A gestational carrier, or better known as a surrogate mother, is a woman who agrees to conceive and deliver a baby for another person. The people who will take care of the baby after birth are the “parents (intended parents)” and they will be involved in all processes, from the time the baby is still in the womb until the delivery process.
The term “gestational surrogate mother” refers to women who become pregnant after a successful assisted fertilization procedure, also known as in vitro fertilization (IVF). This term is used to distinguish them from women known as “traditional surrogate mothers”, who undergo artificial insemination with sperm from the baby’s father or from a sperm donor. The traditional surrogate mother is considered the biological mother of the baby, while the gestational surrogate is simply the “mother who gave birth” and she is not related by blood to the baby. The birth mother of the baby is the woman who gives the egg. Recently, gestational surrogacy has become a more suitable choice because it can provide a genetic link between parents and their babies.
The laws regarding the practice of surrogacy differ in each state. So if you’re asking “how much do surrogates get paid in California?”, you need to learn the specifics of California’s surrogacy laws.
Who should use a surrogate mother & expected results
Today, gestational surrogacy is very common; especially with the development of IVF technology. Every year, about 750 babies are born this way.
Women who choose to use a gestational surrogate are those who:
Have abnormalities in the uterus
Don’t have their uterus anymore due to a hysterectomy as a treatment for other ailments
Have heart or lung disease that could jeopardize their safety if they become pregnant or give birth
Have tried and couldn’t get pregnant with IVF technique
Are unable to adopt children due to age, marital status, or sexual orientation
Meanwhile, the chosen surrogate mother may be a friend, family member, or a gestational surrogate employed through a surrogate agent. Each choice of surrogate mother has its own difficulties. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, surrogacy should not be performed using nuclear family members because babies born will have the same genes as babies born from siblings. While using a friend or family member as a surrogate is less expensive and less complicated from a legal point of view, this method has its challenges. Therefore, many people choose to use a surrogate from an agency, where parents can find a suitable surrogate. The agent will arrange the agreement, take the payment and give it to the surrogate mother, as well as deal directly with the surrogate mother to avoid personal conflicts between the surrogate mother and parents.
Hiring a gestational surrogate can be expensive. Costs are influenced by several factors, including:
Agent fee
Compensation for the surrogate mother
Health Insurance
Fees for non-medical needs
Legal process fees
Counseling fee
IVF process
Surrogacy can be expensive and also require emotional and psychological energy. Therefore, parents are advised to consider carefully before choosing to use a surrogate mother.
How a surrogate mother works
Parents can start the process of using a surrogate by having a fertility consultation to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using a surrogate. After they agree to use a surrogate, the next step is to find a surrogate. The surrogate mother must meet the following requirements:
– She must be at least 21 years of age. (Age will affect the success rate of pregnancy).
– She must have given birth at least once to a healthy baby and understand the health and emotional effects of pregnancy and childbirth.
– Her family must provide support or approval.
– She must be in good physical and mental condition.
After that, both parties will undergo an examination, but the surrogate mother will be examined both psychologically and physically. Then, a written contract will be prepared to clarify all aspects of the agreement.
