There are many wonderful couples who want nothing more than to start a family, but they are unable to do so on their own.
The pain these couples feel can be immense. Oftentimes, they feel deep down that nobody could be better parents than they could. It’s all they want — to share their home, their love, their life with a beautiful little baby. Yet, without help, they’ll never see this dream fulfilled.
That’s why considering being a surrogate is an amazing thing to do.
Thinking of being a surrogate is an opportunity to come alongside these hopeful parents in their journey — to be the missing piece in their family dream. It’s a process unlike any other, with personal, emotional and practical benefits. In the end, you have the opportunity to give the gift of family to people who want nothing more.
Southern Surrogacy provides a surrogacy program that is personalized, compassionate and trustworthy. We could be the surrogacy program for you. But, before we get to that, we want to make sure that you have all the information you need when you are deciding to be a surrogate.
Is Surrogacy Right for Me?
Does the problem faced by hopeful parents who are unable to have children motivate and inspire you to do something? If so, then it’s obvious that considering being a surrogate could be the right thing for you. A desire to act in response to the hopeful parents’ situation is a good sign.
However, it’s not the only thing to consider.
Becoming a surrogate (also called a gestational carrier) is a massive decision. It’s life changing, and it asks a lot of not only you, but also your family. Deciding to be a surrogate is not right for everyone. But, it could be right for you.
Is surrogacy right for me?
We’d encourage anyone asking this question to do three things:
- Continue researching. There’s a lot to read. In fact, we’ve created a whole set of guides to various aspects of this question, which you can find links to below.
- Talk to your partner. Surrogacy requires commitment and support from everyone involved, and that includes your family.
- Contact us today. One of our surrogacy professionals would love to speak with you.
Additionally, one of the first steps anyone deciding to be a surrogate can take is checking the requirements for surrogacy. For our gestational surrogacy program, these include:
- Be at least 21 years old
- Have a previous healthy pregnancy
- Be raising your own child in your home
- Be smoke- and drug-free
- Have a healthy BMI
- Be able to travel for surrogacy appointments
- Live in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee or Alabama
- And more
Pros and Cons of Being a Surrogate
What’s the first thing you do when you’re trying to make a big decision? For a lot of people, it’s coming up with a pros and cons list. You can use the same tactic if you are deciding to be a surrogate.
In order to truly understand what the pros and cons of being a surrogate would be for your life, you have to get a better understanding of the process. Our guide to how to become a surrogate will help with that.
Once you understand how surrogacy works, and what it requires of you, then you can think about the pros and cons of how it will impact your life. To start, here are a few common examples:
Pros of Deciding to Be a Surrogate
- Surrogacy is personally rewarding. It takes a kind, caring and courageous person to become a surrogate. When the process is over, you are left with the knowledge that you’ve just given the most precious gift possible to amazing parents.
- Deciding to be a surrogate allows you to experience pregnancy. Gestational carriers usually enjoy being pregnant. Through surrogacy, you can experience the joys of pregnancy again, even though your family is already complete.
- Surrogates are fairly compensated. Many women thinking of becoming a surrogate are more interested in the personal aspects of the process. However, the compensation is important, too. When you are deciding to be a surrogate, the best way to ensure you are fairly compensated is to work with a trusted surrogacy program, like ours.
Cons of Thinking of Being a Surrogate
- Deciding to be a surrogate can be physically taxing. Even for those who enjoy being pregnant, it still takes a physical toll. The side effects of pregnancy, and of some required surrogacy medications, can be uncomfortable.
- The surrogacy process can be emotional. Pregnancy can cause heightened emotions, and that can be especially challenging when you are carrying someone else’s baby. That’s why Southern Surrogacy offers counseling and support throughout the process.
- Considering being a surrogate requires commitment. Your life will be disrupted. Between appointments, meetings with the intended parents, time off work because of pregnancy, and the legal process, surrogacy can be both time-consuming and demanding.
You can take a deeper dive into the pros and cons of surrogacy by reading our complete guide.
What It’s Like to Be a Surrogate
There are two sides to this question.
First, there’s the process — the logistical details of finding a match, the medical steps, compensation, carrying the pregnancy, the hospital plan and more. All of that is very important, and understanding the process before committing to it is always a good idea.
However, when you’re considering being a surrogate, the other side might be more important. That’s what it is like — personally and emotionally — to be a surrogate.
Yes, surrogacy is a legal contract. And yes, it’s a medical process. But more than either of those, surrogacy is a life-changing personal journey. To truly understand what that’s like, you might find it helpful to hear from other gestational carriers.
“The thought of being able to help someone comes easy to me,” Jenna, a gestational carrier who worked with Southern Surrogacy, said. “Southern Surrogacy, they are just awesome. They are always there to see if there’s anything I need. They’ve always made me feel comfortable and answered any question that I had.”
To learn more about what it’s like to be a surrogate and hear from more gestational carriers like Jenna, read this guide.
Are There Any Risks When Considering Being a Surrogate?
Surrogacy is a complex and nuanced process. It involves a legal contract, high-level medical procedure, unique emotions and, of course, labor and delivery. With all of that, there’s bound to be some risk involved in considering being a surrogate.
We believe that you should be fully aware of the risks before committing to the process. Our goal is never to persuade someone to become a surrogate. Instead, our team is committed to providing all of the necessary information so that you can choose for yourself if deciding to be a surrogate is right.
Here are several things to considering before becoming a surrogate:
- The unique emotions of carrying someone else’s child
- The physical stress of pregnancy
- Your comfort level with surrogacy medications
- The disruption to work because of pregnancy
- The disruption to personal life because of pregnancy
- The potential need to travel to the intended parents’ fertility clinic
- Taking time for appointments and meetings
To read more about the risks of deciding to be a surrogate (and how we minimize those risks), take a look at our complete guide.
Questions if You Are Thinking of Being a Surrogate
There’s plenty to think about here. We’d encourage you to read out complete guides to how the process works, the pros and cons of surrogacy, what it’s like to be a gestational carrier and the risks of surrogacy.
As you’re reading, keep in mind that deciding to be a surrogate will be different for everyone. Your priorities, hopes and desires for the process will be unique to you. While reading, keep these questions in mind as a way to help determine whether or not becoming a surrogate is right for you.
- Do I enjoy pregnancy enough to carry someone else’s baby?
- Do I feel excited when I read about the process?
- Does my partner feel excited when they read about the process?
- Do I have a support network that will help with some of the disruptions caused by the process?
- Do I feel a desire to speak with a surrogacy professional to learn more?
If you find yourself saying, “yes,” to that final question, then it may be time to contact Southern Surrogacy.
How Southern Surrogacy Can Help
Southern Surrogacy was founded by a group of professional attorneys who wanted to create a one-of-a-kind surrogacy program. With our legal background, we can help you feel completely confident and protected throughout your process, minimizing your risks and maximizing the rewards.
But, it’s more than just that. Our surrogacy program is built to provide personalized support, so that you experience the kind of surrogacy process that is just right for you. We focus on regional matches of surrogates and intended parents who reside in the South, creating a more direct relationship that allows everyone to be involved in the pregnancy.
Our team of surrogacy professionals has experience and expertise. We are always able to provide the guidance, support and services you need at every step of the process.
Contact Us Today
Is surrogacy right for me?
We can help you find the right answer. Contact us today to speak with a helpful surrogacy professional. We are happy to answer your questions, help you decide if surrogacy is right, and direct you in taking the next steps toward beginning our surrogacy program.
