Surrogacy has proved to be a boon for couples struggling with infertility treatment and health conditions.
Whether you are a single parent or a same-sex couple, surrogacy treatment allows you to experience parenthood irrespective of your marital status and sexual orientation.
Do take a moment to go through the tips below to ensure you are ready to welcome your bundle of joy with open arms.
Make An Informed Decision
The pre-surrogacy process to match up with a how to find a surrogate mother can often be an extensive one. You may have to state a medical reason and measures taken such as infertility treatment before opting for surrogacy.
A great way to begin surrogacy treatment is to seek a reliable agency or social platform that will help you to wade through the paperwork.
You will also need access to relevant resources and service providers such as
- hospital
- obstetrician
- pediatrician
- insurer
- attorney
Do Your Research
You should read up on the different approaches in surrogacy treatment and be clear about how the procedure works.
Surrogacy treatment comes under assisted pregnancy and makes use of in vitro insemination for conception to take place. You may need to make decisions like who will act as the sperm and egg donor.
Check the Recommended Guidelines
Most surrogacy applications require a full health checkup that covers the surrogate mother’s age, past pregnancies and medical history.
The surrogate mother and the intended or commissioning parents also need to undergo mental health screening such as psychosocial tests. This prevents issues related to genetic disorders or parenting capability from cropping up later.
Seek Proper Legal Counsel
Surrogacy is a legally binding agreement setting forth the expectations between you and the surrogate mother. The agreement gets fulfilled only after the baby is transferred to the commissioning parents.
Often a court order is needed to establish the commissioning parents as the child’s sole legal guardians.
Calculate the Costs
Surrogacy treatment requires adequate financial planning to cover expenses such as medical bills, legal fees, insurance and the surrogate’s compensation, if applicable. The surrogate is required to have health, disability and life insurance cover.
Do check if the insurance covers the costs for artificial reproduction methods such as in vitro insemination.
Be Emotionally Prepared For the Journey
The entire surrogacy treatment from initiation till the time you can hold your little one in your hands may take anywhere from 15 to 20 months.
It’s a good idea to build a relationship with the surrogate mother and be involved in the experience. You can get involved in activities such as making the doctor’s appointments, visiting the clinic with the surrogate mother and celebrating milestones during the pregnancy.
Sources:
https://health.ny.gov/community/pregnancy/surrogacy/gestational_surrogacy_fact_sheet.htm
The Challenges and Rewards of Surrogacy for Everyone Involved
https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/surrogacy
https://utswmed.org/medblog/6-tips-for-parents-who-choose-gestational-surrogacy/