What Is a Surrogacy Arrangement?
When you and your partner are desperate to have a child of your own but are unable to or are having trouble becoming pregnant, surrogacy can be an excellent option.
Surrogacy is when a woman, known as the surrogate mother, carries a baby for another family, known as the intended parents. The intended parent or parents could be an individual, same-sex couple, couples who are infertile or unable to otherwise conceive, or anyone else who wants a child to be a part of their family.
Surrogacy can be complex. You will need to answer many questions and address many details, including your surrogacy contract. Continue reading to learn more about what a surrogacy arrangement is and what you can expect from yours.
Types of Surrogacy You Can Choose
There are two different routes you can take when choosing to move forward with a surrogate: traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy.
A traditional surrogacy arrangement is when the surrogate mother goes through the artificial insemination process with the sperm of the intended father or donor. Here, the surrogate mother’s own egg is fertilized, making her the biological mother of the child.
In a gestational surrogacy arrangement, the surrogate mother goes through in vitro fertilization. This is when the intended mother’s or donor’s egg is fertilized with the intended father’s or donor’s sperm and then implanted into the surrogate mother. The surrogate will then carry the child to term for the intended parent.
We can discuss these options in further detail with you before you make a decision, as there are benefits to both types of surrogacy. The right choice for you will depend on your unique situation.
Your Surrogacy Contract
The majority of successful surrogacy arrangements will feature a legally binding surrogacy contract. A well-constructed surrogacy contract will address every important detail, including the following:
- The surrogate’s responsibility to care for herself and the baby throughout the pregnancy
- Whether the intended parents will be present for prenatal appointments and the child’s birth
- Your financial agreement, which might discuss the surrogate mother’s compensation and the payment of medical bills
Your surrogacy contract will need to discuss scenarios that could occur throughout the pregnancy and how they’ll be handled. For instance, what will happen if the surrogate mother becomes pregnant with twins? What if she is placed on bed rest? What will your actions be if invasive procedures or termination of the pregnancy become necessary?
As you can see, a surrogacy contract may require the assistance of a highly trained attorney who can address these concerns, which might otherwise be too difficult or sensitive to discuss on your own.
Reach Out to Baby Steps Surrogacy Center, Inc.
If you are looking to expand your family with the help of a surrogate but aren’t sure where to turn, contact Baby Steps Surrogacy Center, Inc. today. Our agency has years of experience matching intended parents with surrogates who can provide them the child they’ve dreamed of for so long. We’ll find the right surrogacy arrangement for you and make sure no detail is overlooked.
You can can select one of the contact buttons at the top of the page or give us a call at 412-281-9906, and a representative will be in touch to schedule your initial appointment as soon as possible.