You’re at least 21 years old, have given birth to at least one child, and now you’re thinking about becoming a surrogate to help someone you know create a family. But you’re not quite sure you’re ready to do it.
You may be considering traditional surrogacy, in which one of your own eggs is artificially inseminated with the father’s sperm. Or you may be considering gestational surrogacy, in which you carry an implanted embryo for the biological parents. Either way, becoming a surrogate is an important, life-changing decision that should be considered carefully.
At Columbia Fertility Associates — with locations in Washington, DC; Bethesda, Maryland; and Arlington, Virginia — our doctors make sure you’re healthy enough to become a surrogate and bring a healthy baby into the world. Here they share just a few of the many benefits to surrogacy.
1. You’re nurturing a new life
The most fulfilling reason to become a surrogate is knowing that you’re helping a new life grow and blossom. Even if you’ve finished your own family, surrogacy allows you to experience the miracles of pregnancy and birth again. You, your friends and family, and the baby’s parents all share in the amazing journey of watching a child come into the world.
2. You’re making someone’s dreams come true
When a couple or single person turns to surrogacy, they’ve usually gone down a long and frustrating road of trying to become pregnant on their own. By becoming a surrogate, you help someone become a parent who might otherwise never get the chance.
The woman may have a medical condition that would make it dangerous for her or the baby, or she may have suffered the loss of her uterus. Single parents and nontraditional families, such as LGBTQ parents, often turn to surrogacy to ensure that at least one parent has a genetic connection to their child. Or the family may have tried to adopt, but aren’t able to because one or more of the parents is older than the agencies allow.
By becoming a surrogate, you’re bringing a child into the world that’s not only wanted, but has been wanted for a very long time. You’re participating in a miracle that wasn’t even possible for families decades ago.
3. You get excellent medical care for you and the baby
If you’ve passed surrogacy screening at Columbia Fertility Associates, you’re healthy and strong enough to carry the baby to term. Once the transferred embryo implants in your uterus or you’re artificially inseminated, the team at Columbia Fertility Associates carefully monitors your progress and then refers you to an OB/GYN on staff.
The parents pay for your care while you’re carrying their child. You’ll have regular exams, including ultrasounds and tests that ensure that you and the baby are healthy.
4. You’re well-compensated
If you’re considering surrogacy for a friend or family member, you may be donating your service to them as a gift of love. In many instances, though, the parents are happy to pay you to carry their child to a healthy delivery. Surrogates who work through agencies can make the equivalent of a good year’s salary for their time and labor.
Even if you decide not to accept money, you receive appreciation and love from the prospective parents. You’re not just creating a family for them, you’re a part of it, too. Many surrogates — even those hired through an agency — bond with the families they’ve helped and develop deep, long-lasting relationships.
5. You become part of a community
Becoming a surrogate means that you’re joining a community of other women who’ve helped a couple or a single parent achieve parenthood. Surrogates often have meet-ups and offer support to their “sister” surrogates through the journey from conception to birth and beyond.
To learn more about how to become a surrogate or to find out if surrogacy can help you achieve your dreams of having a family of your own, contact Columbia Fertility Associates today. Phone the location nearest you, or use the online appointment form.
