Surrogacy has always been popular among celebrities. However, this practice has become more popular every year, and we see how more people, not solely the super-rich and famous, decide to do it. Most recently, the Australian actress Rebel Wilson announced the birth of her daughter vias surrogate. She described her as a “beautiful miracle” and expressed immense gratitude to the “gorgeous” surrogate mother.
The process is becoming more and more recurrent. Actors like Anthony Rapp, who wanted to begin his family alongside his partner, were given this possibility thanks to surrogacy. And even though it has become more popular, this hasn’t led people to carry judgment to this choice, just like Hilaria Baldwin told People Magazine, remembering all the hateful comments she received. But she ended the interview with a great quote we would like to share.
“There are some that are committed to misunderstanding, there are those who choose to judge if they don’t get it, there are those who are afraid to ask because they know our world is shut down by fear of saying the wrong thing and offending, and then there are those who welcome love in all its different shapes and sizes,”
That is precisely the main issue—the misunderstanding of how this process works and what goes behind it. We would like to answer two of the most critical questions in this article. First, how do women become surrogate mothers and second, how much is a surrogate mother paid in the US?
How do women become surrogate mothers?
The first topic of concern is understanding the different types of surrogacy. There are two types: traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy.
In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is also the child’s genetic mother. The intended father’s or a donor’s sperm is used for intrauterine insemination (IUI) with the surrogate mother. The baby comes directly from the surrogate’s egg.
In gestational surrogacy, the surrogate is not the child’s genetic mother. There is a procedure of in vitro fertilization. This combines the sperm from the intended father/sperm donor with the egg of the intended mother/egg donor. Then they transfer the embryo to the surrogate mother’s uterus. The pregnancy will follow its regular course afterward.
In First Step of Surrogacy, for instance, we work with Gestational surrogacy.
We have developed a 7-step process for you to know more about how to become a surrogate mother:
Pre-screening: First, you fill out an application. If your application is selected, you pass through pre-screening tests such as medical and background checks.
Consultation: You will have a reunion in person, via video, or by call, depending on your case, with a social worker or case manager who will offer a complete surrogacy consultation.
Matching: Your profile gets matched with the intended parents. Once we identify a good match, the two profiles can be exchanged, and you can have a video call to determine if you are willing to partner.
Medical Screening: You have a medical screening appointment at the in vitro fertilization clinic (IVF) to check your health.
Legal process: You have negotiations with your lawyer, who does the legal contracts and paperwork, according to your agreement with the intended parents.
Medical procedure: You will begin receiving surrogate medications and attend doctor appointments to monitor if your body responds well to the treatment. Once your body is ready, you will have the embryo transfer. After the specialist transfers the embryo, if everything goes well, it gets implanted and results in a successful pregnancy.
Pregnancy: You will have some pregnancy tests to confirm you are pregnant. After that, you will have an ultrasound and routine doctor appointments to ensure you and the baby are healthy.
You can learn more on our page and see this explanatory video:
How much is a surrogate mother paid in the US?
Women who become surrogate mothers get compensation for going through this process. It is a very generous payment and includes benefits throughout the pregnancy. The exact amount depends on several factors:
A surrogate can earn between $40,000 to $80,000, including expenses. Every surrogacy case is unique; therefore, how much a surrogate makes depends on the gestational mother’s experience (first-time surrogate vs. experienced surrogates), the health insurance used, the state she lives in, and the specific arrangement.
The total surrogate compensation is divided into two pieces: the base compensation and the additional compensation.
During the gestational surrogacy process, women get paid a fixed base compensation for the effort, emotional, and physical demands involved in carrying a surrogate pregnancy. This base compensation (also known as direct compensation) is a flat rate negotiated before the embryo transfer and specified in your surrogacy contract.
The base pay for surrogates in the USA ranges from $30,000 to $60,000+.
Apart from the monthly base compensation, women can receive additional cash payments and reimbursements to cover other surrogacy-related things before and during the pregnancy and after the baby’s birth. Therefore, although surrogates generally earn a base compensation of $30,000 to $60,000+ in most agencies, they can receive a total compensation of $46,750 to $79,900 with the added benefits and payments they get during the process.
Also, surrogates receive no monetary benefits such as counsel, legal support, insurance, and social work support that help you have a smooth surrogacy journey. These are some of the benefits you could receive:
Pre-pregnancy payments
Home care and personal payments
Childcare, travel, and lost wages payments
Recovery payment
Additional compensation (varies by Journey)
Get to know more about how much does a surrogate mother make? You could also inquire about egg donation and how this process works.
Conclusion:
Before making judgments regarding the decision of another person to have a surrogacy, it’s good to have all the facts together and know how the process works. The surrogate mother’s mental and physical health is always the priority, and disregarding all of the points is unnecessary.
We will keep hearing stories about celebrities deciding to choose surrogacy to begin their families now and then. It’s alleviating to know that surrogate mothers are getting compensation for this fantastic and selfless process. There is no doubt that surrogacy will continue.
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