Are You a Good Fit for Surrogacy? Fact you should know about Surrogacy

At first glance, being a surrogate might seem like a dream job – and in many ways, it is. You don’t have to go to an office every day, many of your expenses are paid for, and at the end of the process, you give one of the greatest gifts a person can ever receive. But becoming a surrogate is not a choice anyone makes lightly. There are some serious considerations that factor into the decision to have a child on someone else’s behalf.

Characteristics of a Good Surrogate

Becoming a surrogate is a weighty decision. After all, it has a significant outcome. Before deciding to embark on this journey, it’s important to examine whether you’re prepared to play this role in someone else’s life.

Successful surrogates typically have the following characteristics:

• Between the ages of 21 and 40
• Employed (or married to/partnered with someone who is employed) in a working- or middle-class job
• In excellent health, with minimal risk of prenatal complications
• Already a mother; this ensures that the candidate understands what childbirth entails, both physically and emotionally
• Free from chronic disorders that could interfere with pregnancy
• Psychologically stable and capable of completing the surrogacy process
• Have a strong support system to help during pregnancy

Los Angeles based Growing Generations, a trusted surrogacy agency, has more info on the screening process.

Important Questions

This process can potentially involve some complex issues, and surrogacy candidates

will need to think through these in advance to ensure that they are comfortable with situations that may arise:

• Can you carry a child for nine months – and then be ok with giving the baby to its biological parents?
• Can you tolerate the injections necessary for carrying out the IVF process?
• Are you prepared for the unpredictable aspects of the process, for example, the possibility of a multiple birth or medical complication?
• Can you accept the parents’ decisions about what to do if unexpected situations arise? For example, could you accept a decision to do a selective reduction?
• Are you motivated by the desire to help someone start a family, the possibility of compensation, or a balance between the two?

Family Considerations

Because a candidate for surrogacy must already have at least one child of her own, there are always two families’ needs to consider when entering into this relationship. If your children are old enough to understand, they should be told about the arrangement and have a chance to discuss their feelings about it. Giving birth on behalf of someone else is a major commitment that impacts every aspect of your life; it’s essential that you have the full support of your family if the endeavor is going to be successful.

It’s critically important to enter into a surrogacy agreement with a full understanding of the expectations and benefits involved. For those who decide it’s the right fit for them, this can be one of the most rewarding experiences they’ll ever have.