Becoming a surrogate is a wonderful and life-changing thing. Your generous gift will make a family complete, and you can rest assured that you will forever hold a special place in the hearts of those you assist. If you have decided to help people make their dreams come true, there are three simple steps on the path to becoming a surrogate.

  1. Apply and Verify Your Candidacy

Because of the sensitive nature of surrogacy, everyone will want to be sure you’re able to have a healthy pregnancy in advance. This means you must be a healthy non-smoker between the ages of 21 and 40, must have already had at least one “easy” delivery, and must have at least one of your children living with you. SPS will verify that you’re financially stable, have reliable transportation, and that you’re genuinely interested in helping. Most of this information will be gathered in your application. Cristie Montgomery will also want to visit you in your home, and will complete a profile about you to show to prospective parents. After this, you’ll also meet with a psychologist, who will ensure you’re prepared for becoming a surrogate.

  1. Meet Intended Parents

Part of an agency’s job is to look out for your interests and make sure you stay protected throughout the entire process. SPS will also match gestational surrogates up with those who want children, who are referred to as “intended parents.” People are generally matched up based on values, location, and preferences. Individuals are shown the profiles of those who seem ideal, and then both parties have the option to meet. Everyone has time to discuss important details, and an agency representative will be present to help ensure that all possible issues are addressed. Following the meeting, everyone will be given time to reflect and make a decision independently. If you or the intended parents would like to keep searching for a better match, you’ll be introduced to more profiles. If everyone agrees to move forward, you’ll move on to the next step of becoming a surrogate.

  1. Undergo a Medical Evaluation

The medical evaluation is the last step on the path to becoming a surrogate. You’ll need to have a physical exam performed by the intended parent’s doctor, and he’ll likely want to perform some tests and have an ultrasound done. He’ll also review the records from your previous pregnancies and deliveries, to make sure you’re capable of having a healthy, uneventful pregnancy.

After the doctor clears you for becoming a surrogate, you are officially part of the team. You’ll get to move on to the really exciting part: making and growing a baby. The preliminary steps discussed here are quite simple, though they’re absolutely necessary, as they help ensure the pregnancy is uneventful and that the baby will be as healthy. SPS will be also there to guide you the entire time, and will stay by your side to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.