How to Become a Surrogate Mother

By Lillian Downey on January 4, 2011

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Some women really enjoy being pregnant.

Some women are just really good at being pregnant. They enjoy the process, feel healthy during pregnancy and deliver with minimal complications. If this sounds like you, surrogacy may be a great way for you to give back to society. Couples who can't have children, or who choose not to, use surrogates to complete their families. Becoming a surrogate requires a bit of a process, but once you get through it, the rewards may be worth it.

Step 1

Have a child of your own. Most agencies that match surrogates with parents require that you've had at least one healthy pregnancy and delivery. This helps ensure your body will be able to meet the demands of conception, pregnancy and labor.

Step 2

Familiarize yourself with the types of surrogacy. There's gestational and genetic surrogacy. Gestational surrogacy usually involves insemination by sperm provided by the intended parents using your egg. Genetic surrogacy is more medically invasive and involves having an embryo created from the intended parent's egg and sperm implanted into your uterus.

Step 3

Register with a surrogacy agency in your area. Agencies are aware of all the medical and legal considerations that come with surrogacy. They'll also do all the work of matching you with perspective parents.

Step 4

Submit to the necessary medical testing. The agency will need to make sure you're a safe genetic match for the couple's sperm. They'll also test your overall health. Some agencies require surrogates undergo a psychiatric evaluation to make sure they'll be able to deliver a baby, then hand the evaluation over to the intended parents.

Step 5

Interview with couples matched to you by the agency. Discuss the type of surrogacy in which they're interested as well as their values regarding how you care for yourself during pregnancy and how you'll deliver your baby. Some parents, for example, prefer all-natural childbirth with no pain medications. Chat until you determine if you'd be a good match.

Step 6

Consult the laws in your state to determine how the intended parents can compensate you for your service. Most states allow intended parents to pay the medical and other associated costs of pregnancy, but do not allow cash payments to the surrogate.

Step 7

Work with the agency, the couple and their attorney to create a detailed and specific contract that outlines how medical bills, doctors visits, prenatal care, delivery and transfer of parental rights will occur. When all parties agree on the contract terms, proceed with the conception process.

About the Author

Lillian Downey began writing professionally in 2008. She served as editor-in-chief of "Nexus Journal of Literature and Art" and as an assistant fiction editor at the prestigious "Antioch Review." She attended Wright State University, where she studied creative writing, women's studies, and health care.