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A gestational surrogate is a woman who is able and agrees to carry a pregnancy for another person. The intended mother provides her genetic material via her egg (or occasionally from an egg donor), the intended father provides his sperm (or a sperm donor), and through in vitro fertilization (IVF), an embryo is created. This embryo may then be transferred to the gestational carrier.

Surrogates are women of all different backgrounds who want to help other prospective parents add to their families. There are plenty of misconceptions about the women who become surrogates, but, in the end, they’re just women who are able to help build a family. While their situations can vary significantly, all surrogates must meet certain requirements before they can be matched with intended parents. Eligibility requirements include:

• Be within a specified age range
• Have a healthy BMI
• Abstain from smoking and drug use
• Have previously carried at least one healthy pregnancy with no major complications
• Receive no governmental assistance
• Be able to travel to and from appointments
• Have no felony convictions
• Submit medical and drug history information
• Complete background checks and an in-home assessment
• Complete a psychological evaluation and medical workup

Yes! If you don’t have medical insurance, a surrogate-specific medical insurance can be purchased for you by the intended parent(s) during your pregnancy.

Once your medical records are received and reviewed, it can take anywhere between a few weeks to several months to get matched. We want to assure we find the strongest match that adheres to your and the Intended Parent(s) preferences and goals. Your surrogate coordinator will give you instructions in downloading apps to meet over Skype/WeChat.

The decision to be a gestational carrier for an individual or couple is mutually agreed upon by you and the other party. The relationship between you and the parent(s) you work with is of the utmost importance to us. We take the matching process very seriously and your role in this process is of utmost importance.

If married, a surrogate’s spouse must agree to the legal terms of the surrogacy contract, because they’ll need to confirm that they claim no parental rights and be aware of other important responsibilities and risks. The support and excitement of the entire family is helpful and essential to the surrogate during the process.

That will depend on the individual relationship and the preferences of those involved. Most surrogacy partners find that they enjoy staying in touch before, during and even after the journey. Other partners prefer less contact and will be content to go their separate ways after the baby is born.

All funds related to your surrogacy will be held in a trust account that is managed by an independent attorney or an experienced escrow company, so that all monies due for your surrogate fees and reimbursement of related expenses are paid in a timely manner. All financial matters will be handled by the surrogacy agency, removing this component from your relationship with the intended parents.

You will start receiving your monthly allowance upon receiving legal clearance. Once a viable pregnancy is confirmed by a heartbeat ultrasound performed by the IVF specialist, you will start receiving monthly installments the first of the following month via direct deposit or check, until delivery takes place. The balance, if any, will be due to you upon delivery.

Making this decision should be done with great thought and care. Elite Women Surrogacy distinguishes itself from other agencies through the unparalleled support and understanding we provide to each of our clients. We work closely with our surrogate mothers and intended parents; keeping the interactions personal, and making ourselves available to minimize the opportunity for stress. Our agency began as a result of our founder’s experience of having worked with infertile couples for many years, and having been a surrogate mother twice herself, she made it her mission to create an agency that would provide its clients with the most rewarding, valuable, and fulfilling experience possible.

One thing to know about surrogacy law, is that there is no federal law governing surrogacy. This means that each state has their own surrogacy laws and go about surrogacy in slightly different ways. Most states however are surrogacy friendly. Out of the 50 states, only four (New York, Michigan, Nebraska and Louisiana) don’t allow surrogacy and view surrogacy contracts as illegal. These laws only apply to the location of the surrogate mother and not the intended parents. The intended parents may reside in any country or state as long as they use a surrogate who lives in a friendly surrogate place.

Search the internet: RESEARCH! RESEARCH! RESEARCH! Search for reputable agencies. Do no limit your options to only agencies near you as they might no always be the best option. Don’t let distance be a major factor when deciding on your ideal agency.

Review groups on Facebook: Though this is one of the best ways to decide on whether or not a particular agency is right for you, it is a bit trickier as you will need to be granted access onto the group by the admin. To speed up the approval process, try messaging the admin of the group. These groups are great, as surrogates are able to remain private (within the group) which means that they do not hold back on their honest opinions.

Craiglist: Most agencies will advertise on Craigslist, simply search “surrogate mothers” or “surrogacy” to view their ads. Red Flags: Beware of the agencies that advertise outrageous compensations (for first time surrogates). If it seems too good to be true, chances are it is.

Yelp: Most agencies will have a Yelp page, though they won’t have many reviews as this is a more public site and a majority of surrogates like to remain private and this particular site does not allow for any anonymity.

Interview the Agency: Call the agencies and interview them! Ask to see if you can speak to prior surrogates or intended parents regarding their experiences. Make sure to have a list of questions ready!

Due to the current circumstances surrounding the Covid-19 virus, the following changes have temporarily taken place as precaution and public safety:

• Intake meetings with surrogates will occur via video conference
• Meetings between surrogates and intended parents will occur via video conference
• Case manager will be meet the surrogate for their embryo transfer but will not go inside the clinic room (per clinic’s regulations)
• Depending on the hospital’s guidelines, only one support person will be allowed during delivery