How to Explain Surrogacy to a Child

When it comes to explaining certain real-life situations to kids, like “What is a surrogate mother?”, you may find it difficult if you don’t know all the details yourself.

Fortunately, we now have the internet readily available to help us out of predicaments like this. This article will assist you in learning what a surrogate mother is and how the surrogate mother process works so you can later translate the details to a child.

What Is Surrogacy?

Generally speaking, surrogacy is an arrangement that an individual or a couple makes with a woman to carry and bear a child or children for him/her/them that is usually backed by a legal contract. Most often, the individuals who choose this process are unable of conceiving or carrying a child to term on their own, so they seek out a woman known as a surrogate mother to go through the process of carrying and delivering their baby for them in exchange for monetary compensation.

How Does Surrogacy Work?

Gestational surrogacy is the most modern option for surrogates, utilizing in vitro fertilization to help the woman become pregnant. This procedure requires that the sperm is taken from the intended father and the eggs are gathered from the intended mother to create an embryo that is placed inside the uterus of the surrogate mother. She will carry and deliver the child for the couple.

This technique makes the intended parents the real biological parents of the child that the surrogate mother simply carries to term for the couple. The surrogate has no genetic ties to the child.

Surrogate Requirements

Becoming a surrogate mother takes a lot of thought and a big heart. By being a surrogate mother and bearing a child for others, you are bringing so much happiness into the lives of individuals who might otherwise never know the joys of parenthood. Although most agencies have their own rules about surrogacy that you should look into before making the decision to become a surrogate, there are some general conditions you may have to commit to that include emotional, physical and legal issues, as well as other requirements needed to become a surrogate mother. These include:

• Having an extensive physical exam to ensure you are in good physical condition and health in order to provide a very healthy home for the intended parents’ baby
• Having a psychological exam to ensure you are emotionally fit to ensure the process will not harm your own mental well-being
• Being between the ages of 21 and 40
• Having had a past successful pregnancy with no complications to prove you are physically capable of carrying a baby to term
• Having a stable family life of your own in order to ensure your experience as a surrogate is as positive as possible
• Hiring a lawyer, at the Intended Parents’ expense, to help you understand the legal agreement
• Enjoy pregnancy and be motivated by being able to help others create or add to their family

How Much Is a Surrogate?

A surrogate baby can be quite costly; however, the outcome is truly priceless. Generally, fees are paid to the surrogate mother in installments during pregnancy, starting with an ultrasound that confirms pregnancy. The cost of a surrogate can range drastically based on the agency chosen and depending on multiple factors that may include:

• The state the surrogate resides in
• Whether or not the surrogate mother is experienced in the process
• If she is covered by her own insurance

Intended parents should be prepared to finance expenses and compensation during the pregnancy of the surrogate. This would include medical fees, allowances for prenatal vitamins, travel, clothing, and other reimbursements as well.

Surrogacy Agencies

Surrogacy agencies will provide you with information on how to become a surrogate, connect you with the perfect clients and handle everything else for you before, during and even after you deliver.

Many great agencies are committed to helping you become a surrogate. We not only offer full service and take care of everything for you from beginning to end, but we also always put you first. If you want to work with an agency that is fair and has your best interest at heart, contact our team at Simple Surrogacy now.

Communicating With Children

When discussing surrogacy with your child, be sure and be open and honest with them. Don’t assume that they are too young to understand. A subject like this is not something that is out of a kindergartner’s range of understanding. As such, you can explain surrogacy just as you would explain things like why people get married or why people get old. Just be prepared for the questions that come after the discussion. Remember the younger they are, the more questions they will have and the more explaining you will likely have to do.

The surrogate process has been utilized by both couples and individuals who were not fortunate enough to conceive or carry a child of their own. It’s also a process that has brought happiness and fulfillment into many lives. By understanding the surrogacy process yourself, you will be able to better explain it to your children.

At Simple Surrogacy, we work hard to provide our clients with the highest standard of care in the surrogacy and egg donation industry at an affordable price. If you’re ready to get started, give us a call at 1-866-41-SURRO or contact us online today.