Surrogate Mother
What is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is an arrangement in which a woman agrees to become pregnant for the purpose of giving birth to a child or children for others (intended parents) to raise. We conduct gestational surrogacy arrangements, whereby embryos produced by the intended parents, with eggs from the intended mother or with the assistance of an egg donor, are implanted in the surrogate. The embryo is produced by a process called in vitro fertilization (IVF). This process ensures the baby has no genetic relationship to the surrogate.
A surrogate mother – also called a gestational carrier or gestational surrogate – is a woman who carriers a baby for people (the Intended Parents) who are unable to have a baby on their own.
We only work with gestational carriers – women who do not share biology with the baby they are carrying.
Surrogate mothers get paid for carrying someone's baby, and they are protected by a legal contract signed by both the surrogate mother and the Intended Parents.
Becoming a Surrogate Mother
As a surrogate, your gift of love and kindness is the gift that lasts a lifetime; a gift that is beyond measure. Surrogates and donors help to create the gift of love and family.
If you’re considering becoming a surrogate, you are on your way to embarking on one of the most meaningful journeys you’ll ever take. While the monetary benefits are rewarding, our surrogates describe the experience, and the relationships they create, as their greatest reward. We guarantee that everyone in our program has our full support. We are committed to providing a supportive environment filled with compassion and understanding. When you are working with us, you are a member of our family. We value your commitment to becoming a surrogate mother and will honor your commitment in every possible way.
Below is a list of requirements surrogate mothers;
*All surrogates must be age 21 to 38 and have given birth previously.
*You must have at least one child at home that you are currently raising.
*You can have no history of any complications in childbirth.
*Only U.S. citizens or people who have the legal right to work in the United States are eligible.
*You cannot be on federal or state assistance.
*You have not had more than three C-sections.
*You have a Body Mass Index of under 30.
*You are a non-smoker and non-drug user.
*You have good physical & mental health.
*You agree to psychological, drug & criminal screening.
*You have a supportive partner, friend, or family member.
*You have not had more than five births.
Applying to be a Surrogate
Please contact us and our team counselor will have a conference with you about the process and answer all your questions what you have. Also, you can complete our full application.
Video Message from Surrogate Crystal
Become a Surrogate: Apply Today!
Matching with Intended Parents
During your admissions process, our matching team works to identify the right intended parent match for you. We begin by asking several questions. Our goal is to understand your hopes and expectations for the surrogacy so we can match you with like-minded parents.
Our unique, highly customized matching process means we hand pick an intended parent profile for you. At the same time, your profile will be sent for their review. If everyone accepts the match, you will have a video match meeting, facilitated by a member of the case management team. Matching can happen within a few days or several weeks. We will work to find a match you’re excited about!
Surrogate Process After Matching
Psychological & Medical Screening
If the match is successful, you will be asked to complete a psychological evaluation and medical screening by a licensed mental health professional experienced in fertility counseling. You’ll be evaluated to determine your medication protocol to best prepare your uterus for implantation. This may include a physical, pap smear, vaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy, as well as other tests.
Legal Contract
Once you have been psychologically and medically cleared the legal surrogacy contract will begin. We will appoint legal counsel for you. From here, you and your representation will work with the prospective parents and their lawyer to officially outline the terms of the surrogate pregnancy process.
Cycle Preparation
Once the legal issues are out of the way, it is time to start prepping your cycle. You will receive your cycle schedule from the fertility clinic, which has information on when you need to take your medication, how much and upcoming doctor appointments. You will also be informed of any lifestyle changes or limitations you will have to make in order to ensure a successful surrogate pregnancy.
Medications
At this stage you may be given birth control and medications to prepare your uterus for embryo transfer. Some possible medications you might take include estrogen and progesterone via pill, patch, or injection. You will also have your blood drawn and receive ultrasound checks to make sure that the cycle is operating properly.
Embryo Transfer
The embryos are transferred into your uterus, and you will remain on bed rest for approximately 24 to 72 hours and continue medication. A catheter is placed in your vagina leading all the way to the uterus. The embryos will be fed through the catheter and into the uterus, hopefully implanting properly and leading to pregnancy.
Pregnancy & Delivery
After the transfer there is a 2 week wait to confirm a pregnancy by blood work and 4 weeks until a heartbeat confirmation by ultrasound. You will continue getting your blood drawn and ultrasounds, which will happen more often than a standard pregnancy. Throughout your pregnancy we will help and support you get through the process until Delivery.
When you become a surrogate, you will earn surrogate compensation that you can use to make a down payment, pay off your mortgage, save for your child’s college education, fund a family vacation or go back to further your educational goals.
t Family Tree Surrogacy Center, we offer a generous compensation package for women who agree to carry and deliver a baby for future parents.
Surrogate Mother Compensation
It takes a special person to become a surrogate mother. The gift that surrogates provide is both remarkable and generous. Being a surrogate mother is one of the most amazing gifts you can give someone. In addition to the feeling of joy you experience as a surrogate, we will help to ensure that you are paid for your efforts, including generous compensation for surrogacy-related expenses.
Become a Surrogate: Apply Today!
Benefits Included in Surrogacy Compensation Packages
All of our gestational carriers (Surrogate Mothers) are financially compensated for their time and energy throughout the surrogacy process. The total amount of compensation can depend on your level of experience, with women who have previously been gestational carriers receiving a higher compensation rate.
Additionally, surrogates will typically benefit from:
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Monthly expense allowance: This portion of the compensation package will cover any expenses related to your surrogacy, such as communication expenses (phone calls or postage), and non-prescription medications.
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Surrogate Agreement Signing Fee: Surrogate Mother will be paid upon the legal Clearance is issued.
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Maternity clothing allowance: You will be given sufficient funds to purchase any maternity clothing that you may need without having to incur the cost on your own.
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Embryo transfer fee: Receiving compensation for each embryo transfer procedure. This fee is not intended to reimburse her for any lost wage, and miscellaneous expenses such as childcare or housekeeping as a result of bed rest due to the embryo transfer and travel expenses.
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Invasive procedures compensation: If the intended parents request an invasive procedure, such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS), or if one is required, you will be compensated for your time.
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Twins or multiples: The amount of your compensation will increase in the case of a multiple pregnancy. Because an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle is involved and our physicians will typically transfer more than one embryo to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy, multiples are always a possibility.
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Cesarean section: If a cesarean section is required for the healthy delivery of the baby, you will be compensated for the procedure and the additional recovery time that may be involved.
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Health insurance: You will be reimbursed for all costs relating to your pregnancy, including prescription medications, co-pays, and deductibles.
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Life insurance policy: The intended parents will purchase a one-year term life insurance policy to provide the gestational carrier's family with financial security and peace of mind during the surrogacy process.
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Injectable Medication fee: Surrogate Mother will receive upon starting medication for the embryo transfer cycle
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Dropped Cycle fee: If cycle is cancelled due to no fault of the surrogate, and Surrogate Mother has already begun taking Injectable Medication, she will receive the compensation.
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Mock Cycle Fee: If the screening or cycling doctor requires Surrogate Mother to undergo a mock cycle, she will receive the compensation.
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Pumping Breast Milk: If IPs request Surrogate to pump Breast Milk and if Surrogate Mother agrees to do so she will receive the compensation.
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Surrogate Mother Lost Wage, Husband/Partner Lost Wage
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Other fees such as Reduction, Ectopic Pregnancy, Bed Rest
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Long Distance Travel Fees
Pacific Miracles offer the base fee along with itemized expenses and allowances for individual circumstances.
Surrogate Mothers are reimbursed for any expenses incurred while being part of the surrogate program. This includes travel to and from appointments, such as scheduled doctor’s visits. We also cover other expenses such as hotel stays, childcare and mileage.
We also offer health insurance to its surrogates, so you do not have to cover any medical expenses yourself. We include a life insurance policy to help protect you and your family.
Understanding how benefit packages are structured is an important factor in selecting your agency. Please contact our office to review your specific benefit package.