It’s important to know what to look for in a surrogate

In gestational surrogacy at VCRM, a woman, known as a gestational carrier or surrogate, carries another family’s baby. Gestational surrogacy allows hopeful parents who are physically unable to carry a child to use their own eggs and sperm to have a baby. Surrogacy can also use donor eggs and sperm.

Many men and women want to know what to look for in a surrogate. A surrogate can be a family member, friend or stranger. Once the gestational surrogacy arrangement has been made, VCRM will work with you and your surrogate to perform the necessary fertility treatments.

What to look for in a surrogate

There are many characteristics that hopeful parents may want to look for in a surrogate. Our Virginia fertility center recommends looking at the following criteria.

• Pregnancy history is an important factor. Potential surrogates should have had at least one successful pregnancy, but no more than five vaginal births or three C-section births.
• Family relationships are also important to consider. A surrogate’s family should support the surrogacy arrangement and the surrogate’s pregnancy shouldn’t cause undue stress to her family.
• Psychological health should also be considered. Psychological screening and counseling are recommended for both surrogates and hopeful parents.
• Physical health is an important consideration. A potential surrogate should be healthy enough to maintain a pregnancy and should be screened for medical issues that could be passed on to an unborn child. VCRM screens hopeful parents and potential surrogates before beginning treatment to make sure that the process is as safe as possible.

Good communication is key

A gestational surrogacy arrangement can be complicated by medical and legal issues that arise during and after the pregnancy. Careful prescreening of a potential surrogate can help hopeful parents avoid bumps in the road.

It is important that everyone’s interests are fairly represented before, during and after the pregnancy. To make sure that all parties are on an equal-footing throughout the gestational surrogacy process, VCRM requires that hopeful parents and surrogates have legal counsel.

In addition to having legal counsel, communication can work wonders in a gestational surrogacy arrangement. When unforeseen issues arise, everyone can benefit from a foundation of comfortable communication. Hopeful parents should ensure that their surrogate knows how she will be compensated and understands the potential medical risks of gestational surrogacy. All parties should have a clear understanding of the others’ expectations and hopes for the relationship during and after the pregnancy.

If you believe that your family planning would be aided by using a surrogate, please contact our office for more information.