How to Prepare Yourself to Become a Gestational Carrier

Choosing to become a gestational carrier, or often referred to as a surrogate mother, can be a wonderful and deeply rewarding way to give the gift of life to a family. At The Surrogacy Experience, we believe in creating strong partnerships with gestational carriers built on mutual trust and respect. We are dedicated to being a source of guidance, knowledge and support for all of our gestational carriers. We want each of our candidates to be fully aware of what is expected and involved throughout their surrogacy journey. Here are some basic facts women should consider before committing to becoming a gestational carrier:

·         A gestational carrier is a woman who agrees to carry and give birth to a child for another couple – there is no biological relationship between the carrier and the child.

·         There are a number of requirements as to which women are eligible to become surrogate mothers. For example, women must be between the ages of 22 and 43 (although this is flexible), a non-smoker, have  previously given birth to a child with no complications, live in a state which surrogacy is legal, etc.

·         Candidates must also undergo both physical and mental health screenings to ensure they are fit to become a gestational carrier.

·         Once candidates have been accepted and matched with intended parents, an official surrogacy agreement must be drafted by a legal professional.

·         Gestational carriers should be prepared for the various medical aspects involved with surrogacy. Such as regular doctors’ visits, taking medications, the embryo transfer and of course, the birth of the child.

·         Women who are interested in becoming a gestational carrier should also define the type of relationship they wish to have with the intended parent(s) and child after birth.

Before deciding to embark on the surrogacy journey it is beneficial to understand in broad terms what is expected and involved throughout the entire process. Taking into consideration all of this information will help you to better determine if gestational surrogacy is right for you. For more information please visit The Surrogacy Experience website or call 1.866.264.7211.

Understanding the Surrogacy Process

At The Surrogacy Experience, our mission is to help educate and guide intended parent(s) and surrogate mother candidates through the surrogacy process. Our professional and personal experiences have provided us with great insight when it comes to preparing intended parent(s) and potential carriers for the journey ahead. Although we are a source of knowledge, guidance and support, we remain completely impartial when it comes to choosing if surrogacy is the right option for intended parent(s) and surrogates mothers and their families. 

 At The Surrogacy Experience, we believe all intended parent(s) and surrogate mothers deserve to completely and clearly understand the surrogacy process:

•  Intended parents should approach the surrogacy decision with an open mind. We recommend seeking experienced advice from surrogacy agencies such as ourselves, or from other experienced sources such as a former intended parent or a surrogate mother to help in your decision making process
• We thoroughly discuss the rigorous screening processes for our intended parent(s) and surrogate mothers as well as any relationship expectations, legal and financial matters and more.

• We will work with you to collect the necessary information to clearly define aspects such as your family medical history, reasons for choosing surrogacy, your expectations of the journey etc. This information will be used to formulate the best possible match between intended parent(s) and surrogate mothers. 

The Surrogacy Experience strives to provide confidence and care from decision to delivery. For more information please visit our website or call 1.866.264.7211.

What Our Surrogacy Costs Include

At The Surrogacy Experience (TSE) we understand the love and happiness a child can bring to your family, which is why we aim to provide the highest level of service possible in guiding intended parents. One area in which we work closely with intended parents is helping them to understand and budget surrogacy costs. The cost of surrogacy varies greatly and is dependent on each individual’s specific circumstance. Factors such as medical and travel expenses, agency fees and surrogate mother compensation all contribute to the final surrogacy costs. 

 At TSE we attempt to make preparing and paying for the surrogacy related expenses as easy as possible for the intended parents. For this reason we have created an all-inclusive fee structure. Our single agency fee includes:

·         The initial consultation: At this first, meeting we will discuss the surrogacy process and help you decide if it is the right choice for you and your family.

·         Once you have decided to continue with the surrogacy process: We will work with you to develop a customized service package tailored to meet your personal needs. This will also clearly outline all of your financial responsibilities as the intended parent(s).

·         Access to Qualified Surrogate Mother Candidates: You will have access to thoroughly pre-screened surrogate mother candidates, all of which are physically, psychologically and emotionally healthy.

·         The Law: TSE will help intended parents gain qualified legal counsel to protect their parental rights. We want our intended parents to feel comfortable throughout the entire surrogacy process, especially when it comes to the often complex legalities of surrogacy.

 

At The Surrogacy Experience we strive to provide all of our intended parents with a level of service that is beyond comparison, helping to make each individual’s journey a positive one. For more information please visit The Surrogacy Experience website or call 1.866.264.7211.

Finding a Surrogate Mother and Establishing Good Communication

Finding a qualified surrogate mother who will be responsible for carrying and giving birth to your child is not a simple task. At The Surrogacy Experience (TSE), we understand the importance of finding a carrier who is not only both mentally and physically healthy, but who also shares similar views related to the surrogacy process. We focus on creating a strong match by outlining each individual’s personal needs and expectations and building a successful relationship between you and your surrogate mother based upon mutual trust and effective communication.   

At TSE we believe finding a surrogate mother who best matches your needs starts with good communication. The better we understand your surrogacy expectations, the better we can match you with a surrogate mother candidate who shares your views. Having a similar outlook will help make the entire surrogacy process a more enjoyable experience for all those involved. Some of the topics we discuss are:

·         What type of communication do you wish to have with your surrogate mother before, during and after the pregnancy? Will the communication take the form of visits, phone calls, pictures, or do you wish for no communication at all after the child is born?

·         If you choose to continue communication with your surrogate mother after birth, how often will this take place? The choice is yours.

·         Your feelings towards certain medical decisions you and your surrogate mother may encounter, such as multiple embryos, selective reduction, and cesarean section.  

Clearly defining your desired expectations of your unique surrogacy experience will help us in finding a surrogate mother who is best fit for you.  Establishing a relationship based on good communication will help ensure that all parties are in agreement. For more information please visit The Surrogacy Experience website or call 1.866.264.7211.