New Mexico: Dear Scholastic Surrogate

Dear Scholastic Surrogate:

I heard about surrogacy when I was young and the idea has always fascinated me. How do I know that I’m ready to be a gestational carrier?

Dear Fascinated:

It’s a good thing that you are doing your research now! Of course, being a surrogate is a big commitment, and you want to be certain you’re ready before you get too far into the process. There are many things to consider, depending on your situation. Let’s take a look at a few biggies…

You MUST have given birth to your own child. Clearly, if you don’t have any biological children, you are not yet in the position to be a gestational carrier. This is a big requirement because the physicians involved will want to see that your body can carry a healthy pregnancy to term with an uncomplicated delivery. There is also an emotional piece of the puzzle. It’s important to know how you emotionally handle pregnancy as well as the post-partum period. 

You also need to be certain that you have completed your own family. The reason for this is that, as with every pregnancy, there are some risks. If you still wanted to have more children of your own after you act as a gestational carrier and there were complications that caused issues with your future fertility that could be a huge disappointment for you and your family.  We encourage you to really think this one through. If you are undecided, it is best to wait and revisit the idea of surrogacy when you feel you are finished growing your own family.

You need the support of your partner. Your partner/spouse must be on board and supportive of your decision to be a surrogate. They, too, will be required to participate in the psychological evaluation and in person interview portions of the process. They will also have to have some limited testing in order for you to obtain medical clearance.  Your partner/spouse will need to sign the contract along with you and the intended parents. 

Those are the big topics but also there are few other things you will have to be ready to do:

·      You will have to be comfortable with self-administering injections, whether you yourself or your partner does it, this is a requirement for the surrogacy journey.

·      You will have to follow all protocol that is given to you especially in the beginning stages. You will be given specific protocol from the doctors that must be followed to ensure a successful pregnancy.

·      This will be one of the most emotional decisions of your life! You will be giving the biggest gift possible to people who will start out as strangers, but will likely become more like family as the journey moves on

These are just a few thing you should consider before deciding you’re ready to be a gestational carrier. There are plenty more that we would be happy to discuss with you as you make your final decision to becoming a surrogate.  

Think you are ready to become a surrogate? Apply here so we can discuss how we can support you through this journey.