If you are thinking about applying to be a surrogate, you may have noticed that there are some pretty universal surrogate requirements that you need to fulfill before you can actually submit a formal application to be a surrogate. Since surrogates are going through a medical procedure and getting paid to be a surrogate, it makes sense that they need to meet some necessary qualifications. Note that sometimes known surrogates (i.e., someone in the intended parents’ families) may not need to meet all of these requirements.

This is a very special process that you want to be a part of, but you shouldn’t do so at the risk of your health or the health of the baby you will carry. All surrogate mothers need to do quite a bit of emotional labor as well as physical labor.

Not everyone can be a surrogate, but if you are dedicated, you have a good chance of meeting the surrogate mother requirements.

You Need To Be Healthy Enough To Carry A Pregnancy

Good health is essential before taking on the role of carrying a pregnancy. It benefits both the surrogate and the baby. While health standards can vary, there are key guidelines to follow for a healthy pregnancy journey.

Age is a major factor in reproductive health. The ideal age range for surrogacy is between 21 and 40 years. These are considered the best years for reproductive health, offering higher chances for a successful and healthy pregnancy.

Lifestyle choices also play a significant role. It’s important for surrogates to avoid smoking entirely. This includes all tobacco products and e-cigarettes. Living in a smoke-free environment is vital for the fetus’s development.

Avoiding recreational drugs is another strict rule. Our policy is clear: no vaping, drug use, or similar activities. These habits can harm both the surrogate and the baby’s health.

Body mass index (BMI) is another important consideration. Keeping a BMI of 30 or below is recommended. Research links a healthy BMI to lower risks of complications like gestational diabetes and hypertension. A balanced diet and regular exercise can help maintain a suitable BMI for pregnancy.

Mental health is just as crucial as physical health. A comprehensive psychological evaluation ensures that surrogates are mentally prepared for the emotional aspects of pregnancy. This check assesses emotional strength, understanding of the surrogacy process, and readiness for the journey.

Medical screenings are mandatory too. These tests check for STDs, HIV, Hepatitis, and more. They ensure the surrogate and baby are protected from transmissible diseases.

By following these health guidelines, surrogates greatly increase their chances of a healthy pregnancy. It’s about creating the best start for the baby. Each guideline followed is a step towards a successful surrogacy experience.

You Need To Live In The Right Place

Sadly where or how you live can disqualify you from the surrogacy process. Currently, you need to live in any of the following states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington DC, West Virginia or Wisconsin. You must be a legal US citizen in many cases and have a legal right to work in the US.

There are some programs where you can be an international surrogate. Often, the requirements are the same for an international surrogate, but it can be harder to keep track of the surrogate. This isn’t recommended in many cases.

You Need To Be Self Sufficient

Becoming a surrogate requires independence and stability in your finances and day-to-day life. Surrogates should not depend on government assistance for basics like housing, food, or healthcare. This ensures they have a secure environment, showing they can manage without federal or state aid. Stability here is key to being ready for pregnancy’s demands and stresses.

It’s worth mentioning, though, not all financial aid affects your chance to be a surrogate. Student loans, for example, don’t disqualify you. They’re seen as part of personal growth, not financial instability.

Having reliable transportation is important too. Owning a car with insurance shows you’re ready to handle the surrogacy process’s many appointments and tasks. It means surrogates can get around on their own, keeping things smooth and reliable.

Support from intended parents or agencies is great, but being able to look after your own needs is crucial. Handling your transport, food, and clothing shows strength and confidence. Plus, the money you get from surrogacy typically helps cover these personal expenses, supporting you while keeping you independent.

Compensation is carefully planned to respect the surrogate’s role without affecting their self-reliance. This ensures surrogates feel supported and valued, ready to help create new families with their incredible gift.

Your Own Family Needs To Be Complete

Before considering surrogacy, it’s crucial to ensure your own family is complete. The journey of pregnancy carries inherent uncertainties that could potentially impact your future fertility. Although the risks are low, the possibility of complications from surrogacy affecting your ability to have more children later cannot be ignored. Therefore, having a sense of completeness in your family before embarking on the surrogacy path is wise. This careful consideration is about protecting your emotional and physical health, ensuring your generous act of helping another family doesn’t interfere with your own family aspirations.

Moreover, a prerequisite for surrogacy is having experienced at least one uncomplicated pregnancy that was carried to term. This criterion is multifaceted: it not only demonstrates your capability to sustain a pregnancy successfully, thereby minimizing surrogacy risks, but it also signals a solid track record of reproductive health, offering reassurance to all parties involved. The requirement to have retained custody of your child(ren) underscores the need for a stable and responsible surrogate. It verifies that potential surrogates possess not just the physical health necessary for a successful pregnancy but also a supportive and secure environment to undertake this responsibility.

Advising against planning for more children post-surrogacy is based on a realistic appraisal of the complexities—both medical and emotional—involved in carrying a child for another family. While many surrogates have successfully expanded their families afterwards, it’s prudent to acknowledge the potential for unforeseen changes to one’s fertility. By prioritizing the completion of your family beforehand, you approach surrogacy with a clear mind, free from concerns about impacting your own family’s future.

Individuals contemplating surrogacy are thus encouraged to engage in profound reflection on their life and family dynamics. This level of introspection ensures that surrogates are thoroughly prepared for the emotional and physical demands of the surrogacy process. Such a thoughtful and comprehensive approach aims to make the surrogacy experience enriching and positive for surrogates, intended parents, and, most importantly, the children brought into the world through this remarkable act of kindness and cooperation.

Why Are There So Many Surrogate Requirements?

Often, people think that the surrogacy requirements are too strict for someone who is doing what is essentially a service to the intended parents. However, these are medical and legal requirements in many cases that have been defined to protect the health of both the surrogate and the newborns. If you come across an agency that does not have such strict requirements, it could be a sign that you may not want to work with them.

If you have any questions about the surrogate requirements listed above or the gestational surrogate process, please don’t hesitate to call us at (949) 363-9525.