I remember the feeling like it was yesterday – looking at the angelic face of my fourth baby – and realizing others don’t get to have this experience. It hit me like a ton of bricks, bringing me to tears, knowing that what comes easily to me, others have struggled with for years. I knew I could help. More than that, I knew I had to help.
Before I could jump right in, I knew I needed more information on the surrogacy processes. I spent time on multiple websites gathering information to inform myself, and present to my husband. Surprisingly, he was instantly supportive. He thought it was a fantastic idea and fully supported my decision. From there, I set out to find a reputable agency to work with to guide me through the process.
Come to find out, wanting to be a surrogate for a deserving couple isn’t all there is to it. You have to actually meet some qualifications to be accepted. Narrowing my search down to a few agencies I was interested in, I filled out their applications. Much to my surprise, I was accepted by all!
As it turns out the surrogate qualifications weren’t as scary and demanding as I originally thought they might be. In fact, they’re pretty simple. Surrogate qualifications go as follows:
- Be between the ages of 21 – 40
- Have a healthy pregnancy history
- Have not had more than 2 c-sections
- Be of a healthy weight with a BMI 32 or under
- Non-smoker
- Not on any government assistance
- Stable home environment
- Stable mental health, not currently on any depression or anxiety medications
Choosing the agency I wanted to work with was not a difficult decision to make. I felt pulled in the direction of the agency with the best support system. Being new to the surrogacy process, I wanted a team surrounding me that knew what they were doing and had my best interests at heart. Family Makers Surrogacy was the perfect place for me.
Steps to Becoming a Surrogate
Curious to understand what steps are involved in becoming a surrogate? I was too. Now that I’ve been through the process, I can share with you everything that is required to become a gestational surrogate.
Once you are accepted into the agency via your surrogate application, you will have a phone call with an intake coordinator to go over your responses and answer any questions you might have. It’s okay to feel nervous, but there’s no need to, I promise! Your intake coordinator is there to help guide you through the process. If you can’t think of any questions during the call, you can always write them down and email your coordinator.
The next steps include verifying you as a person, that you have a healthy pregnancy and medical history, and are of sound mind and body. This is for your benefit as we would never want to put your health at risk. There will also be a background check on you and any other person(s) living in the home over the age of 18.
You will be given paperwork to fill out, and a profile to complete. All of this is to see what you are looking for in a match. Why is this important? Because, just like forming friendships, you want to match with a set of Intended Parents with the same views as you. All in hopes for a journey in which all parties (if desired) become friends or extended family.
Important Things to Consider When Matching
Finding your right match as a gestational carrier can take a little time, depending on what you’re looking for in your surrogacy journey. For instance, what are your views on termination? And are those views in regards to your own pregnancies, or would you also impose them while carrying someone else’s child? Depending on those views, some Intended Parents may choose another surrogate who aligns with their views. That is not to say compromise your views in any way, it is just an example.
Another thing to consider would be what kind of relationship are you wanting to have with the Intended Parents? Do you want to be matched with a couple who you might become close with where they become more like extended family? Or would you rather keep a casual relationship? Different people want different things out of the surrogacy journey and there is no right or wrong answer here, so be sure to think about what you are wanting from this relationship.
So with all that in mind – would you consider becoming a gestational surrogate and giving a deserving couple their dreams of a family?
If you said “YES!” just like I did, then click below to take our quiz to see if you qualify!
