How does one explain how rewarding and what an incredible experience it is to be a gestational surrogate. Women who have been pregnant and have children can understand the incredible love they have for their own children; and after having your own children the emotion involved and being able to give a child to another person who cannot have a child is also an incredible feeling.
In order to begin a journey as a gestational surrogate candidate must be between 21 and 39 years of age, of average weight for their height, with no more than two C-sections and no more than six pregnancies. Any candidate to be a surrogate should have had healthy pregnancies and currently have no major medical conditions that would be of concern during a pregnancy. There are some health issues that can be accepted on a case by case basis. The surrogate will complete an application process and upon approval be matched with intended parents. As one would expect the gestational surrogate will receive re-imbursements and compensation for her time and effort which will total in the range of $ 30,000 to $ 45,000.
The surrogacy process begins as a fascinating trip through science class where an embryo made in a laboratory through IVF is placed into the uterus of the surrogate after the use of hormone medication to prepare the surrogates body for the pregnancy. As the journey moves on the parents and Surrogate hope for a positive pregnancy test. Waiting for the results are the two most difficult weeks of the entire process. Once there is a positive pregnancy test, the Surrogate will begin to live her regular life going to her doctor appointments for her pregnancy and keeping in touch with the parents by phone and messaging. Some parents may come to a doctor appointment or ultrasound and some parents may not live nearby enough to make it to any of the appointments and may be available through video or FaceTime to be able to join in those appointments.
At Seeds, we are a coordinating agency and we hold the hand of the Surrogate and the parents from the first moment when they are in interested in the process until the finale when the baby is born and going home. The Director at Seeds has been a surrogate for twins and a single baby and can still vividly remember the incredible positive emotions of watching parents who cannot have children hold their child for the first time.
