A surrogate mother is a woman who chooses to carry and give birth to a child for someone else. There are two types of surrogate mothers. A traditional surrogate becomes pregnant with a child using her own egg, making her the actual biological mother. A gestational surrogate carries the fetus with an egg that comes from either the future mother or an egg donor. According to Surrogate Mothers.com, fewer than 2 percent of all women who express interest in becoming a surrogate mother are accepted. A woman must meet certain criteria to qualify as a surrogate mother.
Exams & Evaluations
A surrogate mother candidate and the future parents are both required to undergo a physical exam and a psychological evaluation. This is done to confirm that all parties involved want to take part in the surrogate child-bearing process for the right reasons. The goal of the various testing is to make sure everyone involved experiences the desired outcome. A future surrogate mother must also undergo a screening by a fertility expert who specializes in working with surrogate mothers.
Age Requirement
A potential surrogate mother must be between 18 and 35 years old, according to Surrogate Mothers Inc. The average age of a surrogate is 28.
Prior Pregnancy
In order to qualify as a surrogate mother, a woman must have already given birth to a child. She will be required to provide medical records from all of her prior pregnancies.
Criminal Background Check
A woman who would like to become a surrogate mother must undergo a criminal background check. This check for prior arrests and convictions may also include the candidate's driving record.
Prospective Parent Approval
When a woman receives preliminary approval to become a surrogate mother, the information gathered during the screening process will be used by the agency to help match her with prospective parents. An initial meeting between all parties involved is required before a surrogate contract can be formally drawn.
