One of the most important decisions you will make as a family is choosing a surrogate. Surrogates are charged with a very high level of responsibility and care. So there are many factors to consider when making this choice. Ultimately, who you choose is truly a personal decision that you should make as a family. However, we wanted to offer some guidance to help you make an informed decision and find the surrogate that meets all your needs.
Who Chooses To Become A Surrogate?
When starting the process, it is important to understand the women who choose to provide surrogacy. Surrogacy is a very large sacrifice and so typically, the women who become surrogates are humanitarians. They are women who love children, often have children of their own, and want to bring joy to those who struggle with expanding their families. Surrogates take their role very seriously and do so to help others realize their dream of becoming parents. Finding the right surrogate really comes down to the unique needs of your family.
What Criteria Should You Consider When Choosing A Surrogate?
The criteria that you should consider for choosing a surrogate is a very personal. However, there are some things that all parents should consider before making their choice:
● Health History: The health of the baby depends so much on the health of the mother. It is really important to choose a surrogate that is at optimal health and has no lingering chronic illnesses. Ideally, it will also be a woman who has had prior pregnancies without complications or a challenging birth.
● Lifestyle: It’s very important to look at the overall lifestyle of your surrogate to ensure that she is engaged in healthy living. You want someone who will not smoke, drink, or engage in other lifestyle activities that are not conducive to a healthy pregnancy. Some parents even put in specific lifestyle requests to their surrogates. For example, they may ask the surrogate to only eat organic food or take prenatal vitamins.
● Age: On average, surrogates range in age from 21 to 40. The reason is because this is the age range that women have the healthiest pregnancies and the least chance of birthing complications. Do keep in mind that gestational surrogates do not use their own eggs, so age is not as important of a factor as overall health and lifestyle.
● Support System: Pregnancy is difficult and there will be moments the surrogate needs support. Choosing a surrogate who is married or has a large network of friends and family can help them during these challenges. This will help protect the baby from stress, in medical emergencies, and against any other hardships.
● Location: Most people look for a surrogate that resides near them. However, this is not the best strategy as not all states or even countries have laws for surrogacy. We’ve all seen the legal battles that can take place and lead to heartbreak. So when selecting, make sure that you choose a surrogate in a location that will ensure you have full parental rights from the moment of implantation until the baby is born.
● Connection: Finally, the most important criteria, the connection between parents and surrogates, is the hardest to define. Sometimes it is simply a gut feeling that is the right one for your family. This intangible connection makes everyone feel confident and comfortable during the process. It also ensures that you have a lot of trust that your surrogate is caring for your baby as they would care for their own and they trust that you’ll care for your baby the way they have in their womb.
There are other considerations when selecting a surrogate, but know that if you work with the right surrogacy agency, all of your criteria and needs will be met.
Why Consider A Surrogate From The Republic Of Georgia?
The Republic of Georgia is one of the few countries in the world that have clearly defined laws around surrogacy. The laws are very clear about who is allowed to become a surrogate and what is the role of a surrogate. There are also regulatory bodies that provide oversight during the entire process. Finally, the laws ensure that the parents are listed on the birth certificate and not the surrogate. These laws ensure that surrogacy goes smoothly and the time, trouble, and resources invested are not lost to heartbreak.
Choosing your surrogate is one of the hardest decisions you’ll ever make. Luckily, the surrogacy experts at Stork Surrogacy will help you at every step of the way. We take the time to get to know each of our clients on a personal level. That way, we can match them with the best possible surrogacy candidates. To learn more, fill out our contact form online. We’ll be happy to answer any questions and help you start your journey to becoming new parents.