductive specialty lawyers review the surrogacy contract. Each reproductive specialty lawyer will review the surrogacy contract to ensure that the client’s responsibilities, rights, and paternity are properly identified. In most cases, surrogate agencies will provide both the intended parents and the surrogate with their own reproductive specialty lawyer.

The surrogate process can be confusing for intended parents, and reviewing and understanding the surrogacy contract is one of the best ways to clear up that confusion. The structure and clarity the surrogacy contract provides can help intended parents to feel comfortable and confident throughout the surrogate process.

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 California Surrogate Agency caseworker will contact you 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.

Should Pregnant Surrogates Eat Organic Foods?

Should Pregnant Surrogates Eat Organic Foods?

JSADev1 Leave a comment

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.

Your Next Steps

To apply to be a surrogate mother with the Illinois Surrogate Agency, simply fill out our easy online form, and one of our friendly, knowledgeable caseworkers will be in touch with you to discuss your application, talk about the next steps in the process, and answer any questions you may have. In the meantime, you can also check out our free reports for more information on surrogacy and the surrogate experience.