Not every couple that wants to have a baby can have a baby. Some women and men face fertility problems and others have health problems that prevent them from conceiving. Surrogate mothers are women who help another person, or couple, to have a baby. There are different ways a woman can become a surrogate mother, though all of the ways can be rewarding, both financially and emotionally.
Types of Surrogacy
According to the organization Surrogate Parenting Consultants, there are several different types of surrogacy. Gestational surrogacy, which is the most common type, is where the surrogate mother gets pregnant through in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. The egg and sperm are from the genetic mother and father. Traditional surrogacy involves the surrogate mom becoming pregnant through artificial insemination, using her own eggs and the genetic father's sperm to create the baby. Egg donation involves a surrogate donating her eggs to a couple that wants to have a baby.
Requirements
The requirements for becoming a surrogate mother vary slightly depending on what agency a woman goes through, however for the most part, requirements are standard. ANU Fertility Consultants states that the requirements for becoming a surrogate mother with their agency include being between the ages of 21 and 40 and have already had one child, which the woman must have maintained custody of. The woman must also not have a criminal background, must meet the Body Mass Index requirements of the clinic and must undergo a psychological evaluation.
Process
According to Childbirth Solutions Incorporated, gestational surrogacy involves the potential surrogate mother first going through a variety of tests including a hysteroscopy to determine the shape of the uterus, a pap smear and infectious disease testing. Next, the surrogate and egg donor synchronize their monthly cycles by using birth control pills and an injection called Lupron. After using Lupron consistently for a few weeks the surrogate mother is injected with an estrogen hormone replacement. The egg and sperm are fertilized outside of the surrogate mother's body and are injected into her as an embryo, using a thin catheter. This is how the surrogate mother becomes pregnant.
Pay
The pay that surrogate moms receive depends on several factors including what type of surrogacy was done and the specific surrogacy agency that matched the surrogate mom to the couple. Surrogate Parenting Consultants states that on average, their surrogate moms receive $15,000 to $17,000 in return for becoming a surrogate mother. This estimation of pay applies to both traditional and gestational surrogacy, though egg donation and other techniques bring smaller pay to gestational moms.
Drawbacks
One potential drawback of becoming a surrogate mother is the amount of medications you must take in order to be a surrogate. Depending on how the baby is conceived, surrogate mothers sometimes have to take several medications, including painful injections, daily. Another drawback is that some surrogates, especially those who actually carry the baby in the womb, have a difficult time giving the baby up after birth, because of the natural hormonal and emotional attachment that having a baby gives a woman.
