Finding the right surrogate to help fulfill your dreams of parenthood is an exciting and important step in the process.
Our aim is to provide you with a sense of comfort, knowing that we prioritize the well-being and eligibility of our surrogates, ensuring that they are the best match for you. By thoroughly screening each surrogate, we strive to create the perfect foundation for a successful surrogacy journey.
Our Surrogate Qualifications
You should feel confident in your surrogate match. We adhere to ASRM guidelines that are not only designed to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the surrogate, but also to provide you with peace of mind throughout the surrogacy process. Just a few of these ASRM guidelines include:
- 21-40 years old
- BMI of 19-32
- Have had at least one successful pregnancy
- No major pregnancy or delivery complications
- Be currently raising a child
- No felony convictions
Ensuring that our surrogates meet these qualifications is a vital step towards building a solid foundation for a successful pregnancy. We also conduct additional screenings to gain an overall understanding of her health, financial well-being and emotional readiness before presenting her as a potential match to you and your family.
How We Screen Our Surrogates
1. Social and Medical History Forms
- Medical history: During this step, we ask the surrogate to sign a medical release allowing us to access her medical records from previous pregnancies and deliveries. Additionally, we require a recommendation from her OB-GYN, verifying that she is a suitable candidate for surrogacy.
- Social history: We also delve into a surrogate's social history because we want to understand her motivations for choosing surrogacy. Our surrogacy specialists are here to address any concerns that may arise from the social history form, discussing them with the surrogate openly.
2. In-home Assessment and Background Checks
- In-home assessment: Because our surrogates are required to be actively raising a child during their surrogate pregnancy, it's essential for us to get a glimpse of the home environment they provide. A licensed social worker will interview all the adults in the household to understand their thoughts and perspectives on surrogacy.
- Background check: While the home assessment is underway, our specialists conduct background checks, including general, criminal, and child abuse screenings on the surrogate. These checks ensure that she can create a safe and nurturing environment while carrying your child.
3. Medical and Psychological Evaluations
- Medical evaluation: We want to ensure that any surrogate you match with is physically and mentally prepared for the journey ahead. To do this, we require all surrogates to complete a screening done by a fertility clinic.
- Psychological evaluation: A surrogate's mental health is just as important as her physical health. That's why we require all our surrogates to sit down with a psychologist who can provide them with the necessary tools to navigate and respond to a range of emotions and situations throughout the surrogacy process. If your surrogate’s insurance is not surrogacy-friendly, your specialist will secure a policy that is, which will be included in the flat fee you pay.
4. Insurance Review
Lastly, we have a third party company review the surrogate’s health insurance to understand how it will factor into the surrogacy journey throughout her pregnancy.
Still have questions? Call 1-800-875-2229 or fill out our contact form to get the peace of mind you deserve today.