Surrogacy FAQ

The definition of a surrogate mother is a when a woman (surrogate) carries a baby and gives birth for someone (intended parents) who is unable to carry their own baby. After the birth the parent(s) assume full parental rights of the child. As a surrogate mother you get paid for your time and commitment to carry someone’s baby and deliver their baby.

Becoming a surrogate is a life-changing decision that can bring many benefits to both the surrogate and the intended parents. Surrogacy is a process where a woman carries and delivers a child for another couple or individual. Here are some of the benefits of becoming a surrogate:

1. The opportunity to help others: One of the most significant benefits of becoming a surrogate is the opportunity to help intended parents who cannot have children on their own. For many people, surrogacy is the only option to have a biological child, and being a surrogate can bring immense joy and fulfillment to the surrogate knowing they helped create a family.
2. Financial compensation: Surrogates are compensated for their time, effort, and expenses during the surrogacy process. The financial compensation can vary depending on the surrogacy arrangement, but it can be a significant source of income for some surrogates.
3. Improved physical health: Surrogates are required to maintain a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, which can lead to improved physical health for the surrogate. Many surrogates report feeling more motivated to exercise, eat healthily, and take care of their bodies during the surrogacy process.
4. Emotional support: Surrogacy agencies provide surrogates with emotional support throughout the surrogacy process. Surrogates receive counseling and guidance to help them navigate the emotional complexities of surrogacy, ensuring they feel supported and cared for throughout the journey.
5. Sense of pride and accomplishment: Becoming a surrogate requires courage, selflessness, and a commitment to helping others. Surrogates can take pride in their decision to become a surrogate and the positive impact they have on the intended parents’ lives.

In conclusion, becoming a surrogate can bring many benefits, including the opportunity to help others, financial compensation, improved physical health, emotional support, and a sense of pride and accomplishment. While surrogacy is not for everyone, those who choose to become a surrogate can make a significant difference in the lives of intended parents while also experiencing personal fulfillment and growth.

Intended parents who need a surrogate mother can come from a variety of backgrounds and circumstances. Some reasons that intended parents may choose surrogacy include:

1. Medical conditions: Intended parents who have medical conditions that make pregnancy dangerous or impossible may choose surrogacy as an alternative to traditional pregnancy.
2. Same-sex couples: Same-sex male couples or single men who want to have a biological child.
3. Recurrent miscarriages: Intended parents who have experienced multiple miscarriages may choose surrogacy as a way to have a successful pregnancy and child.
4. Genetic concerns: Intended parents who have genetic concerns or a history of genetic disorders may choose surrogacy as a way to have a child without passing on those genetic disorders. In this case, they will use the egg or/sperm of an egg donor/sperm donor to help create the embryo.

In all cases, intended parents who choose surrogacy do so with the goal of having a child and building a family. Surrogacy can provide a viable option for those who many not be able to conceive or carry a child on their own.

No. The embryo is created with the sperm & egg from the intended parents. If they are unable to have viable sperm or egg they will use a sperm/egg donor if needed.

Our Giving Hope Surrogacy agency works only with gestational surrogates, the surrogate has no genetic relationship to the baby that she carries.

Gestational surrogacy is where the surrogate mother does not provide her own eggs. Instead, the intended mother or an egg donor provides the egg, which is fertilized with the intended father’s sperm or donor sperm through in vitro fertilization (IVF). The resulting embryo is then transferred to your uterus as the surrogate mother for implantation and pregnancy. As a surrogate mother you do not share the DNA with the baby, as the genetics come from the intended parents or donors.

The requirements for surrogates to have given birth to at least one child is required. The requirement is in place to ensure that you have had a successful pregnancy and delivery and are physically capable of carrying a pregnancy to term.

Additionally, having a child can provide valuable experience and insight into the surrogacy process, as the surrogate you understand the physical, emotional, and logistics of pregnancy and childbirth. This experience will help you as the surrogate mother to better understand and navigate the surrogacy journey.

We recommend that you have a personal relationship that is mutually beneficial for each other. During the pregnancy, you will have contact with the parents via text, phone and/or video calls. They will be with you during your delivery.

The type of relationship that you can have as a surrogate mother with the intended parents can vary depending on the individual circumstances and preferences of all parties involved. Some surrogates and intended parents choose to have a close and ongoing relationship throughout the surrogacy journey, while others may prefer to have a more professional relationship.

You will work together with the intended parents and the attorney to establish expectations and guidelines for communication and involvement throughout your surrogacy journey.

Some common types of relationships that may develop include:

1. Professional Relationship: In some cases, the intended parents and surrogate may prefer to have a strictly professional relationship, communicating only when necessary for medical or legal purposes.
2. Open Relationship: Other surrogacy arrangements may involve an open relationship, where the intended parents and the surrogate communicate regularly throughout the process and may even form a friendship or ongoing relationship after the baby is born.
3. Semi-Open Relationship: A semi-open relationship may involve some level of communication or involvement between the intended parents and surrogate, such as regular updates or occasional in-person meetings, while still maintaining some boundaries and privacy.

Ultimately, the type of relationship that develops between the surrogate and intended parents will depend on the preferences and comfort levels of all parties involved. It is essential to establish clear expectations and boundaries from the outset to ensure a positive and respectful experience for everyone involved.

Yes, if you have had no more than 3 c-sections.

No, we only work with gestational surrogates. The embryo that is created is from the intended parent(s)’ or donor eggs and sperm. The baby is not genetically related to you. The baby is genetically related to the parent(S) or the donors (egg/sperm) they used to create the embryo.

Yes, you can.

Unfortunately, you will not qualify if you have a depression diagnosis due to the physical and emotional efforts of being a surrogate.

Yes, you will not be disqualified from being a surrogate.

No, we will obtain an insurance policy for you to cover the surrogacy cycle.

Yes! As a surrogate your fallopian tubes and ovaries are not used.

To have your spouse or partners support and involvement is important throughout the surrogacy process. However, the requirements and expectations for partners of surrogates may vary depending on the individual circumstances and preferences of the intended parents. It is a requirement to be a surrogate through Giving Hope to have a supportive spouse or partner.

In general, some common expectations or requirements for partners of surrogates include:

1. Medical and Psychological Screening. You and your partner will be required to undergo medical and psychological screening to ensure you are both healthy and capable of supporting the surrogacy journey. The medical screening for your partner is to test for sexually transmitted diseases, drug and nicotine.
2. Background Check.
3. Legal Contract: You and your partner will be required to sign the legal contract between you and the intended parents, outlining your roles and responsibilities through the process.
4. Partners of surrogates play a valuable role in providing emotional support and encouragement throughout the surrogacy process.

No. If you receive any form of government assistance you are required to report your income.

A background check is required to become a surrogate to ensure that you and your spouse/ partner are eligible and suitable to participate in the surrogacy process. Background checks are designed to identify potential risks or issues that could impact the safety and wellbeing of the intended parents, the surrogate, or the child. Background checks are an important part of the surrogacy process to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved.

Some of the key reasons why a background check is required include:

1. Criminal History: A criminal history check can help identify any past convictions or legal issues that may be relevant to the surrogacy process.
2. Health History: A health history check can identify any underlying medical conditions or concerns that could impact your ability as a surrogate to carry a healthy pregnancy to term.
3. Financial Stability: A financial background check can help identify any issues with financial instability that could impact your ability to fulfill your contractual obligations.
4. Child Protection: A background check can also help ensure that you do not have a history of child protection concerns or

A BMI under 30 will help ensure that you are healthy and able to carry a pregnancy to term without significant medical complications.

A BMI that is too high can increase the risk of medical complications during pregnancy, such as gestational diabetes.

There are different types of surrogacy, each with its own unique process and legal implications. The three main types of surrogacy are traditional surrogacy, gestational surrogacy, and surrogate motherhood.

Traditional Surrogacy: In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate mother is the biological mother of the child. This is because the surrogate’s own eggs are used, either through artificial insemination or natural conception, and the surrogate carries the child to term. As a result, traditional surrogacy can lead to legal and emotional complexities, as the surrogate may have a genetic and legal relationship to the child.

Gestational Surrogacy: In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother does not use her own eggs but instead carries a fertilized embryo that has been created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) using the intended mother’s or a donor’s eggs and the intended father’s or a donor’s sperm. The embryo is transferred to the surrogate’s uterus, and the surrogate carries the child to term. As a result, the surrogate has no genetic relationship to the child, and there are fewer legal complexities involved.

Surrogate Motherhood: Surrogate motherhood is a type of surrogacy that involves a woman carrying a child for someone else or a couple without any genetic connection to the child. In this case, the surrogate mother carries the child for the intended parents using either the intended mother’s or a donor’s eggs and the intended father’s or a donor’s sperm. As in gestational surrogacy, the surrogate mother has no genetic relationship to the child and is only carrying the child to term on behalf of the intended parents.

In conclusion, the primary difference between traditional surrogacy, gestational surrogacy, and surrogate motherhood is whether or not the surrogate mother has a genetic relationship to the child. It is important to understand the legal and emotional complexities of each type of surrogacy before making a decision.