Aside from the morning sickness and swollen feet, pregnancy is a breeze for most women. While most women are hormonally balanced to want to bear a child, some are unable to do so for medical reasons. Reasons a woman can’t bear her own child can include (but are not limited to) preexisting conditions or a predisposition to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. For women who are unable to bear a child on their own, a surrogate is a happy alternative.
For women who are physically capable of bearing children, but do not want children of their own, surrogacy can be a great way to help women who do want them but cannot have them.
The question is – what does it take to become a surrogate?
Who Can Become a Surrogate?
If you are interested in becoming a surrogate, the first step is learning more about what it takes. While family, friends, or even strangers of the intended parents can become surrogate mothers, there are certain requirements a woman must meet in order to qualify to be a surrogate.
Age Limitations: With age, comes the risk of medical complications during pregnancy. While the age range will vary from one company to the next. Most surrogacy companies look for women between the ages of 21 and 41 years of age.
Physical Health: In order to have a healthy pregnancy, you have to be a generally healthy person beforehand. Body mass index plays a factor in many health problems with pregnancy and applicants with a very high or very low body mass index may not be accepted into surrogacy positions. In order to be a good surrogate mother, a woman needs to be committed to taking necessary steps to reduce complications during pregnancy as well. This means taking care of your health during pregnancy which includes following doctor recommended prenatal care, prenatal medical screenings, and having a healthy diet.
Psychologically Healthy: Women who have had postpartum depression or have been on medications for their mental health may not be applicable in the program or may have to have been off of their medications for some time before being considered a surrogate.
Home Life: When you are pregnant you must have a fairly good home life and support system on your side. Spouses, partners, blood relatives all play a key role in stress levels and if an emergency should occur.
What Are Some Legalities Concerning Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is an agreement between people to get a child. What many people who seek out surrogates do not know, is if the person carrying the baby decides to keep the baby, she has the legal right to do so. Once the child has been born the arranged parents can either file adoption paperwork or request a parental order. Adoption can be done any time, but parental orders must be granted before the child turns six months old.
Becoming a surrogate is one of many selfless acts that one can do for another person or family. As a surrogate mother, you are helping a couple who wants a family, but has been unable to create one on their own for one reason or another. The process of becoming a surrogate may seem rigorous or complicated, but the joy of knowing you helped a couple create the family they longed for is well worth the time you will invest in the process.