Things to Keep in Mind When Becoming a Surrogate Mother

Becoming a surrogate mother is a huge decision that can be beyond rewarding, but it should not be taken lightly. For families that can’t have children, either due to infertility or for same sex couples, giving the gift of life is so meaningful.

If you decide to become a surrogate mother, you will need to connect with a surrogacy agency and meet the requirements in order to qualify. Some of these requirements can be being between the age of 21 and 35, having at least one child already with no pregnancy complications, being a non-smoker and non-drug user, and living a healthy lifestyle.

The surrogacy agency you seek out should have experience and the resources required in order to make sure that you have the benefits you need and support on your journey. You should visit the agency to make sure that you are comfortable with the staff there. A good agency will have counselors and other people, such as former surrogate mothers, to help discuss your journey and make you feel comfortable. Your surrogacy agency should care about your time and you as a person. Ideally, they will have all their facilities in one location to save you time.

There are certain times in life when it’s not good to consider being a surrogate mother. If you are going through a divorce, it’s necessary to wait until after the divorce is finalized in order to start the process. If you’re still legally married, your spouse would have to sign off on the agreement and also submit background checks. While it’s necessary to have one child of your own to be a surrogate, you must wait a minimum of six months after giving birth in order to start the process. If you are still breastfeeding, you will have to wait two menstrual cycles after you stop before starting the process. Women need to be off of any anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medication for at least six months before starting the process and must prove that they have been off the medication with a note from their doctor.

Once you pass the initial screening on your way to becoming a surrogate mother, surrogate agencies will expect you to take good care of yourself and live a healthy lifestyle. If you are struggling with any aspect of this, make sure to reach out to a surrogacy professional for guidance along the way.

Once you are pregnant, you should document your journey for the child and expected parents. The intended parents will want copies of the ultrasounds and other things from your journey. You can also get them involved by giving them updates and even introducing their voices and their favorite music to the baby while in womb.