Surrogacy has come a long way in the past couple of decades, and the Internet is full of misinformation. Whether you’re looking into surrogacy as a parent-to-be or as a potential surrogate mother, it’s important to know the real facts from a reputable source before you make any decisions. This page contains answers to four of the most commonly-asked questions, to help you better understand what surrogacy is about.

  1. Will I Get to Choose Who I Work With?

Nowadays, surrogacy is about finding the right match. Intended parents want to be involved during the pregnancy, and surrogate mothers want the comfort of knowing their values are in line with the intended parents. Therefore, great care is taken to match up the right intended parents with the ideal surrogate mother for their circumstances. Everyone gets to meet in advance, and they have time to carefully consider candidates before going forward.

  1. What Happens if I Have a Disagreement with the Other Party?

Disagreements are incredibly rare when the right people are matched with each other. With the help of an agency, everyone is brought together as a team to discuss all the potential issues before anything begins. That way, there’s a custom-made roadmap ahead of time that everyone agrees upon. The plan includes numerous scenarios so that nothing is left to chance.

  1. Does the Surrogate Mother Have Rights to the Child?

Modern surrogacy is generally referred to as gestational surrogacy. The woman who carries the child has no biological relationship to him or her. Because of this, she also has no legal rights to the baby one he or she is born.

  1. What Happens After the Baby is Born?

Most of the time intended parents and surrogates form a bond throughout the pregnancy. They’ve gone through nine or more months working as a team to have a healthy pregnancy and create a life. The intended parents often attend doctor visits and meet with the surrogate mother repeatedly over that period of time, and the relationship that blossoms is both beautiful and strong. Though there is no legal requirement to continue contact after the baby is born, most people do. Some people intertwine their lives while others simply exchange cards or letters once a year. The relationship afterwards is different in every situation and is as unique as the parties involved.

There are a lot of questions that can and should be answered before going down this path. This is why it’s important to work with an agency that has experience and knows how to cover all the bases. A good agency will take the time to answer any questions you may have, and will preemptively answer the ones you have not yet thought of. It will also act as a matchmaker and mediator, to ensure the process goes as smooth as possible for all parties involved. If you’re considering becoming a surrogate mother, or you’d like to complete your family, be sure to seek the advice of a reputable agency before entering into any agreements.